With focus on in-person learning, students return to schools for 1st day of classes across N.L.

Schools in Newfoundland and Labrador are bustling again Wednesday with mostelementary through high school students returning to class for the 2022-23 school year.

The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District is focused on making this year as normal as possible after 2years ofdisruptions, uncertainty among staff and students and new rules brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elizabeth Churchill, principal of Elizabeth Park Elementary in Paradise, was busy making final preparations Wednesday ahead of the early morning rush.

"This never gets old. I havehad many first days of school but it's always the same; exciting, butterflies in the stomach, but still exciting," Churchill told CBC News from her school's parking lot.

"A lot goes into this moment as it does every day in school.It takes a lot of people to be ready for this moment. Everyone inside is so eager to greet all the little ones."

The COVID-19 pandemic forced administrators to change teaching strategies on the fly, from in-person to virtual learning and back again. Masks, cohorts and social distancing made for challenging schools years.

In August, the school district said students, teachers and staffatK-12 schools would be encouraged but not required to wear masks this year.

In May, the provincial government dropped its mask requirements in schools after the Victoria Day long weekend. At the time, the Education Department said a mask mandatecould be reintroduced based on the number of illness-related absences.

The department says its prioritywill be to maintainin-person learning. While students, teachers and staff should stay home if they are sick,people with mild COVID-19 symptoms related to other known causes such as a runny nose due to allergies or a lingering cough from a prior illness can attend classes.

This year,Churchill said, she's hoping for smooth sailing and, most important,keeping students in the classroom.

"I think it's important to talk to children and recognize that every one of us are feeling different this morning, and that's OK," she said.

"With our disruption from the pandemic we're going to really focuson reconnecting with each other, being able to freely move around our school and mix with our friends.We're just going to take this day to enjoy it, reconnect, talk about our summer and bring back our experience together."

'It's going to be fun'

Paige Benoit,entering her first day of Grade 6at Elizabeth Park Elementary on Wednesday, saidshe spent a lot of time this summer in her family's backyard swimming pool which she says will be taken down next week but is excited to reunite with her friends.

"I haven't seen my friends in a really long time. I'm probably going to hug them, say 'how was your summer, how have you been,'" said Paige.

As for starting her final year at her current school, she said she's looking forward to thetougher challenge.

"I really like math. I think I'm good at it. Most people don't like math but I do," she said.

At the same time, Cohen Reynolds was gearing up for Grade 3.

"I think it's going to be fun," he said.

Paisley Fifieldshared the same excitement.

"It's really busy and it's really crowded in the halls," she said.

Lydia Benoit, a Grade 2student atJ.J. CurlingElementary School in Corner Brook, was eager to start a new grade.

"The good thing is that you get to learn new things in every grade, and I really like that," she said.

Another Grade 2 student, Callum Feaver, was also excited for his first day. He said his top three subjects are social studies, science and math.

"I'm not that good at math, but I enjoy a lot of things about it," he explained.

Ernest Danquah, beginning Grade 3,was getting ready for the challenge of a new year.

"I met some good friends and teachers, and any time I can't do something they always help me out."

'Ready to adjust'

Tony Stack, director of education and CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District, saidWednesday he's hopingfor a normal year but notedthere is the potential for COVID-19 to resurface in school communities.

He said schools will be flexible in how they adjust to whatever happens this year, with lessons learned from the previous pandemic school years.

"We're ready to adjust as the situation will warrant. If there's a need to implement masking requirements again, for example, in any area or region, we'll consult with our health partners and we'll be prepared to adjust," said Stack.

"Like all the decisions related to the pandemic period, it is important to consult with our public health partners."

Stack said parents should also make their own informed decisions for their children based on their own personal circumstances regarding COVID-19 and safety.

He said district staff will also monitor absenteeism.

"Our focus continues to be the safety of our school communities," said Stack.

"We're in a much different situation now than we were in 2020. We understand things a bit better and we're prepared to continue to support our students."

Shoring up safety

The Department of Education says all classrooms and most common areas in the province's schools have air filtration and purification systems, which were installed last year. Junior high and high school students will continue to be able to uselaptops for at-home instruction if needed.

In August, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association said issues such as class size and composition, crowding, and ventilation and air quality in school buildings will remain matters of importance for the union as theschool year begins.

The towns of Conception Bay South and Paradise are bothdrivers that school zones are back in effect, with a maximumspeed of 30 km/h throughschool areas, from7:30 a.m. to5p.m. on school days.

Paradise is bringing back its crossing guards in school zones along with posting municipal enforcement officers inschool areas during opening and dismissal times.

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