BELFAST, P.E.I. — Lucy Fortune, 6, and her eight-year-old brother, Abel, were excited to be back in school Tuesday for two reasons — they missed their friends and teachers.
“It was great to see them today and it was great to see the teachers, too. It was a long wait,’’ said Lucy, who is going into Grade 2 at Belfast Consolidated School.
“It’s good to be back because I couldn’t learn anything (these past few months) or see my friends. I really missed it all,’’ her Grade 4 brother said.
Lucy and Abel were two of 129 students (one student decided to home-school until January) who returned to Belfast on Thursday. They are among more than 20,000 students going back to school on Tuesday and Wednesday. Some schools began the 2020-21 year with a staggered start, meaning Tuesday was an orientation day for many of the students in lower grades.
Today is the full ramp-up for all students across P.E.I.
John Munro, principal at Belfast Consolidated School, said the first morning back was a smooth one in terms of drop-offs by parents and school buses.
“We had co-ordinated times for parents to drop off and we had a number of buses come through, and everybody hit the mark on timing,’’ Munro said.
“I wasn’t sure really what to expect. There’s always a little bit of a wrinkle for the first day of school, and with the new measures … I wasn’t sure what would come of it. But I felt it was an ordinary day just like any other.’’
Staff co-ordinated parental drop-offs in the parking lot while Munro met and boarded each bus after it arrived, providing directions to students.
“I felt that everybody seems to be acclimating pretty well. Right now, it looks like a great plan we’ve put in place.’’
There was also a buzz among teachers and staff.
“It’s nice to have actual talk and interaction with them rather than through text,’’ said Taylor Johnson, who teaches physical education and Grade 8 and 9 science. “It’s certainly been great to hear their voices again. Some of them have changed more than you expected so that’s a big shock.’’
Staggered start
The following schools on P.E.I. decided to go with a staggered start to the school year with the younger grades starting Tuesday and the remainder of classes resuming today:
- Sherwood Elementary School
- L.M. Montgomery Elementary
- Alberton Elementary School
- O’Leary Elementary School
- Bloomfield Elementary School
- Birchwood Intermediate School
- Montague Consolidated School
- Montague Intermediate School
- East Wiltshire Intermediate School
- Stonepark Intermediate School
- Summerside Intermediate School
- Hernewood Intermediate School
- M.E. Callaghan Intermediate School
- Three Oaks Senior High School
- Colonel Gray Senior High School
- Charlottetown Rural Senior High School
- Montague Regional High School
- Bluefield Senior High School
- Glen Stewart Primary School
There are a number of COVID-19 protocols in place at Belfast, just as there are in all schools across P.E.I.
The doors are locked, there is a screening area inside the main door for visitors, decals on the floor emphasize the importance of physical distancing and there is an abundance of hand sanitzer throughout the building.
The school has also been split into three cohorts, groups that can socialize with each other in terms of lunch, recess breaks outside and physical education class.
Munro said students are required to wear masks on the business, in the hallways and anywhere where physical distancing isn’t possible. Johnson said masks will be worn in physical education class. As for recess, the school suggests students, at least initially, students could wear the masks around their wrist or arms.
The school also recommends parents wash the masks at home on a regular basis, perhaps after the students go home for the weekend.
Munro said they do have masks on site should a child forget one at home, but schools don’t have the resources to supply the entire student body with masks on a regular basis.
Twitter: @DveStewart
