In-person learning begins for some Boston Public Schools students
Updated: 12:18 PM EDT Oct 1, 2020
WHERE STUDENTS GOT A WARM WELCOME BACK. JOSH? JOSH THEY DID. GOOD AFTERNOON TO BOTH OF YOU. IT WAS A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS RETURNING TO THE STATES LARGEST DISTRICTS. THEY ARE STILL WORKING OUT SOME SPECIFICS WITH A AIR QUALITY, SOME SPECIFICS WITH ERROR FLOWING THROUGH THE BUILDINGS. SO TIME TO START, BUT NOT TIME TO EXHALE. >> HEY, WELCOME TO SCHOOL. JOSH: DISTANCING AND MASKS AND ELBOW BUMPS ALONG WITH THE EXCITEMENT OF DAY ONE OF IN-PERSON LEARNING AT BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SEEMS MORE LIKE AN ETERNITY THAN JUST A YEAR REMOVED FROM THE HUGS AND VISIBLE SMILES ON SUPERINTENDE BRENDA CASSELLIUS' FIRST DAY IN BOSTON A YEAR AGO. >> EVERYBODY'S BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT. TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME OUR KIDS BACK. >> I ASKED ONE LITTLE GUY HOW WAS YOUR SUMMER? GREAT. ANOTHER LITTLE GUY, NOT SO GREA YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS JUST A DIFFICULT TIME FOR EVERYBODY. JOSH: AS KIDS ARRIVED AT ELLIS ELEMENTARY IN ROXBURY, SOME ARE FEELING WHAT MANY OF THE ADULTS ARE AS WELL. >> HONESTLY, KIND OF NERVOUS. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF MONTHS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN PERSON. JOSH: ONLY 30 KIDS ARE IN THIS BUILDING TODAY OUT OF 3500 HIGH IN PERSON PRIORITY STUDENTS AROUND THE DISTRICT. A TOUGH CHOICE FOR MANY PARENTS TO HAVE THEM RETUR >> I WANT HIM TO HAVE FUN AND I STILL WANT HIM TO BE A KID BUT IT'S HARD TO THINK ABOUT IT , HONESTLY. IT'S REALLY SCARY. >> WE JUST HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW TO KEEP THEIR MASK UP, HAND SANITIZER AT ALL TIMES, AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT IF MY SON'S HAPPY, I'M HAPPY. JOSH: AND SPEAKING OF HAPPY, HERE'S 7-YEAR-OLD ESTHER ON HER WAY UP THE STAIRS TO SECOND GRADE. ARE YOU EXCITED TO BE BACK AT SCHOOL >> ES. JOSH: -- >> YES. JOSH: CAN YOU TELL ME WHY? >> BECAUSE I CAN HAVE FUN WITH MY FRIENDS. JO
Thousands of Boston Public School students returned to classrooms Thursday as the city moved into a hybrid model of learning.Three thousand five hundred of the city's highest need students returned first. The district is planning for students to learn in-person two days a week and then learn remotely the other three days of the school week under the hybrid model.Preschoolers and kindergartners are set to report to school the week of Oct. 15. Students in grades 1-3 would follow the week of Oct. 22.Grades 4-8 will transition to a hybrid model the week of Nov. 5, and grades 9-12 the week of Nov. 16. Boston is now in the Red Zone for coronavirus spread. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said officials have taken every precaution, including looking at airflow and air quality. "It feels so good. Everybody's been waiting for this moment to be able to welcome our kids back," she said. "I asked one little guy, 'How was your summer?' Great. Another little guy, not so great. You know, I think this is just a difficult time for everybody," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said.As students arrived at Ellis Elementary in Roxbury, some were feeling what many of the adults were, as well."Honestly, kind of nervous," fifth-grade student Edward Velasquez said. "Because it's been a lot of months since I've been here in person."Parents still have the option to keep their children remote."I want him to have fun, and I still want him to be a kid, but it's hard to think about it, honestly. It's really scary," parent Anastassia Aponte said."We just have to stay on top of them and let them know to keep their mask up, hand sanitizer at all times, and stuff like that. But if my son's happy, I'm happy," parent Angel Lopez said.If the positive test rate climbs above 4% in the city, they'll have to shift back to remote learning for everyone.
Thousands of Boston Public School students returned to classrooms Thursday as the city moved into a hybrid model of learning.
Three thousand five hundred of the city's highest need students returned first. The district is planning for students to learn in-person two days a week and then learn remotely the other three days of the school week under the hybrid model.
Preschoolers and kindergartners are set to report to school the week of Oct. 15. Students in grades 1-3 would follow the week of Oct. 22.
Grades 4-8 will transition to a hybrid model the week of Nov. 5, and grades 9-12 the week of Nov. 16.
Boston is now in the Red Zone for coronavirus spread.
Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said officials have taken every precaution, including looking at airflow and air quality.
"It feels so good. Everybody's been waiting for this moment to be able to welcome our kids back," she said.
"I asked one little guy, 'How was your summer?' Great. Another little guy, not so great. You know, I think this is just a difficult time for everybody," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said.
As students arrived at Ellis Elementary in Roxbury, some were feeling what many of the adults were, as well.
"Honestly, kind of nervous," fifth-grade student Edward Velasquez said. "Because it's been a lot of months since I've been here in person."
Parents still have the option to keep their children remote.
"I want him to have fun, and I still want him to be a kid, but it's hard to think about it, honestly. It's really scary," parent Anastassia Aponte said.
"We just have to stay on top of them and let them know to keep their mask up, hand sanitizer at all times, and stuff like that. But if my son's happy, I'm happy," parent Angel Lopez said.
If the positive test rate climbs above 4% in the city, they'll have to shift back to remote learning for everyone.