Finally, back to school for all

from Smoky Mountain News | March 24, 2021

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I’ve missed chaotic mornings fighting for masks snug on their faces. People said the the bathroom, looking for shoes under littlest students wouldn’t follow COVID-19 beds, packing lunches, slinging bagels in guidelines, but they have been troopers. the toaster and yelling for kids to get in the Even the youngest among us will do what’s car. After a year of strangeness, all students right with guidance from the adults in their are back in school, and it’s offering a thirst- lives. quenching sense of normalcy. Vaccinations are also bolstering my con-

In March 2020, when our local system fidence. I don’t have exact numbers, but I’ve canceled school for two weeks, it seemed heard and read that many educators are like a long time to keep kids home. It’s now vaccinated. Similarly, as time goes on, interesting how one’s perspective can more and more people of all ages and prochange with hindsight. I remember last year fessions are getting vaccinated which helps wondering how we would survive two with herd immunity. weeks of virtual Lastly, the boost in mental health for schooling while try- students is a motivating factor. It’s common ing to work and knowledge that many kids only eat warm function. But, after all this time, the pandemic has taught us that we do what we have to do, even if it’s cumbersome and uncomfortable. Susanna Shetley Columnist meals when they are at school. Further, numerous students benefit from the socialization a school offers and the kind, nurturing mentorship of the staff in the building. The CDC offers the following key points when it comes to reopening schools fulltime.

Humans are truly 1. Evidence suggests that many K-12 an adaptive species. schools that have strictly implemented pre-

I know that everyone is not happy with vention strategies have been able to safely the decision to send students back full-time. open for in-person instruction and remain Last fall, I was uncertain whether children open. should be back in the classroom. The vac- 2. CDC’s K-12 operational strategy prescine was still in experimental mode and we ents a pathway for schools to provide inwere unclear how rapidly kids transmit or if person instruction safely through consisthey would become seriously ill. There were tent use of prevention strategies, including many unknowns. universal and correct use of masks and

As a former teacher, I cannot imagine physical distancing. how hard this year has been on educators. 3. All schools should implement and Whether online or in person, they have layer prevention strategies and should pribeen extraordinarily essential to the well oritize universal and correct use of masks being of our nation’s children. Even over a and physical distancing. computer screen, an attuned teacher can 4. Testing to identify individuals with tell if a student is not doing well, has not SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination for eaten or needs an intervention. It’s not the teachers and staff provide additional layers same as seeing their faces in person, but of COVID-19 protection in schools. nonetheless, maintaining that connection In the same document, the CDC provides between teachers and students has been this comprehensive statement: “Schools are paramount during the pandemic. an important part of the infrastructure of

All these months later, several factors communities, as they provide safe and supare giving me confidence to send all stu- portive learning environments for students, dents back to the classroom. My youngest employ teachers and other staff, and enable son is in third grade. Near the start of this parents, guardians, and caregivers to work. school year, elementary levels chose to go Many students, staff, and caregivers are back full-time. Middle and high schools either missing or have had interruptions in employed a hybrid model, where students services due to school building closures and were in-person one week and remote the virtual and hybrid learning. Evidence sugnext week. This allowed those schools to gests that many K–12 schools that have stay at half capacity. strictly implemented prevention strategies

I’ve watched with awe how my child’s have been able to safely open for in-person elementary school has handled schooling instruction and remain open.” during a pandemic. Via strict mask rules, Again, I realize there are people who feel social distancing, temperature checks, sani- it’s not time to send students back, and tization, contact tracing and enforcing that’s OK. As a society, we’re going to have quarantine for exposed or sick students and varying opinions on the matter. But for me staff, they have done a phenomenal job. personally, I am grateful to see the smiles

With no dances, programs, big events or on my kids’ faces now that mornings feel extracurricular activities, it’s certainly been normal and they get to see classmates a different type of school year for my little they’ve missed for a year. As their mom, this guy, but he and his classmates have made feels so good. the best of it. He loves his teachers and (Susanna Shetley is an editor, writer and friends. He gets in the car each afternoon digital media specialist for The Smoky and chatters about his day. When in car Mountain News, Smoky Mountain Living line, I always smile to myself as I see all the magazine and Mountain South Media. kids, even kindergarteners, wearing their susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com)