CCSD SCHOOLS REOPEN FOR 1ST GROUP OF STUDENTS
Beyond making sure students are up to speed on reading, writing and arithmetic, elementary school teachers preparing to return to the classroom today in Las Vegas are facing some new challenges.
Their biggest problem might not be that little Johnny can’t read, but that he might not be able keep his mask on or wash his hands properly or stay away from the other kids.
School in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic is going to force teachers to take on an additional role: health monitor.
Teachers can’t just open the doors to the classroom, let the kids pour in and pull all the toys off the shelf, said April Brown, a special education teacher at Lummis Elementary School.
“The kids used to just be able to have a free-for-all,” Brown said.
They are in for a big change, especially after being at home for much of the past year doing remote learning. There will be temperature checks, social distancing, mandatory masks and lots of other new rules.
Part of the challenge for teachers will be reacclimating children to the classroom and a more structured day than they might be used to at home.
Many pre-kindergarten through third-graders will return to the classroom starting today under a hybrid model — two days a week in the classroom and three days at home working via computer. They have been at home since mid-march of last year.
Teachers have come up with some imaginative ways to keep the children focused on safety protocols.
Some students at Goolsby Elementary School will get floppy pool noodles to use as a measuring tool to keep their distance from other children, Assistant Principal Magdalena Casillas said.
Some teachers are putting hula hoops on the floor for students to sit in during reading time. Others are using yoga mats to indicate a student’s personal space.
“School is not all about having fun, but we try and make it so that they are at least learning and having a good time so that they fall in love with learning,” Brown said.
Even recess will be more structured, as the children won’t be able to use the common playground equipment. Water fountains will also be off limits.
They will instead run relay races, tackle obstacle courses, draw with chalk and play games like Simon Says.
“They’re going to play a lot of games that we played as kids when we didn’t necessarily have equipment,” said Erin Mccarty, principal of John W. Bonner Elementary School.
Bonner students will also eat lunch outside on occasion. Likewise, students at Goolsby Elementary will have the chance to get outside for fresh air while planting seeds in the school garden, Casillas said.
Mccarty said she made a video for the 240 students returning to Bonner Elementary letting them know what to expect.
The video shows Mccarty washing her hands, demonstrating the proper way to wear a mask and pointing out social-distancing markers.
“It’s going to take some getting used to, but pretty soon it will feel just right,” Mccarty tells students in the video.
In North Las Vegas, Councilwoman Pamela Goynes-brown said she spotted school buses last week practicing their routes. It brought a smile to her face as she thought about life getting back to somewhat more normal.
Even riding the bus, however, will be different during the pandemic, with new rules on how to board and where to sit.
“It’s like any other start of the school year in that you are continually training kids,” said Goynes-brown, a retired school administrator who spent 35 years working in the Clark County School District.
What will be most important will be allowing the children — ages 4 to 9 — to express themselves. Many haven’t seen their friends in person in nearly a year. In many ways, this week will be more about the social aspects of being in the same building than it is keeping up with studies.
“It’s about that peer-to-peer interaction with kids in their own age group,” Goynes-brown said. “You are finally seeing your friends in person. There are zillions of stories you want to share.”
This, of course, is uncharted waters for everyone — bus drivers, teachers, janitors and administrators. There will be a certain level of nervousness on Day One. Imagine how a child in kindergarten will feel, especially after being home with their family for so long. Even in a normal year, there are tearful good-byes with children and parents on the first day.
“This can be done,” said Goynes-brown, who intends to visits several schools in her ward. “This gives parents a lot of peace of mind because there’s a sense of normalcy back for their kids.”