School Buildings Open Back Up In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Students in Vernon were in school buildings Monday for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic broke out in March under a hybrid format that combined both cautious hands-on learning with virtual classrooms.

Early Monday morning, a variety of descriptions summarized school doors opening again.

Center Road School principal Jennifer Miller said things were "different," but added there were a lot of smiling faces.

"Excited but nervous" was the term used by the baker Twins — Madison and Connor — about their first day as fifth-graders at CRS.

First-year Maple Street School Principal Joshua Egan said drop-offs pretty much took place without a major hitch and school safety specialist Tony Muniz said it was the smoothest traffic flow he has ever seen at the school along tricky, one-way Maple Street.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary toured each school Monday. At about 9 a.m., he seemed pleased with how things were going early-on, but also professed that the week would be a "learning experience" at all seven school buildings in town.

The first day at Center Road School (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

Students who have opted to attend school will go two days per week. Those whose last names begin with A through L will be in the buildings Mondays and Tuesday while the rest of the alphabet will be in classrooms Thursdays and Fridays. The at-home days include quick check-ins and take-home assignments. School buildings will be closed for cleaning Wednesdays and will include abbreviated virtual learning days.

Some special needs classes will be taking place four days a week inside the buildings.

Masks are required for everyone inside a building and strict distancing measures are in effect.

Rockville High School Principal Jason Magao said some students had some trouble recognizing staff members because of the masks. He joked he wore a suit to make himself more recognizable. Moments before Magao mentioned the mask, two students had to do a double-take after assistant principal Daniel Pichette said hi to them at dismissal.

Overall, Magao said the day went smoothly at RHS.

First day meal distribution at Maple Street School (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

Students who have opted for virtual learning will have their own teachers and classes. As of Aug. 26, 676 students — or 22.1 percent of Vernon's student population — had opted for virtual learning. At Rockville High School, it's 14.6 percent. At Vernon Center Middle School, it's 21.1 percent. At the elementary schools it's 27.3 percent.

Lunches are available at each school for pickup for virtual students on meal plans.

For example, on Monday, about 90 students were at Maple Street School and about 200 at Center Road School.