Almost two in three students enrolled in the Rockdale ISD—and almost three of four enrolled at the high school—elected to start the 2020-2021 term with “in person” learning Thursday.
Classes began Monday in the Thorndale ISD and are on target to start Thursday in the Milano ISD, despite that school suspending two weeks in two sports programs due to a positive COVID-19 test.
ROCKDALE—Rockdale ISD Supt. Dr. Denise Monzingo said the initial days back—the first on-campus school days since the Friday before spring break—were “great.”
“Parents and students did a wonderful job with the new procedures,” she said. “Students and staff were glad to be back in school.”
Dr. Monzingo said remote learning “had a couple of hiccups, but we believe everything has been addressed.”
“We are looking forward to creating our new normal,” she said.
“I think it’s obvious the students are glad to be back,” she said. “For some of them this may the first time they have seen their friends since this all started during spring break in April.”
TWO-THIRDS—Part of that new normal will be adjusting to teaching in two different ways.
On Thursday, 933 RISD students came to school at the district’s four campuses and 513 opted for remote learning online, a 65-to-35-percent split, a total of 1,446 students.
That’s only 34 students down from last year.
Campus breakdown was this way:
High school—3 2 1 on-campus (72 percent); 125 remote (35 percent); total 446.
Junior-high—2 1 5 on-campus (62 percent); 132 remote (38 percent); total 347.
Intermediate—18 9 on-campus (59 percent); 131 remote (41 percent); total 320.
Elementary—2 0 8 on-campus (62 percent); 125 remote (38 percent); total 333.
SCHOOL DAY— A reminder that RISD starting and dismissal times will be staggered, enabling more bus routes to place less students on a bus at any one time.
That also allows more time to clean buses in between stops to pick up and drop off students.
Here’s the school day at each campus:
Elementary—7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Building opens at 7:20 a.m.)
Intermediate—7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Building opens at 7:20 a.m.)
Junior High—8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Building opens at 8:15 a.m.)
High School—8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (Building opens at 8:15 a.m.)
THORNDALE—“We had a great first day,” Supt. Adam Ivy said after classes were dismissed Monday.
Thorndale ISD has half the on-campus students twice a week.
“Since we had only half of our students here it allowed us to keep our class numbers low and ease everyone into our new procedures,” Ivy said. “Our pick up and drop off procedures worked well and all of our parents were patient and understanding.”
“Even those parents of very young students were willing to drop them off with staff instead of walking them inside,” he said.
“I know that is a tough thing for the parent of a five-year-old but it helps us to keep our students and staff safe by limiting the number of people in our buildings,” Ivy said.
Ivy said around 70 TISD students chose distance learning. “That is around 13 percent of our enrollment,” he said.
MILANO—Thursday is the first day of classes in the Milano ISD, which is offering on-campus and remote learning.
Supt. Robert Westbrook said the situation involving athletics will not affect school opening.
Last week a Milano student and an MISD employee tested positive for COVID-19.
As a result volleyball and cross-country teams have suspended competition and practices for two weeks, according to athletic Director Wendy King.
Both activities are expected to resume on Monday.
GAUSE—Like Rockdale, classes in the Gause ISD began on Thursday.
“Overall things are going well,” Supt. Brad Jones said.
“Of course there are a few hiccups with technology, but our staff is awesome and they have done some great things already,” Jones said.
Jones said 63 percent of Gause students are on campus for face-to-face instruction.
That breaks down to 108 on campus and 63 remote, he said.
Gause ISD teachers continue to hold virtual meetings and classes throughout the day for remote learners.
“We welcome any prayers for a safe school year,” Jones said.
ST. PAUL—First day of classes at St. Paul Lutheran School in Thorndale was to have been Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Classes were to have begun last Wednesday, Aug. 12.
“In a normal year we could have more confidently made an Aug. 12 start date, but, as we are all experiencing, this year is anything but normal,” Principal Dr. David Mueller said.
He said on Aug. 12 classrooms were close “but not quite ready,” the COVID-19 protocols were still being tweaked and the online learning plan was still being worked out among other areas of preparation.
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