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USD 333 students return to the classrooms

For the first time since March 6, students' voices echoed through the hallways of the Concordia Junior-Senior High School building on Wednesday morning.
Students in Unified School District 333 returned to the classrooms for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, months after Kansas Governor Laura Kelly ordered all schools to close last March to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The 2019-2020 school year was completed online through the Continuous Learning plan.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, students in USD 333 face a number of changes as they return to on-site learning this fall with the prevention measures that have been put in place.
All students, faculty and staff are required to wear masks when in the buildings and temperature screenings are done on anyone entering the facilities in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“It feels good to get back into the building. It is obviously a little weird to have to come in with a mask on and getting your temperature checked,” high school junior Taryn Roush said. “It feels really good to get back into my normal groove and to get back into school.”
Filling school buildings with students raises concerns about possible COVID-19 outbreaks.
“There is always a worry about somebody getting sick, but I am not too worried about it because if we follow proper guidelines we should be fine,” Roush said.
High school senior Terin Roush said that, personally, she didn't have any concerns about returning to the classroom.
“Faculty is doing a really good job of taking temperatures and getting everyone their masks, and so far, it is working very efficiently,” Rundus said.
Rundus said it could take a while to get back into the groove and being in the classroom.
“Waking up early, getting to school, studying like a normal student,” Rundus said.
Chris Stiles, an English and video productions instructor, said that he believes that the students and teachers will handle the return to the classroom after the long layoff well.
“I think they will be glad to be back in school, and we are glad to have them,” Stiles said.
Stiles said that the teachers are happy to be back in the classroom.
“I think we are all excited to be back with the students again. It has been a large void in our lives,” Stiles said.
The start of the school year was originally scheduled for August 11, but was pushed back to enable the district to get the safety protocols in place.
“The extra time gave us a chance to prepare,” Stiles said.
The biggest fear for Stiles is the schools having to be shut down again.
“We are hoping we can trust the protocols to keep that from happening,” Stiles said.
Michael Wahlmeier, a junior-senior high school math teacher, said that there is some apprehension about returning to a building filled with people.
“That unknown factor is there, and as a teacher and a coach, we don't like the unknown. We liked to know what is coming,” Wahlmeier said. “Just being prepared, and controlling the part we can control, and that is the teaching side. That is what I am focused on.”
Should schools have to shut down for an extended period again this year, Wahlmeier believes the district is better equipped to handle it.
“The online process we did last time was different than what we would do this time. I think we would push a little harder, a little more rigor involved,” Wahlmeier said.
The safety measures put in place by the district, such as wearing masks and temperature checks, are to help prevent another shutdown.
“I think the Health Department has done a good job of telling us, 'hey, these are the rules, if you follow these rules we are not going to have to quarantine everybody.' So I think we are in good hands,” Wahlmeier said.
For Roush, returning to school provides him with the opportunity to again spend time with his friends.
“Being able to be with everybody that I had been missing over the summer, and the rest of the school year last year,” Roush said.

 

Concordia Blade-Empire

510 Washington St.
Concordia, KS 66901