CREEDMOOR — Granville County classrooms this week had something that had been missing for the last six months: students.

About a quarter of Granville County Public Schools’ pre-K and kindergaren students reported for class on Monday for one weekly day of in-person instruction. Also allowed to return for the first wave of in-person learning this week were exceptional children taught in a self-contained classroom.

The scene at schools was a historic mix of celebration and stringent health precautions.

Outside Tar River Elementary on Monday, Principal Courtney Currin manned a COVID-19 screening station for students who were dropped off by parents. As part of the screening, Currin took the temperature of students from inside the car before opening the passenger door.

Once cleared to enter for their first day of school, some Tar River students turned to wave goodbye to their parents. Others appeared excited and skipped off toward the building as teachers and staff cheered and welcomed them.

Currin said the kids had a great time Monday and were excited to be in class.

“They did exactly what the teachers asked them to do and they have done an amazing job wearing their masks,” she said. “It was a really good start to school.”

Currin said everyone showed up on time and did a great job.

“We even had a district-wide internet outage and we just kept rolling with it,” Currin said.

Another quarter of the students showed up Tuesday, part of the district’s gradual, staggered Plan B reentry schedule. Students have been divided into four groups, each assigned to a different day of in-person classes each week.

Mount Energy Elementary had a similar scene Tuesday morning. Principal Billy Moore and members of the staff screened and checked in students.

 

Moore said that Mount Energy has four pre-K and kindergarten classes and three exceptional children classes.

“We had about 45 children the first day and expect about that many each day,” Moore said.

At Mount Energy, students brought posters and flowers for teachers. Some said “I love you” to Mom before happily entering a waiting area for their classroom.

But as some students start to return to class, teachers are met with an unusual situation: How do they teach a class where the majority are watching remotely and a fraction are sitting for lessons in-person?

Teachers have to juggle teaching by Zoom and having students in class until the school district decides to bring all students back full-time. Even then, some parents may opt to keep students at home.

“My teachers have absolutely risen to this challenge,” Currin said. “They are working very well with their students that are in-person and virtual at the same time. They are still building that community.”

Currin said she was in two classrooms Tuesday that welcomed virtual friends to class.

“They were calling them by name and waving to them and having conversations to build that community. They have done an excellent job,” she said.

Wednesday is a remote-learning day for all students. A new group of students will attend in-person learning for the first time Thursday and another on Friday.

First through 12th grades will return to some in-person classes on Oct. 12.