By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Second grader Beckett Griggs had pretty high expectations for his first day back to school today.
“I’m looking forward to the best day ever,” he said after putting away his supplies at his desk in Conneaut Elementary School.
“Oooooo, there’s a valentine card for me,” Beckett said of the pink card waiting for him at his desk. “You’re my No. 1 valentine,” he said reading the card aloud.
Tuesday was the first day of in-person learning for Bowling Green City School elementary and middle school students after 11 months of not being in their classrooms or meeting face-to-face with teachers.
“This is like a dream,” one little girl said as she skipped from the bus into school.
“I’m looking forward to just interacting with people in general,” said fifth grader Madison Carney.
The staff at Conneaut went all out to welcome students back. There were bubble machines at the entrances, streamers on doorways, balloons in the hallways and upbeat music setting the scene.
“We’re all excited to be back,” said fourth grade teacher Stacy Donley.
“They are going to be happy, excited, nervous,” Donley said of students back for the first time in nearly a year. “We’re trying to just keep it normal – trying to get them into the swing of things.”
But some aspects just couldn’t be normal.
Teary-eyed parents took first day back to school photos – with their children posing in front of a mound of snow.
Teachers met students with air high-fives. Lysol containers could be seen every few feet, and “disinfected” signs labeled clean classrooms.
Classrooms had half the students they normally hold in order to meet social distancing requirements. Under the hybrid formula, half the students will attend on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the other half on Thursdays and Fridays.
At the front entrance to Conneaut, Erin Holmberg snapped a picture as she dropped off her fourth grade son, Cameron Holmberg McKeever.
“He’s excited and nervous – but mostly excited,” she said of Cameron. “He hasn’t been in school since last spring. It’s a longer break than he’s ever had.”
Holmberg said the implications of COVID complicate the return to school, but added, “We’re cautiously optimistic.”
“I’m happy for him that he gets to be with friends,” she said of her son.
In Danielle Carrasquillo’s second grade classroom, students were walked through the COVID steps of where to put their supplies, where to put coats and backpacks, and reminders to pull their masks over their noses.
But they were also showered with love by their teacher.
“Good morning,” Carrasquillo said with excitement as each student entered the room. “Today is a very exciting day. We’re very happy to have everybody back. It feels like the first day of school.”
In the school office, Principal Alyssa Karaffa picked up the microphone for morning announcements. She admitted to being a little rusty.
“I was nervous with excitement,” Karaffa said.
She welcomed students and staff, then reminded all to mask up, social distance and clean hands frequently.
Karaffa led the students in the Pledge of Allegiance, then started off the day with a joke.
“Why did the boy eat his homework,” she asked. “Because the teacher said it was a ‘piece of cake.’”
Then as she signed off, she reminded students that they were where they belonged.
“We are so excited to see you,” she said. “Have a fantastic day.”
Karaffa said the day started out perfectly, with the new drop-off route from City Park eliminating traffic backups.
