SYDNEY, N.S. — On the surface, Tuesday was a first day of school like countless others before it.
But a pandemic looming over all return-to-class preparations made it much different.
Still, there were many familiarities to Tuesday and other return to class September days in the past.
The younger children held hands with their parents until the handoff to school grounds and school staff. And many of those parents lingered around the school, peering into windows if they could or simply watching from afar from their vehicles for some hint at how their children were reacting to the first day of school since COVID-19 forced its cancellation six months ago.
Connor Cuddihy was spotted making his way towards Coxheath Elementary with his mom Elizabeth MacKinnon and was very excited about it.
His mom was a bit nervous, however, even though she had confidence in her son’s school and his ability to learn there.
“It’s a lot right now with what is going on,” she said about COVID-19 precautions and related issues.
“I’m looking at it all day-by-day, minute-by-minute knowing that he is in there and going to do well. He did pre-primary last year and I was fine with that but there was no coronavirus. He wants to see his friends but he knows what is going on with the virus.”
Student accessories also looked familiar to past years — backpacks and books, new clothes and stylish hats and shoes. New this year are face masks that are required gear for most areas of the school grounds.
The changes, combined with a six-month absence from school, might have created anxiety for some but they only made Tuesday more exciting for Ella Jessome who has been waiting to return to school for a long time.
“I get up early every day to look out the window to see if it was bright yet,” she said while waiting for the bus with her siblings Bradley MacNeil-Burke and Brian Jessome.
The elementary student likes school, missed it and could not wait to return, according to their mom Cara Jessome who waited with her children until their bus arrived.
Her brother Brian, who was heading off to Grade 3, was less excited about his return to school. Wearing a mask was one of the things that didn’t sit well with him, he said.
“I have a lot of mixed emotions,” Cara said. “I’m a stay at home mom and I enjoy having the kids at home.”
Across the province, an estimated 120,000 students are returning to school this week.
Provincial plans will see all students sent back and classes the same size as previous years while putting in place preventive measures such as mandatory masks for grades 4 to 12 students, intensive cleaning and hand-washing protocols.
Joel and Crystal MacRae made sure they were up to speed on all changes and safety precautions at provincial schools this year before they dropped their boys off at Shipyard Elementary – one headed to the pre-primary program and the other to Grade 3.
Some customized safety precautions of their own were also given to the boys, including a fanny pack filled with cleaners, extra masks and even bags to hold any dirty masks.
“I’m a cancer survivor, so I’m a little more cautious,” said Crystal.
Even with those added precautions, the MacRaes will be monitoring the return to school closely and won’t hesitate to make changes to the school schedule for their children should COVID-19 related conditions warrant it.
“It’s best for his development,” said Joel, about their pre-primary son. “But if things change, we will pull him out.”
