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Ohio County Students Back to 5-Day Week

School buses are seen parked in this undated file photo.

WHEELING — Students, parents and educators in Ohio County Schools all celebrated the return to “normalcy” and a five-day school week on Monday.

It has been just over a year since students first began remote learning from home, and later returned to their classrooms in split shifts two days a week. Recent weeks have seen in-person school for all students on Mondays and Tuesdays and Thursdays and Fridays, with Wednesdays a remote day for learning while schools are cleaned.

The model that began Monday is for students in Ohio County Schools to resume a five-day schedule through the end of the school year, with two-hour delays scheduled for Wednesdays.

“A year ago, we anticipated being out for a couple of weeks to flatten the curve, and a year later we’re finally getting back to five days,” said Ashlea Minch, principal at Woodsdale Elementary School. “It feels really good to have eyes on the kids five days a week like we used to, and to just have them back here learning like they’re supposed to be taught.”

Teachers have worked hard in recent weeks to prepare lessons for both students in school, as well as those choosing to remain at home, she said.

“They’ve done a great job of making sure our kids are caught up mostly,” Minch said of the teachers. “They are the most happy to have the kids back in their seats.”

Sarah Clark is the parent of a fourth grade student at West Liberty Elementary School, and she said the students and their parents also are happy for the return.

“We are ready and excited for some normalcy, finally,” she said. “We powered through the virtual (learning) with the help of our amazing teachers, but socially my child needs this.”

A slow and unreliable internet service in rural areas also made it difficult at times for some students to get everything accomplished, Clark said.

“Being in a classroom setting for my child is what works best for us,” Clark said. “She is so happy to be back to five days this week with her teachers and classmates.

“And I’m glad that students and parents that preferred the virtual (learning) still have that option, too.”

Warwood School Principal Joey Subasic said it looked like business as usual there on Monday.

“We did get some kids back,” he said. “We had to change up a couple of procedures just to manage the influx of students coming back.

“But for the most part it just looked like what our new normal day is. By Friday, I might have a different opinion.”

The “new normal” at the school involves the wearing of masks, social distancing at lunch, and “a heightened sense of awareness in how we interact,” Subasic said.

Those in the school have to be aware of how close they are to others at lunch and in the teachers lounge, and how they move in the hallways.

Wheeling Park High School Junior Michael Borsuk indicated he was happy to return to in-person learning, and that he felt safe in the classroom.

“I think it will bring about some more normalcy for everyone,” he said. “The school has been proactive with COVID19 prevention measures.”

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