Sheldon, Iowa — The day has arrived. This Wednesday, August 12th, marks the start of the 2020-2021 school year for students in the Sheldon Community Schools.
Sheldon Superintendent Cory Myer says the Sheldon District is ready to get the school year started.
(As above) “We are ready to welcome back kids, we’re excited about that opportunity and just really looking forward to getting kids and staff back in the building and trying to create some sense of normalcy in what’s a very difficult and challenging time period with all the COVID situation.”
Myer says there’s always a level of excitement about starting a new school year.
(As above) “We had our open house, and it was great to get to visit with some of the kids and the families that were in. There’s always a level of excitement as we come back to start a school year, and I think this year it’s even greater. Just as we were out for an extended period of time this summer, and then again with all the uncertainty around this pandemic. I think there’s just a high level of excitement to get everybody back and resume school as best we are able to. As I visited with kids and families that was kind of an across the board feeling, just a high level of excitement and energy.”
He says that while the return to school will bring the kids and staff back to some level of normalcy, it will be a new kind of normal.
(As above) “It will be, and that’s something we’ve talked a lot with staff about…just that need to be kind of flexible with scheduling, and the ability to adapt to different situations as they arise. We have been, during this entire pandemic, in contact with our Public Health and Emergency Management, with Sanford, the Department of Education……just having regular, ongoing conversations, really just continuously. And as things continue to change we’re adjusting and adapting, and I think that’s going to be the case all school year.”
Myer says things may change as the school year progresses in light of new information that may be learned about COVID. He says it’s a very fluid situation.
(As above) “We’ve used that phrase that this is a very fluid situation and it’s constantly changing and evolving. And I think that’s going to be the case with this school year. We did a lot of great things, we’ve put a lot of mitigation strategies in place, but it’s going to be constantly reassessing what’s working and not working, and we’ll look at that on a daily…weekly…monthly basis…whatever kind of happens there, and we’ll make changes. So we’ve got a real good plan in place today. That plan might look different down the road, but as of today we feel really good about the environment we’re going to be able to create for kids, and of course the education we’re going to be able to provide.”
Myer encourages students to bring their own water bottles, since the drinking fountains have been deactivated and unavailable for use.
(As above) “We would certainly encourage students to bring water bottles with them. We’re going to allow more backpack usage to keep kids away from lockers. So there’s a variety of mitigations we’re looking at that way…kids can bring their own hand sanitizer, we do have sanitizer available around the building and will encourage to wash hands regularly. I think some of those mitigation steps are definitely in place, but kids wanting to bring their own hand sanitizer, bringing their own water bottle, I think those are great things to try. We have closed off our drinking fountains, so if you approach any of our drinking fountains at school, they have a little cap over top of the faucet.”
After being closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheldon Community Schools students will be back in the classrooms beginning this Wednesday, August 12th.
