Students and Teachers Return To Classrooms

Valley County students have returned back to the classroom over the past two weeks. Opheim Schools and Lustre Christian started back into the classroom on Aug. 19, Glasgow and Hinsdale started back on Aug. 26 while Nashua students returned on Aug. 27. After ending the school year with distance learning last school year, teachers, students and administration were ready and eager to get back into a sense of normal.

"I know these first days of schools are much different than they were last year. I've said it before: Montana's kids are remarkable. And these past few months, we have also learned they are resilient, adaptable and committed to one of the core Montana values we've taught them as parents: caring for their neighbors, their grandparents and their friends," stated Governor Bullock in a statement.

Nashua School had an unusual start this year, as they were scheduled to begin school in person on Aug. 19. Due to a malfunction in the natural gas delivery system to the school, in-person instruction was delayed to Aug. 24, and then again to Aug. 27. Students were provided temperature checks by Rorville Rex and everyone was all smiles to finally be back in the classroom. Unfortunately, the start of school was short-lived for these students, teachers and administration as a contact to a positive COVID-19 case occurred. In order to keep everyone healthy and safe, events for the weekend were canceled and the school transitioned to their distance learning model for Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

Hinsdale School also saw a later-than-scheduled start date. The School Board met on Aug. 18 and changed the start of school to Aug. 26. As a result, parents are to expect every Friday to be a remote, off-site make-up day, including Friday, Oct. 2. Friday, Sept. 11, however will be a regular-in-school day. High school and junior high parents should expect seventh through 12th grade students to bring home their laptop computers, iPads or Chromebooks Thursday after school while grades kindergarten through six will have a mix of take home packets and online activities. Parents should be prepared that in less than 24 hour notice, school can be cancelled due to a COVID event.

"Flexibility has been the key. With the uncertainty of having a normal school year, the school setting can change very quickly. However, the combination of school safety protocols and parents doing their part at home will ensure our schools stay open and extracurricular events will still occur. We'd especially like to thank our parents and school community for their assistance in making school happen again!," Superintendent of Hinsdale School Steve Morgan told the Courier. "Providing appropriate information, parents and students assisted greatly in making the first day of school a great success. Clarification on the gubernatorial mandates regarding masks prior to the start of school were better received by families. Exceptions of when masks could be removed were elaborated upon making school manageable."

In Glasgow, the annual open house the day before the official start of school was canceled and instead kindergartener teachers held a meet and greet for students and parents on Aug. 26. Students had the opportunity to drop off their school supplies and walk into the school with their teacher on a one-on-one basis to see where they will be spending their days. Kindergartners started their first official day of school on Aug. 27. All students were given temperature checks upon entering the school building and were required to mask up. Seventy-seven Glasgow students started their school year a little differently, at home through technology, as they chose the distance learning model.

"The first day of school seemed to go well considering all the new things happening in the schools. We needed to start school to begin to see what is working and what is not working and adjust from there. Everyone seemed to enjoy being back in school. Back to some normalcy in our lives. As I drove to school on Wednesday, it was heartwarming to see our school buses back on the road and transporting our students," Glasgow Superintendent Wade Sundby told the Courier.

Superintendent Sundby also asks parents to continue to be flexible and understanding during this time. "Not one staff member went into education with an understanding of what it looks like today. Our staff is working very hard to make this year the best year they can given our current circumstances. We will have bumps in the road and we will work to adjust how we are doing things. We are professionals and will work to do our best for our students, parents and community, given the information we have," Sundby stressed.

Sundby also stated the schools are currently working on getting everything set up in the event a transition to remote learning is needed. Chromebooks are being checked out to students and paperwork is being returned from students and parents. Sundby stated once this is completed, a seamless transition should occur if necessary.

The Valley CARE Coalition also assisted with back to school by providing all kindergartners in Valley County to provide back to school bags. Each bag was filled with stress balls, lanyards and masks, behavioral health information, hand sanitizer, pencils, a coloring contest page, an activity book as well as multiple handouts for parents with resources and information to a number of different services in the community. Local businesses and agencies contributed to the bags including Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, Hi-Line Home Programs, CASA, Valley County Health Department, Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center, Youth Dynamics, Valley CARE Coalition and Valley County Prevention.

"Our goal was to provide a united front to those incoming kindergarten students and parents, letting them know what is out there for services, help and support should they need it," stated EMCMHC Prevention Specialist Katrena Palmer. "Teachers placed the stress balls and sanitizer in kids' desk. Students who do the coloring contests have a chance to win Chamber Big Bucks. I am so moved that everyone cared so much to come together to make this happen."