'I'm glad to be back': More schools resume in-person classes

In a matter of days, nearly all Guam schools and colleges will be back in session, whether it's in person, online, or through a hybrid approach. On Tuesday, three of the Guam Department of Education School reopened. On Wednesday, the remaining schools welcomed students back, albeit to a quieter environment.

"In the beginning, some of them were a little sad because they have been with their family the whole time, but now, I just came from kinder and first grade lunch, and the kids are adjusting well and smiling," said Julie Salas, the principal of Upi Elementary School.

Schools: 250 Guam Department of Education students return to classrooms

Determined to return some normalcy, many schools are welcoming students back into classrooms. But that comes with safety measures: Six feet social distancing. Designated seating at cafeterias. Regular temperature checks. Arrows guiding specific lanes. And some strict mask rules, with the occasional break. 

"The teachers were running over the information that was important, and they were taking the kids around campus to show them which way they are supposed to enter and exit the quad, how many kids there were in the restroom, and how to line up," Salas said. "They were showing them the nurse's and the main office." 

Teachers nervous, parents excited

At Agueda Johnston Middle School, students were assigned tags to indicate their grade levels. In the event of a coronavirus outbreak, the schools will use the tags to track students, their closest peers, and the classrooms they occupied. 

Referring to classrooms reopening, "we knew since the beginning of the school year that this was going to happen one way or another," said Rebecca Perez, the principal of the middle school. 

Day-to-day enforcement falls on the teachers and administrators, who have begun walking around the school to check on students. 

"The teachers were a little nervous and wary knowing that students were coming back, but what made them more at ease was knowing that we're not expecting all 780 students all at one time," Perez said. 

Public schools are bringing back students in smaller cohorts, as some parents want their children in classrooms.

"We have parents and students who struggled with the hard copy and also struggled online, although we provided assistance," Perez said.

In some households, both parents work outside of the home.

"So the children are left to fend for themselves at home to try to go online or do the hard copy," she said. 

There are also students from lower-income backgrounds and those who are homeless.

"Then we also have the students coming in knowing they are going to have meals," Perez said.

Few students in classrooms

Some instructors reported just three or six students for in-person classes, though most classrooms can hold about eight under safety rules.

"The teachers are commenting that this is ideal. It's small and reduces their anxiety levels," said Jolene Marie Cabrera, the acting principal of Agana Heights Elementary School.

Even elementary kids, despite their boisterous personalities, have largely complied with school regulations. 

"If their masks are a little bit below their nose, we would say 'kind reminder, let's secure our masks to our face,' and they were like 'oops, sorry,'" Cabrera said. "They were apologetic and quick to fix their mask." 

Reopening, despite its many obstacles, marks a milestone on the island's path to recovery. 

"I'm glad to be back with the students. It's like an empty shell, and the students filled it up," Cabrera said.  

Shy kids

At Wettengel Elementary School, Principal Evangeline Iglesias said the day went by smoothly except for a few shy kids. 

"I would go around and say 'Do you know who I am?' and they're looking at me. Then I would have to step back and take my mask off, and they go 'Oh!'" Iglesias said. "It's basically having them see the familiar faces, but the voices are something we're trying to let them connect with," Iglesias said. 

Most children haven't been in a classroom since March, but teachers have responded positively, Iglesias said. 

"I told them to build their relationships with the kids," Iglesias said. "We only have them five hours of interactive lessons and activities." 

Reach reporter Anne Wen at awen@guampdn.com.

This article originally appeared on Pacific Daily News: 'I'm glad to be back': More schools resume in-person classes