Although the school year began in mid-September, school buses returned to side-streets and most kids returned to classrooms for the first time this week with the beginning of in-person learning.

Most students will be back in the classroom for two shortened days each week. The first cohort returned on Monday and Tuesday, with the second half returning on Thursday and Friday. 

“It was wonderful to have so many students back at Decas School. Their smiles were visible in their eyes! It was great to have such strong energy in the building again,” said Decas Principal Bethany Chandler.

Scott Palladino, the high school principal, said there are about 200 students in each cohort.

“Monday was the best day of work I have had in almost seven months. It was great to have the students back in the building even though we only had approximately 35% of our students in the building,” Palladino said. “The students were excited to be back in the building as well.”

Middle School Principal Tracie Cote said that the first days of in-person learning at her school were wonderful.

“Our staff was so excited to have students in the building. Our students were eager to be back to in-person learning,” Cote said. “I spoke to a few students and they said they were happy to be back in-person. They also said it was all a little weird but good.”

Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood said that the first days went very smoothly. 

“It was so wonderful to have students back, seeing our buses out -- it was nice,” Shaver-Hood said. “Certainly, I can not begin to express my appreciation for the operation and work as a collective body from parents, students, our faculty and staff.”