POWAY, Calif. (KGTV) -- Take away the masks, temperature readings, and distance markers, and Canyon View Elementary in Poway looked like any other first day of school Thursday morning.
Asked if they have been waiting for this day, one parent told ABC 10News, “Yes, for so long.”
The Poway Unified School District kicked off their hybrid program consists of both in-person and digital learning for kids in grades K-5.
Students will be in class for a maximum of 2.5 hours per day, and while It's a short day, parents like Chris Madrideo said it's enough.
"The two hours is perfect, [better] than nothing because at home it's been hard,” Madirdeo said.
To ensure social distancing, half the amount of kids returning will be part of the morning session, the other half will take part in the afternoon session.
"We had a lot of parent meetings, I sent videos about what it's going to look like. We've had families do test runs so we're ready and we'll make adjustments as needed," said Canyon View Elementary Principal Jill Halsey. "We looked at what's working, and we want to take what's working and implement it here.”
Desks inside classroom will be covered with plexiglass and six feet apart.
The district’s communication director said if a student or staff contracts COVID-19 while involved in in-person learning, they'll be required to switch back to distance learning immediately. The school will then work with the health department to contact trace, notify and test, if needed, anyone affected.
Families were also given the option to continue virtual learning. Halsey said at her school, nearly half of the student body will continue to learn from home full-time.
The schools that reopened on Thursday:
- Canyon View Elementary School
- Highland Ranch Elementary School
- Morning Creek Elementary School
- Painted Rock Elementary School
- Pomerado Elementary School
- Shoal Creek Elementary School
- Sundance Elementary School
- Sunset Hills Elementary School
- Turtleback Elementary
- Westwood Elementary School
The other 16 elementary schools are slated to reopen on Oct. 12, according to the district’s plan.
