Montclair elementary students in school for first time in a year (PHOTOS) - Montclair Local
Maya Sadow poses on her first day back at Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL
It’s been a long, bumpy journey — but Monday, Montclair elementary school students returned to in-person learning Monday for the first time in more than a year.
Attention parents: We’d like to hear from you about the first day back. Contact roll@montclairlocal.news today to speak about your family’s experience.
The return on a hybrid learning schedule was made possible, after several delays, when the Montclair Public Schools district and the Montclair Education Association last month settled a lawsuit prompted by MEA members’ refusal to return in January over safety concerns. Montclair’s schools originally planned to reopen for some in-person learning in September, but the district opted to push that date back because ventilation systems in most of the buildings were deemed inadequate. Schools superintendent Jonathan Ponds pushed back a second expected reopening date in November because of a high rate of community transmission of the novel coronavirus.
But he says temporary measures — such as the purchase of 400 air purifiers and other mechanical fixes in school buildings — have made them safe for a return and meet state standards. In the settlement, the district agreed to walk MEA representatives through each of its buildings and provide more detailed information on safety practices and facilities upgrades.
Students remain on an rotating schedule, classified as “Mounties” or “Bulldogs,” and those families that opt to keep their children home may to so. The district is observing masking and social distancing requirements, as well as conducting batch coronavirus testing to flag potential safety concerns.
Montclair’s middle schools and high school are also expecting a return soon, but no date has yet been announced.
— Louis C. Hochman
See photos from the first day back below.
Vikram and Sunaina Sood on Sunaina’s first day back at Edgemont School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALCaellum and Quwan Armour wait for school to begin, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALFrom left, teacher Kathy Hart, MHS Principal Freeman, and Edgemont’s interim principal Michael Chiles wait to greet students at Edgemont School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALBalloons and signs decorate Edgemont School’s entrance, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALEdgemont families wait to enter school on their first day back, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALEdgemont students run togther on their first day back at Edgemont School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALEdgemont Montessori School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALThird grade teacher Kate Pastorino greets students outside of Edgemont School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALTeacher Kate Pastorino greets Lnn Johansen’s dog, Hazel, outside of Edgemont School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALFirst day back at Edgemont School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALFourth grade teacher, Avril Fagan, greens students at Edgemont School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALA teacher greets students, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALConsuelo Reinitz adjusts jacket of her son, Lucas, before he enters Edgemont School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALCrossing guard Eileen Gauer is ready for her first day back at Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALBalloons decorate the side entrance of Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALLindbergh and Alexander Cox at Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALEdie and Winnie Murphie at Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALFamilies head to the main entrance of Watchung Shool, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALFamilies wait in line to enter Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALThe Wu Family poses in front of Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALStudents wait in line at the side entrance of Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALStudents wait in line at the side entrance of Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALA staff member checks temperatures, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALA staff member walks a student to the front entrance of Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALFamilies wait in line at Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALStudents at Watchung School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALStudents enter Nishuane School on their first day back, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALPhysical education teacher Mike Risimini greets students at Nishuane School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALTeacher Jacqueline Reyes greets students at the entrance of Nishuane School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALPhysical education teacher Mike Risimini greets students at Nishuane School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCALFamilies walk to the entrance of Nishuane School, April 12, 2021. KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL
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