Schools
Students Head Back To Class At St. Bernard High School (Photos)
They're officially back. Students returned to campus at St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey.
PLAYA DEL REY, CA — Students returned to campus at St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey this week after more than a year of distance learning.
Tons of smiles — under masks — and reunions happened as the school hosted its Welcome Week event. The school hosted an orientation program for students and staff reviewing the new campus safety and health protocols designed to address COVID-19. They participated in back-to-school reflections, set goals for the future and participated in faith formation dialogue.
"It’s starting to feel like we’re getting back to normal," St. Bernard Principal Richard Billups said. "The return to campus was very successful, and it’s great to see our students back in class and our teachers being able to interact with them face-to-face."
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Billups said the new protocols, including wearing facemasks, social distancing and other procedures that are necessary to protect students and staff, will take some getting used to.
“But no matter what the inconveniences are, there is no substitute for having learning happen on-campus and face-to-face,” he said.
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Carter Paysinger, the school’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, said there have been no issues so far with students, staff or teachers contracting or spreading the virus and added that the school’s athletics program has been up and running for several months, following strict safety protocols.
“While we cannot yet invite fans to watch our student-athletes in action, we have taken advantage of every opportunity to have family members attend while social distancing and to livestream as many games as possible so our fans, alumni and extended families can watch the Viking in action,” he said.
“This is our new normal,” Billups said.
He is hopeful for the future.
“The numbers look good and as long as people continue to do their part, we believe we can return all of our students to campus in the fall and begin the process of allowing students to have a true Viking experience,” Billups said.
For more news and information about the vaccine rollout in California, visit Patch's information hub. Also, be sure to check out How To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In California.
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