'Baby Steps Back To Normalcy': Fairfield Schools Reopen Full-Time

FAIRFIELD, CT — In many ways, the scene Monday morning at Holland Hill Elementary looked like a typical first day of school. Students bounded off buses and out of cars, greeting friends and teachers as they entered the building. But instead of September, this year back-to-school season came in March.

Monday marked the first full day of in-person learning for most Fairfield elementary students, who have spent the majority of the school year in a hybrid learning model due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“This almost feels like the third first day of school,” Principal Molly Farrell said, noting elementary students have been spending four hours per day in the classroom concurrently since mid-January.

Fairfield officials decided last month to bring students back full-time amid declining virus percent positivity rates and the statewide rollout of the vaccine.

“It’s like baby steps back to normalcy,” Farrell said.

One of the challenges that accompanies a return to full-time, in-person learning is coordinating a safe and efficient lunch period, according to Farrell. Holland Hill has age-based plans for transporting students’ polycarbonate safety barriers to the cafeteria, and each grade will have its own lunch period to allow for 3 feet of space between students.

“We have really solid plans, so I feel really comfortable with it,” Farrell said.

Another change brought on by the new learning model is the return of in-person special classes, such as gym and music.

“That’s a big deal for us,” Farrell said, adding that bringing back special classes was contingent on the school finding enough space to offer them safely.

Educators are also encouraging students to use hand sanitizer whenever they enter or exit a classroom, according to Farrell.

Students who spend 15 minutes or longer within 6 feet of a person who tests positive for the virus will need to quarantine. As part of the full reopening, students will be as little as 3 feet from one another, although staff will remain at a 6-foot distance. As of Monday, 13 district students and three staff members had recently tested positive, while another 74 students and 13 staffers were in quarantine, according to Fairfield Public Schools.

Holland Hill welcomed eight students Monday who had chosen to attend class in-person after previously being enrolled in Fairfield’s Remote Learning Academy. On Tuesday, most secondary students in Fairfield will return to the classroom full-time.