'Our District Has Many Heroes' School Returns In Greendale

GREENDALE, WI — The fall 2020 school semester began in earnest Tuesday in Greendale as students began meeting their teachers and classmates in an online setting.

Students are seeing everyone's faces without a covering and digitally touring their learning environments and classrooms Tuesday, district officials said.

Aspects of the district's hybrid learning plan start later this week.

"Students whose families chose digital learning began their year today in their digital classrooms with their classmates and teachers," Kitty Goyette of the Greendale School District told Patch. "We have our first in-person day for secondary students tomorrow and on Thursday, we will welcome our in-person elementary school students to school."

District officials lauded their teachers and staff for taking the time to prepare for the most unusual start to a school year in their memory.

"Families are so caring and understanding as we work out a few final details with minutes to spare and navigate this new experience for all," Goyette said. "Our district has many heroes who are working hard to do what's best to advance student learning while meeting the health and safety needs of all of our students and staff. We are grateful for the guidance of our partners at the Greendale Health Department."

Schools Closed In March

Tuesday's return to school represents a return to normalcy, of sorts, after schools were abruptly closed in March during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in Wisconsin.

"After further discussion with public health officials and understanding the full data surrounding the CDC recommendation of social distancing to slow the spread of the COVID-19, Greendale Schools will be closed effective Monday, March 16. I do want to stress that there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Greendale at this time," Superintendent Kim Amidzich said in March.

Sports, clubs and performing arts groups were all canceled as the district shifted into a virtual-learning model a few days later in March.

Since then, the district spent the summer developing plans for a more advanced model that accommodates both students intending to engage in a fully digital model, and others who want a balance of digital and in-person learning.

Under the new model, elementary school students who chose to go back in-person are scheduled to attend Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and have Wednesday as a digital learning day. Although all schools would be cleaned every day, Wednesday would be set aside for deep cleaning.

Middle and High School students going back to school in person have two days at school and three digital days. According to the district's plan, students whose last name begins with letters A through K go back Monday and Tuesday. Students whose last name begins with letters L through Z go back Thursday and Friday.