Warren Township High School District 121 administration officials discussed their excitement about welcoming students back for in-person classes — for the first time in more than 300 days — at the district’s Board of Education meeting Tuesday.
The meeting was held virtually, but a majority of the board members attended in-person, keeping a distance of eight feet between one another. Everyone in attendance was required to wear masks during the meeting.
Students resumed virtual classes on Jan. 5 after winter break, but the district waited two weeks before allowing students to return to Warren Township High School’s two campuses.
“Today was an exciting day,” said Rob Parrot, the principal at Warren Township High School’s Almond campus. “It took a lot of work leading up to today. There were lots of moving parts, and getting everyone to move in the same direction to get staff and students to be able to return today was just so exciting.”
Parrott said that at the time of the meeting officials did not have statistics on just how many students were in-person at the school, but estimated there were 150 to 200 students.
For some students, including freshmen who began their first high school school year virtually, and juniors who transitioned to a new campus this year, it was their first time ever entering the buildings.
“It was great having students in the building, and talking to freshmen as they entered O’Plaine campus for the first time,” said Michelle Bertola, the principal at Warren Township High School’s O’Plaine campus.
She added that some of the students were wowed as they took in the campus and how large it is.
The school is still operating under a hybrid model, with students who attend in-person classes meeting remotely with teachers in the morning before stepping onto campus. Students also only attend half of their classes each day, and alternate the classes they attend on different days.
With Lake County returning to Tier 2 mitigation under the state’s COVID-19 plan, winter sports can resume. The season previously began in late 2020, and was running for four days before it was shut down when Illinois moved to Tier 3 mitigation.
The district is waiting to hear from Illinois High School Associate on announcements for season start dates. The sports that are set to return at Warren Township High School are boys and girls bowling, gymnastics, boys swimming, cheer, dance and badminton, which is now classified as a winter sport because it was deemed “low-risk.”
To help detect if there are any students potentially carrying COVID-19, the district will begin offering rapid tests on-site, although there is not yet a set date for that to commence as officials wait to hear from the Lake County Health Department. Staff members and students are also required to complete self-certification and temperature checks to help avoid the spread of the disease.
Parrott said the district is emphasizing the “three W’s,” which include washing hands, watching distance from others and wearing a mask.
They were also excited to announce that all members of the school’s staff are going to begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations at Round Lake High School and Stevenson High School, hopefully by the first week of February, according to assistant superintendent of student services Patrick Keeley.
More Top Picks Best Lcd Led Tv
The district is seeking to increase the amount of students enrolled for in-person schooling, and is looking for different options to make that a safe possibility, including elongating the school day.
“It’s just so invigorating to have students and staff in the building,” Bertola said.