More than 3,000 Leon County Schools students are moving back into classrooms in early November.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic schools all around the world shut down and switched to remote instruction. This forced parents to step in as teachers if they wanted their children to continue on to the next grade.
Unlike college students who switched over to Zoom, grade school students specifically started to use Google classroom with their teachers virtually teaching and guiding them through lessons.
Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna told WCTV that 55% of students in the district will show up to the classroom, while 45% have decided to continue their journey in the Virtual Academy.
At the beginning of the school year Leon County Schools had about 76 positive COVID-19 cases. Assistant Superintendent Alan Cox said that the students that tested positive did not contract the virus from a regular school day. It was rather contracted at home or participating in extracurricular activities, he said.
“My decision to attend school was based off personal preference and performance level,” Nyhla Holmes, a junior at Leon High School, said. “I am a visual learner and I tend to lose focus often. So, I thought if I were to do online school, it would decrease my chance of passing.”
Holmes said that last semester’s first round of online learning was very difficult for her. She thought if she stayed with online learning it would be a possible that she wouldn’t pass school this year.
Students like Holmes have been adjusting to their new schedules pretty well. They are also still participating in extracurricular activities while practicing the social distancing procedures required of everyone in the school district.
“I’m trying to make new friends and gain great relationships with new teachers,” Holmes said. “I also plan to attend all the football games and engage in spirit events Leon holds.”
Many parents are feeling confident that it will be safe for their children to move back to in-person learning. Others are being patient with the transition that is awaiting.
According to WCTV, parents of these students believe when children are being taught in person their grades improve.
Kesandra Walker, a program specialist for behavior with LCS and mother to Holmes, said: “I feel wholeheartedly positive about the current situation. As an administrator withLeon County, myself, I believe we have taken the best precautions possibly to keep our community safe.”
Starting Nov. 3, approximately 3,400 students will return to Leon County Schools for in-person learning.