With students returning to buildings that have not been occupied in six months, each district set up a different plan and schedule in moving the school year forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Silver Creek, the district declared the first week of school to be all half days. This was by design, according to Todd Crandall, superintendent, because they thought this layout would help to accustom students and faculty to the new protocols and procedures. It also gets everyone used to wearing masks all day with mask breaks.

“Overall I’m hearing good reports from all three buildings so far,” he said in an interview on Tuesday afternoon. “These half days are pretty important this week for us.”

Crandall also told the OBSERVER the students and parents seem to be very excited to be back in school again. “They are incredibly excited to be here and the families are very excited and grateful they are here today, I have many parents telling me that today,” he said. “We’re an academic institution, but we’re also a large family. We want to get everybody back that chooses to be back so we can comfort, support, educate, check on everybody’s social and emotional well-being, and we know that routines, consistency, and structure are very important to people’s lives, especially students.”

Laura Szalkowski is in first grade at NCCS.

Leading a school district during a pandemic is not easy, but Crandall explained that it would not be possible without the whole team of faculty, staff, support staff, and administration. “Today is a total team effort,” he said. “From the bus drivers to the maintenance, the custodians, the clerical staff, the administration and the teachers.

“It’s not one little person or part of an organization. It’s every part working together to create a system where these kids came back into a safe school environment.”

At Fredonia Central Schools, Dr. Colleen Taggerty said the first day “went very smooth.”

“The seniors picked up their packets and the first and second grade classes were in person and everyone acted accordingly and knew what they had to do.”

The seniors also took part in their chalking of the school tradition which sees each senior given a piece of sidewalk chalk and they decorate their area however they choose. “It was nice to see, I’ve never experienced that before, but the kids had great fun drawing things,” she said.

Sienna Galofaro started fourth-grade at Forestville on Tuesday.

At the county’s only private Catholic school, Northern Chautauqua Catholic School reported a great morning.

“Parents hung out and we served breakfast,” Principal Andy Ludwig said. “Questions were asked, answers were given and everyone was positive and upbeat.”

NCCS is doing 100% in person learning and space doesn’t appear to be an issue.

“Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton has given us the OK to hold classes there except when there is a funeral, we can go outside while the weather’s good,” Ludwig added. “I told the teachers to get creative and they’re doing amazing.”

Ludwig explained to the OBSERVER that he tried to think of every “what if” scenario ahead of time and he, along with his staff and the school board feel that they’ve done the absolute best that they can.

Five-year-old Katelynn poses on her first day of first grade.

“We’ve established protocols and the students and staff are following everything nicely,” Ludwig said. “I’m so proud of everyone for what they’re doing. All we can ask is that everyone be safe, kind, respectful and Christ-like in everything they do here and they most definitely have. Please pray for a safe school year.”

At Cassadaga Valley Central Schools, its first day of classes Tuesday were not in person. “Day one has been about making sure we are connecting or contacting each student in the district,” explained Superintendent Chuck Leichner. “The high school level is different from the lower level. Some high schools may have already engaged in instruction, while the in the elementary school we’re trying to make sure they can access technology.”

Over the last two weeks the school has distributed devices for all of its 900 students in the district. Leichner said the majority of families have reliable internet, while a handful — possibly as low as 50 to 60 — do not. For those families, “we’re working closely with them to find a solution,” he said.

Leicher applauded teachers for their efforts in teaching in such a different way. He thanked parents as well. “They’ve been extremely patient. This is just an unprecedented adjustment for them.”

One kink the school did not foresee is the elementary school’s phone lines went down Tuesday afternoon. “We’re working with our service provider to fix this,” he said.

Kindergartner Max McWillson wears a mask outside Silver Creek Elementary School on the first day of the 2020-2021 academic year.

Next week, CVCS will start in-person classes. The student body has been divided up into “red” and “blue” groups — the school’s two colors. The red group will be doing in person learning on Mondays and Tuesdays and the blue group will do in person learning Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will continue to be remote for all students.

Robert Harrington is a fifth-grader at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.