By Katherine Mueller
Staff Writer
As the final step of returning all students to campus, Costa began the implementation of in-person learning for students five days per week on April 19.
After more than a year of distance learning, Costa students who desire to return to on-campus learning are now able to attend each class with the absence of the “team” groupings that were initially created. However, students who chose to remain in distance learning are not forced to return to campus.
“School is more than academics, and in-person learning is more than social. It’s fundamental,” Costa parent Desire Brown said.
Following the week of April 19, all weekly schedules began to follow the same pattern, with odd and even periods remaining in a block schedule. Even and odd period days will alternate each week, though school days will end no later than 12:25 p.m., with one hour and fifteen minute long class periods and lunch proceeding after dismissal.
“The best part of hybrid learning is being able to interact with my teachers in-person rather than through a computer screen,” sophomore Fiona DeFrance said.
Before each student enters Costa’s campus, they must go through a health screening on Ruvna and present it to the staff in order to enter. In classrooms, students are required to wear face coverings at all times and follow proper sanitation and distancing procedures.
“I think we’ve made enough guidelines to follow, and I think that everybody’s doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” Costa science teacher Ernesto Nodado said. “I’m hoping that everyone’s back in person next fall. Ideally, in order for my students to have a full experience, I would like for them to be here.”
Many students and staff have felt comfortable back in their respective elements and have experienced an energetic momentum due to in-person learning, according to Costa Vice Principal Tara Grings. According to Grings, COVID-19 spread during school has been non-existent, and cases subsequently triggered due to activities outside of school have been minimal.
“A lot of us haven’t felt good about life in a while,” Grings said. “Even though [the return to school] was a little weird, I think we had to act urgently because it makes a difference. I do believe that we will be able to have students in-person for the rest of the school year.”
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