LPS students adjust to masks, social distancing on first day of school

During the first day of in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic, LPS staff say students and teachers were excited to be back in school.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – For many students, parents, and teachers, the back-to-school jitters felt a little different this year as they geared up for the first day of class during a global pandemic.

“They haven’t missed a beat,” says Cindy Schwaninger, the Director of Elementary Education for Lincoln Public Schools.

Wysong Elementary principal Randy Oltman took Channel 8 News around the school, showing the beginning of a ‘new normal’ for students.

After the first few hours of the day, Schwaninger and Oltman say it was going smooth.

“As the principal and I walked around, we saw children learning, having lessons about face-coverings, they’ve been practicing lunch procedures, and school is going as usual,” Schwaninger says.

Schwaninger says she understands the concerns of those who may have doubts and doesn’t want to belittle their skepticism. She says she wants to assure those families that they will be vigilant.

“We know there will be positive cases, there’s no doubt in a school district this size, that’s going to happen. So I think we want people to know again that were getting guidance and continuing to meet with the health department so if we need to make changes, we will,” she says.

Students will stay in their classrooms for the majority of the day, not including lunch, recess, and physical education.

Specialty classes like art, music, library, and computer science will be brought to the students.

At Wysong, students will stick with their cohorts, and all face the same direction at lunch tables. Schwaninger says they will be wearing their masks until they are sitting at their tables with their food.

When it comes to recess and outside classes, each teacher is given a ‘zone’ – a general area where their class will stay. As long as students keep their distance outside, masks can come off.

“If it’s hard, we’ll practice, have some lessons, practice some more, and I think patience as we learn,” Schwaninger says.

Principal Oltman says of the nearly 600 students at Wysong, 41 of them have chosen remote learning. According to LPS, that’s the lowest number compared to all other elementary, middle, and high schools and accounts for about 7% of Wysong’s student population.

Oltman and Schwaninger say that if ever a student wishes to come back to in-person learning, they will be welcomed with open arms.