Caleb Ruiz, 8, stood in front of the massive 100-year-old Moreton Bay fig tree and gave two thumbs up. It was the third-grader’s first day back to school after six months, and his mom, Diana Ruiz, wanted to preserve the moment. But she had to do it from her car.
Parents at Fairmont’s Historic Anaheim Campus were not allowed to walk their children to class or get out of their cars as they would on a typical first day. During the coronavirus pandemic, nothing is typical. Last-minute words would have to be exchanged in the car — listen to your teacher, dad will pick you up, I love you.
“They are ready to be back,” Diana Ruiz said, emphasizing the “ready” after taking her son’s drive-by photo.
After just being cleared by health officials for pre-K through sixth-grade in-person instruction, about 30 percent of 300 families at the Historic Anaheim Campus opted for onsite instruction. Online school started for all students last week.
Teachers took temperatures at the curb and gave air hugs, setting the social-distancing example, as they excitedly greeted students for a half day.
The school now has two groups: “Roomers and Zoomers,” Principal Rebecca Lugo said. The names refer to in-person and online learners.
“We worked really hard to keep the two groups together,” she said.
The private school has spent about $500,000 on technology and other coronavirus safety measures.
Maria Streadbeck has a kindergartner, a second-grader and a fifth-grader at the school.
“I am cautiously excited,” she said of in-person school. “Everything is hands free. There is limited interaction and smaller class sizes
“I feel safer about having my kids go there than to the grocery store.”
A robotic iPad controller will pivot to capture teachers on video and beam them to at-home learners. The Zoomer students will be projected on a 50-inch TV screen so they can interact with the Roomers. That was still being set up on Wednesday.
Teachers in younger grades spent their time Wednesday going over health procedures.
Kindergarten teacher Nicole Vink explained that hand sanitizer must be applied before and after recess. Students need to keep an arms length apart. Students are not allowed to share any school supplies or water bottles. And masks must be worn at all times.
At this, Charlotte Gautier’s hand shot up. The 5-year-old wondered how she was supposed to eat.
“You’re allowed to take it off to eat but you will have your own table outside,” Vink said.
Outside, Mindy Perkins’ first-grade class lined up for recess. Six-year-old Max Foy jumped up and down with excitement.
“This is the happiest day ever,” he said. He was happy to see his friends and happy that his “mom and dad don’t have to do more work and gather my papers all together.”