By Katie Teachout
The Journal 

They're back

High school students return to campus

 

Last updated 2/25/2021 at 11:35am

RITZVILLE – Lind-Ritzville High School students were allowed back together on campus as a full student body Wednesday, Feb. 17.

The school board approved the campus moving to Stage 5 at their Jan. 26 board meeting, allowing all high school students on campus for the first time since March 13, 2020.

"I would put this week in the category of successful," High School Principal Kevin Terris said Friday. "Our staff and students made a shift to some new guidelines pretty seamlessly. The high school staff is capitalizing on longer class periods, more interactions with students, and doing the kind of instruction that occurred pre-Covid."

The previous schedule, while the school was in Stage 4 of their re-opening plan, had freshmen and sophomores attending Mondays and Wednesdays, with juniors and seniors on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays. The school remains closed on Fridays except for students needing extra help.

High School Secretary Michelle Balfe reported 86 students showed up for school Wednesday, out of an expected 108. The full high school student body is at 145, with 37 choosing to remain remote-learners.

"Across the state, all high schools are toiling with attendance issues, so we have some work to do in that area," Terris said. "Overall, I am happy with this week and how well our staff and students have responded to the change to 5.0."

"We were excited to see them all back, all that wanted to come back," Superintendent Don Vanderholm said. "We will keep hoping for the best."

The original schedule after the Jan. 26 board approval was to have students return Tuesday, Feb. 16, but due to road conditions after the weekend's heavy snowfall, the schedule remained remote learning for one more day.

Transportation and maintenance crew members worked hard clearing snow from driveways, walkways and parking lots for Wednesday's re-opening after the long President's Day weekend.

Author Bio

Katie Teachout, Editor

Katie Teachout is the editor of The Ritzville Adams County Journal. Previously, she worked as a reporter at The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, the Oroville Gazette-Tribune, Northern Kittitas County Tribune and the Methow Valley News. She is a graduate of Western Washington University.

 

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