SWAMPSCOTT — As several districts in Massachusetts — including neighboring Marblehead’s high school — have reverted back to a fully remote learning system, Swampscott began moving forward to a hybrid model Monday.Despite the town being placed last week in the red grouping in the state’s color-coded system that signifies the highest risk for COVID-19 spread, Superintendent of Schools Pamela Angelakis and the distinct kept to the plan they outlined in August and opened schools for in-person learning.
It may have occurred two months later than the traditional school calendar would indicate, but that only added to the joy of having students and teachers back in the school buildings, Angelakis said.
“I saw happy students, happy parents and happy teachers,” she said.
Angelakis greeted students outside Swampscott Middle School with Principal Jason Calichman to start the day, and then visited the other buildings in the district.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had so many middle schoolers say that their day was awesome when they were leaving,” said Calichman. “They were so happy to be there.”
“After almost eight months, it’s great to have so many students and educators back in the buildings,” she said.
Angelakis said a great deal of time and effort have been spent on implementing safety protocols throughout the district, and students appear to have bought in.
“Students were busy learning new routines like sanitizing their hands before entering the building, following directional arrows, maintaining social distancing and wearing masks,” she said. “They were well prepared to adhere to the new protocols.”
Under the town’s hybrid model, students will attend school in person two days a week and study remotely the other three days.
Students are split into three groups: Cohort A (in school Monday and Tuesday), Cohort B (Thursday and Friday) and Cohort C, consisting of high-needs students, in school every day.The buildings will undergo thorough cleanings on Wednesdays and over the weekends.
“As I communicated with families last week, there are likely to be some hiccups this week and we expect to have to tweak some things, but today is a huge step in the right direction,” Angelakis said. “If we all continue to practice good habits and follow the protocols, we will keep everyone safe and keep our schools open.”
Last month, in an effort to be proactive in controlling the spread of COVID-19, the town instituted four mandatory mask zones. In addition, the town is offering testing three days a week at the First Congregational Church: Mondays from 2:30-6:30 p.m.; Wednesdays from 2:30-6:30 p.m.; and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-noon.
On Sunday, Marblehead School Superintendent John Buckey, in conjunction with other town officials, moved the high school back to fully remote learning for at least two weeks due to a party in town where the attendees could not be identified. According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, schools must revert back to all remote learning if their communities remain in the red zone for three straight weeks. Last week’s placement on that list was Swampscott’s first.
“I think that’s why it’s so important to get these kids in now while we can. Who knows what the future holds,” said Calichman. “If we end up going back to remote, I’m glad we’ve taken a shot at getting to know these kids.”
