Elementary students returned to in-person learning at the Chula Vista Elementary School District Monday.
It was a special moment for Principal Melody Belcher of J Calvin Lauderbach Elementary School. She never imagined her fourth year as school principal would be remote.
“The past year has brought many struggles. We’ve lost some of our families here at Lauderbach. Some have passed to COVID. We have had illnesses and some families have had to move,” Belcher said.
Some parents who dropped off their children were nervous about the new change.
Deborah Arboleda, a mom of two Lauderbach "Cougars," said she’s putting her trust in school officials to keep her kids safe.
“We’ve had them at home with us where we’ve been safe, where we knew where they were,” said Arboleda.
The school is offering a morning and afternoon cohort. Students will have three hours of instruction for four days out of the week. Belcher said they’re expecting 400 students to return to her school, which is more than half of their students.
But some parents are sticking to distance learning, as they’ve seen their children adapt well to the module.
Chula Vista Elementary School District Assistant Superintendent Mathew Tessier said about 57% of the district's students are returning to school out of the 30,000 students they serve.
