At the end of a week preceded by lots of preparation and anticipation, Vancouver School District Superintendent, Suzanne Hoffman focuses on the start of part-time, in-class instruction in her latest video update. 

It was a week of transition, and Hoffman says principals in the District described Monday with an array of terms, including, ‘calm, excitement and anxious.’

Hoffman adds attendance varied school-to-school during the week, emphasizing the District respects families’ choices about whether to have their children return to their classrooms, or not. About 17,000 students in the Vancouver District were back in their school buildings over the first three days of the week.

Schools were orderly, with students entering and exiting while remaining physically distant, break times staggered, and health and safety protocols – like hand washing and cleaning –diligently followed. One principal stated the work that staff put in to prepare, paid off. The nerves some children arrived with changed to joy after reconnecting with friends, teachers, and support staff. The principal’s account ended with “The school felt alive once more.”

Hoffman also reiterated that students whose families chose to remain with learning from home throughout this month, will continue to have their learning expectations and goals met. She adds connection is imperative to a student’s health and well-being, and is humbled and inspired by the work done to prepare for this latest adjustment in establishing a new normal. 

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