DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. -- Parents and students eagerly greeted teachers for the first day back in the classrooms at Dinwiddie Elementary School on Monday.
Nearly 1,000 students registered to come back to the classroom while another 1,000 continue to learn from home through virtual learning.
"We've always wanted to the kids back, we've always wanted them back as soon as we could when it was safe," Christie Clarke, Director of School and Community Relations, said. "Our teachers have worked hard. It's all very different."
School officials began the process of phasing students back in last week, starting with special education classes.
The 2020-2021 school year started out virtual due to the pandemic.
"We know it's going to be different, but it's better for them to be able to go and see kids and do stuff and have some kind of normalcy," parent Brittney Roberts said.
Students' temperatures were checked right before entering, everyone is required to wear masks at all times while inside the building, distance reminder signs have been placed on the floors and kids will be eating lunches in their classrooms.
School officials said kids will be learning four days a week in person.
The buildings will undergo extra cleaning each Wednesday.
Starting October 4, students in grades 6 - 12 will begin to phase their way back into the school buildings.
