Some Concord students got a jump start on back to school preparation at the Ready to Learn Fair at Rundlett Middle School last week, where they got to pick up new backpacks school supplies, and even get fresh haircuts to prepare for the first day of school Wednesday.
Families stopped by throughout the annual three hour event on Aug. 25 to pick up essentials such as backpacks, gym bags, notebooks, crayons and toiletries that students will use when they return Wednesday. Volunteers from the New England School of Barbering provided free haircuts for students wanting to look extra sharp for the first day of school.
For Concord School District, this year’s return to school will look very different from last year, as all schools plan to return fully with in-person learning five days a week. One year ago at this time, Concord students and staff were preparing to start the 2020-21 school year with mainly remote learning. This year, remote and hybrid learning not being offered at all, although some students may choose to take online classes part-time at VLACS.
“I’m anxious for school to start – anxious in a positive way,” Concord superintendent Kathleen Murphy said at a school board instructional committee meeting Aug 23. “We are back to normal, we are back with the kids, we can get out into the buildings and see where the action is.”
Some COVID safety protocols remain the same as last year. Universal masking will be required indoors at all Concord public schools this fall. Masks will be required until either the vaccination rate in the city of Concord reaches 70% or a vaccine has been approved for children under 12. Currently, Concord’s vaccination rate has been hovering at 59% since late July.
Merrimack Valley School District also has its first day Wednesday. Merrimack Valley also adopted a universal masking policy indoors when community spread is “substantial” in Merrimack County, based on DHHS recommendations and data. Every county in New Hampshire is currently experiencing substantial spread, due to the highly contagious Delta variant.
Many area school districts start school on Monday, including Hopkinton, John Stark, Bow-Dunbarton, Pittsfield and Pembroke. Kearsarge School District begins on Tuesday, and Franklin doesn’t start until Sep. 7.
Hopkinton superintendent Michael Flynn told school board members Tuesday that having all teachers back in the building as they prepare to open has been a welcome change from the way learning happened last year.
“Having everyone here, it was a great feeling,” Flynn said. “We haven’t had that in our profession in a while.”