Schools open with a healthy dose of joy

Calculators. Copybooks. Desk guards. 

Pencils. Erasers. Thermoscanners.

A few of these things are not like the others, as Big Bird and company would say.

These and more were signs of a First Day of School unlike any other, in South Jersey’s Catholic Schools on Tuesday, Sept. 8, in the Year of Our Pandemic 2020.

Still, consistent with their faith and mission, hope abounds.

After nearly six months away from teachers and friends, students returned to the classrooms. The temperature checks, masks and social distancing couldn’t stop the smiles in their eyes, or friendly waves that replaced hugs. 

“Today made us all feel like ‘We’re going to be OK; Jesus is with us,’” said Patti Paulsen, principal of Holy Angels School in Woodbury, as she described “an absolutely wonderful” day.

“Moms were jumping up in the air, the students were so happy to see each other. I’ve been an educator for 33 years, and this has been one of the nicest opening days ever.”

As students were dropped off by bus or car, they were greeted by Paulsen, her staff and teachers and Holy Angels’ priests — Father Joseph Byerley, pastor of Holy Angels Parish, and parochial vicars Father Peter Gallagher and Father Jose Manjakunnel — before undergoing temperature checks.

Even the music teacher came on her day off to welcome back the students.

The large part of the half-day saw each grade spend time in their own classroom, as will be the custom for the school year for the time being.  Time was made, however, for outside time for fresh air and socially-distanced soccer.

“My daughter was thrilled to go to school,” said school parent Jennifer Hunter, whose fourth grader, Sloane, was “excited to see her old friends and meet new ones” after last being at the school March 13.

“The school is a family,” and Sloane missed them, she said.

The plexiglass on desks, or desk-side crates for one’s own supplies didn’t detract from her daughter saying “what a great time it was.”

“Being in school is so important to the children,” Jennifer continued, praising the re-opening plans from Paulsen and her staff. “They had it together. I know (Mrs. Paulsen) is going to do everything in her power to keep the kids safe.”

Holy Angels’ third grade teacher, Stacie Colone, is teaching language arts, math, religion, science and social studies to seven students in the classroom, and six remotely via Google Classroom.

In this time of uncertainty, especially with the new technological aspects of education, she stresses — to both her students and herself — to “stay calm, have patience. Once we get used to this, we’ll be fine.”

At Vineland’s Saint Mary School, temperature checks in cars and thermoscanners represent the new normal, as well as three designated drop-off locations for students, and designated entrances and exits.

Nevertheless, “it was a phenomenal day,” says Principal Steve Hogan, noting that all students registered normal temperatures as they entered.

“The kids were very happy and thrilled. It was so nice to interact with them again,” he said.

He praised his staff for working diligently on the school’s re-opening plan, and the school community “who followed directions” during the first day. “The plan went off like clockwork. All this hard work has a value,” he said.

There was even time for sunshine and fresh air, as the school created outdoor classrooms with benches and tables. Students brought beach blankets and yoga mats for comfort.

At Saint Mary School in Williamstown, the doors opened at 7:50 a.m. for drop-offs and temperature checks. With nearly 400 K-8 students, the school staggered the opening days for certain grades. Grades K-2 reported on Tuesday, 3-5 on Wednesday, 6-8 on Thursday, and Friday would see the whole school together for the first time.

“We want to make sure we get it right,” explained Patricia Mancuso, principal.

While many schools took half-days, Saint Mary, Williamstown, started all-day instruction this week. Lunch and recess times were staggered to accommodate food distribution to students.

The larger seventh and eighth grade classes are now gathering in the school gym, two classes to each grade, and all four “classrooms” complete with smartboard and whiteboard, are divided by separators.

Mancuso thanked her faculty and staff for making the week possible, and she anticipates the school parents will “be patient with us, as we figure things out. One day at a time.”

One Williamstown parent, Nici Kummer, admitted that she was “skeptical” at first when learning of the school’s re-opening plans, but after seeing so many school teachers “buy in” and show their support for it, she trusted the administration to keep her twins Ava and Audra (second grade) and son Charles (kindergarten) safe.

She and her husband Chuck “couldn’t be more pleased,” she said. “We’re grateful for all their planning. They showed how much they care for our children” — not only their academic well-being, but “their physical, emotional, and social well-being.”

As for her kids, “they were happy (to return to school), and excited to see their peers.”

The school’s kindergarten teachers, Kerry DeCosta and Stacy Silvestro, guided in the youngest students, beginning at a new beginning.

Noting that most of the 5-year-olds knew each other from Saint Mary’s Pre-K, DeCosta said, “It was good for them to see their friends; they want to be here. I’m impressed with how well they did.”

The usual communal kindergarten tables might have been replaced by individual desks, and the routines and rules might now be different, but some things didn’t change: time for stories, arts and crafts, and even dancing.

“They were excited to come back,” says Silvestro. “Hopefully, this is the beginning of an excellent year.”