HAMDEN, Conn. — The school year, for most communities, is rapidly approaching, but Hamden is the latest to delay its start.
Two teachers were diagnosed with COVID-19 last week, but the school system cited personnel issues as the primary reason for the delay.
Now, teachers, administrators and parents are looking at the extra time as an opportunity. This includes at K-6 Ridge Hill Elementary School, where, for most of the summer, the principal and custodians have collaborated.
"We were looking at what are our numbers, how many kids do we have, how many classrooms and grades do we have of each and really making sure that we’re separating everybody out," said Stacie D’Antonio, the Principal at Ridge Hill.
And the school's open floor plan is a big help.
"We have four classrooms within a big, big unit that is separated by bookshelves that’s actually served us very well for social distancing," D'Antonio said.
"We love our school," said Faith Beasley-Howard, who has three children that attend Ridge Hill. "We love the principal. I love how the teachers interact with the children, the staff."
But, she says, her children will take part in distance learning through at least the first semester.
"My husband and I, we have been doing very well with getting the reading, the writing and arithmetic done as well as making sure that they can engage in physical activity," Beasley-Howard said.
Not knowing how diligent other families are in enforcing the proper protocols has pushed them to be cautious, though.
"I just feel that it’s important for my household that I keep my children at home," she said.
And the school system is prepared for distance learning.
"Everybody’s got their own laptop or chrome book provided by the district," said Karen Kaplan, a spokesperson for Hamden Public Schools.
With the technology at their fingertips, it will hopefully keep the students at home engaged "through the virtual classes in real time group work with other kids with the teachers," said Kaplan.
Especially with young students a comforting hug can go a long way to getting them through the day, but that can’t happen now. Still, teachers say, there are many ways to comfort a child.
"Whether it’s giving them a break from their seat, giving them opportunities to move and really making it as easy as possible for our kids to succeed," said Bridget O'Connor, a Kindergarten teacher at Ridge Hill.
Welcoming rather than resisting change is the key.
"I’m looking at it like a brand-new adventure and we’re going to make the best of it and have a great school year," O'Connor said.