WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester Public School elementary and middle school students are getting back in the classroom full-time starting on Monday.
The district is also preparing for high school students to return later in the month.
Nora Murray is a junior at Doherty High school. She says she’s ready to go from hybrid to full in-person learning. “I mean, I'm excited I feel like a past year I've affected my performance in school, I mean my grades have kind of remained the same, but I've watched myself and my work ethic kind of changed I feel like I find it harder to focus on more," Murray said.
Maggie McCarthy, a senior Burncoat High School agrees, being in the classroom is helpful. “It's a little easier, I mean personally I have exams that are really difficult so I like getting the in person guidance," McCarthy said.
The state announced this week schools are required to bring back high school students full-time by May 17. School committee member Molly McCullough says the Worcester Public Schools will be ready.
“It will take a lot of work, but I'm confident that our schools will be able to do it. They've been working on the plans and they're all really committed to getting the students back," McCullough said.
McCullough says it’s worth getting kids back even if it’s only for a few weeks.
“I think it's a good thing to get all of our students back into the building full-time before the end of the year to really get them back into a full school setting," McCullough said.
Meanwhile, the students we spoke with say they feel safe to return after getting their COVID-19 vaccine.
“I feel comfortable, everyone is wearing masks and the desks are spaced apart a good amount," Murray said.
They say they want to see their friends, too. Maggie says it’s a last hoorah for seniors.
“It's exciting to go back just because we have closure, we get to see our teachers and say goodbye and we're ready to move on and that's a nice aspect for me personally," said McCarthy.
Parents and students will have to make a decision about if their high schoolers will be remote or return to school full time by May 4. That link has already been sent to parents. Busing schedules will be finalized out after the forms are filled out.