All grades back at GCS schools

Paul B. Johnson, The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
·2 min read

Mar. 9—GUILFORD COUNTY — Leaders, educators and students with Guilford County Schools reached a milestone Monday, a year into the coronavirus pandemic.

All grades in kindergarten through senior year of high school are now back in the classroom.

Students in eighth and 11th grades returned for in-person classroom instruction for the first time since remote learning was put in place through emergency orders in March 2020. Guilford County Schools have brought back students in stages, with the two grades returning Monday the last ones to come back for in-person instruction.

Guilford County Board of Education member Khem Irby said the return of all grades represents an achievement for the school district.

"I think it means we are resilient and that we have prioritized learning for Guilford County," Irby told The High Point Enterprise.

Middle and high school students are being brought back in a pair of groups two days a week — one group will take in-person instruction Mondays and Tuesdays, and the other Thursdays and Fridays, with Wednesday set aside for deep cleaning of schools. During the three days when students aren't in class, they will learn remotely.

That means all GCS students will have returned to in-person classroom instruction for at least part of each week on Thursday, when the second group of eighth- and 11th-grade students arrive for the first time. The goal of the school district leadership is to hold in-person classes through the end of the academic year this spring.

Parents have the option of keeping their children in remote learning.

Superintendent Sharon Contreras said the return to classrooms establishes a better environment for learning.

"We know that the vast majority of our students learn best face to face, so we're really pleased to have more of our middle and high school students back in our buildings with their teachers," Contreras told The Enterprise. "While everyone has worked really hard to offer the best remote learning possible, the pandemic has reminded us once again that nothing replaces having a great teacher working in person with students."

pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul

pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul