Updated: 5:29 PM EDT Apr 5, 2021
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THE CLASSROOM FULL-TIME. SHARMAN: WE ARE HERE AT THE CALLAHAN SCHOOL IN NORWOOD WHERE MOST KIDS HAVE RETURNED TO FULL-TIME IN PERSON LEARNING. THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A YEAR ARE RETURNING TO IN PERSON LEARNING. A WELCOME BACK SIGN GREETS STUDENTS AT THE CALLAHAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN NORWOOD. >> IT FEELS LIKE THE FIRST DAY BACK. SHARMAN: GREEN BALLOONS AND PINWHEELS ON THE LAWN. IT’S MEANT TO SHOW THE MERGING OF THE BLUE AND GOLD COHORTS WHO’VE BEEN LEARNING IN A HYBRID MODEL SINCE SEPTEMBER. >> I THINK IT’S EASIER FACE TO FACE, BECAUSE ON THE COMPUTER IF YOU HAVE A GLITCH YOU CAN’T REALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHARMAN: STUDENTS SAY ONLINE LEARNING HAD ITS ISSUES. WHY DO YOU WANT TO SAY GOODBYE TO ZOOM SO BAD? TO SEE IT EVER AGAIN. SHARMAN: THE STATE ORDERED ELEMENTARY GRADES TO OPEN UP TO FULLY IN PERSON, CITING LIMITED TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS INSIDE SCHOOLS. PARENTS CAN KEEP KIDS REMOTE. >> WE REMOVED EVERY EXTRA PIECE OF FURNITURE IN OUR CLASSROOMS TO GET AS MUCH SOCIAL DISTANCING BETWEEN OUR DESKS AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE REALLY COULD DNA LEVEL WHERE WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING. SHARMAN: THE STATE SAYS 930 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE NOW FULLY IN PERSON. 69 WAIVERS WERE GRANTED, INCLUDING IN BOSTON AND WORCESTER. THE STATE LOOKING TO HAVE ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FULLY IN PERSON BY MAY THIRD. >> THEY’VE BEEN GOING FOR SO LONG TWO DAYS A WEEK THAT I DON’T REALLY SEE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE WITH GOING FIVE DAYS A WEEK EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT , THERE’S A LITTLE BIT MORE KIDS. SHARMAN: MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE SET TO RETURN TO CLASS LATER THIS MONTH.