LANSING Students once again filled the Okemos High School halls with chatter and laughter, nearly bringing Christine Sermak to tears.
The Okemos High School’s principal on Monday greeted students who chose to return for in-person learning at the high school for the first time in nearly a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The morning had the excitement of the first day of school as students greeted each other and walked inside. Sermak even took a photograph with her daughter to mark the occasion.
“It’s so emotional. It’s almost like when you get your vaccine, you just want to tear up,” she said. “It’s just been a long journey. When you think about it, we have been out of this building since March 13 (2020), so it’s been a year. It’s just really exciting to have kids back in the building. They’re really the energy. They’re the reason why we’re here.”