IC elementary kick-starts the school year

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Immaculate Conception Catholic School held a “Wildcat Kickstart Camp” Monday through Thursday mornings this week. The camp was a “soft opening” to the 2020-21 school year.

Students participated in activities with their classroom peers and homeroom teacher. IC also offered students academic diagnostic testing one afternoon of the week for a 45 minute session.

Jeanne Hansen, IC second-grade teacher, was on the school’s Return to Learn committee, and said that the committee realized there were a lot of things that could be addressed prior to the students returning to class.

“This week is really about helping the kids acclimate to all the new routines, and come together as a school community as a whole and as a community in the classroom,” Hansen said. “We wanted to make sure kids felt comfortable and safe, and felt loved coming back into the school.”

Hansen said the school knew that students would have a variety of different needs, including social and emotional needs, as well as the need to learn the new routines in place for COVID-19. She said both students and teachers needed to “work out all the kinks” after such a long time away from school.

“We knew we would need to hit the ground running after the students had been gone so long,” Hansen said. “It’s been eye-opening for teachers as well, as we put all the new routines into play. It’s been a great soft opening for us as well.”

The PreK to 6th-grade school will have most of its 184 students on site when classes begin next week. The school reported last week that nine students will be taking advantage of the remote learning option that is available to all.

“It has been a wonderful time. The kids adjusted well getting back together, and we also noticed that they’re tired by the end of the morning,” Hansen said. “Having this half day has been really helpful, as the kids are getting up early and having a regular school start time.”