Wallkill Valley students will return to campus full time

For the first time since the pandemic closed schools a year ago, the Wallkill Valley Regional High School campus will open for full-day instruction starting Monday, March 8.

Currently, the school has a 12.30 p.m. early dismissal.

Superintendent David Carr said the full-time schedule will begin each day at 7.37 a.m. and end at 2.30 p.m. The students will actually be dismissed at 1.55 p.m. because some buses will leave at that time, Carr said.

This will add some more structural time for the students, he said, adding that the school will be getting back to its usual nine-period schedule.

“They would still maintain the A and B Cohorts. Cohort A students attend school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” said Carr. “Cohort B students will attend school on Tuesday and Thursday.”

Students still have the option of continuing virtual learning for the rest of the school year. Carr said the teachers will continue to instruct in-person and virtual classes simultaneously.

“We understand the struggle that this has become for everyone,” Carr said. “This is a lot for our teachers as well. The teachers are doing a great job at instructing the students, and the students have been great also.”

Each student attends class in person every other day, depending on their cohort. Carr said around 140 to 150 students are in each cohort, and on any given day that’s how many students will be in the building at one time.

The six-foot distancing requirement is still in place, with the school in consultation with the county health department, county superintendent, and state education department.

Carr said the cafeteria will be open for students. There will be four lunch periods.

“Our cafeteria staff has done a great job putting up protective barriers and going through the logistics of serving lunch and doing it safely with the allotted time they have,” Carr said.

Also, the tables will be six feet or more apart, with each table able to accommodate one or two students safely. Carr said that since the high school has a large cafeteria, 40 students can fit in there at one time. If needed to keep everyone safe, more tables will be added, and the students split into two groups.

Carr said the school will continue to make adjustments as needed.