Nerves, excitement and hope: Chandler students go back to school and adjust to new normal

Nearly an hour before the official start of the school day Wednesday, a long line of cars already snaked around the parking lot of Santan Elementary and Junior High School and into the street, a sure sign of anticipation.

Crossing guards and school staff excitedly greeted students as they walked onto campus, welcoming them back, making sure they knew where their classes were and often complimenting them on their first-day outfits.

“I love ‘Cars’, too!” a staff member said upon seeing a boy’s Lightning McQueen shirt.

A parent, holding her daughter’s backpack, smoothed her child’s hair as they waited with others to cross the street. Students filtered into the school gates as parents called out “I love you” and snapped pictures on their phones.

These scenes and others marked the first day of school for students in Chandler Unified School District, the state’s second largest school district and the first to return to classrooms in metro Phoenix.

Students said Wednesday they were equal parts nervous and excited, while some parents admitted to having more jitters than their children. And together, Chandler school administrators, teaching staff and families plan to navigate the new normal for in-person school in a district with optional masking and quarantining for students.

Chandler High School biology teacher Katie Nash was both nervous and excited, wondering how the district’s optional masking policy would play out among her students and how her two young daughters would handle their first day of school.

Nash, who is also president of the Chandler teacher’s association, said she was frustrated at the recent debate about whether state law or public health guidance could set quarantine policies but was hopeful.

“I’m cautiously optimistic that things will go well this year.”

A new year, a new normal

At Sanborn, Principal Caryn Cole and school staff reassured concerned parents, helped students find their classes and made sure the line of cars in front of the school kept moving.

Unlike some times last year, masks are optional for both staff and students, and the school had a mix of both Wednesday, with more people not wearing masks.

Cole, who was wearing an orange vest at the school entrance while helping manage traffic and welcoming families, said masks are optional but social distancing is still in place.

“We still have some social distancing, 3 feet apart in the classrooms and in the lunchroom, so they will still be socially distant on the cafeteria tables. All tables are still facing forward and in a row,” she said.

Masks in Chandler schools are optional but recommended for unvaccinated staff and students. Quarantining is optional for students without symptoms who are exposed to COVID-19 unless community spread or active cases in the school reach a specific threshold.

Parents bringing young students in said they were still concerned about their children catching COVID-19 because elementary school-age children are not able to get vaccinated yet but were also happy that their children would get a chance at a school year close to pre-COVID times.

Danielle Ford, mom of a 7-year-old starting third grade, took a photo of her son at the school entrance and waved goodbye while he walked into school with his mask on.

She said he will wear a mask because he can’t get the vaccine yet.

“I’m vaccinated. Everyone in my family is, (we) make sure we keep him safe as much as possible,” Ford said.

Another mother, Corinne Martinez, who was at the school with the father of her four children, said her three kids attending Sanborn had masks in their backpacks and knew they could wear them if they wanted to.

Martinez said until her children can get vaccinated, COVID-19 is still a concern for her.

“My kids are really great with washing their hands after being drilled in them for a year, and (we’re) just reminding them to keep their distance and not share their things with people,” she said. “We have discussed, when flu season starts, to talk to them about wearing masks again.”

Martina Ashley said her 12-year-old daughter, Eleanor, was feeling “very nervous” about starting seventh grade at a Santan Junior High, which would be a brand-new school.

Prior to Wednesday morning, they’d gone to orientation, purchased all of the necessary supplies and reviewed Eleanor’s class schedule, which was written on her hand in black ink.

Both wore masks on Wednesday morning, with Ashley saying that her daughter feels more comfortable being masked anytime she is in public until she is able to receive a vaccine.

Ashley said she doesn’t personally have concerns about sending her daughter to school in-person during the pandemic.

“I think the schools take every precaution and it’s up to everyone, it’s their own opinion, about wearing a mask or not, but we choose to,” she said.

Christine and Josh Farmer dropped off their two children, 8-year-old Jake, starting third grade, and 5-year-old Drew, starting kindergarten.

She said “a lot” of preparation is involved in getting her children ready for the school year, which also includes the family tradition of taking a photo in front of their home in the morning and treating them to a fun activity after school on the first day.

Josh Farmer said they “trust the judgment” of the school when it comes to COVID-19 protocols, with Christine Farmer adding that she is comfortable with the relaxed policies and sees them as a positive development.

“He (Jake) was very excited to be mask-free this year and be able to run and play and see his friends’ faces on campus,” she said.

Though they’re starting their school year earlier than most, Josh Farmer said their kids were eagerly awaiting the first day.

“It’s fantastic that all the kids are back in school,” he said. “Both of them were very excited to get back and see all their friends. A little bit of nerves, obviously, but ... overall excitement for sure.”

Josh Farmer said he hoped his children would experience a lot of social learning during the school year that might have been more difficult if school was still virtual.

“They can bounce ideas off of each other in person this year, which is great,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the social aspect of being back in school.”

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The building blocks of school

As students flooded into the building, coming out of school buses, cars and walking by hand with parents, Cole kept an eye on the kindergarten families in particular, for whom this may be the first time in a classroom, ever.

“It's just always special to see those kindergartners come, see their first day and to see the parents,” Cole said. “It's kind of bittersweet for them. They're excited to see them starting school, but it is hard for them to let go. So, (we've been) just reassuring them we're going to take good care of them today.”

Last year, Arizona saw its steepest enrollment declines at schools last year in early grades — about 42% of the loss was due to preschoolers and kindergartners not showing up on public-school rolls, according to state data.

Now, as they come to classrooms, parents must be ready to let go, and students will learn some of the building blocks of being a students: how to line up, sit in a seat and, for the first time, eat in a school cafeteria.

At Hancock Elementary, many new students are coming in, some of whom will have their first-ever experience in a classroom this year.

“Our kindergarten numbers have grown a lot the last few weeks,” Principal Joe Walters said.

Hannah Rodriguez, mother of 5-year-old Isabella who attended her first day of school ever on Wednesday, said she was still scared about the virus but hoped her daughter could have a normal day.

Just like many other kids, Isabella said she was excited about having cafeteria lunch for the first time.

Rodriguez also said she talked to Isabella about precautions against the virus and said she had a mask in her backpack in case the school was still requiring them.

“(I) talked to her about washing her hands when she goes to the bathroom, just taking those precautions before she eats, after she eats, things like that,” she said.

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First-day, middle school jitters

Young students weren’t the only ones feeling the first day jitters. For many middle school students, Wednesday was also their first day at a new school.

Cici Price, a 12-year-old starting seventh grade, said she was “excited and nervous” about the first day of school, which also marked her first time at Santan Junior High. She said the transition was made easier by knowing people from her previous school and club sports.

Price, who said her goals for the year are to have fun while getting good grades, is grateful masks are optional.

“It feels good because you can enjoy the year without having to wear a mask and be far away from your friends,” she said.

Her mother, Corina Price, was similarly glad to see more relaxed COVID-19 protocols this year.

“I think they need to be together without the masks,” she said. “I’m glad that it’s optional right now, so they can have the full experience.”

Staff (and parents) gear up for fall

The start of school can also be nerve-wracking for parents. Benjamin De Fresart brought his 5-year-old daughter Abigail De Fresart to Hancock Elementary on Wednesday. She’ll be attending kindergarten for the first time.

They prepared for the big day by having ice cream for dessert the previous night, and in Abigail’s bag were a few items from home that were special to her, including a photo of her little brother.

“I’m probably more nervous than she is. Just because it’s a big school, K-6, and she’s going to be mixed in with sixth graders all the way down to K. I’m just anxious that the first day goes well and that she makes it to the after-school program without any issues.”

Courtney Miles, whose three children attend Hancock Elementary, prepared for the school day by making sure all three kids had a restful night before the big day.

As her son Cameron hugged and ran around with a friend, Miles mused on her feelings: “I’m excited. I thought I’d be sad.”

For Cole, the principal at Sanborn, one of the moments she is most worried about is at the end of the day: making sure students, especially those in kindergarten, are on the right bus or in the right carpool line.

On Wednesday, more students than expected returned to buildings, and dismissal took a little longer, but it went smoothly, Cole said. As an educator of 28 years, seven of which were as principal at Sanborn, she had focused her first day hopes on one thing: building community.

“The biggest part is they feel safe, welcome and happy,” she said. “All the kids were really just positive.”

Reach the reporter at ykunichoff@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @yanazure.

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