A Glance into Lincoln Classrooms

WASHINGTON - As the first day of school approaches, teachers and administration in the Washington school district are working to adjust their classroom to follow new guidelines designed to keep kids safe while in school.

On the surface, the schools may not look any different, but a glance into classrooms tells a different story.

Looking into each classroom in the Lincoln Elementary School, desks are spread out 6 feet to provide social distance for each student. Some classrooms have face shields laid on the desks; some have hand-sanitizing stations set up at the door.

A few of the changes being made in Lincoln include grades staying in cohorts when traveling or doing activities, lunches are being split between the classroom and lunchroom, and playground areas are being roped off for rotating use.

The hallways in the middle school will have arrows directing the flow of students as well as stairwells designated for up and down use.

Molly Doorenbos, a third-grade teacher, said she is a little nervous but excited to start the year

'I trust my district, I trust Lincoln,” Doorenbos said. 'They've thought about a lot of things to make people comfortable.”

Doorenbos listed a few of the changes implemented this year.

'Trying to have class outside, limiting transition times, scheduled bathroom break times, there's a lot,” Doorenbos said.

They are trying to avoid cross contamination as much as possible, which will make contact tracing easier if a student or staff member becomes sick.

'Everything is much more laid out,” Doorenbos said.

In addition to routine and classroom changes, any items in the classrooms that are non-essential for the student's learning has been removed to create space for social distancing, said middle school Principal Curt Mayer.

During a school board meeting, Superintendent Willie Stone said the district has purchased shipping containers for temporary building storage as many things need to be taken out of classrooms to create space.

Each building will have a storage container close enough to be accessible if something needs to be retrieved.

Mallory Van Winkle, a fourth-grade teacher, said she is excited but a little nervous.

'I am excited to be back and to have a new group,” Van Winkle said. 'It's good to be back.”

When students return to classes Monday, there will be a significant amount of learning regarding the changes.

With face coverings required for students and teachers, a focus in the elementary schools will be teaching the students how to properly wear the coverings as part of the instructional lessons focused on good hygiene.

Hand sanitizer machines have been installed in each classroom in the middle school. Teachers have taped off squares around teaching areas and desks to provide additional social distancing.