Fairfield principals report great first day under hybrid model

FAIRFIELD – The principals in the Fairfield Community School District said the first day of school Monday went smoothly, despite all of the changes the district had to implement in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Fairfield High School Principal Brian Stone said the high school had a 'phenomenal” first day, where students and staff were excited to see each other after months apart.

He said everyone did well adhering to the rules such as wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.

'Staff and custodians did a great job of setting up classrooms so that students had appropriate social distancing and provided adequate cleaning supplies,” he said. 'Of course, we had some challenges that will happen anytime you do something for the first time.”

Stone said he sees the mistakes as learning opportunities, and that staff will continue to look for ways to 'make FHS great.”

Fairfield Middle School Principal Laura Atwood said the middle-schoolers were resilient and flexible wearing their masks and face shields.

'I know some of them were anxious about getting back, but now that we have started to get students in the building, they are less anxious with figuring out schedules and how things work,” Atwood said.

The district is preparing for another 'first day of school” on Thursday, when the other half of the student body comes to class. The district is doing a hybrid model where half the students come to class on a given day while the other half study online. One group goes to class on Monday, Tuesday and every other Wednesday morning, and the second group goes on Thursday, Friday and every other Wednesday morning.

Atwood said middle school staff is working hard and are proud of everything the district has accomplished so far.

Washington Elementary School Principal Evan Hammans said his students, the youngest of any building, did a great job keeping their masks on. He said the new pick-up and drop-off routine at the school, where parents enter from D Street and Jackson Avenue instead of Madison Avenue like they used to, went smoothly, too.