By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Editor

TOMAHAWK – Following months of planning, schools around the country have started the 2020-2021 school year in formats ranging from full in-person classes to completely virtual sessions as the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact continues to be felt.

St. Mary’s School and the School District of Tomahawk each developed their own back-to-school plans throughout the summer, and last week, those plans were put into practice.

St. Mary’s Principal Rita Lee and School District of Tomahawk Administrator Terry Reynolds late last week provided updates after students and staff had experienced their unique first few days of school in an unprecedented year.

St. Mary’s School

According to Lee, the school year at St. Mary’s has started on a positive note.

“St. Mary’s is masked up and ready to go!” she said. “We started the school year Tuesday with big smiles and happy faces.”

Lee said Father Louis Maram Reddy met with students and blessed the classrooms to start the new school year.

“The students have been doing a super job wearing their masks and learning some of the new rules for this school year,” Lee stated. “Our parents have been very supportive as well, even when pick up time took a little longer than expected the first day. We are looking forward to a fun and exciting year and are so excited to be back together again!”

The 3-year-old preschool class at St. Mary’s School.

Father Reddy blesses the 4K class. Photos submitted by Rita Lee.

School District of Tomahawk

Reynolds said the first few days at the School District of Tomahawk had gone “very well,” adding that the district’s “extra planning proved to be very beneficial and helped make the transition back to school successful.”

“Students are engaged in their learning activities and seem to be very happy to be back in the building,” Reynolds stated. “Both students and staff are getting used to the new COVID-19 procedures that have been put in place to keep everyone as safe as possible. We know that our reopening plan may need to change at any moment, but we are all just very happy to have students back in the building again.”