Because the positivity rate of COVID cases around us has gone down, the public schools have started opening on a hybrid schedule. At the elementary school they’ve divided classes in half and half of the students go for three hours in the AM and half of the students go in the PM. The girls are both in the PM cohort, so they’re there from 1-4PM. Lauren started the week of October 6th and Sophie started the week of October 12th. Even though it’s only 3 hours, it’s made such a huge difference for them – especially Lauren, who just can’t work that independently yet.

It’s the first time they’ve gotten to meet their teachers in person and one of the few times they’re interacting with other kids. Half of the desks have been removed from the classrooms and there’s no moving around the classroom – all work has to be done at their desk – and masks have to be worn the whole time. They also have lunch at home so that no kids are eating at the school.

We’ll see how long this lasts, but I’m hoping that we’ll make it at least a few weeks (months?) before cases get bad again, which is what’s predicted. And the best part is Dave and I have three glorious, uninterrupted hours a day, which hasn’t happened in 7 months!

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