APPLETON (NBC 26) -- Districts and families have been preparing for months. Tuesday, much of Northeast Wisconsin will finally begin a new school year.
“Honestly, I feel really calm and resigned I guess," Appleton parent Maria Myers said. "I really feel like, I’m sure that the school district and board has everyone’s best interest at heart.”
Students around the region will either return to the classroom, continue to learn online, or do some of both. Some of the area's biggest districts will be fully virtual to start the year, including Appleton.
“They were bummed for like five seconds and I expected them to be like frustrated, and they just weren’t," Myers said. "They were like okay, what do we do next.”
Experts we talked with said that's a good attitude to have. We don't know exactly what this year will look like, but it will be a much different experience than what kids and families are used to.
“The best they can do is just talk about those things," Sherman Counseling Clinical Director Casey Hanson said. “Parents can definitely either call excitement to how the ritual is different, that this is something fun and new we’re trying, or they can just be candid about this is different because we’re choosing this to keep our family safe.”
Hanson said some anxiety should be expected as the school year begins. Talking with children can help ease their concerns and make it an easier adjustment in the first few days of school.
“I think I’m just choosing to look at this as positive as we can because this is the hand that we were dealt," Myers said. “There’s only so much preparation you can do before you just got to jump in and try it.”
