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August 18, 2021

Students board school bus for D158's first day back to class.
Brandon L McBryde
Students board school bus for D158’s first day back to class.

Hang Your Hat • August 18, 2021

Students, faculty, and parents share their thoughts on D158’s first day of school

By
Students arrive at Huntley High School.Brandon L McBryde

Students arrive at Huntley High School.

HUNTLEY – Aug. 18 signaled the first day of school for Huntley Community School District 158 (D158) students in grades one through 12. The first day of school for preschool and kindergarten students at D158 will begin on Thursday, Aug. 19.

Despite universal masking being required for all students, regardless of their vaccination status, many parents, district staff, and of course the students themselves, seemed excited at the prospect of just being able to attend school in-person full-time.

Chesak Elementary School kindergarten teacher Jane Lawless couldn’t wait to welcome her students and being able to tell them about her summer adventures.

“I just wanted to say welcome back to Chesak. I’m so excited and for our new kindergarteners, we’re going to have such a great year. I cannot wait to share my camping experiences with all of you. Been out to Yellowstone [and] Camden cabins. Been up to Wisconsin. [I] had a great summer and I hope [they] did too,” Lawless said.

Suzanne Brancato, a second-grade teacher at Chesak, shared what she looks forward to most in this new school year.

“I’m so excited that we’re going to be starting off a new school year at Camp Chesak. I’m looking forward to seeing all of [their] smiling faces back in our building and I can’t wait to meet my new group of second graders.”

Dana Dalton-Wiley, a parent of two students currently in the district, explained that while she was disappointed to hear that D158 will be following Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s masking mandate, she hopes that it is something that “passes quickly and that [students are] able to go back to a little bit more normalized type of environment.”

Dalton-Wiley’s daughter Mckenna, a student at Marlowe Middle School, stated she was excited to be able to meet her teachers and see her friends after not fully being in-person last school year.

“I’m really excited to be back in person and being able to see my friends and my teachers. I’m a little upset that I have to wear a mask because it is a little bit uncomfortable walking up and down the stairs. You do get out of breath and everything and especially in P.E. when you’re running around and everything,” she said.

However, McKenna was able to explain that teachers are instructed to provide students with “mask breaks” where students are taken outdoors and can remove their masks.

While the masking debate continues to divide communities across the nation, most parents agree to applaud the tremendous effort educators have put forward in maintaining as much normalcy as possible for students regardless of the situation.

D158 Board of Education board member Lesli Melendy couldn’t agree more.

“After almost two years, D158 is back to in-person learning and our staff is looking forward to doing what they do best—teaching our students. I think the first day will be like any typical first day of school filled with excitement, energy, some nervousness, and new experiences,” Melendy said.

“There is always a contagious energy that comes from our teachers on the first day of school and I’m so happy that we can welcome our school community back into a safe and healthy environment. I think patience, understanding, and flexibility will be key to a successful school year. We have the best school staff around and in partnership with our families, I think we will have yet another stellar school year in D158.”