The director of the Lambton Kent District School Board says there are signs teachers and students are adjusting to life in the pandemic classroom.
John Howitt told Sue Storr on CHOK (103.9 FM, 1070 AM) Wednesday morning that the initial anxiety is beginning to subside.
"Our teachers are settling in, education workers are settling in," said Howitt. "They are thrilled to be back in front of students and have students. They're not loving wearing PPE all day everyday and are looking for greater opportunities for breaks from wearing it. Thankfully, right now we're starting to get into a bit of a routine and are focused on the academics and the curriculum."
Howitt said it's been especially challenging at the secondary level.
"Normally, a secondary teacher would be teaching three of four periods a day, three different subject areas or at least three different classes," he said. "So, we've gone to a quadmester model which, in 44 days, we do a full day of the same course for the whole week and then the following week we do a second course. Teachers have really had to adjust their teaching, and they're doing a great job of it."
Howitt said 85 per cent of students in the public board chose to return to face-to-face learning in September.
Families will have the opportunity later this month to switch between in-class and virtual learning if they wish.
There have been no COVID cases reported so far in Lambton-Kent schools.
-With files from Sue Storr