Helper Middle School is being highlighted on this week’s Carbon School District weekly update and Castle Country Radio was able to speak with Principal Robert Bradley about how teachers are excited to have students back in school.

“I don’t know if there was a teacher that wasn’t excited, that’s why they got into the profession and certainly there is a little apprehension in terms of how that looked, what the meant, and how that was going to be handled but everybody wanted to see their kids. They take personal ownership of these students and their learning and they just want to be present with them because that is what feels good as a teacher,” said Principal Bradley. Both faculty and staff are thrilled to have students back in school after abruptly ending in March due to the pandemic.

There are several options that students are given to learn this year and Helper Middle School has a mixture of students using these options. First is in-person learning which requires students to wear a mask to school, which is a mandate from the Governor’s office.  “Now we also have other options for those that do have to be isolated for whatever reason. Teachers have cameras, they can quickly just launch a classroom, a remote classroom. Students that have to be isolated at home for about 3 days to 3 weeks, it’s kind of around the time frame we are looking for can log in during their normal bell schedule and participate in classes if there present and not be marked absent,” said Principal Bradley. This is similar to the option that was used when students were at home after the March release.

“And we have those that for whatever reason can’t make it physically to school whether it’s a family member or an illness or something that’s going to be long term or some concerns about bringing COVID home in that case we do have an online learning option which is a program called Ingenuity,” said Principal Bradley. This program is self-paced and there is a facilitator that grades the work submitted by the student at the school. This allows for students to progress through that curriculum that will keep them on point with their peers.

The construction at the school is moving along fine and the bus lane is now finished and usable. “We open Monday our new bus lane, it was sad to see the trees and the shade go in the front but we not have a much safer pick-up and drop off area. Busses are off the main street, so parents can still pick up and drop off on the other side and then busses can grab the kids and go without any trouble,” said Principal Bradley. This new set up is a safer option for students.