More McHenry County schools begin new in-person school year as does McHenry County College

Woodstock High School senior Sarah Cwik is ready to start her last year of high school, a year and half after finishing her sophomore year of high school online because of the beginning of the pandemic.

“I feel like I’m still a freshman,” the senior cheerleader said on her first day of school Monday. “I actually am a little nervous, but I remember being a freshman and being friends with the upperclassmen, so I hope I can be that senior through sports and classes.”

Cwik is one of about 1,000 Woodstock High School students, and hundreds more throughout Woodstock School District 200, returning to a full in-person school year.

Monday also marked the first day of school for McHenry County College; McHenry High School District 156, which is wrapping up a $44 million expansion at what is now its Upper Campus; and Prairie Grove School District 46, which pushed back its Aug. 11 start date because of an outage caused by last week’s storms.

Even more districts are set to start Wednesday: Huntley School District 158, Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47, McHenry Elementary School District 15, Harvard School District 50, Cary School District 26, Nippersink School District 2, Richmond-Burton High School District 157, Alden Hebron School District 19, Fox River Grove Elementary School District 3 and Wonder Lake-based Harrison School District 36.

They will be followed by Marengo High School District 154 on Thursday, Marengo Union Elementary Elementary District 165 next Monday, Johnsburg School District 12 on Aug. 24, and Riley School District 18 on Aug. 25.

[ Photos: Students return to school at Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 ]

Woodstock High School Principal Art Vallicelli said having kids back in school ready to learn, spend time with their friends and participate in activities made him excited for the first day of school.

“Seeing 1,000-plus students walk through the halls has us all thrilled,” he said.

Vallicelli and district Superintendent Michael Moan stood outside the high school’s front entrance Monday greeting students as they came in. The typical first day hiccups like a late bus still were there, but the day began without issues on the pandemic precautions as all students came with masks and avoided crowding in the halls.

In Bridget Fujino’s first period Advanced Placement pre-calculus class, the day began as normal as any other school year. While students wore masks, the classroom was full as Fujino passed out the syllabus and learned student’s names.

Graphic design teacher Sandi Brainard said she was worried about coming back in person, even though she was fully vaccinated. But after speaking with the school nurse, she is excited to be back teaching students in the classroom.

“It’s so invigorating to see students in the building, and I can’t wait for my first class to get in here and start shaping those minds. It’s just healing,” Brainard said.

While uncertainty lingers as COVID-19 cases rise and masks are a requirement, students and staff are looking beyond that at and focusing on what they can do.

“I’m just excited to see all my friends again,” senior Sam Berry said. “I want to do well in school, but I’m more excited to see my friends.”

Cwik also wants students to focus on what they can do to keep classes in-person.

“I really hope that everyone this year can really come together as a district community and really come past COVID and just follow all the guidelines we can to really make this year as best as we can, so we can actually be here the entire year,” she said.

Woodstock students were able to return to the classrooms during the second semester last year, but many remained home, Vallicelli said.

Woodstock High School also has another reason to celebrate the new school year. 2021 is the building’s 100th year.

“We’re rocking our T-shirts today,” said Vallicelli, wearing a T-shirt marking the building’s anniversary.

“I don’t think you’re going to find a 100-year-old building that’s in as good of condition as this,” Vallicelli said. “It’s in incredible condition. You get some of the art work up on the walls, and it it keeps tradition alive.”

The school plans to celebrate the building’s centennial in October.

At McHenry County College, students returned to the classroom Monday with the same optimism.

“I haven’t really had any human interaction in a long time,” said second-year student Anthony VonderHeide of Lake in the Hills. “I’m excited to build a relationship with people again.”

Even for experienced students like VonderHeide, Monday was a new experience with classes coming back in-person.

“I liked online because you’re doing all the work from home. Now that we’re back in person, we have to actually try harder again, not that I wasn’t trying, and build a routine again,” he said.

Lucy Klimkowski of Oakwood Hills had a math class for her first college class. The Prairie Grove High School graduate missed the end of her junior year and most of her senior year because of pandemic restrictions, and now finds herself a college student.

“I’m really excited for the rest of my classes,” she said.

The things she missed over the last year and half and the lingering pandemic restrictions left her describing her first day of college as “anti-climactic.”

“It just it wasn’t as exciting as I really thought it could be just because of COVID and the masks,” Klimkowski said “It’s just weird. It hasn’t settled in yet that I’m going to college.”

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the first day of school date for Johnsburg District 12. Their first day of school is August 24. The Northwest Herald regrets the error.