The Windom Area School District moved into its new elementary building in the fall of 2020, but not the way it hoped to. Music, art rooms, the gym and media center were used as classrooms rather than their intended purpose. The same applied to auxiliary rooms throughout the school.
As elementary students and staff head back to school on Sept. 9, things will definitely look a little different — the way they were meant to be.
“I’m looking forward to using Windom Area Elementary as designed this year,” says Elementary Principal Jamie Frank. “Students will be eating in the commons, having physical education in the gym, music in the music room, art in the art room and play as a grade level on the playground.”
Indeed, students were not only spaced six feet apart and wearing masks, but they only played with their class (not grade) at recess. All of the other spaces Frank named were used as classrooms in 2020-21 and rather than eating in the commons with fellow students, they ate in their classrooms.
Additionally, all sections of fourth and fifth grade will be back at WAES this year. Last year, fourth-graders were taught at the Highland building, while fifth-graders received their instruction at the middle high school.
For much more on the start of the school year at Windom Area Elementary School, see the story in an upcoming issue of the Cottonwood County Citizen.
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