The scene in western Independence Monday morning was a scene that has played out across the country over and over during the COVID-19 pandemic. Masked people in line and socially distanced waited at the door of a building to have their temperatures taken before they could go in.
This time though, the only people going in were children. This was the first day of in-person classes at Cassell Park Elementary School in the Independence School District.
The Independence district is one of the first districts in the Kansas City metro to start out the school year with in-person classes. Many districts in the metro have elected to start classes after the Labor Day holiday with some of those districts offering options that include a combination of online and in-person classes. Some of those will start out online only and transition to a hybrid model.
The Independence district is offering the hybrid class model to middle and high school students, but elementary school students will attend classes in person five days a week.
Cassell Park principal Neal Johnson was at the door to greet students as they arrived. The school held summer school classes for four weeks in July. Johnson said of the 140 students who attended, there were no reported cases of COVID-19 in that time.
Here are photos of the first day of school at Cassell Park Elementary.
Gabriela Perez Pelico arrived for the first day of school at Cassell Park Elementary School, 10401 East 31st St., on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Independence. The school will have about 202 students learning in person and about 90 students learning remotely. The school successfully held summer school with no coronavirus cases reported. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Students arrived for the first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at Cassell Park Elementary School, 10401 East 31st St., in Independence. The school will have about 202 students learning in person and about 90 students learning remotely. The school successfully held summer school with no coronavirus cases reported. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Nicole Oyler, an intervention specialist, checked the temperatures of all students including Valencia Harper who arrived for the first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at Cassell Park Elementary School, 10401 East 31st St., in Independence. The school will have about 202 students learning in person and about 90 students learning remotely. The school successfully held summer school with no coronavirus cases reported. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, students arrived for the first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at Cassell Park Elementary School, 10401 East 31st St., in Independence. The school will have about 202 students learning in person and about 90 students learning remotely. The school successfully held summer school with no coronavirus cases reported. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Students arrived for the first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at Cassell Park Elementary School, 10401 East 31st St., in Independence. The school will have about 202 students learning in person and about 90 students learning remotely. The school successfully held summer school with no coronavirus cases reported. Students, standing on painted foot prints, were socially distanced during the entry process. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Students arrived for the first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at Cassell Park Elementary School, 10401 East 31st St., in Independence. The school will have about 202 students learning in person and about 90 students learning remotely. The school successfully held summer school with no coronavirus cases reported. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Masks were required as students arrived for the first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at Cassell Park Elementary School, 10401 East 31st St., in Independence. The school will have about 202 students learning in person and about 90 students learning remotely. The school successfully held summer school with no coronavirus cases reported. Students, standing on painted foot prints, were socially distanced during the entry process. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Principal Neal Johnson, left, greeted students as they arrived for the first day of school Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at Cassell Park Elementary School, 10401 East 31st St., in Independence. The school will have about 202 students learning in person and about 90 students learning remotely. The school successfully held summer school with no coronavirus cases reported. Students, standing on painted foot prints, were socially distanced during the entry process. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Visuals Editor Chris Ochsner leads The Star’s talented staff of photojournalists and video producers. He’s had his hand in directing visuals coverage since 2002. Ochsner led the visuals team in its coverage of four Super Bowls and two World Series.
