Wantagh, Seaford First Day Of School 2020: In Photos
Daniel Hampton
Updated ·4 min read
WANTAGH-SEAFORD, NY — Students returned to the classroom in Wantagh and Seaford this week for the first time in six months. Smiling faces greeted teachers — be it in person or virtually — to start the new school year.
Wantagh Public Schools superintendent John McNamara said the start of the school year went well. Students and faculty came prepared to meet the challenges of the year ahead. Instead of the usual congregation typically seen on the first day, students were ushered toward temperature check stations while wearing masks and social distancing. They were then sent to their assigned classrooms.
"Even though the return to the classroom is different, the administration, faculty and staff have worked diligently over the past several months to provide a safe environment and balance the social and emotional needs of our students with the academic programs we will offer during the course of the school year," McNamara said in a statement. "I am confident that 2020-2021 will be a productive and positive school year for all Wantagh students."
Seaford’s new year began gradually, with days set aside during the first week for specific grades to attend school so students could become acclimated to health and safety protocols. On the first day, Harbor and Manor elementary schools welcomed fourth and fifth graders, who met their teachers and learned about new procedures such as eating lunch in their classroom and social distancing at recess. Seaford Middle School’s new sixth graders also were in class on the first day.
At Seaford High School, students will come to school every day, but will attend classes in person either in the morning or afternoon on rotating days, while participating in distance learning the other half of the day.
Below are some of our favorite photos this year.
(Want to add your child's photo? It's not too late! Send your pictures to Dan.Hampton@Patch.com. Please include your child's name, grade and school. Note: Only submit photos that you have taken yourself or own the copyright to. By submitting your photo to this callout, you are granting Patch the right to republish it on any and all Patch sites.)
Abigail Burgess enters third grade this year at Seaford Manor School. Her favorite part of school is art class and recess.
Madelyn Burgess enters fifth grade at Seaford Manor School. Her favorite part of school is seeing her teacher and friends.
Seaford High School senior class officers, from left, Kathleen Tuohy, Colin Merrigan, Dominique Cannatta and Kelly Wylie socially distanced for a photo celebrating their last first day of school. (Courtesy of the Seaford Union Free School District)
Seaford Harbor Elementary School fourth graders, from left, Alex Sepulveda, Joseph Bellissimo, Adrianna DiPierri and Aniella Sartoria were excited to be back at school for the first time since March. (Courtesy of the Seaford Union Free School District)
Harbor fourth graders Loriana Taormina and Jimmy Prinzevali practiced an air fist bump, one of several social distancing greetings they learned on the first day of school.(Courtesy of the Seaford Union Free School District)
Josef Schreiner, right, enters first grade at Forest Lake Elementary School in Wantagh. Leah Schreiner enters fifth grade at Forest Lake.
Leah Schreiner enters her last year as a fifth grader at Forest Lake Elementary School.
Wantagh High School Principal Dr. Paul Guzzone, center, made sure that all students abided by social distancing guidelines by standing on emblems spaced six feet apart on the start of the 2020- 21 school year. (Courtesy of Wantagh School District)
Each day, Wantagh students will have their temperature checked prior to entering school. (Courtesy of Wantagh School District.)
Wantagh Middle School students patiently awaited under the school’s colonnade for the opening of school doors on Sept. 9. (Courtesy of Wantagh School District.)
Mandalay Elementary School teacher, left, Stacy Wright, is pictured with Principal Marie Pisicchio and her third grade class on opening day in Wantagh. (Courtesy of Wantagh School District.)
Mandalay Elementary School third-grader Gianna Indiviglia tested her mathematics skills on the first day of school in Wantagh. (Courtesy of Wantagh School District.)
Joy Giangrande’s third grade class at Mandalay Elementary School in Wantagh was excited to get back to school on opening day. (Courtesy of Wantagh School District.)
Anthony Ferrara enters fourth grade at Forest Lake Elementary School in Wantagh. Anthony is looking forward to seeing his friends again and learning in the classroom with his teacher.
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