O.C. Teachers Welcomed Back to School

Student-athletes at Ocean City High School turned out Tuesday morning to give teachers at all three public schools a VIP greeting on their first day of the 2020-2021 school year. The welcome back ceremony included goodies that were given to the teachers by OCNJ CARE, a nonprofit organization that is helping the community to recover from the emotional and financial hardships of the coronavirus pandemic. Volunteers Jen Bowman, Kathy Sykes, Terry Camoratto, Julie Bickings, Katie Grimm and Ray and Sarah Clark helped to organize the event. Members of the girls lacrosse team greeted teachers at the primary school. At the intermediate school, the teachers were cheered on by members of the girls cross country team. Football players welcomed back the teachers at the high school. Members of the girls cross country team form a greeting party at the intermediate school. Ocean City’s school district is planning to use a hybrid model of learning for 2020-2021 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. In the hybrid schedule, students will report for in-person instruction with their assigned cohorts – either O or C – for two full days of learning, and then participate in three days of virtual learning each week. Staff has reported for training the week of Sept. 1, and then school buildings will open to students on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Alternatively, families will have the opportunity to enroll their children in the Ocean City Virtual Academy, the district’s full-time virtual learning program. Members of the girls lacrosse team give teachers an enthusiastic welcome at the primary school.