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Pleasanton students return to class
Pleasanton students return to class. Elissa Harrington reports
PLEASANTON, Calif. - Thousands of students in the East Bay head back to school on Thursday.
The Pleasanton Unified School District is welcoming back all students – including middle and high schoolers – back to campus.
It should be an exciting day for these students who have been doing distance learning for the past year.
School officials plan to make the homecoming special.
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Not all students chose to return to in-person learning in Pleasanton
Parents and teachers at Foothill H.S. in Pleasanton said the decision to return to in-person learning was not something they took lightheartedly.
At 8 a.m., families in the district lined the streets heading into the high school to welcome back and cheer on students as they drive and walk to class. Educators were outside the five schools that are reopening.
"We are a little apprehensive," said parent Matt Armstrong. But he added: "We feel like this is a good situation for the kids to get out."
Pleasanton Unified becomes the first school district in Alameda County to open back up to all students, including the higher grades, for in-person learning. Berkeley recently announced a plan to open some its elementary schools five days a week, but the middle and high schools are not included.
Elementary school students went back earlier this month.
City officials and school leaders posted a video on YouTube reminding students to continue following safety guidelines and wear a mask on campus.
Students have been placed into groups for hybrid learning and some are choosing to continue to remote learning as well.
The district has seen declining enrollment during the pandemic.