The first semester of the 2020-2021 school year begins to wind down for the LCSD

In Lauderdale County, the Lauderdale County School District is beginning to wind down its first semester of the 2020 to 2021 school year, as it prepares for students and staff to leave campus for Christmas Break in one week.

This semester kicked off the Lauderdale County School District’s 2020-2021 school year, and was the first semester for students to return to on-campus learning, after leaving school in march of this year for spring break, unable to return due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northeast Elementary School’s principal, Anita Wansley, and first grade teacher, Stephanie Dial, said that they believe many positive things took place this semester, despite the challenges presented by COVID-19.

With less than 3% of Northeast Elementary School’s entire campus being affected by positive Covid-19 cases, and doubling in the number of students who are learning on grade level.

“This first semester, I just have to say it has gone extremely well, in light of all the circumstances. I mean there is no doubt, this has been a difficult first semester, but when we reflect on this first semester, I am so grateful for the positive things that we have seen,” said Anita Wansley,

“We’ve had a lot of different changes this year, but we’ve been able to accommodate these students and I have seen tremendous growth with the students in the classroom for them to not have been to school half of last semester, and then to come to me. I have noticed a large amount of growth from them walking in that first day. They were so excited to be back on campus,” said Stephanie Dial,

Both also shared that they believe students and staff will be well prepared when second semester begins in January.

“I think moving forward we are going to be able to take so many of the lessons we are learning, about doing whatever it takes to make things work, to be able to continue to be flexible and fluid, because that’s kind of been our mantra. We just have to be flexible and be able to change with whatever next circumstance presents itself,” said Wansley.

“If we have made it through first semester, I think we can make it through anything, and I think the students really enjoy being back on campus,” said Dial.

The Lauderdale County School District will begin its Christmas Break on December 21, continuing through to January 1, with students expected to return to on-campus learning on January 6.