Friday marked the end of the first week of school at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy — and the start of a new normal for students and staff.

“It’s been a good week,” Principal Dan Nicklay said Friday. “The kids are happy to see their teachers and their friends, albeit through a mask.”

Charter students are split into two cohorts. One attends class on campus Monday and Wednesday, while the other is on campus Tuesday and Thursday. All students attend class virtually on Friday.

Cohorts are further divided into “pods,” which travel together from class to class, with some exceptions. This is meant to minimize the amount of contact between students; if one student tests positive for COVID-19, only students in the same pod would have been directly exposed.

Patterns on the floor in halls and classrooms direct the flow of foot traffic, and masks are required. While on campus, students remove their masks only to eat, and they remain physically distanced during lunchtime.

Some families are taking advantage of full-time online learning. Nicklay said he expects the number of students who attend class virtually full time to fluctuate throughout the year.

“I’m hopeful that people extend us some grace and understand that we’re doing the best we can,” he said.

Charter Academy teachers are working hard to create a quality, rigorous learning environment, Nicklay said.

“I’m one of them, so I can say this — some of us are old dogs, and this is a new trick,” Nicklay said.

Nicklay found a bright side, pointing out that adversity builds camaraderie.

“We have a common enemy right now in this pandemic,” he said. “You rally against it. When you’ve got something like this staring you in the face, it’s pretty amazing how people step up.”

OTHER SCHOOL STARTS

In the Lakeland School District, the school year will begin Sept. 8 in the “yellow” level of operation. Students will attend school in-person five days a week. Face coverings will be recommended where physical distancing cannot be maintained. A full-time online learning option is available for students. The level of operation will be reassessed on a weekly basis.

The Post Falls School District will begin the school year Sept. 8, in the “orange” level of operation, with a hybrid learning model where one group of students attends school on campus Mondays and Thursdays, while the other attends Tuesdays and Fridays. Wednesday would be used for teacher collaboration, planning, staff development, online student support and interventions for students needing additional support. An online option is available for students.

The first day of school in the Coeur d’Alene School District will be Sept. 14. Blended learning is in effect for the first week of school. Students will attend class in-person two days a week and virtually the other three days a week. One group of students attends class in person Monday and Tuesday, while the other group does so Thursday and Friday.