Nearly 50,000 public school students in Boston returned to school Thursday amid the MBTA’s Orange Line shutdown.
Boston Public Schools students returned to campuses across the city on Thursday.
Some 50,000 students will be back in the classroom, as Grades 1 through 12 begin their new year.
For first time since the pandemic, in the fall of 2019, there will be no mask mandate to start the school year. Instead, masks will be optional, except for certain specific situations.
On Wednesday, Boston Public Schools volunteers were in neighborhoods going door-to-door trying to directly reach out to students ahead of the first day, knowing the last few years have been challenging for students.
“Some of them are nervous, some of them are excited but they’re trying to recommit to school and we’re here to support them,” said Kathy Hamilton of the Boston Private Industry Council.
“We know that it makes a difference when we go door to door to re-engage our students,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who was among those going door to door. “It’s not only to make sure we are showing up for our young people… it’s also to check if there are any other resources the families need that we can help with.”
Wu was among those greeting students Thursday at Mattahunt Elementary.
"We are so excited," Wu said at a press conference held Thursday morning. "The first day of school is one of the best days of the whole year. Obviously, there's been a little extra wrinkle this year with the Orange Line situation," she said, referencing the 30-day closure of the busy transit line used by many students to get to school.
"This is great, this is where it all starts, this is where we put in all the hours, all the love for the children, so the first day’s great,” Mattahunt Elementary Principal Walter Henderson said.
"We're excited to welcome thousands of students back to Boston Public Schools. I think this is a first day of joy and excitement," acting Superintendent Drew Echelson added. "We feel really ready for the first day of school."
