Editor’s note: The Brown County Democrat visits a school on the first day each year to capture the action. This year it was Helmsburg’s turn. 

Hugs, high fives and smiles were abundant the first morning back at Helmsburg Elementary School for the 2021-2022 school year.

Big, yellow school buses pulled into the parking lot. Cars, trucks and even a motorcycle rolled by the school dropping off students for their first day.

All Brown County students returned to school in person this year. Last year, due to COVID-19, there was an option for students to attend remotely if they wished. But this year, students will be instructed in person unless they have to go into quarantine or the school goes to “red” level, when other arrangements will be made for them to get assignments.

For the first three days, students and staff were encouraged — not required — to wear masks in school if they were not vaccinated. That changed to a mandate over the weekend for everyone in schools, regardless of vaccination status. All students riding buses are required to wear masks on the bus due to a federal mandate covering public transportation.

It was not long before the rush of drop-off was over as quickly as it all began. All the excitement moved inside as students and teachers started a new year with hopes for more normalcy than the last.