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WHEELING -- Just before the bell rings to start a typical school year, there's activity and a spirit of excited emotion present in the hallways.
Students run up to the friends they might not have seen in recent months, telling tales of their adventures they had over the summer. There might even be a few hugs exchanged.
That's not going to happen this school year in the time of coronavirus, with socially distanced classrooms and both students and teachers wearing masks. Students coming close together will be discouraged.
"Once in school, they won't be congregating," said Shelby Haines, superintendent of Marshall County Schools.
"The kids at the high school, they will hang out in the hallways before school or hang out in the gym at lunchtime. That won't be happening this year. They will go to their classrooms."
Students and staff in West Virginia public schools will be required to wear a mask when they are on the bus or on school property when the school year starts Tuesday. Students not wearing a mask when they get on the school bus will be provided with one, she said. Students who get on at the same stop will be asked to sit together on the bus.
Some teachers previously had set up small areas in their classroom for individual learning, such as reading nooks.
These have been eliminated to provide more space for social distancing and spacing out of desks in the classroom, according to Haines.
"We have tried to socially distance as much as possible," she said. "Some classrooms can, some cannot because there are too many children."
Students will find removable tri-fold Plexiglas shields surrounding their desks. They will be instructed in the importance of washing their hands and using hand sanitizer, and signage reminding them of the proper methods have been placed.
There will be rules for one-way traffic only in the hallways, and there won't be any water fountains. Marshall County School has instead installed hydration stations where students can fill their personal water bottles with water.
Marshall County is among local school districts implementing a hybrid plan for returning to school, utilizing both in-school and distance learning opportunities.
After the first week of school, half of the students in Marshall County Schools will be at school in their classrooms on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the second group on Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will be a cleaning day in the school.
On the days they are not at school, students will be responsible for participating in online learning opportunities.
Teachers will have set times they will be online to discuss with students any issues they might be having, but students and their families largely will be able to choose when they want to sit down to the computer for learning.
"We understand some parents need to work, and can't always sit down with the younger students to make sure they are learning," Haines said. "We understand some older students can log on and do what they need to do
"We are trying to be flexible. To say a student has to be on-line between 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. is not possible."
In the end, students must be accountable for completing their assignments, according to Haines.
Current plans for schooling in Marshall County and other school districts will be reviewed and likely adjusted by the end of this month.
Haines said Marshall County Schools will continue to watch the number of COVID-19 cases to determine further courses of action. She plans to announce on Sept. 23 how the school district will proceed after Oct. 2.
Ohio County Schools also has implemented a hybrid plan for the return to school that differs only slightly from that in Marshall County. After the abbreviated first week of school, "Group A" among Ohio County students will report for in-person schooling on Mondays and Thursdays, while "Group B" will be in the classrooms on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Decisions about how often high school students involved in project-based learning in such areas as career tech and music can come to school will be determined later this month, according to Superintendent Kim Miller.
"Everything will be different, though the educational opportunities will be better than ever," she said.
"The teachers have done a great job preparing for virtual learning, and they are using technology in different ways and now have different platforms to deliver instruction. It can be made more personalized to the students."
Students will be able to do remote learning at times when it is convenient, and teachers will schedule office hours to help students who need it.
The school district has purchased additional hand washing/sanitizing stations for school buildings, as well as "Smile Masks" for students and staff. The masks have a transparent window over the mouth area so mouth movements can be seen.
Social distancing areas also have been marked off in the schools, Miller said. For example, stickers depicting the Wheeling Park High School logo have been placed on the floor in the school's office to keep students apart. This suggestion came from WPHS secretary Karen Seabright.
The configuration of classrooms and lunch areas also look different, she said. All desks and tables have been turned the same direction so students won't be sitting face-to-face.
"Parents need to know we will do our best to provide excellent educational opportunities in a safe environment," Miller said.
Gabe Wells, coordinator of communications for Ohio County Schools, said the staff is working hard as it prepares for the upcoming school year.
"Everyone is so busy," he said. "It is amazing to see how much time people are putting in to prepare for this year, and how committed they are to getting off to a great start. I am inspired by what I see."
There is one other school tradition much awaited by students that likely will be eliminated as remote learning becomes more prevalent in school systems. They may never see another "snow day" cancellation of school. Students will just go to their computer devices for the day's instruction.