Whether online or in-person, school starts Monday in Lee County

Many families are nervous about the upcoming school year and what it will bring, especially with the coronavirus pandemic looming.

“I’m excited and scared at the same time,” said Chirneice Horn, a fourth-grader.

Emma Gonzalez is a third-grader who will be going to school virtually this year. She said she’s excited “to see all my friends.”

So to prepare, parents grabbed their lists and headed to their favorite stores for some last-minute shopping.

“We just got the basic essentials like her binder, notebook paper, composition books,” said Destiny Acosta, who’s shopping with her younger sibling.

Whenever Lacey Doty goes out shopping, she picks up extra masks.

“I always stock up on the masks. Gotta have the cute ones,” Doty said.

They’re the most important thing on the supply list for her kids, since they’re going back to school in-person.

“My kids personally don’t get anything from [learning] virtually. They need the interaction and to be around other kids too,” Doty added.

Christina Olea, a seventh-grader, wasn’t the biggest fan of online class either. She’s ready to go back and sit at her desk.

“It’s so boring and I think it’s easier to learn in person because I was having a hard time on the computer,” Olea said.

Acosta, her older sister, says she wants her sister to be excited about learning but doesn’t want her to risk her life and health doing it.

“I just want her to get good grades but I don’t want her to risk her life,” said Acosta.

The coronavirus pandemic is still a concern for many parents, that’s why Seth Campbell chose Lee Home Connect for his third grader.

“We just kind of want to see how everything plays out for the first couple of months with all the kids going back to school,” Campbell said.

Not only is he happy for her but she’s excited herself.

“I’m just excited for her to be with her teacher and her friends again even though it is going to be in a virtual setting,” said Campbell.

All in all, parents just want the school year to start off well and for their kids to be successful.

“Fingers crossed” is how Lacey Doty is approaching it.

Even the parents WINK News Reporter Andryanna Shepard spoke to that have their kids enrolled in Lee Home Connect hope it won’t last long. They want their kids back at school in the natural learning environment.

But with new positive cases of coronavirus still happening, they figure it’s best to keep their children at home.