Older students in Manitoba are heading back to their schools for in-person classroom learning today. Students from Grades 7 and up have been remote learning from home since the beginning of January, after the holiday break.

Carrie Friesen, principal at Garden Valley Collegiate marvels at how well students at the Winkler high school adjusted to two weeks of remote learning following the Christmas break. She says administrators and faculty were also "blown away" by how supportive the families were of the arrangement.

"We knew what we were asking families was actually quite a lot, and the families and students really stepped up. Our students connected with their teachers every morning, and they would work independently every afternoon. As principals, we tried to work together to try to limit the amount of time siblings would need accessing the Internet and things like that."

Friesen admits it wasn't perfect, and there were a number of challenges, but all things considered, their teachers were pleased with the way students adapted.

With the return to class, schools have been advised to ensure health guidelines on physical distancing, wearing masks washing hands frequently are adhered to by students, teachers and staff.

Meanwhile, it’s up to the school divisions to determine how the return of students will be implemented. For Garden Valley, students will be using the same system that was in place before the mandated remote learning order was issued, according to Friesen

"We're jumping right back into it. Students can expect to go back to the way things were prior to Christmas. Our breakfast program will be up and running, cafeteria up and running, but also our COVID responsible behaviour ... is back to normal as well. So, basically, we're going back to what we know instead of giving them one more change."

All teachers, administrators and staff have been working at the high school every day during the past two weeks. Friesen says having no students in the school made it "eerily quiet" but is looking forward to seeing them back in the building.

"It's going to be absolutely fantastic. We're really looking forward to getting the school hallways humming again."

Meanwhile, GVC students won't have to worry about cramming for their exams this month. Friesen says they have decided to cancel all final exams for this semester, and will instead extend in-class learning time through the period that would have been their exam week.