Penn-Trafford High School juniors can return to 5-day in-person instruction Wednesday

Juniors will have the option to return to Penn-Trafford High School five days a week starting Wednesday.

Students can opt to learn remotely or continue attending two days a week, as they’ve been doing since the start of the school year, according to district officials.

A survey of juniors revealed that 167 plan to fully return to school, with 102 opting for fully-online instruction. The remaining 49 will continue with the hybrid model, according to Superintendent Matthew Harris.

There have not been any reported student covid cases at the high school since Feb. 10, when seniors had the option to return full-time.

Once juniors return, daily attendance at the high school will be just under 51% of total enrollment, according to Principal Tony Aquilio.

“Our expectation is to provide the students with the best education possible while keeping them, as well our staff and the community, healthy,” Aquilio wrote in a letter to parents.

Face masks are required in school, except in the cafeteria, where students will be spaced at least six feet apart, according to Aquilio. It is not possible to maintain social distancing in all classrooms, Aquilio said in the letter.

The school will follow state covid guidelines and close if there is a spike in coronavirus cases, according to Aquilio.

Assistant Superintendent Scott Inglese last month said the district planned to bring students back to the high school gradually, starting with the seniors. If the juniors return without any problems, younger students will likely follow in the near future, according to Harris.