Students of the Monroe County School District attended the first day of (virtual) school on Aug. 19. Teachers and students made the best of the situation by dressing up and putting on a smile. At Marathon High School, the seniors queued in personal vehicles at Marathon Community Park (with coffee and donuts!) before parading to the school. The district has said that school will continue virtually until at least the middle of September, when the community spread of COVID-19 will be re-examined. Shannon Weiner, county emergency management director, said they handed out 2,300 masks to the school district at the request of the Florida Health Department.
Ian Reyes, son of Keys Weekly designer Javier Reyes, is ready for his first day of school. He’s pictured with his little sister, Amy. JAVIER REYES/Keys Weekly 
Marathon High School principal Wendy McPherson, right, takes a shot of the double rainbow arched over the school on the first day. SARA MATTHIS/Keys Weekly 
This Marathon High School senior’s truck is decked out for a parade past the school before students return home to begin 1st period. GINA PASKIEWICZ/Contributed 
Nicole Wahlgren teaches eighth-grade science at Sigsbee Charter School. CONTRIBUTED 
Hillary Seeland teaches sixth- and seventh-grade social studies from an empty classroom at Sigsbee Charter School. CONTRIBUTED 
Heather May Sloan welcomes her sixth- through eighth-grade students back virtually from an empty classroom at Sigsbee Charter School. CONTRIBUTED 
Nancy Truesdale, language arts and reading teacher at Coral Shores High School, shows off her new office from her Key Largo home. 
