Bellevue School District is hoping to bring kindergartners through second graders to the classroom part-time in January, it announced in an update Dec. 14.

“This year, many kindergartners have spent nearly half a school year without ever stepping foot inside a classroom. They have not met their teachers in person and only know their classmates via video camera on their computer,” the district’s update states. “These students need to build a strong foundation of academics and social learning to be successful throughout their entire educational journey.”

The district has prepared it’s facilities with protective equipment and risk reduction practices, and will also offer continued remote learning if families choose so.

The district is currently in Stage Two of its six stage plan to bring schools back to pre-COVID operations. While the schools are not expected to fully open until January, some Bellevue School District students are already starting in-person education.

The 600 students that the district says it welcomed back to in-person classes recently include those struggling with learning engagement, experiencing homelessness, English language learners and those receiving special education services.

Before that, almost 3,000 students have already been participating in activities on school grounds including preschool, BOOST program, athletic training pods and special education services.

Bellevue School District will give families two weeks notice before full in-person learning resumes, according to the district’s website. The district has a survey available for K-2 families that will ask whether they wish to continue online learning or participate in the hybrid model.