(NECN: Brian Burnell, Monroe, Conn.) - The first day back to class is in the books for students of Sandy Hook Elementary School. Those students lived through last month's mass-shooting in Newtown, Conn.
Everyone's focused on giving some normalcy to these kids.
December 14, 2012 was a normal day that went absolutely haywire when 20-year-old Adam Lanza killed 20 students and six adults inside the school. He then killed himself.
Buses rolled in Newtown, Conn. Thursday morning when they carried elementary school children to their new school in neighboring Monroe.
It’s unlikely Sandy Hook in Newtown will ever reopen. Classes were moved to Chalk Hill School in Monroe, which was spruced up in a hurry and renamed Sandy Hook Elementary.
This was a mid-winter first day of school for about 500 kids, most of whom were excited to see friends they hadn’t seen in a while. Teachers were quite excited to see the students, too.
Parents were allowed to stay with their children. Most went to an assembly where education officials and police answered their questions.
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Lt. Kevin White says they seemed satisfied with what they heard.
“The children’s safety is of upmost importance to both towns,” Lt. White says.
There’s also extra help on hand at the new school, including therapy dogs, which a lot of the kids have sat down with.
There are counselors are available, as well.
Police are trying to strike a delicate balance.
“We don’t want them to think this is a police state. We want them to know that this is a school and a school first. And that’s a place that they are to come to learn, enjoy their friends and grow up.”
Parents will be especially happy when the media crush that has inundated this town for the past three weeks leave and leave them alone.
