Newtown shooting survivors go back to school

MONROE, Conn. The youngsters who survived the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary returned to class Thursday for the first time since the shooting rampage, settling in at their old, familiar desks but in a different school in a different town.

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Newtown students return to class

Classes resumed for the first time since last month's shooting in Newtown, where a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six educators.

With their original school still being treated as a crime scene, the more than 400 students are attending classes at a refurbished school in the neighboring town of Monroe. Law enforcement officers have been guarding the new school, and by the reckoning of police, it is "the safest school in America."

The school district said parents who want to be close to their children are welcome to visit and stay in classrooms or an auditorium throughout the day. Parents were encouraged to have their children take the bus to help them return to familiar routines.

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Newtown superintendent: Teachers will give students a normal routine

Still, Newtown Superintendent Janet Robinson said officials will do their best to make the students feel at ease.

"We will go to our regular schedule," she said. "We will be doing a normal day."

Returning students, teachers and administrators were met by a large police presence on a sunny and cold day with temperatures hovering near 10 degrees. Several police officers were guarding the entrance to the school, and were checking IDs of parents dropping off children.

On Wednesday, the students and their families were welcomed at an open house at their new school, which was formerly the Chalk Hill Middle School in Monroe but renamed as the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Students received gift boxes with toys inside and shared joyful reunions with teachers.

Teams of workers, many of them volunteers, prepared the Chalk Hill school and even raised bathroom floors so the smaller elementary school students can reach the toilets. The students' backpacks and other belongings that were left behind following the shooting were taken to the new school to make them feel at home.

Students found the same chairs and desks, when possible. Their classroom walls were painted the same colors and hung with the same pictures. Other details, such as the location of bookshelves and cubby holes, were replicated as much as possible.

"Everything's in order where it should be," one father, John Eisele, said. "The desks are there, even down to the teachers' Tic Tacs are in the right spot, so they've done a wonderful job."

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60 Minutes reports: Tragedy in Newtown

For survivors of the shooting and their parents, the day comes with mixed emotions, Matt McFarland of CBS Hartford affiliate WFSB-TV reported on "CBS This Morning" Thursday.

"We ask her if she's excited, and she says, 'Yeah,' she's excited, but, you know, you can see the question in their eyes," said Eisele. "You can see it. They're a little nervous, very nervous."

"Comfort" dogs will be on hand to help ease the transition, McFarland reports.

Vinny Alvarez took a moment at the open house to thank his third-grade daughter's teacher, Courtney Martin, who protected the class from a rampaging gunman by locking her classroom door and keeping the children in a corner.

"Everybody there thanked her in their own way," he said.

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Victims of Conn. school shooting

The gunman, Adam Lanza, also killed his mother at the home they shared in Newtown before driving to the school and gunning down students and educators, including the school's principal. Lanza fatally shot himself as police arrived. Police haven't released any details about a motive.

Numerous police officers on Wednesday guarded the outside of the Monroe school, which is about 7 miles from the old school, and told reporters to stay away.

"I think right now it has to be the safest school in America," Monroe police Lt. Keith White said.

Teachers attended staff meetings at the new school on Wednesday morning and were visited by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy before the open house, White said.

Robinson said Chalk Hill School has been transformed into a "cheerful" place for the surviving students to resume normal school routines. She said mental health counselors continue to be available for anyone who needs them.

During the open house, Alvarez said his 8-year-old daughter also got to pick out a stuffed animal to take home from the school library.

"I'm not worried about her going back," he said of his daughter Cynthia. "The fear kind of kicks back in a little bit, but we're very excited for her and we got to see many, many kids today. The atmosphere was very cheerful."

Several signs welcoming the Sandy Hook students to their new school were posted along the road leading to the school in a rural, mostly residential neighborhood. One said "Welcome Sandy Hook Elementary Kids," while a similar sign added "You are in our prayers."

I think Rozie and I have come up with a long term solution to making our schools safer. First consider what it would cost to put armed guards in schools and how many would be required at each school. Now here's our plan. Put bullet proof doors on every classroom (with a bullet proof window in each as required). These doors would have locks on them that require a key from the hall but open without one from the classroom. Next every classroom wall that faces the hall would be paneled with bullet proof material. All ground level outside facing windows would be bullet proof with at least one per room being of the kick out (not kick in) variety for safety reasons in case of fire or some such emergency. Of course the initial cost would be expensive, but given the life of a school would pay for itself when considering the lives protected when weighed against the cost of salaries of who knows how many armed guards per school for the number of years in a schools life. 1 guard @ $20,000/year X 5 guards X 30 years per school. Just an idea to be considered when trying to protect children.

I think Rozie and I have come up with a long term solution to making our schools safer. First consider what it would cost to put armed guards in schools and how many would be required at each school. Now here's our plan. Put bullet proof doors on every classroom (with a bullet proof window in each as required). These doors would have locks on them that require a key from the hall but open without one from the classroom. Next every classroom wall that faces the hall would be paneled with bullet proof material. All ground level outside facing windows would be bullet proof with at least one per room being of the kick out (not kick in) variety for safety reasons in case of fire or some such emergency. Of course the initial cost would be expensive, but given the life of a school would pay for itself when considering the lives protected when weighed against the cost of salaries of who knows how many armed guards per school for the number of years in a schools life. 1 guard @ $20,000/year X 5 guards X 30 years per school. Just an idea to be considered when trying to protect children.

[Mortpes]

Parents please go to your school today. Verify for yourself if the adults in charge can provide security( armed security), are the doors secure to prevent explosive entry, is the building secure (can someone just walk off the street onto campus)? If not please contact your state representatives now.

[canameri]

The media should have stayed away and let the kids have this day to themselves, instead of in the spotlight.

[TryTakingMyMoney]

Glad to hear that heavily armed security with semi-auto assault weapons are now in place even though liberal CBS will not report all the details. NRA was right.

[displeased2]

How did we get to this point that we need heavily armed security to protect our schools?

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
panic, consternation then oblivion, the same scene is repeated after each shooting. It is true that life goes on despite the pain, but the cause is still there, dangerous weapons are still circulating in the U.S., and even a large police presence in front each school can not prevent other shootings to occur, it is unfortunately, the sad reality.
"au revoir"

[ssporleder]

Really?

To say this is the safest school in America is just giving a nut job a goal to prove them wrong.

[nevadagirl2]

well, when one looks at the reality of the situation we now have in malls, theatres, and schools (which we have had for awhile)- it's time. Armed guards and metal detectors. It has worked in Texas for decades. AND it's time to treat each and every school individually- INDEPENDENTLY. If the children in a school are threatened, they need to be protected. Nope, I'm not a member of the NRA, just a retired schoolteacher who did experience the successes of a school that protected it's students. The schools have that obligation and responsibility to it's body. If this is the only way we can do it, so be it.

[GHSong]

I agree it is time to make schools safer. But at the same time,we need to remove the assault rifles out of the streets of our city. Hand guns should be allowed for self-defense, but assault rifles and large magazines should be banned. There is no civilian need for assault rifles, hunters don't use them either. They are only for killing people in a mass murder. In both school incident and Colorado theater shooting, the gunman shot more than hundred of bullets in less than a minute using the same type of assault rifles with large magazines.

[RandyBrass]

I agree.

[Randymg]

I just wish the press and TV did NOT call this the safest school in America...that's going to attract some nuts, but I hope not!

[midwestteach]

I cannot imagine having to endure a situation like this. Being a students, teacher, parent, or otherwise in this community today must be a supreme challenge.
As a parent and teacher, I cannot even begin to predict how I would feel if this were me today. Would I prefer police there or not? Would I prefer to go to a new school or wait until mine opens again? Would I send my child there or move away? Would I want some mementos of the old school or something completely new with no recollection? Would I want to remember or forget?
I'm so thankful that I don't have to make those decisions. I pray for those that do. It sounds like they have made many of these decisions to the best of their ability and they have their reasons for each excruciating decision they've had to make about going back. I think the best thing the rest of us can do is support them and be available if/when they need help.