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WINDSOR – A new school year will, in some ways, mimic the most recent one.

Bertie County Public Schools welcomes students back this week and next to officially start the 2021-22 academic year.

Bertie Early College opened its doors to students on Tuesday, Aug. 17. All other public schools in the county will wait until Monday, Aug. 23 to hold their first day of classes.

All Bertie students and staff will return to school under a facemask mandate. At their meeting on Aug. 10, the Bertie County Board of Education voted to require all staff and students to wear a facemask while at school, including on buses.

Meanwhile, all Bertie County Schools will adhere to the Health and Safety guidelines in the Strongschoolsnc: Public Health Toolkit, according to Danny Perry, Coordinator of Safety and Security, Health and Physical Education, and Support Services for the school system.

Perry added that all athletic teams are on a normal schedule for practice sessions and games. He said those teams will also follow the guidelines in the Public Health Toolkit.

School hours for 2021-22 are as follows:

Bertie Early College: 7:55 am – 3:05 pm

Bertie High School: 7:45 am – 3:05 pm

Bertie Middle School: 7:30 am – 3:00 pm

All other schools: 7:45 am – 3:00 pm