In the community

PHOTO GALLERY: It’s back to school in Harper

A few Harper High School students at a time are in class for face-to-face instruction while keeping a required distance. (Malheur Enterprise/Les Zaitz)

Facing the challenges of Covid restrictions, teachers and administrators in the Harper School District have figured out how to rotate students through in-person classes by sticking with social distancing, keep student count low and requiring masks.

Ron Talbot, superintendent, said the district has 114 students from kindergarten through high school enrolled this year.

In the auto shop area, teacher Wade Johnson says the Harper students are engaged despite the distancing and other changes this year. Overall attendance has been strong, he said.

“Students seem to really want to be in school,” he said.

Harper High School freshmen Brocc Rictor, Daniel Casiano and Ian Williams follow teacher Wade Johnson’s discussion of a car’s undercarriage. (The Enterprise /Les Zaitz)

Signs on the front door to Harper School note the mask requirement as part of the Covid precautions. (Malheur Enterprise /Les Zaitz)

Wade Johnson, who teaches automotive classes, films lessons that students can view anytime. “Every minute that my students are in my classroom, they are in the shop working hands-on with vehicles or prepared labs,” Johnson said. (Malheur Enterprise /Les Zaitz)

Harper School (Malheur Enterprise/Les Zaitz)

Ron Talbot, superintendent of Harper School District. (Malheur Enterprise/Les Zaitz)