Today thousands of students across the city will be meeting their teachers in person for the first time.

Elementary school students in blended learning programs are headed back to school for the first time since March.

Students in schools Kindergarten through eighth grade who opted into blended learning this fall are headed back to the classroom. They’ll have instruction part from home and part in-person.

The city says only about 52% of students across all boroughs have opted in to this option, the rest choosing to stay home for all classes.

Students in 3K and pre-K started in-person learning last week. Middle and high school students are set to go back on Thursday.

The city has already pushed back the first day of school by more than two weeks. They’ve also hired thousands of new teachers and say each classroom is regularly cleaned to keep students and teachers safe.

P.S. 55 principal Louis Torres says staffing has been tough but he is ready and excited for the year.

“I love my staff, I love my children, I love my community so it’s always great to see them.” Says Torres.

Only about a third of his 520 students selected the blended learning program and are split into two groups coming on different days, a process that has been confusing for some, including one parent was turned away after finding her son is in the other group.