CHELSEA, MASS. -- With backpacks adorned, supplies in hand and smiling faces underneath their masks, students of Chelsea Public Schools returned to class on Wednesday for the first day of school in the 2021-22 year. 

Wednesday’s opening bell carried a little more significance as it marked a district-wide return to in-person learning after the 2020-21 school year ended with half the district participating in in-person instruction and the other half in remote learning. Students in grades 1-12 returned to the Early Learning Center, Mary C. Burke Elementary Complex, Clark Avenue Middle School, Browne Middle School, Eugene Wright Science and Technology Academy, Chelsea High School and Chelsea Opportunity Academy for the first day of school. The Chelsea Virtual Learning Academy also had its first day of instruction today, and next Wednesday, Sept. 8, the Early Learning Center will welcome its preK-K students back to school.

“Today we celebrated a wonderful first day of school across the City of Chelsea. While visiting schools, I was so pleased to see the level of excitement from our students and families about returning to in-person learning. It was another reminder of how amazing this community of ours is,” commented Superintendent Dr. Almi. G Abeyta. “The opening of our schools was a team effort, and I want to express my gratitude to all of the staff members that made today possible. Thank you for the hours of preparation and work that you committed to ensuring that our schools were ready to open. I am so grateful to be a part of this team, and looking forward to a wonderful school year!”

Below you’ll find some photos for today’s school openings across Chelsea Public Schools. Photographs and other newsworthy items will be posted to our Facebook page (Chelsea Public Schools) and our Twitter account (@CPS_Chelsea) throughout the week. If you have any photographs from the first day of school, please tag us on social media or email them to Communications Specialist Michael Sullivan at sullivanm@chelseaschools.com. We’d love to share as many pictures as possible for today’s festivities!