CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was a big day for many middle and high school students. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools welcomed students back in-person for the first time in nearly a year.

It was 6:40 a.m. when Graham Hohnbaum was getting ready to leave his house. He is a junior at Myers Park High School. When he was learning remote, he would roll out of bed around 7 a.m.

“Today I woke up at 6 a.m.,” Hohnbaum says. “It’s a little bit different, but it’s not too bad, not too much.”

That wasn’t the only change. Due to virtual learning, he doesn’t have any textbooks.

“I have two folders and a binder,” Hohnbaum says. “It’s a lot different, a lot lighter.”

Hohnbaum was one of the thousands of students across CMS heading back to in-person learning. CMS superintendent Earnest Winston says they have several safety measures in place. Some schools are opening windows to help circulate airflow.

“That is one mechanism they can use to help bring outside air into the school building,” Winston says. “But we are urging schools to only do that if they feel it is safe.”

Winston says students can also expect temperature checks, mask mandates, staggered lunch breaks and one student per bus seat. There will also be new signage throughout the school.

“There is new signage as far as which direction they should walk,” Winston says. “There are sections that are one direction. The signage also talks about social distancing, maintaining six feet, and wearing a mask.”

CMS leaders released their metrics on positive COVID-19 cases within the school system. Of the 43,615 students who returned last week, they had 47 new positive COVID-19 cases. This is less than 1%. Of the 19,106 staff that returned, there were 36 new COVID-19 cases. CMS leaders say overall they are heading in the right direction.