CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – “It’s our community, it’s our children and I’m not even a parent and I’m here… and I think it’s really, really important for our community members to do that.”

That’s Karen Walker to WINA News Monday morning when several dozen community members and city and school leaders gathered to welcome Charlottesville High School students back to class for the first time since the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Many wore name tags that said “volunteer” on their front-sides in cheering, shouting “good morning”, and offering high-fives to students as they departed the bus loop into the main entrance of the school. That main entrances, and reporting to the office, will be the strict entry point during the school day as side entrances will be monitored and restricted by staff and volunteers.

Mayor Lloyd Snook was also among those greeting the students as he said the problems entering the schools are actually coming in from the community. Snook said he wants to show CHS students, teachers, and staff city leaders support what they’re trying to do as they reset. Snook said community problems merit community solutions.

Among various new measures implemented Monday are additional hall sweeps, new seating and procedures in the in-school suspension area, and the Knight School welcoming its first batch of students ASAP with more to follow as time goes on.