The first day of school was a bit colder than normal as Turlock Unified School District welcomed its first group of preschool and kindergarten students back to in-person instruction on Monday and Tuesday following months of distance learning due to the coronavirus pandemic. The other half of TK-K students throughout TUSD’s elementary sites will return to school on Thursday and Friday in smaller cohorts, which are meant to promote social distancing and curb any potential spread of COVID-19 per state health guidelines. In addition to masks and hand sanitizer in every classroom, temperature checks, social distancing markers and other safety measures are in place at each school in order to keep students, staff and faculty healthy. As part of TUSD’s phased reopening plan, students in grades 1-3 will return to school Nov. 9 and students in grades 4-6 will return Nov. 30.