The new school year began for some Long Island students Thursday.

Students returned to class in the Jericho School District, which is the first on the Island to open amid the debate over face coverings.

News 12 Long Island’s Caroline Flynn was at Jericho Middle School, where all students returned to in-person learning.

As News 12 has reported, a big topic over the last few days has been mask wearing in school. In the Jericho School District, officials said every student will be asked to wear them.

The district said it worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will take the proper protocols to keep students safe, including keeping them 3 feet apart. Masks breaks will also take place.

Students had to wear face masks for their bus ride, they had to keep them on while inside the school building, but they were allowed to take them off outside where some classes were held.

Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some students took lessons via remote learning. School officials said there is no remote learning or hybrid option this year.

The seventh and eighth graders who spoke with News 12 said they weren't focused on COVID changes, but on seeing friends and the experiences they missed last year.

"I've been waiting since I was in second grade I think because a few middle schoolers came and talked to us about middle school and ever since then I've been excited to use lockers and go to different classes without having to be in a straight line," said seventh grader Aryan Mukherjee.

Mukherjee added that he is glad that the pandemic guidelines the school is practicing don't confine him to a small area away from his classmates.

School educators say the first day of having students back in class brought as sense of pre-pandemic normalcy, with extra curricular and interscholastic activities starting again. They say this was something they had look forward to during the last 18 months.

They added that they are ready to make any changes to the pandemic guidelines when necessary. They also applauded the confidence in students and staff in the reopening of the school.