longisland

Thursday was the last back-to-school day for Long Island’s 124 public school districts.

Mask mandates in schools continue statewide as districts take steps to follow and implement COVID-19 safety protocols.

MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.news12.com/back-to-school-resources/">Back to School Resources</a> RELATED:&nbsp;<a href="https://longisland.news12.com/category/long-island-coronavirus">Coronavirus Coverage</a>

Jordan Cohen, a senior at John F. Kennedy High School, says he was glad to return to the classroom. 

“It feels good to be back,” he says. “It’s better to be back to school, work is going to be harder, but it’s better to be back.”

Principal James Murray says, “The kids are all excited, they want their traditions of being back in high school again— senior shirts, the barbecue—and we’re going to give them whatever we possibly can.”

MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://longisland.news12.com/does-your-child-have-covid-19-or-the-common-cold-check-the-symptoms-here-as-the-school-year-gets-underway">Does your child have COVID-19 or the common cold? Check the symptoms here as the school year gets underway</a> MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://longisland.news12.com/is-your-little-one-afraid-of-wearing-a-mask-these-6-tips-from-the-american-academy-of-pediatrics-can-help">Is your little one afraid of wearing a mask? These 6 tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics can help</a>

Although district officials say many teachers, staff and administrators are vaccinated for COVID-19, those who are not will be tested weekly. They say this will ensure that schools can stay safely open and keep students in classrooms.

Long Island

LI | Weather

LIFORECAST

I'm meteorologist Rich Hoffman. Your hyperlocal weather forecast. We're in storm watch for heavy rain and strong winds coming in towards Sunday. But with the start of Hanukkah starting this evening at 425 that's our sunset. You're gonna see the clouds around now out towards the east and you've seen a little bit more sunshine. We do have the cloudy skies giving way to partly cloudy skies overnight and it's gonna feel cold, bundle up heading out for this evening. There still is that flurry or a passing rain or snow shower this afternoon? Best chance of that western areas of Long Island as we go throughout the rest of our day. Now, if you're going to be on Rosslyn, uh, through this evening temperature at five o'clock near 38 degrees. Yeah, bundle up. Here's the cold weather then into midnight around 34 waking up tomorrow morning on the partly cloudy skies. Your Friday starts off with temperatures around 30 degrees and then Saturday, Friday, we're looking good. It's Sunday that we are tracking out wet weather. As of right now, the rain develops during Sunday afternoon and becomes steadier and heavier as we go to Sunday evening, here's 545 on Sunday. There's that heavy rain overnight into Monday morning, still raining during your morning rush hour and then the weather improves for Monday afternoon. But as the cold front comes through, it's gonna get warm and then the gusty winds are gonna be developing winds on Sunday afternoon, 40 to potentially 50 MPH. And there's a chance that we see some higher gusts along the south shore and the east end. So you want to secure your Christmas decorations on Saturday for the strong gusty winds on Sunday. So let's go through the rest of the day. You're looking at 41 for your high 30 tonight and then four, your Friday mostly sunny to a mixture of sun and clouds. Temperatures, mid and upper forties. So Friday's ok. Saturday is looking good sun and clouds at 55 and then Sunday afternoon, Sunday night into Monday, the threat of heavy rain, strong winds, some power outages and then chilly next week. But generally dry weather conditions happy Hanukkah from M 12.

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LI students head back to school with COVID-19 protocols in place