Teachers back in school, awaiting return of Marysville-Pilchuck students

Teachers were back on campus Tuesday at Marysville-Pilchuck High School to begin the difficult process of preparing for the return of students on Monday.

Marysville School District Superintendent Becky Berg said the challenge is helping students ease back into the school and learning environment. She doesn’t know the exact plan for Monday.

“What I do know is that Monday will be about being together and being in relationships with each other and being comfortable in the school and it probably won’t be a lot of reading, writing and arithmetic,” said Berg.

The cafeteria is closed. That’s where Jaylen Fryberg opened fire Friday morning, resulting in the deaths of two classmates and his own suicide. Three other students were wounded.

Berg said staff is trying to figure out where to hold two lunch periods for 600 students each. “That’ll be a trick but we also need to listen to the concerns of our students.”

Berg conceded life might never return to normal at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

“We won’t erase these memories, we won’t erase the tragedy for the families who won’t be able to bring kids back, but as we go forward, if kids can remember what happened after Friday, as a time where they were listened to, where they were respected, where they were loved and where they saw adults giving their all to help them be successful in their lives, those are memories that can last a lifetime, as well.”