Public schools open Monday in Gloucester and Mathews, one week earlier than the accustomed post-Labor Day beginning of the past generation.

So, welcome students … back to the classroom, albeit with masks, but in a much more normal situation than since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted school schedules along with everything else in the spring of 2020.

With the full-time return of students will come the complete presence of school buses on the roads. Be patient, be careful. Please be aware that their cargo is precious. Very young children getting onto and off the buses may dart in unpredictable directions. Accidents can happen with horrible results.

The COVID cloud continues to hover over our communities as well. While tools against this virus continue to improve, a booster shot of vaccine is now being recommended and the resurgence caused by the delta variant poses threats as yet unknown.

School is open. Please drive carefully, and consider wearing a mask in public places, ev...