Sixth graders at the Essex Westford School District got to learn and play in the snow Wednesday morning.

They were making quinzhees, which are snow structures that native people living in the Arctic have built to stay warm in the winter for centuries.

The students made them as part of a social studies lesson that was taught by beloved teacher Peter Gustafson.

Vermont's governor is calling for high-level attention on boosting the state's career and technical education (CTE) centers, which he sees as vital contributors to workforce development.

"It's time we end the stigma around CTE," Gov. Phil Scott said in last week's State of the State Address. "It's just as important, valuable and impressive to become an electrician, welder or EMT as it is to go to Stanford, Dartmouth or Harvard."

"I do think a stigma exists," Bob Travers, the director of the Center for Technology, Essex, acknowledged in an interview about the governor's point regarding the CTE track.

Many aspects of the typical school experience that changed or were removed last school year because of COVID precautions are back this year. But a student’s age may determine how different the first day of school looks and feels.

Regardless of the restrictions, educators across the Essex Westford School District are ready to see smiling faces again.

Vermont school districts are using the summer to plan for the coming school year and a return to more traditional learning. Some, like Essex High School, are hosting summer sessions to give students a chance to make up for lost time in the classroom.

Near the end of a meeting filled with emotions, the Essex Westford school board passed the district equity policy, 8-1.