SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — San Francisco public schools are back open for in-person learning and some of these schools haven’t been open for a year and a half.

For a lot of kids walking into Carver Elementary School – they were very excited to see not only their friends but teachers for the first time.

“I’m happy for her to be back here interacting with the kids and teachers,” said parent Tyrina Lang. “She never even met her 2nd grade teacher because the whole thing was distance learning so we basically lost an entire year.”

The red carpet was rolled out for the third, second and first graders on Monday. But school during a pandemic is very different.

There is a mask mandate for schools, everyone has to wear one regardless of vaccination status.

The school district says they aren’t expecting to have zero cases of coronavirus in schools because of community transmission and in home transmission.

But talking with the superintendent, he said it’s important they have a plan on what to do if a case does make it’s way into the classroom.

“If a case does pop up, the student goes home immediately and quarantines,” said Dr. Vincent Matthews, SFUSD superintendent.

Also, all teachers have to be fully vaccinated by September 7.

“If they are not, then they will have to test for COVID at least weekly. We believe we need to get kids back. Make sure they are wearing their masks and then surround them by vaccinated adults or in our case adults testing weekly,” the superintendent said.

Some parents say they are losing faith in the vaccine because of reported breakthrough cases, when someone fully vaccinated gets infected. However, the CDC and other health officials say breakthrough cases are expected – the vaccine just eliminates a greater risk of death or severe sickness.

Mayor London Breed has a strong message for people losing faith.

“Since December first of last year, 1,800 people, around that, have been hospitalized in San Francisco. Only six of those people were vaccinated. That should give them enough reason. And not one of those people died. That’s what this is about. Especially because the kids in this school cannot be vaccinated so we must do it to protect them,” she said during a visit to Carver Elementary.

Getting vaccinated was one of Breed’s biggest messages.

She also talked about how important it is to provide free MUNI transportation for kids under 18 so they have no problems getting to school.

She said now more than ever, we have to be investing in our children’s education and future.