Many students and teachers across New Jersey, including at Brick High School, did not have to wear a mask in class today for the first time in over two years. 

“I’m excited to see many smiling faces today,” says principal Dr. David Kasyan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dropped its mandate for universal masking in schools, a day many have looked forward to and prepared for. 

“I personally have reached out to my learning community through announcements and conversations before this Monday occurred through emails and notifying and here’s our next step and here’s what we can expect from one another as we respect each other,” says Kasyan.

That respect will go a long way as some may choose to continue to wear a mask moving forward.  

“All of our staff and students understand that it’s an option and a choice at this point to wear that mask,” says Kasyan. “Everyone has their own set of circumstances you don’t know what’s going on in someone’s else’s like, the health conditions in someone else’s home, so therefore we need to respect individual choices that goes for students and staff.”

Gov. Phil Murphy has left it to the individual districts to decide whether to keep the mask mandate in effect, or not. Some districts in New Jersey counties with low risk of transmission will have children and teachers keep masks on for now, such as Newark, Paterson, Trenton and New Brunswick.