HAMMOND â The School City of Hammond is planning to return to full-capacity in-person learning for the first time since March 2020, but the district is taking a phased approach for masking. At the school board meeting Tuesday night, the district's 2021-2022 Return to Learn plan was approved unanimously. Students will be back in their buildings five days a week starting Aug. 18, the first day of school. But because of the low Lake County vaccination rate and rise in COVID-19 variants, masks will be required for all students to start the school year, the plan document says. Masks will be provided to students who need one.Â