Norfolk students return to class for first time in a year Norfolk Public Schools and last updated 2021-03-15 18:30:35-04 NORFOLK, Va.â Students received a warm welcome back to Southside STEM Academy at Campostella after an entire year away. Norfolk Public Schools remained closed throughout the pandemic, but now the first wave of students are meeting their teachers in-person for the first time Monday. âIâve only said hello this morning as they came in the door and itâs just hard to not run up and hug them and welcome them back,â said math specialist Jason Koonce. Class is in session and in person for the first time in the district since schools Governor Ralph Northam ordered schools to close last March.