Students returned to Natick Public Schools for the start of the 2021-2022 school year on Thursday on a perfectly overcast and wet day that probably wasn’t going to be much fun at home anyway.

Parents and guardians got their feet and tires wet, figuring out the best and worst ways and time to get kids to school, with backups seen from Rte. 16 leading to Memorial Elementary School to war-torn Rte. 27 leading to Wilson Middle School and Ben-Hem Elementary School.

Students will truly get to ease their way back, with classes on Thursday and Friday, but then get to enjoy an extra long weekend extended by Labor Day on Monday and Rosh Hashanah on Tuesday.

The Natick Public School system has put its mask and testing protocols in place, with hopes that by the end of the school year things will loosen up.