Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /var/www/wp-includes/meta.php on line 638
San Juan Hills High School celebrates hybrid students’ return to campus full-time - CUSD Insider

San Juan Hills High School celebrates hybrid students’ return to campus full-time

San Juan Hills High School saw a morning that looked more like the fall of 2020 as students in the Capistrano Unified School District’s hybrid program returned to on-campus instruction full-time for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began last spring.

“It looked pretty normal,” said San Juan Hills High School Principal Dr. Manoj Mahindrakar. “That was the cool part. It was full, it was vibrant.”

To celebrate the occasion, San Juan Hills ASB student leaders had planned a clash of the classes event and dress up day, as well as decorated the campus. Each class had a team color and flag posted on one of four buildings in the campus quad.

“It was heartwarming to see students connect with each other,” Mahindrakar said. “There were mini reunions taking place. That was really encouraging to see.”

Previously, students were sorted into two cohorts, with one cohort coming to campus two days a week, and the other cohort on campus the other two days each week. One day remains a virtual day with all students learning from home. Four days a week now, more than 1,200 students are on campus, he said.

About half of the students at San Juan Hills High School are continuing to participate in the 100 percent online option offered by Capistrano Unified School District.

Capistrano Unified is one of few school districts in the state that have been open for any amount of in-person instruction since the fall.

“The main thing I heard from parents, students, and teachers, is that it just feels normal,” Mahindrakar said. “That, in itself, is just a celebration.”

San Juan Hills High School, with the rest of the Capistrano Unified School District, is hoping to open five days a week for in-person instruction in fall semester — a return to pre-pandemic ways.

“We continue to be ready,” Mahindrakar said. “This is a great example of that. The site and the district have been ready so when we got approval we were ready to get back to it.”

Scroll down for photos of the first day without cohorts at San Juan Hills High School.

Click here for photos from Aliso Viejo Middle School’s first day without cohorts, and here for photos from Capistrano Valley High School.

Students wear masks during a mid-morning break between classes at San Juan Hills High.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Students participate in a hula hoop contest during a mid-morning break at San Juan Hills High.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Students cheer on participants in the hula hoop contest during mid-morning break at San Juan Hills High.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
San Juan Hills High students participate in choir class as the school returns to full-time in class teaching.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
San Juan Hills High students participate in choir class as the school returns to full-time in class teaching.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Choral Director Michael Ushino works with his students during in person class at San Juan Hills High.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
San Juan Hills High students participate in choir class as the school returns to full-time in class teaching.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Choral Director Michael Ushino, center, works on the finer points of a song during in person class at San Juan Hills High, shown in this multi-photo panorama.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Students attend Linda Keeler’s French class as San Juan Hills High returns to full-time in class teaching.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Students attend Linda Keeler’s French class as San Juan Hills High returns to full-time in class teaching.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Students conduct a chemistry experiment during Tyler DeShon’s biology class at San Juan Hills High as the school returns to school full-time in class teaching.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Students conduct a chemistry experiment during Tyler DeShon’s biology class at San Juan Hills High as the school returns to school full-time in class teaching.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Students wear masks during a mid-morning break between classes at San Juan Hills High.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Students wear masks during a mid-morning break between classes at San Juan Hills High.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider

Sharing is caring!