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AROUND TOWN•
Sequoia High School District Reopens With two months to go until the end of school year, the Sequoia Union High School District April 5 welcomed back the first students who chose to return for “in-person” teaching. An increasing number came back during the rest of the month in gradual phases. About 800 of Sequoia High School’s 2,000 student had indicated that they would be coming back to campus. Some 3,500 students district-wide opted to go back to their campuses, and they had to sign on to protocols about behaviors such as mask-wearing, bathroom use, socializing in the hallways and so on that were unheard of before schools were closed in March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Sequoia and other district schools reached out to parents, neighbors and community members to volunteer on campus to assist the staff in making sure that the students didn’t slip up about following the rules—letting masks slip, perhaps or hugging their friends. Elisa Niño-Sears, said 80 to 100 people stepped up to cover the assignments which were especially needed at lunch time or during break time. Even dads who are CEOs volunteered, she said. “It’s been a win-win.”
Nowruz and New Beginnings Celebrated The Redwood City main library hosted a drive through celebration of Nowruz on April 3, the Persian version of New Year's. Nowruz is no small deal. Think Christmas, New Year's and Fourth of July combined, for 3,000 years and by some 300 million people annually. It's not a religious holiday but rather a universal celebration of new beginnings: wishing prosperity and welcoming the future while shedding away the past. Nowruz lasts for thirteen days. "What makes Nowruz special is the universality in its message of rebirth in ourselves and respect in what we see in the earth, " said event organizer Niloo Mansourian.
28 · CLIMATE · May 2021