High school transition

TRICKY TRANSITIONS

FRESHMEN FACE CHALLENGES FROM COVID-19

“ IFELT LIKE I WAS on Zoom for hours, and I was missing in-person interaction and meeting new people, which I was really excitSingh was disheartened that high school would be similar to 8th grade without the excitement of a campus change. Incoming freshmen Greene Middle School 8th grader Lydia Mitz eagerly anticipates transitioning into high school in the upcom-

ed about,” freshman Shamsheer Singh “I felt like for the longest time that I ing year when there will likely be less said. The online school year held many was still in middle school because every- COVID-19 restrictions. challenges for freshmen with their loss thing that was supposed to be different “I’m excited to talk to everyone that

of a traditional first year of high school experience. But, after months of learning from home, freshmen are now able to attend “I didn’t really connect with anyone, like teachers or students wasn’t different,” Singh said. “It was all the same.” Singh attended the in-person orientation and felt that I haven’t really seen in a long time from my school,” Mitz said. “I’m also excited to meet new people.” However, Mitz has become accustomed to the virtual school lifestyle after a year of distance learning, and worries classes on campus for who I didnt know pre- she finally got the about being in a new environment. the first time. To kick off Palo viously, on Zoom.” closure she needed from middle school. “I think most people are nervous because they’ve never really been on cam-

Alto High School’s reopening, the Asso— OLIVIA LINDSTROM, freshman “If I waited until sophomore pus,” Mitz said. “And they haven’t seen anyone from school in a long time.” ciated Student Body year, I would have After going through course selection held an in-person orientation for fresh- felt like I was still a freshman and I was and learning what Paly has to offer, she’s men which included tours of the school, still unfamiliar with [in-person school],” excited for the high school years ahead. followed by entertainment provided by Singh said. “I think I’ve been provided a simi-

Paly cheer and snacks distributed by the Another benefit of returning to cam- lar experience to pre-pandemic times by

Parent Teacher Student Association. pus was being able to connect with peers Paly, but if I was in-person the whole “We got to go into some of the as freshman Olivia Lindstrom experi- year, then it would have been much easier buildings and we also got to play Spike- enced when she opted to participate in to talk with friends and figure out what ball and do a ton of Paly specific things, the recent hybrid school option. courses to take together,” Mitz said. which was really fun,” Singh said. “I knew people already,” Lindstrom

According to a recent online opt-in said. “But I didn’t really connect with Adapting to online learning

Verde Magazine survey of 138 Paly stu- anyone, like teachers or students who I Overall, throughout the year students that was conducted from March didn’t know previously, on Zoom.” dents like Singh learned to make the 18 to March 22, 65.2% of the 46 fresh- As a student new to the district, most of the Zoom environment. man participants believed that Paly did freshman Bee Montes faced difficulty “They [her teachers] did a lot of a satisfactory job with the transition finding a community of like-minded breakout room activities, which was also from middle to high school. Despite this, peers over Zoom. nice because … I got to talk to people 81.4% believed that they missed out on “I just didn’t really have anyone to who I knew from my middle school but I important milestones and experiences talk to in the beginning,” Montes said. hadn’t really interacted with a lot,” Singh they would have had pre-pandemic. “And usually when you go to a new said. Four freshmen and an 8th grad- school, you’re in-person, and you make Sophia Kim has also found ways to er share their unique views on the high friends pretty quickly … it was hard for overcome the social challenges of her onschool transition in the pandemic and me to make friends.” line classes. their hopes for the upcoming months. To address these challenges, Montes “I’ve tried my best to participate in joined the cheer team. class,” Kim said. “And in that way [I]

A delayed welcome “I actually get to see people in per- get to know my teacher better and my

This year, freshmen faced many ad- son have a conversation that goes back teacher gets to know me better because versities like entering a new environment and forth and there’s no poor connection the more that you participate in class, the

without stepping foot on campus. or glitches,” Montes said. more familiar your face gets.” v

STAYING SHIELDED — Freshman Shamsheer Singh sits behind a plastic divider during her Zoom class in the ASB classroom. “In ASB, I feel that’s one of my more interactive classes ... they’re all really nice … So I got to know people pretty well,” Singh said. Photo: Ryan Seto

IN-PERSON INTERACTIONS — Students gather on the once desolate senior deck in the first weeks of hybrid learning in March. “It’s nice getting to [see] people and having some human contact face to face,” freshman Lydia Mitz said. “But it’s a little bit weird, to be honest.” Photo: Paisley Annes