After over a year of Zoom, there are bound to be plenty of changes to our daily routines at school. From completely different schedules to COVID rules to new programs, the coming year will be a readjustment for all of us. Here’s a quick preview of all the changes headed to Mills. 

Of course, the most important changes are all the COVID-19 requirements. First off, we’re required to wear masks indoors except when eating or drinking, yet masks aren’t needed outdoors. Social distancing isn’t needed indoors except when eating, although most will eat outside. Most students are already vaccinated, but if not, vaccinations are highly encouraged. If someone fully vaccinated comes into contact with someone COVID positive, they don’t have to quarantine. Unvaccinated people can continue attending school but have to take COVID tests twice a week for 10 days. Last but not least, if we’re sick we’re asked to stay home until feeling better, which is also the only time the LiveSafe app is needed.

Another huge change is our schedules. Before COVID, Tuesdays and Wednesdays were our block days, while the other days had all periods. Typically school would start at 8:00 and end at 3:15. That all changed during Zoom, where we started late, ended early, and had much longer passing periods. Now, Monday is the day with all classes, starting at 8:30 like all other days, and ending at 3:35. Lunch will be 12:20-12:50, and we’ll have a passing period of five minutes. Tuesdays and Thursdays have become our block days for even periods. Flex period is right after brunch, and 6th period ends at 2:55. Wednesdays and Fridays are odd period days, with 7th period ending at 3:40. 

These changes might be big, but there are plenty of other new things coming up.  The tennis courts of Mills have been taken down and are being transformed into a new athletic complex. According to Principal Duszynski, the complex will be a huge asset for our school and our athletic program at Mills and the Millbrae community”. Mills is also joining with the district on a journey to become anti-racist. They’re implementing classes for all teachers and staff to learn to be inclusive as well as listening to feedback from students and teachers alike.

A less noticeable change will be the social interactions of all of us. A year of learning online has changed our social lives, and we’re all a teeny bit nervous about returning to school and meeting everyone again. Maybe we’ve seen friends over the summer or went to hybrid learning, but it’s still not quite the same as seeing everyone again. Fortunately, Ms. Duszynski is hopeful that we’ll be able to rebuild our previous friendships and connections. 

Over the summer, she was able to see some incoming Freshmen interact at the Summer Bridge program. In the beginning, they were quiet and stuck to themselves. By the end, they had fun together, partially because of the community-building activities Ms. Kovacs and Ms. Montani constantly included. Ms. Duszynski wants to encourage all teachers to include more community building, and is hopeful that we can “re-establish our sense of community after last year”. 

This year, every single one of us will be undergoing changes. Seniors will worry about their future and colleges, then enjoy their last year (prom!). Juniors will stress over hard classes, tests, and careers while rekindling friendships made during a short freshman year. Sophomores will come onto campus without ever experiencing a regular Mills school day, meeting and learning about all the teachers, classmates, and activities they missed during COVID. Freshmen will enter a new stage in their lives, navigating a new social structure and mastering opening their lockers. New students and teachers will have come, others will have left. That doesn’t mean we’ll be completely confused when we go back. Together, we can navigate this return to school and fall back into new but normal days.

After over a year of Zoom, there are bound to be plenty of changes to our daily routines at school. From completely different schedules to COVID rules to new programs, the coming year will be a readjustment for all of us. Here’s a quick preview of all the changes headed to Mills. 

Of course, the most important changes are all the COVID-19 requirements. First off, we’re required to wear masks indoors except when eating or drinking, yet masks aren’t needed outdoors. Social distancing isn’t needed indoors except when eating, although most will eat outside. Most students are already vaccinated, but if not, vaccinations are highly encouraged. If someone fully vaccinated comes into contact with someone COVID positive, they don’t have to quarantine. Unvaccinated people can continue attending school but have to take COVID tests twice a week for 10 days. Last but not least, if we’re sick we’re asked to stay home until feeling better, which is also the only time the LiveSafe app is needed.

Another huge change is our schedules. Before COVID, Tuesdays and Wednesdays were our block days, while the other days had all periods. Typically school would start at 8:00 and end at 3:15. That all changed during Zoom, where we started late, ended early, and had much longer passing periods. Now, Monday is the day with all classes, starting at 8:30 like all other days, and ending at 3:35. Lunch will be 12:20-12:50, and we’ll have a passing period of five minutes. Tuesdays and Thursdays have become our block days for even periods. Flex period is right after brunch, and 6th period ends at 2:55. Wednesdays and Fridays are odd period days, with 7th period ending at 3:40. 

These changes might be big, but there are plenty of other new things coming up.  The tennis courts of Mills have been taken down and are being transformed into a new athletic complex. According to Principal Duszynski, the complex will be a huge asset for our school and our athletic program at Mills and the Millbrae community”. Mills is also joining with the district on a journey to become anti-racist. They’re implementing classes for all teachers and staff to learn to be inclusive as well as listening to feedback from students and teachers alike.

A less noticeable change will be the social interactions of all of us. A year of learning online has changed our social lives, and we’re all a teeny bit nervous about returning to school and meeting everyone again. Maybe we’ve seen friends over the summer or went to hybrid learning, but it’s still not quite the same as seeing everyone again. Fortunately, Ms. Duszynski is hopeful that we’ll be able to rebuild our previous friendships and connections. 

Over the summer, she was able to see some incoming Freshmen interact at the Summer Bridge program. In the beginning, they were quiet and stuck to themselves. By the end, they had fun together, partially because of the community-building activities Ms. Kovacs and Ms. Montani constantly included. Ms. Duszynski wants to encourage all teachers to include more community building, and is hopeful that we can “re-establish our sense of community after last year”. 

This year, every single one of us will be undergoing changes. Seniors will worry about their future and colleges, then enjoy their last year (prom!). Juniors will stress over hard classes, tests, and careers while rekindling friendships made during a short freshman year. Sophomores will come onto campus without ever experiencing a regular Mills school day, meeting and learning about all the teachers, classmates, and activities they missed during COVID. Freshmen will enter a new stage in their lives, navigating a new social structure and mastering opening their lockers. New students and teachers will have come, others will have left. That doesn’t mean we’ll be completely confused when we go back. Together, we can navigate this return to school and fall back into new but normal days.