Yellowjackets buzz with excitement during registration for the new school year

J. Dollins

Kimberly Baylis and the CHS counseling team (from front to back: Daisy Ruiz, Marisol Rodriguez, Daniel Checo, and Myrna Cardenas) support students at registration for the 2021-2022 school year.

Jeremiah Dollins, Pepper Bough Adviser
July 23, 2021

Colton, CA—With an August 4 return to in-person instruction on the horizon, the Macintosh Gym buzzed with both excitement and anxiety as Colton High School’s Junior and Senior Yellowjackets returned for the first time in 16 months to register for the 2021-2022 school year.

Senior Alanna Anderson buys a yearbook at the Crimson & Gold kiosk. (J. Dollins)

Students and parents came to the gym to pick-up schedules, check-out textbooks, sign-up for Fall sports, talk to their guidance counselors, and buy essential school items, like P.E. clothes, the Crimson & Gold yearbook, and ASB cards. For many, registration symbolized something greater than getting ready for another year. To some, it put an emotional end to a year separated from friends. To others, it was a reminder that while Colton is reopening, the threat of the COVID-19 virus still looms.

However, joy was the defining spirit of the event. Friends reunited in the gym and outside in the lunch quad to catch-up. Teachers, administrators, and counselors celebrated with laughter as they struck up conversations with each other and their long absent students.

Several students bubbled with anticipation at “just seeing my friends again.” Others were focused on returning to learn. Incoming Senior Arturo Hernandez released a relieved sigh and said, “I can finally get my grades back up.”

CHS students, accompanied by their parent, look at P.E. clothing options. (J. Dollins)

Returning to in-person instruction is about more than seeing friends and improving grades. Link Crew member, Elizabeth Lara, said, “It was hard doing all the things we do on campus on a computer.” She smiled behind her mask as she looked forward to stepping back into a classroom. “Now we get to be in person and actually communicate.”

Students are not the only ones glad for a return to normalcy. Connie Duran, mother of ASB President, Joseph Duran, seemed to more than share her son’s excitement about “being in school—not being at home with Mom all day.”

Registration for the 2021-2022 school year continues on Monday, July 26 for grades 10 and 11, Tuesday, July 27 for grade 9, and Wednesday July 28 for all grades. Each day begins at 8:00 am and concludes at 2:00 pm with a lunch break from 11:00 am until 12:30 pm.