Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 11-12-20 E-edition

Thursday, November 12, 2020
The View From Here
AsI walked up to the gates of Grant Middle School in Reedley on the morn- ing of Nov. 10, it was so cold I
could see my breath. Not typical for a first day of school. Normally, first days happen in late August, tem- peratures are high as the school year begins.
I was there to get some photos and talk to staff about how they’re handling their first few days back after being gone for more than 7 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
One interesting thing that principal Sharon Mat- suzaki pointed out to me was that they are trying as much as possible to mini- mize movement with their students and instead are having the teachers be the ones to move from class to class.
“Yesterday, our first day back went pretty smoothly considering all the new changes and the new sched- ules for our 7th and 8th graders,” she said.
As soon as students walk onto the campus they’re met with a hand sanitizer station. Most, if not all the students who attended class this morning seemed eager to be back on campus.
Each principal or school official I've talked to has told me they are surprised at how well students are re- sponding to the new normal.
I believe this entire pan- demic experience has af- fected us in so many ways but it's also taught us to ap- preciate the basic human interactions we were use to having for so long, and ma- ny times took for granted.
I wish all the new round of students well as they ad- just to their new schedules and school days.
lowed the new rules we’ve had in place for them.”
Students with KCUSD in grades 7th and 8th started in person classes on Nov. 9, and Matsuzaki said.
And, unlike TK-6 students who typically stay in one classroom throughout the day, these students require more movement due to vary- ing class subjects, so adminis- trators and staff are trying to minimize their movement as much as possible.
“Students stay in one classroom all day long and it’s our teachers who are moving,” she said. “It’s been a huge learning curve but our teachers and our students have been very flexible and very responsible with the new changes.”
The district announced back on Oct. 2 that students in grades TK-6 would begin classes on Oct.16. The second
SEE GRANT on page A8
Juanita Adame
Openings continue throughout Reedley schools
Photo by Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Sharon Matsuzaki, principal at General Grant Middle School handed out an extra mask to a student who had forgotten his mask at home during the second day of in person instruction.
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
A cold brisk morning welcomed students at Grant Middle School in Reedley the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 10,
as in person instruction con- tinues for schools throughout the Kings Canyon Unified School District. “This is all very new to them because they have fallen out of their
routine and are on a complete- ly different schedule,” said Sharon Matsuzaki, the school’s principal. “Thishasbeenvery organized, our students were very respectful, they’ve fol-
'Stay at homecoming' held at Dinuba High
Dinuba artist wins 'Judges Choice' at Big Fresno Fair
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
Dinuba High alum, Rum- aldo Medina has had an eye for fashion and art for quite some time.
Medina works as a free- lance fashion illustrator for various movies, television and celebrities. He was once invited to Rachel Ray’s home in Beverly Hills and was asked to be a fashion illustra- tor for an elite book signing Ray had prepared for social- ites in Hollywood in 2018.
So when Medina was no- tified that he won the Judg- es Choice Award at the Big Fresno Fair, it definitely ranked up there in his list of accomplishments.
“It felt like I had won the lot- tery,” he
stated.
“Know-
ing there
are so
many
great
artists out
there trying to gain recogni- tion for their pieces of art- work and mine was amongst others that was recognized in the first visual show the fair had ever conducted due to COVID-19.”
Medina said it was an honor and privilege to repre- sent his hometown of Dinuba
SEE MEDINA on page A8
Rumaldo Medina
ABOVE: One of the several hand sanitizing stations at Grant Middle School in Reed- ley that students were re- quired to use during their first day back on campus.
Mid Valley Times
Things may have looked different from no dance to a full-on assembly to celebrate Homecoming 2020, still the Dinuba High Leadership Class put their best foot forward or- ganizing virtual events from Oct. 26-30.
This year’s theme was Stay at “home”coming.
Students took part in a pumpkin carving contest, pet dress up contest, posting pic- tures of all things quarantine (new hobbies, changes, proj- ects and new routines), throw
it back to life before quaran- tine and spooky you, where students posted a pic of their decorated house or costume. Students uploaded their daily photos using the hashtag #dh- sonlinemps for a chance to win a daily raffle which was a $25 gift card.
On Oct. 28 there was a homecoming parade and the following day was the crown- ing. This year’s queen was se- nior Helena Tavarez and king was senior Angel Hernandez. Princess was sophomore Kel- ly Garcia and the prince was sophomore David Camarillo.
Contributed
Snow in Dunlap. A photo of Yuliana Buendia and her family enjoying some freshly fallen snow on Saturday, Nov. 7. Have a photoyou'dlikefeatured? Emailjuanita@midvalleypublishing. com.
Contributed
ABOVE: DHS Homecoming Queen Helena Tavarez is pictured with King Angel Hernandez.
Photo of the week