From the Principal’s Desk: A Busy February

By: Ayla Ozturk

As Redwood enters the month of March, Principal Matt Shin reflects on a “very busy February”.

Last month was filled with theater, competitions, sports events, and much more.

Shin says, “I think we had a very busy February with a lot of things that we normally would have [before COVID-19 quarantines]. That was a positive.”

For the first time in two years, Rangers can host events that make Redwood the school it is.

When Shin sees events such as the FBLA conference, Mock Trial competitions, the Winter Formal, and sports games, he feels things are finally returning to normal.

“These are things that give me goosebumps, because that’s what high school is about, for you kids [students] to have these kind of events, to have these kinds of interactions.” Shin comments.

In addition, the first Ms. Ranger is coming to Redwood. After decades of Mr. Ranger, female students will be able to take part in this classic tradition.

According to Shin, the gym will open for the first time in over two years later this spring.

Basketball games, wrestling matches, and volleyball games were diverted to Ridgeview Middle School’s gym for the 2021-2022 seasons.

Construction on Redwood’s gym will officially start this summer and render the gym unavailable for use for most of the 2022-2023 school year.

“We’re starting to see Pre-COVID normalcy back, which is good. And that’s what I’m excited about.” he says.

Unfortunately, positives come with negatives. Tardies remain an issue, but there has been mask compliance issues as well.

The Visalia Unified School District Board of Education [VUSD] set a mask mandate when students returned to schools last spring.

There are parents who strongly disagree with mandates and masks in general. In response, they formed many anti-mask groups on social media.

Some students share that belief, which has led to protests and compliance issues. Shin remarks, “I get it kids are tired of wearing masks. Adults are too.”

Earlier this week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California school mask mandates would expire March 12th. This left the decision to the school districts.

VUSD chose to lift the mandates as soon as California law would allow them.

Shin predicts dress code issues will arrive as “the weather warms up and the layers come off”.

According to Shin, the dress code is created by VUSD and not by Redwood administration.

Due to the majority of the 2020-2021 school year being online, dress code was not an issue. As a result, administration has not enforced dress code in the last two years.

The priority was to get students back to learning on campus. Now that they are back, Shin says “We’re [staff] going have to address those expectations [dress code].”

He wants students to understand that school is about learning, connections, and involvement. He mentions his mantra, “Work hard, get involved, be nice.”

“Redwood had a very unique culture and climate. That’s what I could say when I got here, six, seven years ago,” Shin says.

He feels COVID had an impact on said culture and climate, “We lost it because the people who knew about it graduated out.

Shin wants students to create a positive learning environment “so people want to be here [at Redwood]”.

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