Shadow days depict lives of Peninsula students

Blown up structures on the lunchtime amphitheatre, stereos playing at lunch, flash mobs, Disney characters and dogs walking campus all have one thing in common; they all would be completely out of place on a high school campus. However, throughout the years, these strange but familiar traditions have become the norm for a Peninsula student. However, for visitors, this environment may come as a surprise.

Every year on the campus, “Shadow Days” provide a look into the usual day of a Peninsula student, going to classes, interacting with teachers and participating in campus activities.

Private-schooled eighth grade students act as “shadows” to sophomore Peer Mentors, experiencing four classes and lunchtime routines.

“Shadow days are fun for both the peer mentors and the students,” sophomore peer mentor Tara Nejad said. “It provides a great opportunity for potential incoming freshman to get an idea of what this high school is like.”

Eighth graders met with Principal Mitzi Cress, Safe Schools Counselor Christine Lopez, and Student Activities director Season Pollock before their day started.

“I learn about each eighth grader and find out what they’d like to pursue in high school,” Pollock said. “I try to match each eighth grader with a good partner for the day.”

Shadow days are meant to help students decide which high school to attend.

“I believe Shadow Days have the potential to affect a student’s choice,” Pollock said. “I’ve been told by students who attended Shadow Days that it had helped them make their decision to come to Peninsula High.”

The new faces of the Panther family bring many new additions to our sports teams, clubs, and extra-curricular activities.

“Shadow day was helped me see how and where I would fit into the panther family,” freshman Britney Scott said.

However, Shadow Days might have led to massive freshman class increases. With 2010’s freshman class coming in as an anomaly of a huge class, with 635 students, 2011’s class took out previous years with more than 680 students.  In only two years, the school’s population has grown from 2335 students to 2540 students.

Even so, class sizes have also grown enormously. Class sizes have grown to as much as 34 students per class, making overpopulation a noticeable issue on campus. With budget cuts and more teachers and classes disappearing, the low district funds have forced bigger class sizes.

“There is definitely a difference in campus population from last year to this year,” sophomore peer mentor Andrew Ballinger said. “Shadow days seem to really bring in a lot of students because is gives them a better idea of what their experience could be like if they came here.”