Like schools throughout the country, Mid-Pen opened its first day of the 2020-2021 school year via a distance learning program due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being apart, students appeared in their virtual courses with the nervousness and eager smiles that a new school year brings.

Head of School Phil Gutierrez greeted students at an all-school assembly over Zoom. As students arrived in the virtual meeting room, English Teacher Cory Huttenga strummed the guitar and sang "Flowering Spade" by artist Sean Hayes. This year's student body is comprised of 138 students, the largest opening enrollment since the school's founding. Thirty percent are new Dragons, including more than 10 transfer students.

Phil acknowledged that this first semester would be different and, at times, difficult amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic and ongoing racial injustice in our world. As well, members of the Mid-Pen community are facing evacuations due to wildfires burning throughout that Bay Area.

"We will be Mid-Pen, and we will get through it all—together."

After staff introductions, Phil reminded students to take care of themselves, and others. "Stay connected to one another, take care of other people, check-in with each other," he said. He also asked the students to seek joy.

"Go through every day, finding something with joy, and do something to make your day more pleasant."