EL SEGUNDO HERALD March 4, 2021 Page 3
School Spotlight
Sports
High School Sports to Return
By Gregg McMullin
It’s been nearly a whole calendar year since
the CIF Southern Section and the state of California
pulled the plug on youth and high school
sporting events. With updated information and
guidelines from the California Department of
Health, high schools can return sports to their
respective playing venues.
The CDPH made this possible last week
when it decided that outdoor, high-contact
sports in the purple, red, and orange tiers, such
as football and water polo, can be played in
counties that have a case rate at or below 14
per 100,000 people, as long as they do weekly
COVID-19 testing. Non-contact sports such as
cross country have already started their season.
Other sports such as water polo, girls’ volleyball,
and football can resume their season
with practices starting this past Monday. The
girls’ volleyball team can resume playing, but
the caveat is as long as the practice is outside.
Many schools have opted not to field a team
in some sports, but El Segundo is not one
of them. According to Steve Shevlin, ESHS
athletic director, El Segundo is committed
to ensuring each athlete is safe, following
guidelines and Covid protocol while allowing
Burkley Brandlin
BBS & Swatik LLP
LAW
AT T O R N E Y S AT L AW
Lifetime El Segundo Residents
Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury
Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation
310-540-6000
*AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization
ESUSD
• Easy to use
• Covered by
Insurance
• HIPAA
Approved
325 Main Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
CALL FOR
APPOINTMENT
310-648-3167
Now
Offering
TeleHealth/Online
Therapy
Sessions
each sport to field a team.
Since the water polo schedule ends March
20, it’s unclear how many actual games the
Eagles will end up playing. It’s been said that
several South Bay schools, the Eagles face in
league play, have opted not to return this season.
The other obstacle that schools are facing,
before returning to action, is testing for each
athlete. Under the guidelines for a safe return
will be the weekly testing that will need to
be done for water polo and football athletes.
There is funding for the tests, but local school
officials want to know who would oversee the
testing plans and test results and if the state
had a one-size-fits-all plan for how schools
can conduct the testing.
South Bay high school athletic directors are
in communication with each other about what
the future holds for different sports. “My phone
hasn’t stopped ringing,” said Shevlin. He says
it’s wonderful that a small piece of normalcy
for the students and athletes is returning. “We’re
all super excited about getting going,” he said.
Eagle head football coach Shawn Green is
in his first year as head coach and has met the
obstacles with a humble attitude. He says the
See Sports, page 11
El Segundo High School Seniors
Return to Campus
On March 8, 2021, students in the senior
class at El Segundo High School (ESHS) will
appear on campus once again. As students arrive
at staggered times beginning at 9:00 a.m., they
will be met with fanfare and much anticipation
after the school has been shuttered for one
year. When students arrive on campus, there
will be some pandemic precautions including
temperature checks, mask wearing and social
distancing. What won’t be different? The culture!
The inflatable eagle will welcome students
from the front lawn, as well as the sounds of
the band’s drum line and smiles from ESHS’
cheerleaders will be there to greet classmates.
Students will meet in “pods” of 14 students
and one teacher who has jumped at the chance
to be with students again. The class of 2021 cohorts
will meet for two-hour stints on Mondays,
but shift away from academics for a moment and
take the time to breathe a collective sigh of relief
as they remember what once felt normal. Administration
and teacher leaders have worked with
Student Government to plan events on campus
to commemorate their senior year. Seniors
want to take their ID photos, play games, have
friendly competitions and simply be together.
ESHS Eagle eagerly awaits arrival of students.
“After a year of uncertainty, El Segundo
High School can once again serve as a place
where students feel at home, if even for a brief
time,” said ESHS Director of Student Activities
Robin Espinoza. “My hope is that students
continue to make memories and create bonds
to hold onto as they approach graduation and
the world beyond.”
– Provided by ESUSD.
Elementary Schools Open Too
El Segundo’s elementary schools will be
returning to all grades this week. They will
be one of the first, if not the first, of the hundreds
of elementary schools in L.A. County to
achieve this goal. Principal Martha Monahan
stated “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome
our 4th and 5th graders for in person learning
this week. As I watch many other districts
scramble to get their students back to school
by April 1st I feel that we are very fortunate
to be ahead of the curve in ESUSD. Seeing
the smiles on the faces of our students and
teachers makes all of the planning worth it.
I feel fortunate to work in a school district
in which our teachers, staff, leadership and
school board always put students first.” •
Excited Center Street Students start their day with their parents waving from the sidewalk.
Marcus Ortiz recovered from an injury during then Eagle’s first meet and finished fourth overall against Torrance