School’s back in session for Newport-Mesa students districtwide

School’s back in session at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, with about 18,260 students arriving at the more than 20 district campuses early Monday while about 340 of their peers logged in from home.

Later start times have been implemented in accordance with new state law geared toward improving educational outcomes by allowing for more sleep time for teenagers.

Corona del Mar Middle School students congregate in the center of campus before the start of the first day of school on Monday.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

The law, approved in October 2019, went into effect this year and requires middle schools to start at 8 a.m. or later and high schools to start no sooner than 8:30 a.m. It does not apply to optional early classes, also known as “zero periods,” or to schools in the state’s rural school districts.

District spokeswoman Annette Franco said most of the campuses in Newport-Mesa already were at or near the 8:30 a.m. start time last year and that bus schedules were aligned to serve that schedule.

Students look for their classes on the first day of school at Costa Mesa Middle and High School.

(Sarahi Apaez)

First period at five of the district’s high schools — Corona del Mar, Estancia, Costa Mesa, Newport Harbor, Back Bay/Monte Vista — reflects that later start time with first period beginning at 8:30 a.m. Early College High School, a prep school within the district, opens to students at 9:05 a.m., and Cloud Campus begins at 8 a.m.

Bell schedules for two of the district’s four middle schools — TeWinkle and Ensign — start at 8 and 8:15 a.m. The other two intermediate campuses, Costa Mesa and Corona del Mar, are aligned with the high school’s bell schedule.

“It was motivating and uplifting seeing our students return to school on Monday. Parents waved their sometimes-tearful goodbyes as their students walked through our gates to begin the next chapter in their educational journey,” said Supt. Wesley Smith in an email. “I have had a career of ‘first days of school’ and this one felt uniquely positive.”

A teacher and former student greet on the first day of classes at Costa Mesa Middle and High School.

(Sarahi Apaez)

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