Although the 2020-2021 school year will begin with distance learning, physical textbooks will be checked-out to Bonita Vista High students as a resource for learning. Textbooks for all classes will be checked out and distributed to students at the BVH campus on Aug. 10-13 according to grade level and last name. There will be a make-up date for all students on Aug. 14.

“Studies show that books are better for learning.  It has something to do with holding and feeling it in your hands, as opposed to reading it on a screen,” BVH Librarian Mary Aruil said. “And, of course, textbooks don’t require WiFi or electricity to work.”

Seniors will be the first class to pick up their textbooks on campus on Aug. 10, while juniors will pick theirs up on Aug. 11, sophomores on Aug. 12 and freshman on Aug. 13. Each day, last names A-F are slated to check-out their books from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m, G-N from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and O-Z from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m..

All students are required to follow Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protocol and wear a face mask at all times to protect public health. There will be markings along the walkway to the library to ensure students stand six feet from each other in line. Line monitors, staff from BVH, will mark the attendance of each student in line as they report for textbook pick-up.

“Social distancing is very important. We, as staff members, don’t want to get sick, and we definitely don’t want students to catch anything while they’re in the library,” Aruil said. “We’re all going to be wearing gloves and masks, and have hand sanitizer at the ready.”

The path students will follow for textbook retrieval is similar to the set-up the BVH instituted for their textbook drop-off at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Students will enter the line from the school’s southwest entrance by the cafeteria and follow the line through the library, exiting through the east door and leaving campus through the gate by the Counseling Center.

It is recommended that students bring a backpack to carry their textbooks in once they retrieve them. In order to verify which textbooks they need, students are required to bring a copy of their class schedule, either printed or virtual. Additionally, students are encouraged to bring any textbooks that need to be returned from past years. However, no money for fines or fees will be collected.

After an extended summer, Aruil is looking forward to seeing students’ faces again.

“I always like seeing students and helping them out. It’s a fun part of my job,” Aruil said.

An email will be sent to students by BVH Administration through JupiterEd on Friday, Aug. 7 with more information on textbook distribution.