Last Monday, students within the Chino Valley Unified School District rallied in support against Governor Gavin Newsom’s newest vaccination mandate in regards to COVID-19. In the form of a walkout, students withheld from coming to school to make a statement. 

The mandate calls for all students within California to be vaccinated for COVID, similar to other diseases such as measles and chickenpox. Although there were a considerable number of students that had missed school, their reasons differ greatly. While some may have been protesting, others took this as an opportunity to have a three day weekend. 

“My mom asked me if I wanted to stay home and I was like sure a free day off,” an anonymous student said. “I just worked on homework and went to a coffee shop.” 

“Both my parents are vaccinated and my grandparents so we are not against the vaccine but my parents don’t approve of the wanted force on students to get vaccinated,” another anonymous student said. “On Monday I went to Downtown Disney and worked in the lobby at one of the hotels to change the pace.” 

Although some may have taken advantage of this walkout, other students used the day to advocate for their beliefs in the form of protests. 

“I went to Huntington Beach with my family and joined alongside people who were taking a stand on the mandate,” junior Malachi Morris said. “I believe it is unconstitutional for a governor to require those to do something that goes against their freedoms and First Amendment.” 

While students, parents, and even teachers agree with this statement, they were able to voice their opinion in front of the Board of Education on Thursday night, which was held at Don Lugo High School. The meeting was open to anyone who wanted to express their opinions against the mandate. Finally ending near 10p.m.,  the audience discussed a range of topics, including the possibility of pulling their students out of the district to ensure that they will not have to receive the vaccination. 

“Without students and staff attending school money is not earned for the district and when a group of people participate, it impacts the economy of the district,” Morris said. 

The opinions of those within the district all vary to some degree. 

“I understand where they are coming from and I agree with their reasoning, but I don’t think the walkout will necessarily fix anything, the protest will not effectively do what it said to do,” junior Emma Wukelich said. “Protesting works for a number of things, but I don’t think protesting this would actually work.” 

The walkout failed to spark a huge controversy on campus, and as students returned the next day, life moved on as though nothing had happened. 

Ayala continues to follow the proper protocol in regards to the measures of COVID-19. However, it seems as though students are getting tired of the meticulous routine of wearing a mask inside of classrooms. 

Will students be mandated to become vaccinated? This is a question that will be answered in time. How those within the district will react when the decision is final, is also up in the air. 

“It is important that people have the right to choose whether or not they receive the vaccine,” Morris said.