The bridge. Some people like it, some people don’t. Whether you like it or not, you probably had to cross it multiple times to get from class to class. But have you ever wondered about its history and why it connects the west and main campuses?
The West Campus started as an elementary school. Before becoming the West Campus, it was called Orchard Elementary School. According to the LA Times, “Orchard, which the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District ran, closed Friday to make room for more classrooms at Esperanza High School.
According to EsperanzaHighSchool.net, “The Freshman Focus campus, formerly known as West Campus, is open to only 9th-grade students for break and lunch. 9th-grade students can choose which side of the campus they’d like to spend their breaks.” Between 2004 and 2007, “West campus underwent extensive modernization with advanced technology added to each room.”
When Orchard Elementary opened in June 1982, “Orchard was one of two centers formed to offer daycare for elementary students during the summer and before and after school. The center offered daycare also for preschool children all Year Round”.(LA Times).
All in conclusion, even if you’re the average student who despises that crossing bridge, you have to admit that there is a lot of history about it, and history can be fun. It can be perspective-changing to step into the past’s shoes and compare it to now, especially for the Esperanza Crossing Bridge.