Introduction: This is not a training

When the earthquake shook Altama
Elementary School in Highland Park,
it took Principal Laura Gutierrez a split

second for her instincts to kick in
as she stood outside to monitor the change.
He began to dance—trembling with the

trembling time. Several students,
momentarily frozen with fear,
began to dance in his direction.

“They looked at me, many with wide eyes.
I turned around and said, “Okay, let’s do it.
” Many have done this to me.

He then immediately radioed the plant
manager and assistant plant manager to
coordinate a campus-wide response.

At 12:20 p.m., a moderate earthquake
struck the Los Angeles Unified School District.
There were no reports of damage, but it sparked

concern and tested preparedness
initiated through earthquake drills.
earthquake centered on El Sereno mostly

shook surrounding areas, including Wilson High School, which was temporarily evacuated. Alberto Carvalho Students streamed onto many campuses, but few remained during the short-term evacuation.

Juvenal Rodríguez and his wife were equally surprised, but Mateo, also a sophomore, wasn’t worried. He said it was much more interesting when hail fell on their house during the last rainy season.

Altama third-grader Madison

Altama third-grader Madison Alvarez thought the earthquake felt like a tree falling, so she wasn’t worried. He knew the first day of school was real.

“We drew and painted a lot,” he said. “And the first day was off, it was short, but it was a lot of fun.”

Jorge Alvarado, a 12th-grader at Academia Avance, another charter school, was sitting in class when he saw the mirror move, then the floor shake, then the walls move.

“I was shocked because when we were in class, I didn’t expect that to happen,” George said. But like any other school, he and his classmates knew what they had to do.

Director Gutierrez was sure: “We dance in Altama for a reason.”