Students live the new normal as Los Angeles schools reopen

Police were present. The hugs were tighter. A student texted her mom to reassure her she was safe at school.

The new normal unfolded countless times Wednesday morning as students were back in class.

Even though the threat that shut down the Los Angeles Unified School District on Wednesday was ultimately deemed not credible, they felt safe but also experienced tinges of fear and anxiety on their first day back. They felt worried about things that usually fall beyond an adolescent’s typical concerns.

Raquel Mancilla walked slowly with her head down, swinging a black bag as she marched alongside other students to San Pedro High School. She said she feels safe in school, but her mother is worried.

“She was talking about it all this morning while she was dropping me off,” Raquel said. Her mother wanted Raquel to text her throughout the day.

Despite Raquel’s personal sense of safety, she couldn’t help but think about the implications of Tuesday’s shutdown: If someone calls in another threat, does it mean that all the schools will close again?

“It’s really messed up we’ve got to worry about that,” she said. “It’s a corruptive world out there.”

And when she first heard about the threat, she feared for her family. “I have a sibling at a middle school,” she said. “I don’t want to lose any family members. I don’t want bad things to happen to people.”

Meanwhile, some students were trying to focus on their exams and move on.

“I forgot about it, it’s a normal day, it’s the same old day, it’s just Wednesday,” said Nicholas De Baca, 17, a senior. “It’s the last week and I want to get it over with.”

Waiting for a friend, Catherine Hernandez, 16, said she felt the day was “kind of normal.”

“But then again you never know what might happen,” she said.

She said she was shocked about the threat yesterday given what happened in San Bernardino.

Students and parents defended the district for closing all of its schools.

“I think it’s always a good idea to keep the students safe,” Catherine said.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Nicholas said.

Sandra Hackney, 45, said she feels a little concerned for her two sons but believes they are going to be kept safe at school.

After the San Bernardino shootings, she said, she spoke to them about being vigilant. It’s an unfortunate and unnecessary stress for her kids, she said.

“It’s starting to become part of the norm with so much going on with terrorism,” she said. “They’re so used to hearing about it.”

Two police cars were parked in the front of the school. Students made their way in, chatting, listening to music and carrying birthday balloons and gifts.

School buses inched down the neighborhood streets and cars lined up along Alma Street, which runs into the school.

The day appeared normal, if only for today.

ruben.vives@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATvives