The East Union High campus was quiet on Wednesday.
Call it the calm before the storm, with the latter being the first day of school.
Altogether, an estimated 23,810 students of the Manteca Unified School District are expected return to the classroom this morning beginning at 8 o’clock.
For East Union, this day is nearing the golden anniversary of the school that first opened it s doors in 1966. A special celebration is scheduled for Sept. 9.
East Union isn’t looking too bad for its age.
“The campus was made nice and clean thanks to our custodial staff,” said new office manager Rosa Souza, who spent the past eight years as the accounts manager at the school.
In particular, she pointed to the attendance office, which was spruced up during the summer. Doors and trims received a fresh of coat of paint in the school colors of a vibrant red and blue.
The walls were also painted.
 Despite the round-up days earlier this week – freshmen and sophomores picked up their schedules for the new school year on Monday while juniors and seniors did likewise on Tuesday – the attendance office staff is bracing for a crazy first day.
“Hopefully, it won’t be so bad,” Souza said.
East Union will kick off the school year with a projected enrollment of 1,719, with 436 consisting of freshmen – they were introduced to their new surroundings at the Link Crew-hosted orientation event held a few days earlier.
“There’s always that first-day confusion among freshmen,” said third-year Principal Raul Mora.
He added: “We’re here to create a welcoming environment.”
He spent part of the day with staff at Manteca High for the Active Shooter Training conducted by school resource officers.
“The different departments (at East Union) were scattered at various MUSD school sites,” said Mora of the staff development in-service day.
For more first day of school information, log on to www.mantecausd.net.