It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a bird — in school! A bird, perched on the shoulder of a student. It’s a cat climbing over a student’s shoulder in school? What is going on? All of a sudden it’s Bring Your Pet to School Day, every day. Students are going to school at home and taking the opportunity to show off some amazing pets. 

“I’ve only seen a dog or cat on screen,” junior Disany Sandoval said. 

Though uncommon, a pet showing up on screen may improve someone’s day.

“It makes school more enjoyable because it’s random and brings a smile to my face.” Disany said.

Since students cannot go to school or be with friends, many need a way to cheer up. 

Surprisingly, some teachers are lax about pets showing up on camera. 

“I don’t mind them, students for the most part haven’t been overly distracted by them,” U.S. history teacher Manuel Delgadillo said. “I like to think of the pets as guest stars in the virtual classroom.”

Some teachers don’t mind the pets unless they become a distraction.

 “Students don’t appear to be majorly distracted by the pets. Most of the time the owner of the pet will gently redirect them elsewhere and the rest of the class continues,” Delgadillo said. 

“During my classes my cat is always on my lap and trying to eat my paper and my dog is always barking to go outside so I have to rush off to let her in and out,” senior Savanna Torres said.

Pets on camera can be a welcome interruption during class for both students and teachers. 

It could even make for a fun assignment.

“It could be fun if we do a show-and-tell presentation,” Chinese teacher Jing Li said. Assignments or just activities like that can make the virtual learning experience more enjoyable and lighten the academic pressure.

Pets and their playful shenanigans seem to delight both students and teachers.

“They (cats) like to jump on me during class. Whenever I’m in a class they’ll hop on me like normal and stare at the screen until someone notices. My teachers ask me how I got them to do that, I really have no idea.” junior Jayme Pineda said. 

“I am speaking only from my experience, but they do generally make virtual learning feel different and a little more lively at times. I can’t help but smile whenever I do see a dog or a cat lounging in the background,” Delgadillo said.