Students Upset After Concerts Canceled, Sports Games Still Allowed
Dec 9, 2020, 6:46 AM | Updated: 6:51 am
SYRACUSE, Utah – Syracuse High School was forced to move to remote learning for the next two weeks after 19 COVID-19 cases were discovered through voluntary testing.
The soft closure is canceling some student activities, but not others. Those in band and choir said they aren’t too happy about the situation.
A number of big concerts were scheduled to take place this week. Those students have been through multiple setbacks this year. What they say really stings is that although their concerts can’t happen, sports games are still going on.
“Band it just – it just make me so happy … not only because I love music, but because I love the people who I share it with,” said senior Adielle Steele.
She was disappointed when she found out that all Syracuse High School concerts were canceled, but athletic games could still take place.
“I think it’s awesome that they get to keep playing,” Steele said. “It’s just frustrating because I’ve been working all term just to play at this concert.”
Student John Parker is in both band and choir, and he said they’ve been taking every COVID-19 safety precaution during rehearsals.
“It is just really hard to see the favoritism in the school system,” he said.
Christopher Williams with the Davis School District said band and choir are not sponsored by the Utah High School Activities Association. That means students participating in those activities are not tested every two weeks like athletes and students in drill and drama.
District officials said the decision on the school’s soft closure happened Monday when the 19 cases of coronavirus were discovered through the school’s Test to Stay pilot program. The program needed 80% of the students to volunteer to be tested, but only 68% of the students participated.
“We felt like in order to have a school that was a place that we knew was safe and healthy for the other occupants, we needed to hit that 80% mark,” Williams said. “And we just didn’t do that.”
Because of that, students are now doing remote learning until Dec. 18. Until then, student musicians will be remotely practicing for a concert they hope still happens.
“We are just hoping that we will be able to continue to have concerts if athletes are also being able to go and have games,” Steele said.
There are currently efforts underway at the high school to reschedule the concerts. District officials said the event could happen Dec. 18 or Dec. 21.
