Hi all…
I’m not quite sure how to start the upcoming conversation, so I suppose I’ll just dive right in.
Given the current district and state policies put into place to combat the spread of coronavirus, and the well-being of our loved ones these policies rightfully seek to protect, the spring production is officially being cancelled for this year. This decision was not reached easily, and given the rapidly shifting situation locally, nationally, and internationally, is the least bad in a series of bad options from a risk perspective.
Current policy states no non-essential activities for the next 30 days. According to the list of what is considered ‘essential’, theatre rehearsals do not make the grade. Assuming a best case scenario, the earliest we could complete our audition process and begin rehearsal on the show would be mid-April. The minimum length of time we have ever produced a show in, much less toward the end of a school year with all of the commitments that entails, is 5 weeks…which would put opening day Memorial Day weekend. Assuming lesser cases, including the possibility of a longer moratorium on activities or full quarantine from school, there’s just no way to consider opening a show this spring.
This is breaking my heart. Nothing means more to me in my job than to provide the vehicle for my students to grow, to connect, to share, and to experience something bigger than themselves. To have that not be an option is crushing. For my seniors who thought there was one more…I can’t know that feeling. For my new folk who were almost in their first…there’re no words. I am truly sorry.
Even with all of that, this is the right choice. We are living in times uncharted in recent memory. We need to be ready to take extraordinary actions. Given the number of us in our families, in our communities, who are at risk from coronavirus infection…we must be accountable to them and their safety. And we will.
Thank you all. Thank you for caring, thank you for everything you’ve already invested, and thank you for trusting me with all of this. I hope to keep as much of this program going this spring as I can…I will do everything I can ethically and responsibly do. You have my word.
Jamie Miller,
WHS Theatre Arts
I’m not quite sure how to start the upcoming conversation, so I suppose I’ll just dive right in.
Given the current district and state policies put into place to combat the spread of coronavirus, and the well-being of our loved ones these policies rightfully seek to protect, the spring production is officially being cancelled for this year. This decision was not reached easily, and given the rapidly shifting situation locally, nationally, and internationally, is the least bad in a series of bad options from a risk perspective.
Current policy states no non-essential activities for the next 30 days. According to the list of what is considered ‘essential’, theatre rehearsals do not make the grade. Assuming a best case scenario, the earliest we could complete our audition process and begin rehearsal on the show would be mid-April. The minimum length of time we have ever produced a show in, much less toward the end of a school year with all of the commitments that entails, is 5 weeks…which would put opening day Memorial Day weekend. Assuming lesser cases, including the possibility of a longer moratorium on activities or full quarantine from school, there’s just no way to consider opening a show this spring.
This is breaking my heart. Nothing means more to me in my job than to provide the vehicle for my students to grow, to connect, to share, and to experience something bigger than themselves. To have that not be an option is crushing. For my seniors who thought there was one more…I can’t know that feeling. For my new folk who were almost in their first…there’re no words. I am truly sorry.
Even with all of that, this is the right choice. We are living in times uncharted in recent memory. We need to be ready to take extraordinary actions. Given the number of us in our families, in our communities, who are at risk from coronavirus infection…we must be accountable to them and their safety. And we will.
Thank you all. Thank you for caring, thank you for everything you’ve already invested, and thank you for trusting me with all of this. I hope to keep as much of this program going this spring as I can…I will do everything I can ethically and responsibly do. You have my word.
Jamie Miller,
WHS Theatre Arts
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