All extracurriculars after 3:00 p.m. were canceled due to fear of spreading COVID-19 as of March 11. These measures will stay in place until April 13, when the district will re-evaluate. This means that any and all performances put on by VAPA programs are postponed indefinitely, including the spring musical, guitar show, jazz performance and all band competitions.

Senior drum captain Isabella Langley was frustrated with the decision to cancel band competitions since neighboring school bands outside of RJUHSD were still allowed to compete.

“I’m still going to school with the same exact people I would see at any of the competitions. All of [the other] schools are still in session – they’re all spreading it if they have it. I don’t understand why ours was canceled,” Langley said. “It’s ridiculous. How is it fair that we don’t get to compete but every other school gets to compete? Every other school.” 

Because the guitar program has a second show that was already scheduled for May 7, the setback for them isn’t as harsh as it is for the other programs.

For example, those involved with the spring musical Into the Woods have no idea what will happen for their canceled shows that were initially scheduled for March 19 through 28. Because they projected this show to be well-attended, they had spent thousands of dollars for costumes and licensing for the show, as well as an additional $1,200 to rent a shadowy forest backdrop.  It is unclear whether the district is considering reimbursing expenses like the drama department’s backdrop rent. 

As of right now, the licensing company MTI Shows is allowing productions to be postponed or canceled without any additional costs.

Although senior Annabelle Tiznado, who plays the witch in this production, understands why the district took these steps, it still didn’t soften the blow of putting everything on pause.

“We put a lot of time and effort into this over the past three months and we were so close to the end and then they finally tell us that we can’t do it,” Tiznado said. “I think we’re all pretty much understanding of why we have to postpone it – it’s better for everyone’s health – but it is just kind of disappointing to know that something you put all of your life towards (like, your life is just kind of consumed by this one thing) and you’re ready to put it on and then you can’t.”

The district will hold a meeting on April 13 to decide whether to reinstate events on campus after 3:00 p.m. This decision will be based heavily on the Placer County Public Health Officer’s recommendation. 

What this means for students in the arts in both RJUHSD and Placer County is still unclear. There are questions everyone has – including district administration and the school board. The only thing that is certain is that everything will be decided on a day-by-day, case-by-case scenario. 

Due to the limitations being decided day-to-day, it will be common to have certain activities canceled at the last minute. According to RHS principal Nicholas Richter, flexibility will be key to limiting the chaos of the situation.

“The only thing I ask for is patience. You might get a notice that something is on, then an hour later it’s off,” Richter said. “We’re in a fluid situation and we’re doing the best we can to keep our communication through certain avenues, but sometimes the wires get crossed.”