SHA continues homecoming activities despite COVID-19 concerns
Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) is celebrating homecoming this week with a slightly different twist due to COVID-19 restrictions.
According to a press release from the sha, manyof the festivities such as the assembly, parade, dance and alumni/ friend reception cannot be held.
“The decision was made by school administration and alumni representatives based on the MSHAA athletics ruling for fall sports and the local health department limit on indoor and outdoor gatherings which went into effect August 24,” SHA admissions director Mary Kay Reetz said. “Safety is our number one priority.”
However, the students are committed to providing some activities that will make it fun and give the student body a chance to show their school spirit.
“We will do whatever we can, in whatever ways are possible, to safely celebrate with our students,” SHA Principal Mary Kay Yonker said in a letter to students, faculty, and parents.
The classes will compete in hall decorating, themed dress-up days, trivia contests and a canned food drive. These activities were modified in order to continue to follow school COVID guidelines.
“We have safeguards and precautions in place for regular school days which are being strictly followed for homecoming events as well,” Reetz said. “Students stay in the same cohort, masks are worn, no parents or visitors allowed, number of people involved is limited, along with extra cleaning and sanitizing. The color wars, mix up day, and spirit wear dressup days, alongwith the presentation of the court, happen within our school COVID safety guidelines. The trivia contest is hosted online using Kahoot.”
Hall decorating was completed at alternating times by a limited group of people and sections of the assembly have been pre-taped and edited together.
“Although many traditional events were forfeited, students worked with school administration to find creative solutions for events which could be hosted,” Reetz said. “So we are focusing on the positives.”
Classes will earn points and the week will end in the announcing of the king and queen and awarding of the cove ted academy cup at a live-streamed assembly on Friday afternoon.
The court and their parents will be presented via live stream at the homecoming football game on Friday, September 25, due to MAC TV Network Channel on Youtube.
For more information, visit academy.sha.net.