No sports, no performing arts, and no school for Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) students.

SAUSD Superintendent, Jerry Almendarez, announced earlier today that all schools will be closed through spring break beginning on Monday, March 16 to April 10, 2020. 

COVID-19 better known as the coronavirus has severely impacted students and their families across Orange County school districts and nationwide. 

On Friday, March 13, 2020, Godinez Fundamental High School’s (GFHS) assistant principal, Felipe Zamudio, sent an email from Almendarez’s office informing students about updates on the coronavirus in SAUSD.

According to Almendarez, all field trips, sports games and conferences are cancelled until further notice and any large gatherings that include 250 people or more are to be postponed or cancelled.

Later that day at 1:30 p.m., Godinez principal, Jesse Church, made the official announcement on the loudspeaker, informing students about schools closing.

Students on campus are feeling the sting of these changes.

The Godinez cheer stunt team, whose first competition and senior night on Friday, March 13, 2020, is cancelled, and as of now, there is no reschedule date. 

Senior Varsity Stunt Captain, Emma Gutierrez, understands the precautions the school is trying to take in order to protect students and staff’s safety, but she is sad about the cancellations.

 “My team and I are upset because the stunt team is one of the most dedicated teams on campus,” said Gutierrez. 

Gutierrez and her teammates are confident that this year is their best season yet. 

“We had the potential to get a cheer banner up in the gym, so it’s unfortunate that we may no longer get what we worked for,” said Gutierrez.

Likewise, sophomore Angie Banuelos’ winterguard season was cancelled on Thursday, March 12, 2020. 

“I feel very bothered because we had just finished our complete show and it feels like everything went to waste,” said Banuelos.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, SAUSD is taking extreme measures. Some events that are cancelled at Godinez are: all sports games, meets and practices, the choir festival, all orchestra concerts, the Key Club March Division Council Meeting, and the SATs that were to take place Saturday, March 14, 2020, at Mater Dei and Santa Ana High Schools. Senior portfolio exit interviews are also postponed for now.

Julie Phan, Key Club Vice President, said that she was beyond devastated when they received the news because they’ve put a lot of money into the event and prepared this past month to attend and learn.

“I was really looking forward to attending the District Convention in Reno, Nevada, which is the biggest Key Club event where members from all over California, Nevada, and Hawaii come together to celebrate all they have accomplished throughout the term and learn valuable skills in various workshops, as well as build new friendships,” said Phan. 

Senior varsity baseball captain, Israel Gomez, is upset about the cancellations. Gomez didn’t expect his senior year to be corrupted by this virus and feels as if not only his baseball season is striking out, but making memories before he graduates are disappearing.

“It’s our final season and since I will not be participating in college baseball, it’s very harsh to see the coronavirus postpone these events that we’ve been looking forward to,” said Gomez.

Just like the previous season, the softball team at Godinez Fundamental High School was working hard and aiming for another CIF championship. 

Mia Saucedo, varsity softball center fielder, said, “It’s disappointing since we put in tons of work during the fall and winter and we’re excited for the upcoming season and getting the chance to play new teams in a higher division. It does somewhat feel like all our work was just thrown away,” said Saucedo. 

As Golden West League postpones every game, many students wonder if their senior activities organized by the Associated Student Body will happen. 

Roman Arcos, ASB Historian, confirmed that the Sadies dance is postponed, and as of right now, there is no reschedule date. In addition, the hope is senior grad nite at Disneyland and prom is not rescheduled or cancelled. 

In the meantime, students will be notified via email by teachers informing them of homework and classwork they can complete at home during the quarantine. 

For SAUSD and many students across the globe, no school means a new experience upon which they never planned.