The Fremont Union High School District has informed us that senior prom, in-person graduation, and grad night are canceled with no plans to reschedule. We will be coordinating a virtual graduation ceremony and will provide you with those details at a later date. Though it’s impossible to know whether state and local ordinances will evolve by spring or early summer, the district has decided to err on the side of caution.

As your principal, I know that you and your families have been looking forward to these milestone events for the last four years. We have all experienced immeasurable loss since the start of this pandemic, and we’ve all had to make sacrifices. I understand this may be extremely disappointing, but it’s for your own safety and the safety of the entire community.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I wish I could give you all the senior year you deserve, but I guarantee the Class of ’23 will be the strongest and most resilient group of students we send out into the world.

Sincerely,

Principal Jackson

Gabriela

You okay? I know you must be bummed about prom.

Parisa

Gabs…

Andrew texted me. He tested positive for Adema.

Gabriela

NOOOO. Tell me you’re fucking with me.

Parisa

I wish I was. He found out a few days ago. He was too embarrassed to say anything, though.

Gabriela

He totally got it at Lizzy’s party!

Parisa

100%

God, I wish he had just stayed home.

He said he had a small rash for a few days and I guess a mild fever. But his symptoms are getting worse and the rash has spread all over his body, so they’re thinking about taking him to the hospital.

Gabriela

Ugh. Why him? He was the last person who deserved to get sick at that party. Not that anyone deserves to get sick, but you know what I mean.

Parisa

I know.

Oh God, Gabs. I was so nasty to him when he texted me and made me promise not to tell anyone he went to Lizzy’s party. I told him that I thought he was an idiot, but you know what he texted back?

Gabriela

What?

Parisa

“Hey, look on the bright side! If I die, you get to be valedictorian.”

Gabriela

SO MORBID.

Parisa

I really really really hope he ends up being okay. But it’s super scary.

I would give anything to go back to our old life. When none of us were germaphobes, and I could stand right next to him during band practice, and not worry that we would die before graduation.

Gabriela

Our old life sounds pretty nice right now.

Parisa

I wish we could do something to help Andrew. It feels weird to just sit at home and do nothing.

Like, hospitals are running out of space in their morgues. That’s seriously terrifying.

Gabriela