SYRACUSE, Utah — Following an outcry from students and parents, Syracuse High School announced Wednesday it will allow theater performances, band, choir and orchestra concerts to go ahead thanks to a testing program that failed.
Many were upset the school was allowing sporting events to be held during its soft closure, but refused to allow previously-scheduled preforming arts shows to take place due to COVID-19 protocols.
Syracuse High Titan Theatre, “It’s a Titan Christmas” revue, originally scheduled on December 11-12, will be performed on December 18th.
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However, school officials said that due to its involvement in the "Test to Stay" program, the concerts may go on as scheduled as long as students are tested.
On Monday, the school was the first to take part in the Davis School District program aimed at keeping coronavirus-free students in the classroom. COVID-19 tests were given to students in the Syracuse gymnasium with the hopes of reaching a mandated 80 percent threshold to keep the school open.
But only 68 percent of the students were tested and the school moved into soft closure the following day.
Syracuse administrators say that because the school is still involved in the program, even though it failed, it is able to offer extracurricular activities that are unavailable at schools not in the program.
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Students who received a negative COVID-19 test Monday can participate in the concerts. Those who did not get tested must do so before performing.
The school released a schedule of upcoming performances:
- CHOIR - Monday, Dec. 14 - 6 and 8 p.m.
- ORCHESTRA - Tuesday, Dec. 15 - 6 and 7:30 p.m.
- BAND - Wednesday, Dec. 16 - 6 and 8 p.m.
The grades of students who do not get tested and do not participate in the concerts will not be affected.