By T Michele Walker
Photos by Dusty Hopkins & T Michele Walker
May/June • 2021 • GASPARILLA MAGAZINE A
We all remember where we were
on September 11, or when we
found out about the Challenger
explosion or, if you’re a Baby Boomer, where
you were when Kennedy was assassinated.
For today’s generation of children, though,
there was that week back in March of 2020
when everything changed. It’s a time they
will remember forever: The date they were
sent home from school.
One moment everyone was in school,
attending class, hanging with friends,
rehearsing the spring musical, and then
suddenly, they were sent home.
At Lemon Bay High School, students were
putting the fi nal touches on the opening
night production of “The Addams Family”
during that week. One student said she
clearly remembered.
“We were going to do ‘Addam’s Family’
last year when everything shut down due
to COVID-19,’’ said Lemon Bay High School
student, Lauren.* We were basically ready
for the spring show. We were ready to open
in about two weeks.”
Another student remembered what that
abrupt departure from school was like.
“I remember my arms being overloaded
with stuff from my locker; I wasn’t sure when
I was coming back to school, if ever. I was
kind of in shock,” said student Sophia.
Among the many losses for performing
arts students was the senior spring musical
performance, considered to be the
crowning achievement of their entire school
career. For many students, that once-in-alifetime
opportunity has been a casualty of
the pandemic.
“It’s a little disappointing that I didn’t
get a normal senior year, but honestly, I’m
just glad that Lemon Bay has allowed us
students to keep doing what we love,” said
Lauren.
The status of each school varies around
the world, from schools that are completely
closed to schools like Lemon Bay High
School that have cautiously moved ahead,
making the best of a diffi cult situation.
Rehearsals during
production week before
the show.