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In the last moment of normalcy before the shutdown, students participate in a pie-eating contest to mark Pi Day on March 13, 2020. The event was a day early because the 3/14 fell on a Saturday. Later that day students would be sent home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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Students participate in a pie-eating contest to mark Pi Day on March 13, 2020. The event was a day early because the 3/14 fell on a Saturday. Later that day students would be sent home to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
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Principal Brian Ginter addresses staff after classes March 13, explaining how teachers should continue instruction during the school shutdown.
Photo By Ed Mahon
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Responses to news that school would close to slow the spread of new coronavirus.
Photo By Ed Mahon
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Students leave school on Friday, March 13, 2020, after learning that school was closing for several weeks because of the spread of COVID-19.
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Students celebrate as they leave campus on Friday, March 13, 2020, after learning that school would be closed until April 13 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Photo By Ed Mahon
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Students leave school on Friday, March 13, 2020, after learning that school was closing for several weeks because of the Covid-19.
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Students celebrate as they leave campus on Friday, March 13, 2020, after learning that school would be closed until April 13 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
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Students leave school on Friday, March 13, 2020, after learning that school was closing for several weeks because of the Covid-19.
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Rio Americano students celebrated school closing after the final bell on Friday, March 13.
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Students leave school on Friday, March 13, 2020, after learning that school was closing for several weeks because of the Covid-19.
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Students leave school on Friday, March 13, 2020, after learning that school was closing for several weeks because of the Covid-19.
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Students bump elbows while social distancing on campus.
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An empty Rio Americano classroom as students transition to “distance learning.”
Photo By Nicolas Gorman
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Atticus Cottula comes to campus in protective gear on March 17, three days after school closed for Covid-19.
Photo By Ed Mahon
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School staff sanitize computers before they are loaned to students.
Photo By Ed Mahon
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Senait Syoum picks up a laptop in the Rio Americano High School library on April 1. The district passed out computers to students who wanted one in preparation for beginning distance learning April 13.
Photo By Ed Mahon
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Students pick up laptops in the Rio Americano High School library on April 1. The district passed out computers to students who wanted one in preparation for beginning distance learning April 13.
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Joe Bly works on his AP Biology homework while sitting in his backyard adjacent to the American River. Bly periodically kayaked to school from his house. Photo from the 2020 yearbook.
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Balin (’21) and then-eighth grader Grayson Albers (’24) play Scrabble at the beginning of the COVID shutdown.
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Even though school was closed, social science teachers Rocco Marrongelli, Curt Casazza and Gary Blenner met for a social-distanced lunch during the Chromebook distribution day on April 1, 2020.
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Students return to campus to clear out their lockers after two months of distance learning shuttered campuses.
Photo By Nicolas Gorman
Looking back on some of the Mirada’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic:
COVID-19 affects student athletes now and for the future: From March 26, 2020 — Katelyn Newton explored how the pandemic impacted student athletes in a piece selected for the Best of SNO, which recognizes exceptional student journalism.
Class of COVID-19 receives yard signs: From May 4, 2020 — Rio students show off their graduation-related yard signs.
COVID-19 affects teen mental health: From May 8, 2020 — Aaron Ichel and Annalee Gorman looked at how the pandemic and online learning were impacting the social and personal lives of Rio students.
Why Rio needs to return to in-person learning: From March 10, 2021 — the Mirada editorial board expressed their support for a return to in-person learning, asking why Rio should remain closed when other schools had already reopened.
Vaccines offered to students 12 and older: From May 14, 2021 — reporter Sam Thompson followed the rollout of the vaccine throughout Sacramento schools. Related coverage can be found here.
COVID emergency ends, but effects linger: From May 15, 2023 — Mirada writer Antonio Villalobos discusses the effects of learning loss and what gave him hope for the future.
Rio alum Linsey Marr named 2023 MacArthur fellow: From Oct. 5, 2023 — graduate Linsey Marr received an award from the MacArthur Foundation for her work on airborne viruses during the pandemic.
Here is the March 13, 2020, Rio TV bulletin (the day school closures were announced), which includes a section on preventing the spread of COVID-19.
