Weeks upon end, Color Guard anticipated when they were going to practice. At last, Color Guard reunited on Sept. 10th after school, with approximately fifteen people showing up to the optional practice. After checking all students’ temperatures and explaining the rules regarding social distancing, as well as wearing a mask at all times, Color Guard Director Christopher Josey, talked about his agenda. Members of Color Guard were ecstatic about what they planned to bring to the community through their performances. Unexpectedly and rapidly, COVID-19 interrupted everybody’s day to day lives.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the team had more time to practice as much as they could and start the (very late but still existent) marching season, and start it off with a bang. On the other hand, COVID-19 paused everything in action. Color Guard had an extravagant plan for the marching season this year, but they weren’t able to perform as planned. Now, they are focusing on the benefits and taking all the chances they can get to perform with their peers and neighboring schools.

Mr. Josey then explained what they would be doing that day. He explained that they would do the warm-up that they learned over Zoom platform, and that they would learn a new flag routine called the  “Runaway Baby Choreo” that they, as a group, plan to perform with the schools in the district. Mr. Josey split the group into two groups, rifle, and 6ft flag. The vet rifles, and the people who wanted to learn more about rifles, went with Mr. Louie Flores, one of the techs for Color Guard. 

“It felt refreshing to see physical people whose faces were not on screens. It even feels a little unfamiliar after such a long time,” Susan Barner ‘23 said.

After the rifle group learned how to do a little routine and the flags went over the Fight Song, everybody regrouped following social distance guidelines. Mr. Josey dismissed them row by row and reminded them that even though the practice is over, while they are still on campus, they need to respect the rules to ensure that in-person practices can continue.

“I cried a lot before I had to go to practice. I really didn’t want to leave the house and go into a big group of people, but after [going to practice] I felt pretty good,” Lauren Warling ‘21 said. 

The next expected practice would be on Thursday, September 24th, and weekly practice is expected to resume soon.