Falling Out of Old Traditions: Fallout Next Year

This past year, the School’s long-standing tradition of overnight fallout trips was derailed by the pandemic. However, now that many people in California have been vaccinated and COVID cases are dying down, the School Deans are discussing next year’s modified fallout trips. 

Typically, to acclimate to school life, students in each grade level will go on a fun outdoor sleepaway trip during the first week of the school year. These fallout trips provide great ways for students to bond with classmates and enjoy themselves before the intense school year. Ninth and tenth graders traditionally go to Mountain Camp,  a summer camp near South Lake Tahoe, while eleventh and twelfth graders go river rafting on the American River.  

However, the pandemic put a wrench in the fallout trips as they are overnight and involve water activities without masks (which we will most likely need next year). Recently, conversations about next year’s trips have been stirring, but it is unclear what will be possible during the fall. 

Sophomore and School Secretary Anika Ramaswamy, who has been in active conversation with the deans’ team regarding fallout says, “The plan is all very TBD at the moment because we don’t know students’ vaccination levels or what they are comfortable with. However, I think we definitely will have some sort of fallout next year but maybe for a shorter duration or without the sleepover aspect.”   

Jenny Temple, the tenth grade dean, gives similar information and says, “We will definitely have some form of fallout for next year. However, we may keep it more local and have numerous day activities to limit indoor exposure time in places like the bus or cabins.” Temple also adds that the deans’ team brought up the idea of doing an additional trip or activity in the spring to substitute for anything missed out in the fall. 

Ultimately, the fallout plan for next year is still up in the air but is definitely being discussed and will hopefully be put into motion soon.