Dear Class of 2020 Alumni and Families,
We hope you enjoyed the Virtual and Drive-Thru Graduation events May 31, in a most unusual graduation year. Your resilience and joy that day, particularly given the extremely challenging times we are all living in, was a beautiful tribute to your character and brought tremendous cheer to our community. We are so proud of you all!
Today we are writing to update you regarding the events we had planned for late July and early August. We have been closely monitoring CDC guidelines and tracking COVID-19 cases in our city and region, which continue to rise. CDC guidelines for school gatherings currently advise schools to “pursue virtual activities and events” as possible. Following this, along with state and regional health directives prohibiting and/or advising against large group gatherings, and the unlikelihood of any change in the next eight weeks to these due to rising cases of coronavirus in Oakland and our region, we have made the difficult, necessary decision to cancel the Senior Ball scheduled for July 24 as well as the Live Celebration we had planned for August 2. Like you, we are disappointed to miss these traditions as a community.
Our Alumni Relations team will be working with the Class of 2020 leaders to find an opportunity for the whole class to come together next year and celebrate. We know each of you has much ahead in the next months and year with college plans and futures that may look different than you expected. We know you are up for the excitement, changes, and challenges.
All of us at O’Dowd wish you the very best and look forward to hearing about your next adventures. If you haven’t already, please make sure you share your non-O’Dowd/personal email with us so we are able to keep you posted on news, events, and opportunities to connect. Class of 2020 Dragons, you are one of a kind!
Be well, Class of 2020,
Chris Smart, Ed.D. Principal