South Florida school districts are preparing for the spread of the Coronavirus, COVID -19. The Coronavirus has officially reached Miami-Dade County, so Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), has transitioned into online classes if to prevent the further spread of the disease.

M-DCPS continues monitoring COVID-19 closely with the health of students, staff and other employees that make up the fourth-largest school district in the nation their top priority. Florida has been declared under a state of emergency, and Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Alberto M. Carvalho, along with other school district officials, have cancelled upcoming field trips that are out of the county and all air travel field trips.

The cancellation of field trips impact students as individuals and the teams as a whole as many winter and spring sports as well as multiple competitive clubs were preparing for state and national competitions.

“Having such a huge campus, student activities receives around 10 field trip request forms per week, sometimes more,” senior Adriana Ramirez said.

Coral Gables Senior High runs on student involvement and with the cancellation of field trips, students have been disappointed, but understand the measures that need to be taken in order to ensure the safety of themselves and their peers. The Army Drill Nationals being held in Richmond, Virginia was one of the most important competitions for the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) this year, but has been cancelled.

“The cancellation of our competition was very devastating. As a team, we felt that all our hard work we put in would no longer lead to anything. At this point, after the bad news, the team has lost motivation but is continuing to prepare for future competitions,” senior Annie La Roche said.

Additionally, the Future Business Leaders of America’s Florida State Conference, The Florida State Thespian Festival, in which Gables’ Troupe 0476 was competing, the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s conference (FSPA) and CAF&DM’s end of year banquet have all been cancelled.

While Miami Dade County Public Schools remain open and after school activities have not been cancelled, officials are taking the next step in planning ahead by having students and parents fill out the Mobile Device Need Survey for students to receive free smartphones to be used as internet hotspots in case schools are cancelled and students move on into temporary online learning.