Bright red streamers wrapped around the trees in the quad, vivid drawings with chalk swallowed up the campus floor and massive inflatables of Santa Claus and chimneys towered on the roofs of Sunny Hills’ hallways.

Students dressed in snowflake pajama pants and furry Santa hats rushed to the quad during break for a cup of free hot chocolate passed out by the Associated Student Body [ASB].

The campus brightened with “Jingle Bell Rock” as Santa Claus and his helpers drove a cart around the school to hand out candy.

That was the scene on campus in previous years before the coronavirus pandemic hit in March. Now students will have to find other ways to ring in the holiday cheer as the ASB decided to hold off on its regular plans carried out before winter break.

“The decorating of the quad on the week of finals will be missed, but, like so many other events that have been postponed or canceled, it is an adjustment we will have to make,” ASB co-adviser Mike Paris said. “All of us will be adjusting our holiday schedules whether at school or home this year.”

With a small number of people on campus, the ASB did not decorate the quad for cohorts A and B the week before finals week.

To keep students in the spirit, principal Allen Whitten played the Peanuts instrumental theme song over the loudspeakers Dec. 11.

Sophomore vice president Jacky Woo said she had looked forward to being a part of this tradition for her first year on the ASB.

“It sucks not being able to decorate the quad this year since I think the holiday decor would get people in the spirit and excited about the season, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” Woo said.

The ASB had also planned to release a virtual winter sports assembly video Dec. 11, but filming issues postponed the release until Dec. 15, Paris said.

The 15-20 minute video will feature performances from the Pep Squad and Dance Production; it will also include interviews with sports teams and a surprise online game with the teachers, he said.

Students can watch it from the Sunny Hills website at a time of their choosing, Paris said.

The ASB Instagram page (@sunnyhills.asb) posted a video of the weekly morning announcements on Dec. 9, which reminds viewers to tune into the assembly, and members have been posting stories on their accounts to promote the video.

Today’s Spirit Day will most likely be hosted via Instagram, where students can dress up in holiday gear and post pictures on their accounts, Paris said.

The ASB wanted it on a date when all periods met, while the assembly video was pushed to Tuesday to allow time for its approval from the administration.

Senior Amanda Ochoa is among the students who plan to participate in today’s Spirit Day and watch the virtual assembly on Tuesday.

“Even though I am not at school, I still want to participate, especially since it’s my senior year, and I know I need to make the most out of it,” Ochoa said.

This story also appeared in the Dec. 14 print issue, which can be read here.