BY EVA BROWN ’27
On her seventeenth birthday, Aanya G. ’27 awoke to a great surprise: a snow day! Remarkably, Aanya’s birthday snow day on January 23 was only the first of three traditional snow days Jericho students received this year.
Bogged down with their studies, many Jericho students felt they benefited from the snow days as a way to catch up on work. Aanya said, “I was happy when school was cancelled since it allowed me to spend time doing work and studying for my classes.”
These traditional snow days also offered Jericho students a much-appreciated chance to prioritize their well-being and simply enjoy the snowy weather. Manasvi D. ’27 said, “School can get chaotic, so snow days are always helpful to relieve stress.”
While students enjoy snow days, teachers acknowledge the difficulty these days off pose for the curriculum, especially within AP classes. AP Biology teacher Ms. Calabrese believes that multiple snow days can make it hard for students to keep up with rigorous coursework, especially with a culminating exam deadline looming. Ms. Calabrese said, “Frequent snow days can make it challenging for students because missed class time compounds across all subjects, causing lessons and tests to be shifted and built up.”
Although traditional snow days can take time away from instruction, French teacher Madame Kennedy explained that these days give students a valuable opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family. Madame Kennedy said, “I think we all benefit from a break from the routine, especially if there is enough snow to take a walk and build a snowman.”
Many might wonder how school districts decide to declare snow days. There is a process for deciding on snow days, and it is not taken lightly. The school administration must weigh the pros and cons of declaring a snow day, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kravitz must consider several factors before notifying the Jericho community of a school cancellation. Dr. Kravitz said, “Our goal is always to balance maintaining the school schedule with ensuring the safety of our entire community.”
For the most part, this year’s snow days were welcomed by the Jericho community as a nice change of pace. Rather than cramming for a test, Aanya was able to blow out her birthday candles with her friends and family around her.
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