With winter in full swing and freezing temperatures taking over, everyone is thinking about the possibility of snow days. For students, these unexpected days off mean extra sleep, sledding adventures, and cozy afternoons with hot cocoa. But, for the majority of Seven Hills teachers and administrators, snow days bring challenges like adjusting lesson plans and rearranging the school calendar.
Love them or dread them, snow days are a unique part of the high school experience, and everyone seems to have their own way of making the most of them.
Two snow days extended the Seven Hills winter break, giving everyone a few extra days to enjoy the holiday season. Some members of the community stayed indoors where they caught up on sleep or binge-watched their favorite shows. Others bundled up and enjoyed outdoor winter activities, like sledding down hills or building snowmen.
So, how did members of the Seven Hills community spend their snow days?
“I spent them playing in the snow with friends,” said senior Roman Russo, “I found the biggest hill possible and went sledding, but after that I relaxed by watching a movie and then sleeping.”
“The first snow day was nice because it gave me one extra day of rest, but then the second day, I predominantly shoveled,” said Seven Hills librarian Gail Bloom.
“I watched my favorite TV show and played with my dog in the snow,” said senior Kate Gabriel.
After hearing how members of the Seven Hills community spent their snow days, it’s clear that these unexpected breaks bring both fun and relaxation. However, while snow days are a welcome pause for many, they also raise questions about the balance between time off and the academic calendar. For both students and teachers, the challenge becomes how to make up for lost time without sacrificing the quality of education or pushing the school year too far into the summer. When asked about this balance, Bloom said, “I guess I don’t look at them as disruptions; I just think it’s about safety. I think snow days are good for kids because I think teens (and grown-ups) don’t get enough sleep, so it’s a good mental health day to sleep in and then maybe get caught up on a little work or just watch a TV show.”
In the past, snow days at Seven Hills were often called off at the last minute, sometimes not until the morning. The decision to cancel school was made with caution, as the administration was hesitant to disrupt the carefully planned academic calendar.
So far this year (based on the two snow days we’ve already had) under the influence of the new head of school, it appears that decisions about snow days are being made earlier and more thoughtfully. These changes could be part of a broader effort to adapt to the winter weather while still maintaining the academic schedule.
Members of the community express their opinions on the current process of calling off school:
”I think Seven Hills calls off school early enough, but wish that they could communicate with students more directly if school gets cancelled,” said Russo, “They tell our parents— which is understandable for younger kids— but for older kids I think it would be better if they communicated with us directly so we are in the loop too.”
“I always think: the earlier the better,” said Seven Hills librarian Megan Whitt.
“I think they should call snow days earlier because, for example, I was at my friend’s house and I was planning for the next day,” said senior Abby Deimling. “I assumed we were going to have a snow day, but I had to wait until around 6 o’clock to find out if we were actually gonna have it or not… it was very stressful.”
As winter continues, the Seven Hills community can’t help but hope for more snow days in the weeks ahead. The general consensus is clear: the two snow days we’ve already had were a much-appreciated break and filled with memorable moments. Whether it’s sledding or relaxing at home, these unexpected days off brought a sense of joy to the community.
As we wait to see what the rest of winter brings, let’s make the most of every moment— and don’t forget to bundle up and stay warm out there!
