On Tuesday evening, with Monday’s frozen precipitation still on the ground, I sent out a brief online survey to all MICDS students that asked, “What did you do on the snow days last week and this week?” I received hundreds of enthusiastic responses.
“Hung out with my family” was the most popular activity among our Beasley students, with plenty of play represented in their top seven: “played in the snow,” “played video games,” “played board games,” and “played with my pet(s).”
“Caught up on sleep” was number one for our Middle School students, followed by “watched TV” and “hung out with my family.” “Caught up on school work” also cracked the Middle School top seven snow-day pastimes, as did “hung out with friends.”
Upper School students were our most dedicated snow-day catcher-uppers, from sleep to school work, but they also enjoyed watching TV, spending time with their families (and their pets!), working out, and reading.
I included an “other” option in the survey that elicited dozens of responses from which the following were selected at random: “rollerbladed in my garage” (Cooper, second grade); “had a birthday party at Slick City” (Cooper, senior kindergarten); “did 68 cartwheels in a QuikTrip with Anagayle” (Hannah, 12th grade); “painted my nails” (Noelle, fifth grade); “crocheted half a sweater” (anonymous, 12th grade); “had a snowball fight at the park” (Evelyn, second grade); “practiced music” (anonymous, eighth grade); “created a marble maze” (Barrett, second grade); “roasted s’mores” (anonymous, third grade); and “made an outdoor fort” (Fletcher, fifth grade).
Finally, there was an open-ended survey question: “Is there anything else you would like to share about your snow days?” Once again our Rams offered many contributions, from which, once again, I have selected a few at random:
- «It is nearly a tradition now in my house to make buckeyes on really cold snow days, and because they are so simple, it is just my sister and me making them.» – Lola (eighth grade)
- «I baked a warm and delicious berry crumble.» – Myra (sixth grade)
- «I started a new show called The Last of Us. 10 out of 10!» – Anonymous (11th grade)
- «I think the snow days are great because they take away stress.» – Henry (ninth grade)
- «They are fun and a good mental break.» – Anonymous (11th grade)
- «It is like a day of mental resetting. Personally, I wouldn’t be disappointed if we had one of these every week.» – Jacob (ninth grade)
- «The best part of the snow day is the anticipation before the snow day and getting the message.» – Omkaar (11th grade)
- «I love Mr. Rainey for giving us snow days because half the time it doesn’t even snow but I love when I get days off school!» – Zara (seventh grade)
To address the last three of these: Jacob, while you would not be disappointed, I can think of a few members of this community (and readers of this letter) who might be…; Omkaar, while I appreciate your joy of anticipation, it is perhaps not universally shared, as the chart of my recent sleep hours below will attest; and Zara, I thank you for your kind words, but perhaps this “Mr. Rainey” you mention needs to bat just a little bit better than .500.
Always reason, always compassion, always courage. My best wishes to you and your families for a very happy weekend.
Jay Rainey
Head of School