photo credit: Jenna Frase
This winter has been a frosty one, with the grounds constantly powdered with snow. Olentangy has gifted the district with one snow day, two cold days and four two-hour delays so far. However, many other days have been up for debate on whether school should have been canceled.
During the school nights in December and January, everyone has their routine of checking the weather app and doing whatever it takes to get school canceled or a delay. Sophomore Laney Miller has a whole routine of superstitions she does on the night before a possible delay or cancellation.
“I flush ice cubes down my toilet, I put a white colored pencil on my windowsill, I wear my PJs inside out and I put a spoon underneath my pillow,” Miller said.
This dedication ramps up students to frantically check their notifications to see if they earned a delay or cancellation. In addition, teachers are eagerly checking too and relaying the news, such as AP US History Teacher Leslie Hosgood.
“I text other teachers and generally we celebrate the news that there is a snow day. It includes happy emojis at 5:15 a.m.,” Hosgood said.
The delays and cancellations allow students and staff to get rest, stay safe and enjoy the winter weather.
“On snow days, I typically go get food, I have people over or we go in the hot tub,” Miller said.
This break recharges students’ brains and increases their focus and energy for the following day. However, teachers, students and parents all have different opinions on whether or not to cancel or delay school, because of safety and staying on track academically. Ultimately, the decision comes to Olentangy’s Superintendent Todd Meyer.
“Todd Meyer did not cancel school some of the days because he cares about education and doesn’t want us to miss too many days because then we would have to make them up,” Miller said.
Teachers such as Hosgood agree that cancellations and delays set back the class, causing teachers to have to fit more material into less time than it takes to teach.
Additionally, Olentangy is one of the biggest districts in the state, causing it to be more difficult to evaluate the weather.
“It’s a challenge to make the call, because in our district some areas of the district might be perfectly fine, while others may be experiencing adverse effects,” Hosgood said.
The process of canceling or delaying school is much more complex than it seems. The district has been blessed with a handful of cancellations and delays this winter, and hopefully more to come.
So, flush some ice cubes down the toilet, wear your pjs inside out, sleep with a spoon underneath your pillow, and according to Miller, put a white colored pencil on your windowsill so Olentangy can get another snow day.
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