Memorial High School was closed for the last week of January due to unsafe travel conditions after ice and sleet impacted the area. This unexpected break affected everyone in different ways, from students and teachers to administration and staff.
For many students, the week off was relaxing. Students used the time to catch up on sleep, watch movies or spend time with family, while others went outside to enjoy the snow.
Students’ reactions on the break reactions were mixed.
“My mom had me stay inside the whole time so the break for me was really just circling around watching movies and being bored,” Madison Groth said.
Another student, Kobe Yang, described the week as fun and relieving
“I was surprised about having the entire week off, but it was enjoyable for me,” Yang said. “My friends and I went sledding, biking and explored some tunnels throughout the break.”
Although the school buildings were closed, teachers and staff were still affected by the weather. Many teachers had to adjust lesson plans and prepare for changes once the students returned.
“Due to the break, I had to add some review lessons since the students needed a refresher of the content prior to the extreme weather,” geometry Aaron Fraga said.
While some main roads were clear by the middle of the week, other problems kept the district closed.
The ice and snowfall impacted the district’s bus barn, making it difficult for the buses to be accessed or safely driven. Another role in the schools remaining closed throughout the week was the conditions on the side roads, which hadn’t been cleared.
Some staff members were less enthusiastic about the break, such as assistant principal Patrick Moore, who described the break as a setback.
“We are very schedule-oriented so when we have an unexpected week off school, it pushes everything back, which is not good,” Moore said.
While Legacy High School faced an unexpected leak that caused water to enter the building, Moore said Memorial High School remained in good condition.
For athletes and coaches, the break was also a setback. Outdoor sports teams like soccer, softball and baseball lost an entire week of practice, which is crucial for their preparations.
“Since we are an outdoor sport, our field was iced over leading us to having no practice for an entire week which was a pretty big setback,” girls soccer coach Rob Woodward said.
Overall, the students and staff found different ways to enjoy the unexpected snow week. As schools return to normal, students and staff are adjusting back to their schedules.
