Hassan Announces Principal's Day As May 2, Students Rejoice
"I started dancing around my room when someone texted me about it," lower Hannah Fuller said of her reaction upon hearing the news that today, May 2, is Principal’s Day. Like many in the Academy community, Fuller was overjoyed to hear the news that the annual class-free day arrived. This year, the news came in the form of paper fortunes in the fortune cookies that dining hall served alongside its Chinese-themed lunch. Word soon spread, primarily by gleefully scripted texts, across campus.
A "good fortune" for all
Director of Dining Services Ward Ganger said that Principal Hassan came up with the idea to use fortune cookies. "Every year we like to do something special the day before Principal’s Day, so we talked and thought that fortune cookies were a really good idea," Ganger said. "There are actually a number of companies out there that will do custom fortunes, so it was very feasible and easy to do."
"I found out about Principal’s Day in physics class because someone had sent out a text message about the fortune cookies. After class, of course my friend and I went to d-hall and picked up our own fortune," lower Amy Irvine said. "It was a really innovative and creative idea—more so than last year’s poem announcement."
The majority of the community appears to be quite pleased with the selection of today as Principal’s Day this year.
Relieving heavy workloads
For lower Margaret Cohen, the free day fell at just the right time to relieve her from a heavy workload. "I was extremely excited because I’ve been having a pretty busy week, and tomorrow I would have had five classes and a couple of things to turn in, so on the whole, I was really happy," she said. "It’s in the middle of the term, and I think that everyone really needs a break, so I think they timed it super well."
Irvine shared Cohen’s sentiments. "I really like the placement of Principal’s Day this year, because it’s after 333s are due but before APs, so I think it gives people just the right amount of extra time in their schedule," she said. "It benefited me, too, since my math test got postponed almost an extra week, so I have so much more time to study."
Upper Fernanda Martinez is happy that Principal’s Day will give her valuable time to study for the SATs. "SATs are this weekend, so it’s a nice time to have a little bit of a break and some downtime at such a stressful time in the term," she said.
Fuller also alluded to the heavy workload that many are experiencing around midterms. "I was going to have a six class day tomorrow with a big paper due, and I know a lot of uppers who just turned in 333s, so I think it’s nice that they can recover from that," she said. "I think since we didn’t have Easter Weekend, everyone’s been really tired lately."
A needed break
History instructor John Morris said Principal’s Day provided a needed break for Exonians. "I think it is absolutely essential, because it is always good to have something to look forward to in the spring term," he said. "I also think that people will have a little more time to prepare and study for their various upcoming AP exams."
Morris added that he did not think Principal’s Day disturbed his class schedule. "I’ve already planned ahead with my schedule, and I think people know it’s coming. Maybe some are surprised and others haven’t incorporated it into their schedules, but I think they know it’s coming."
Students plan to participate in a myriad of activities, ranging from studying to going to the beach, and just taking time to enjoy the free time.
"I plan on sleeping. It’s a good day for people to catch up on work, and when people find out it’s Principal’s Day, the mood of the whole campus changes," senior Rachel Schneider said. "People realize that they have time and can relax, especially after the stress of midterms and grades."