Hassan Announces Second Principal’s Day
After morning classes ended on Wednesday, Apr. 29, Principal Tom Hassan filled the Exeter community’s P.O. boxes with a pleasant surprise: a coupon for a free ice cream and a letter stating that the second Principal’s Day of the year is today, Apr. 30.
Following an impromptu Principal’s Day in response to winter storm Juno on Jan. 27, Hassan said that he would try to find a way to “think creatively to see if there are ways when the sun shines.” Never before have there been two Principal’s Days in one school year during Exeter’s history. However, excitement took over the school as students read Hassan’s short but sweet letter explaining the details of the day off as well as a Stillwell’s Riverwalk Ice Cream coupon.
“I thought that, in all fairness, we had to give the day off in the winter because of the intense blizzard anyway. So I thought it would be fun to give a spring Principal’s Day as well,” Hassan said.
The community of Exeter was thrilled to discover that classes, with the exception of music lessons, would be cancelled Thursday, especially those students with upcoming major assignments.
Many students had expected that there would be a day off today. Lower Bliss Perry said that due to hints, two Saturday class weeks in a row, midterm reports and SATs this weekend, “it’s the point in the term when anybody would appreciate a break.”
Lower Efia Nuaka expressed gratitude for a break in a stretch with two consecutive Saturday classes, now a rare occurrence at the Academy. “I think we need just a day off. This is especially true for people who play sports, because basically our entire Saturday is taken up.” She added that having more free time on Thursday will give her a needed extra day to study and review for any upcoming assignments.
Although Principal’s Day is always a welcome surprise for the community, some wished it could have been on a day with warmer weather. “I think there should have been better planning [for Principal’s Day] in terms of weather, though, so that the sky isn’t grey and the wind isn’t chilling,” senior Eli Feliciano said.
Upper Ellie Ward, too, was hoping for it to be later in time “for warmer weather,” but said that she was mainly just delighted to have Principal’s Day this spring at all.
However, unlike Feliciano, Perry believed that less pleasant weather will not be enough to keep him from enjoying his Principal’s day. For him, the day is more about “having a day to rest and recuperate from a very long ten day stretch.” Still, Perry also expressed concern that some teachers would assign extra work over the weekend to make up for the lost day.
Although teachers did not receive the Stillwell’s coupon, they were equally excited for a day without classes. History instructor and Department Chair Bill Jordan said that, even though he only had one class on Thursday, he felt “elated and happy about it.” He saw Principal’s Day as an annual mark of serendipity and frivolity—qualities often lacking on campus.
Math instructor Stephanie Girard said it is a “wonderful gesture” on the part of principal Hassan.
Though she was concerned for her class preparing for the AP Exam next Tuesday, she said the break is well deserved and worthwhile.
Though there was some annoyance that this Principal’s Day will not be warm and sunny, the resounding response is of delight for a day free of responsibilities.
Prep Francisco Baviera Maloney said the announcement was a “happy surprise because I did not expect it to happen, and the free ice cream really made my day.” He said that it will leave a positive sentiment with Hassan’s legacy.