Classes Cancelled Due to Hazardous Weather Conditions

Last Wednesday, students received an email from Principal Lisa MacFarlane declaring a snow day on Thursday and cancelling all academic and athletic appointments. On Sunday, students once again received an email, this time from Assistant Principal Ronald Kim, cancelling classes for Monday due to the hazardous weather forecast. This Wednesday, a campus-wide message alerted students that classes would be delayed until ten a.m. on Thursday morning. Prior to this past week, Exeter had only had one snow day within the last decade. The occurrence of two snow days and a two-hour delay within the span of a single week was historic for the Academy community.

The administration made the decision to cancel all required appointments in reaction to warnings that Winter Storm Niko would bring severe snow and high winds to Exeter. Kim explained the process by which a snow day is determined. “A group of [administrators] monitor the weather closely and discuss carefully and thoroughly the decision to cancel classes,” he said. “It’s a responsibility that we take seriously.” Instructor of Religion Russell Weatherspoon clarified that snow doesn’t always constitute a snow day, but even a “threat of high winds” is a good reason to call off a day on the paths for students. 

Kim elaborated that the primary factor in the decision to call a snow day is the safety of students and employees, especially those families and faculty who reside outside of campus. “While many students and faculty live on campus and may be able to get to class, there are hundreds of students and their parents, faculty and staff for whom getting to PEA for a day of class on a bad weather day can be hazardous,” Kim said.

“While many students and faculty live on campus and may be able to get to class, there are hundreds of students and their parents, faculty and staff for whom getting to PEA for a day of class on a bad weather day can be hazardous.”

Prep Meredyth Worden reflected on Kim’s sentiments. As a day student, Worden described the danger and inconvenience her family would face having to commute to school through snow. “The commute definitely takes up more of my day than I realized,” she said. The journey takes even longer when New England experiences conditions like those on Thursday and Monday.

Lower and fellow day student Ariane Avandi agreed with Worden. Avandi explained that it was a “hassle to commute to school in bad weather conditions.”

While the hazardous weather would have put day students’ commute in peril, boarders were able to enjoy the usual accommodations on campus during the day off, primarily thanks to the conscientious efforts of the Academy’s facilities team. “The staff here are remarkable in what they do to keep our campus operating,” Principal Lisa MacFarlane said. “From preparing food, to keeping buildings like the gym and the Academy Center open, to keeping the campus navigable, to making sure that we are warm and safe, they work incredibly hard and always with smiles on their faces.  We are really lucky, and very grateful.”

For many students, the snow days provided a break and time to relax. Avandi recounted that her snow day was spent at home. “I usually spend snow days relaxing at home with my family, which is something I rarely get a chance to do,” she said. “It’s nice to be able to spend some time off campus during the week.” Avandi also appreciated the chance to catch up on sleep. “I felt refreshed,” she said.

Indeed, MacFarlane mentioned this boost in morale as an added benefit of the snow days for students. “New Hampshire winters can be long, dark, and cold—and every once in awhile, a day to get some extra rest, get caught up, give ourselves a little R&R helps us be happier, fresher, and more productive afterwards.  I hope Thursday—and Monday—provided that for everyone!” she said.

On campus, students were spotted having fun in the snow. Senior Eric Tang recalled participating in sledding, snowball fights, football in the snow and playing Settlers of Catan with his dorm mates.

Some students took advantage of the break to catch up on work. The snow day came as a pleasant surprise to Upper Michael Garcia, as it allowed him to complete his history paper. “If I didn’t have the snow day, I have no idea how I would’ve finished it,” he said. “It was also just really beneficial in the sense that it gave all of us a much needed break from class.”

Since classes were abruptly cancelled, many instructors were forced to reschedule assignments. Weatherspoon explained that despite their benefits, the snow days resulted in lost time for class and practice as well as instructors being strained to “compress the rest of the schedule.”

Science Instructor Albert Leger described the situation as “discombobulating.” He said that the snow day required adjustment in the curriculum which was difficult, but it “wasn’t the end of the world.”

However, Weatherspoon stressed the importance of prioritizing student and employee safety. Many students felt the extra pressure put upon them after returning from a snow day. Avandi described the quicker paced curriculum when class resumed. “Some of my classes did seem rushed, as a lot of my tests got pushed to one day,” she said.

In addition, the severe weather over the weekend caused disruptions in extracurricular activities outside of campus. Several students attended a Model UN Conference over the weekend in Boston. Due to the weather, the team of delegates was forced to return to campus on Saturday night instead of Sunday.

Tang expressed his disappointment in missing the committee sessions which occurred Sunday morning but explained that the early departure didn’t affect Exeter’s success at the conference. Garcia concurred with Tang. “It was a bit disappointing since the Saturday night of a competition is usually my favorite,” he said.

Ultimately, the majority of students felt grateful for the opportunity to relax during the snow days. Whether students used the days off from the hectic schedule of an Exonian to catch up on work, watch movies, sleep, have fun outside or just relax, the time was deeply appreciated across campus. Despite the weather’s inconvenience, Eric Tang expressed his gratitude for having the day off. “It’s my last term on campus, so it felt like a blessing to have more time to spend with my friends,” he said.