Exeter’s Annual Surprise: What Did Students Do for Principal Day?

By ALEX LIM, CHLOÉ LIND, ADELLE PITTS and MEGHAN TATE ZEE

Day, day, principal’s day!

Once a year, Principal Bill Rawson and Dean of Students Russell Weatherspoon surprise students by canceling all academic appointments for an entire day, giving Exonians a day to rest and have fun. This day is called Principal’s Day, and it is something that students look forward to every year.

This year, Principal’s Day fell on Monday, April 30. The date was first announced via the Phillips Exeter Academy Instagram page with a story post in which Weatherspoon sang a song to announce the surprise. Following that, an email was sent to all students announcing the day off, as well as ice cream, s’mores, and barbecue events organized by the administration. Throughout the entire campus, conversation stirred and excitement erupted. Hundreds of students filled out Orah passes to go off campus, and the Academy led myriad activities filled with food, fun, and socialization.

“Getting the news about Principal’s Day was possibly the greatest moment of my Exeter career,” remarked lower Asha Masoudi. “It was something that was really needed for me. If I have an opportunity to go off campus, you bet your bottom dollar I’m going to take it.” Masoudi reflected on the day she had spent in Portsmouth with her friends, describing the various stores and restaurants they had explored as elements for “a really happy day.”

On the flip side, prep Toto Papathanasopoulos decided to stay on campus with some friends. “We went to town and spent the day there. We went to Stillwells and had fun together. I also did some homework and then I enjoyed activities on campus, like the barbecue in McConnell Quad,” he recalled.

For day students, Principal’s Day looked a little bit different. Prep Celia Ephrem described the increased freedom she had as a day student: “A couple of friends and I went over to Palm Beach, down in Massachusetts. One of my friends has a house down there, so we just decided to go spend the day there. We also got to go to the shops nearby. It was really fun!”

Typically, Principal’s Day falls on a Thursday in late May. However, this year, it was chosen to be on a Monday following Saturday classes, which surprised returning students all over campus. The changed date was quite controversial, and some students argued that the weather was too cold and full of rain to truly enjoy the day. Prep Sophia Butler remarked, “I wish it was later in the year… It was nice because of Saturday classes, but I would’ve liked to have a three-day weekend.”

Ephrem echoed Butler’s opinion on the date, stating, “In terms of it being late April, I wish it was in May, but it’s all right.” Others were simply grateful that a Principal’s Day was granted by the administration.

Although the weather was not ideal, Exonian students and faculty still made the most of Principal’s Day. Whether they stayed on or off campus, the surprise day off was a great opportunity to relax and recover from the stressful and busy everyday life on campus. Overall, Principal’s Day had a positive impact; students spent time with friends doing the things they love, and it was the break that everyone needed and deserved