On Thursday, January 9, APS students were thrilled by the exciting news that schools would be closed due to a potential snowstorm the following day. The next morning, dreams came true as the busy streets of Atlanta were covered with a thick, white blanket of snow. Snow is an extreme rarity in Atlanta, with the last measurable snowfall being in January 2018. Although students were assigned asynchronous work, many still made the best of their snow days—with Atlanta’s bipolar weather, who knows when the next one will be?
The most memorable snowstorms in NAHS students’ lives took place in 2014 and 2018, during their elementary and preschool years. Although these seem long ago, many students still vividly recall the joy that playing in the snow brought them. The infamous “Snowmageddon” is one storm that will never be forgotten by Atlanta locals. Though some were trapped on Atlanta’s highways for a couple of days, lots of children were still able to make the best out of their snow days. Sophomore Elizabeth Adams remembers the magic she felt in 2014: the first time she experienced snow. This year, Adams’ mom wanted to make her day special like the one she had all those years ago, so her family took a road trip further North in search of more snow. “The night before the snowfall, we checked into a hotel in Cashiers, North Carolina,” said Adams. “When I woke up the next morning, I felt like a little kid all over again—the beautiful mountains covered in snow made my heart happy.”
Similar to Adams, many students hoped to relive their childhood memories, awakening early to play in the freshly fallen snow. Building snowmen, making snow angels, and having snowball fights were prime activities on some agendas. Meanwhile, other students were busy finding the steepest hill to sled on. Although some students were able to dig up old sleds from years ago, some had to get more creative. Sophomore Franklin Pickens spent almost his entire day outside, enjoying the three inches of snow that fell. Pickens described the largest hill in his neighborhood as being filled with kids of all ages, and sleds of all forms. “I saw people sledding with garbage bags, trash can tops, and one kid even had a sled with wheels and a steering wheel!” said Pickens.
On the contrary, some took their snow day as an excuse to cozy up in the comfort of their home. Instead of getting cold and wet in the snow, they bundled up with some hot chocolate by a fire. Furthermore, some students were not given much asynchronous work, so they took this day to catch up on the assignments they needed to complete. Unfortunately, this was not the case for other students such as junior Maddie Fluke, whose teachers assigned her more work than she gets on a normal school day! Students in the same boat as Fluke believe their teachers should’ve given them a break to enjoy the rare snow. “It was ridiculous!” said Fluke. “All my friends were out enjoying the snow together, while I spent my whole day inside doing work.”
Atlanta’s temporary winter wonderland was something no student took for granted. Whether they were out in the snow, or watched it fall from the window, students appreciated its beauty, as well as its excuse for a day off of school. North Atlanta students hope to not have to wait another seven years for a big snowstorm like this!
