Dear Milton Academy Administration,

The students of Milton Academy would like to formally request a reversal of the decision to have no snow day on the 7th of January 2022. In short, the snow days are a tradition always honored by the school, including in years past when school has been online. Arguably more importantly, having snow days is a matter safety and mental health.

We at Milton Academy are blessed to live in the greater Boston area, with regular access to electricity and network connectivity. Not all Milton students, though, have the same privilege. The oncoming storm, according to current AccuWeather data, is set to cover an area greater than the size of the state of Pennsylvania. Day students from across the state could be affected differently by the storm, as well as boarders' families who live across the Northeast, according to a map from the Milton Academy website.

Snow days are also essential to mental health. Especially re-entering a time of online school, all students could use the chance to enjoy the snowy weather. As Plymouth Superintendent Chris Campbell notes in an article from The Boston Globe, “Sometimes it’s important to sort of reflect on the simple things in life, take a break from technology, and just enjoy the outdoors, enjoy being a kid.” Mayo Clinic emphasizes that outdoor activity, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, “offers an emotional boost and can help you feel less tense, stressed, angry or depressed.” Even if, under unsafe conditions, Milton Academy students choose to spend the snow day inside, time to ease into classes beginning with a long weekend would benefit all students.

The Milton Community can maintain its commitment to supporting its students and uphold a tradition which all students enjoy by granting a snow day for on Friday the 7th.

Best,
Milton Students