Bringing snow to Gridley
This winter, most of Butte County and the California Valley unfortunately were not granted the typical "white Christmas." Instead people relied on their dreams and trips to the mountains to fulfill their desire for the most universal sign of the winter season: snow.
Many Gridley High School students had never seen snow in person — that is, not until Jan. 11, thanks to our ASB President Samantha Forrest and Vice President Trevor Irwin, who set out to create a snow day in Gridley.
A group of Leadership students and other assorted community members embarked on one of the most memorable trips of this school year — a trip selfless in nature and with the intent of making GHS a happier and more blissful place.
On Jan. 10, right after school, we loaded into five pickups that community members had donated and commenced our journey. After hours of shoveling snow, ASB gifted the workers with a free meal at the Cozy Diner in Gridley. The students did not return home until 9:30 that evening.
The next morning, the entire leadership class showed up at 6 a.m. to shovel snow. We emptied two pickup loads full and two trailers full of snow. Mounds were made for sledding.
By 7:30, a snowman was made, and students were already beginning to play in the snow — and continued to play in the snow for the rest of the day. Teachers brought their classes, and high school students became children again, playing recklessly in the snow.
"I loved the snow day idea. It was something different that broke routine and brought some excitement to Gridley. It was definitely worth the hard work. The snow day put so many smiles on people's faces and made so many students and community members' days a little better," said Miguel Corona, GHS senior and Leadership student.
"The snow day turned out wonderfully — especially for those who had never had the opportunity to experience snow like so many of us do. Seeing the smile on their faces made it all worthwhile. The city of Gridley owes Samantha Forrest and Trevor Irwin endless amounts of gratitude for their hard work and dedication in making this event possible," said GHS senior Alexandra Montero.
Hopefully, the ASB and the Leadership class of 2013 will have started a new tradition that will continue year after year to make the winter season and start of a new semester a little more bearable.
The white icy remnants of the snow day lingered in the school's quad for several days after the event, serving as a constant reminder for anyone that happened to walk by of the lighthearted fun that transpired on that day.
SydneyRay Taverner is a senior at Gridley High School. Her column appears every six weeks in Education.
