Lawrence Lately

Lawrence seniors bond after a blizzard

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All of last week, students at Lawrence High School whispered about the possibilities of a snow day for Feb. 9. It had been a relatively dry winter on Long Island, leading kids to desire a day off from school more than anything.

On Wednesday afternoon, an announcement rang throughout the halls declaring that the Lawrence School District would be closed the following day due to the imminent blizzard.

Sure enough, snow started to fall early that Thursday, and by 3 p.m. most of the snowfall had ceased. But the storm struck the entire Northeast severely. Schools across Long Island were subject to closings and delays on both Thursday and Friday, due to the dangerously icy roads. Towns in upstate New York such as Farmington had snow totals over 14 inches, while the areas surrounding around John F. Kennedy International Airport received nearly 9 inches. However, the blizzard did not stop the seniors at Lawrence High from making the most of their days off.

The four-day weekend that resulted had many seniors to suggest multiple group activities as a way of bonding with their fellow classmates. On Thursday, a consensus was reached when one student suggested that the seniors should get together to go sledding off the side of the Atlantic Beach Bridge.

This site has been a family favorite for sledding for decades, and the class of 2017 could not think of a more perfect way of spending their Friday off from school. Carpools began to form that night, bringing students, who were not normally close friends, together. By noontime on Friday, there were multiple students’ cars parked on the side of the bridge. A group of about 20 kids showed up bundled in hats, scarves and gloves.

Each senior came equipped with a sled and snow boots, ready to combat the icy hill. The snow on the side of the bridge was perfect for sledding. Senior Jessica Mastorides lives across the street from the bridge, and opened her home to any peer who wanted to warm up or drink some hot chocolate.

“The best part about senior sledding was that it allowed everyone to reconnect with fellow seniors who we typically don’t get to talk to on a daily basis,” Mastorides said. “It was a small group of completely random people yet we were able to have a great time together, from sledding to making igloos to Taco Bell!”
It was clear that all the students who attended had an incredible time and bonded immensely as a senior class.