I was struggling to come up with something to write about for this article and decided that based on my observations of the last couple of weeks, I think we are all ready for Spring.   In school settings especially at about this time of year, everyone gets a little grouchy.  The students get a little grouchy with each other and sometimes at teachers.  Teachers get a little grumpy at each other and at students and sometimes administrators.

With this winter being a near record for mild and above normal temperatures, it isn’t the cabin fever that’s getting to us as in the past several winters, but just the shear length of winter.  We are all ready for lasting weather so we can be outside, enjoying Mother Nature.  For those that really enjoy playing in the winter weather (snow), even snowmobiling was pretty limited this year, unless you took a vacation to areas that receive more snow than Iowa did this year.

As a school administrator that usually thinks March is often free of snow days, I sure wouldn’t bet the farm on it this year.  I have a hunch that the snow gods might have a different view of when winter should end as well.  Several Senior students have indicated they are feeling cheated, since we haven’t had very many snow days they usually don’t have to make up.  I reassured them that winter isn’t over yet, and in fact we might have to make up graduation day due to a snow storm on May 20th.  They didn’t find the humor in that remark, but stranger things have happened!

At any rate, Spring will arrive whenever Mother Nature thinks we can handle it.  Already on some of our nicer days, we are seeing students wearing shorts to school – of course the same students are also wearing their snowboots with those shorts, so its hard to tell what message they’re sending.  With the basketball seasons completed for most schools and track and golf coming up next, it won’t be long before we will see students running outside or swinging golf clubs.  Most of us can’t wait to see Spring flowers blooming again and Robins chirping in the front lawn.

Spring can’t be very far away now, can it?  We are ready !