Bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills closed Madison Country Day School, area public schools and the University of Wisconsin – Madison on Friday, Jan. 23.
Just before 8 a.m., when students would have been dropped off, the National Weather Service reported a real temperature of minus 18 degrees with a wind chill of minus 36 degrees, according to observational data from the Dane County Regional Airport.
Classes were cancelled, and the debut of the middle school’s “Legally Blonde” musical was postponed until Friday, Jan. 30.
“It gives us more time to practice,” “Legally Blonde” cast member Jaime ’30 said, “but I think we were mostly prepared, so it’s a little annoying and frustrating to have to wait.”
Students embraced the cold day in a variety of ways.
“The cold day improved my mental health,” Caden ’27 said, “It allowed for a day of rest between the summatives and the rigorous IB program.”
Other students missed the opportunity to be on the MCDS campus.
“I missed classes and hanging out with my friends,” Jakobi ’33 said.
Similarly, Rosie ’34 also missed the MCDS community.
“I wanted to go to school for my friends and the student council election,” she said, “I missed my classes too, and we were going do ugly dolls in art class.”
