Six More Weeks? RAHS Students and Staff Battle the Winter Blues

By, Mikayla Sworthout

For Sophomore Lexi Cook, the hardest part of the school day happens before she even leaves her house. The cold temperatures and dark mornings have made her daily routine a struggle.

“In the winter, it feels harder to get up in the morning,” Cook said. “Compared to the fall, when it [usually] seems easier to get up for school.”

Cook isn’t alone. With the recent news from Punxsutawney Phil predicting six more weeks of winter, the “winter blues” have settled firmly over Reedsburg Area High School (RAHS). From icy roads to the sun setting before practice ends, students and staff alike are grappling with a drop in motivation, energy, and mood.

The winter slump doesn’t just affect students; it is being felt at the front of the classroom, too. Mr. Jon Carey, a teacher at RAHS, notes that the combination of short days and post-holiday exhaustion makes focus difficult for everyone.

“I try to have a sense of humor and I try to be more understanding because I feel the same way,” Mr. Carey said. He also said “bringing more candy” keeps morale high.

Teachers are noticing that assignments are harder to get through during this stretch of the year. Mrs. Riply Kramer noted that because February is the middle of the year without many breaks, "nothing really exciting is going on."

Mrs. Bri Vandezande agreed, admitting that she prays for snow days just like the students.

“I feel some days are long and I feel like doing nothing,” Mrs. Vandezande said. “I struggle with the winter slump just like the students.”

For students, the lack of daylight seems to be the biggest hurdle. Junior Savanna Ewers noted that her energy levels drop significantly once the sun goes down early.

“I feel like I hang out with friends less in the winter since I don’t feel like doing anything,” Ewers said. “After school, my mood is just so bad because I’m so tired when I get home.”

While feeling tired is common, there is a difference between being sleepy and experiencing Seasonal Affective Depression (SAD). According to the website Mental Health America, about 5 percent of Americans suffer SAD. The site notes that the further one is from the Equator the more likely he or she will suffer from it as well.

 School counselor Ms. Hilary Masica warned that winter can impact mental well-being in serious ways. She advised students to speak to a trusted adult—whether a parent, counselor, or the School Resource Officer—if they feel consistently not like themselves.

“There is no shame in asking for help when it comes to your mental health, as it is just as important as your physical health,” Ms. Masica said. “Mental health matters!”

Despite the gloom, RAHS community members have found ways to cope. Cook relies on snacks and energy drinks to keep her moving, while Ewers listens to music while cleaning to boost her mood. Mrs. Kramer tries to be "energetic and kind of corny" to make students laugh.

Winter may be here for six more weeks, but the students and staff at RAHS are finding ways to push through until spring.

“We end up playing a lot of math games because we need to shake it up a bit,” said Vandezande of some of her teaching tricks to get through these long, late winter months. “I also give them a lot of work time so they don’t have to listen to me talk the whole time. I feel that it helps kids get time to themselves and get motivated.”