ReaganGraeve

Maybe you didn’t study for your algebra test or your stomach hurt just enough to possibly convince your mom to let you stay home from school, but you know the risks of missing school at a time like this. It’s the second semester. Surprise Day could happen at any moment. It has its hold on every girl’s mind almost the moment they get back from Christmas break, because no one wants to miss it. So you put on your skirt, head out the door, and pray that today is your lucky day. 

The suspense is seen all around the building. Day after day, more and more lockers get filled up with outfits for when the time comes. The school’s online calendar displaying the year at a glance is stalked regularly. School-related absences are taken note of by the student body. “Surprise Day can’t be this week. The cheer girls are gone!” Students listen like hawks to the intercom announcements, especially the ones about license plates. Not even the lunches are safe. Whether it’s nachos, walking tacos, or orange chicken, someone has a hunch. Junior Elliot Coziahr is convinced this year’s Surprise Day lunch is going to be breakfast burritos. In previous years there’s been an overwhelming amount of sandwiches, but really who’s to know? 

Conspiracies rose around the surprise taking place on this year’s Valentine’s Day, however, Surprise Day neglected to show its face. This is likely for three reasons. The 14th fell on Ash Wednesday, a Holy Day of obligation for Catholics. Not to mention, Wednesdays are notorious for being the day groups of juniors are absent to do their retreat service. Both are days not to be interrupted by shenanigans. Lastly, the cheer girls were, in fact, off to nationals.

As students begin sharing their theories and teachers begin writing their backup lesson plans, they conspire together. Miss Megan Han, a teacher from the math department, helped the class of 2025 put together a spreadsheet of their Surprise Day predictions. An overwhelming number of participants were positive about the date Feb 29. These predictions coincide with data collected from 161 of Marian’s student body conducted in a Network survey. The majority of students agreed that Surprise Day will be on Feb. 29. “It’s definitely leap day because it’s literally an extra day and the extra day is obviously meant for Surprise Day. It’s always on a holiday. I wasn’t surprised it wasn’t on Valentine’s Day because the cheer girls were gone and I also just didn’t have clothes in my locker,” junior Karis Simon said. 

Sounds like a confident guess, but others are still thinking outside the box “Everyone thinks it’s going to be the leap day. That’s what they want you to think. I think it’s gonna be the 22nd. I’m just kind of feeling it,” Mrs. Jessica Goodman, a teacher from the Social Studies department said. Well, Student Board was not feeling it. As the talent show CAB came to a close on the 22nd, so did Goodman’s hopes for Surprise Day.

“I think it’s going to be the day before spring break because everyone is going to be ready to get out of school but then BAM!” freshman Saniya Harris said. This would give Student Board optimal time to clean up the festivities.

“I think that Surprise Day is going to be the last day it could possibly be. Like May 10. I heard a rumor that Stubo is still planning it,” junior Charlie Novotny said. 

Nobody expected Surprise Day to be on Monday, Feb. 26, a half day before freshman registration. During the first block of the day, IPad lock screens were switched to the message, “Text me when it’s Surprise Day,” the same message sold on this year’s Surprise Day gear in the Bluetique. Initially, students were sure it was a prank. But soon enough, screams were heard all throughout the building at approximately 9:14 A.M. when students and faculty received an emergency text reading, in all caps, “It’s Surprise Day! Please go to the East Gym!!” 

“I was totally wrong. It’s crazy it’s on another half day,” Novotny said. For the rest of the day, students enjoyed karaoke, silent disco, photo booth, tacos, massages, puppies, bagels, face paint, inflatable activities, bracelet making, temporary tattoos and video games. Even though Surprise Day is over, you should still study for your tests and come to school.