We all do it.

The forecast shows snow and your excitement rises as the percentage of snow increases. You start questioning whether you should do your homework and study for that test. Then the rituals start: wearing your pajamas inside out, flushing ice down the toilet, praying to the snow gods, sleeping with a spoon under your pillow, going to bed with your ski jacket on or stockpiling food.

The uncertainty of whether school is canceled makes it hard for the average Bellarmine student to fall asleep the night before snow is projected. But, rest assured, our journalists investigated the process.

The Lion uncovered behind the scenes details for the process of calling a snow day. According to principal Cindy Davis, “The decision starts days in advance if there is any snow in the forecast.” After watching the news and checking the streets, the decision to call for a snow day occurs. “When making this call, the most important thing considered is the safety of the students. In any situation, the school prefers to make the decision as early as possible so students, faculty and buses have time to adjust their schedules, which in the worst case, is seven in the morning.”

According to Davis, the challenge with snow days at Bellarmine is that students live in a wide range of areas, causing some areas to be affected, while other unaffected at all.

There are multiple ways to find out about the chances of a snow day. Bellarmine posts on social media, the school website, sends a phone call out, and informs the local news stations.

So far, Bellarmine has had five late starts and one day of no school. This year there has been a reported snowfall of 11 inches.

Once there is a snow day, then what?

On Feb. 6, Bellarmine students took full advantage of a canceled school day. Senior Cade White enjoyed the day by going up to the mountains to ski the fresh powder at White Pass while Senior Grant Ogard stayed close to home by trying to snowboard in his backyard. “It’s always nice having snow on the ground and being able to hit the slopes in my backyard is one of my best childhood memories.”

Another portion of the student body took to the streets to sled and build snowmen and women.

But senior Emma Hirz had the best response. “I got to spend the snow day in the most rewarding way by being able to come back from Encounter.”

A unique element of living in the Pacific Northwest is the ever present possibility of a snow day in winter. Everyone dreams about it, and others even sing about it, most recently, Michael Buble. “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.”