Thinking back to early childhood years, a perfect winter consisted of snow days, warm, fuzzy clothes, sledding with friends, and delicious hot chocolate that tasted like a reward after being out in the cold all day long.
It is safe to say that winter 2025-2026 has felt nothing short of nostalgic. With the many snow days Morris Knolls has had, students spent their time outside. Whether it was with siblings or friends, everyone was taking in the joy of the winter wonderland that existed in New Jersey, and making the most of the unexpected breaks from school.
In previous years, New Jersey has faced unpredictable winters full of rain instead of snow. However, this season brought back the winter storms that students have been craving, reminding many of the snow-filled winters from their childhood. When asked about how this winter compared to previous winter seasons, Senior Mady Barchetto explained, “This winter felt special because it was my senior year, and it reminded me of how we were growing up. I was excited to feel like a little kid again.”
When driving around, it was refreshing to see the shift in the atmosphere of New Jersey. Neighborhoods seemed more vibrant and alive than in past winters. Streets were engulfed in fluffy white snow, kids were outside sledding, enjoying the abundance of snow they hadn’t seen in nearly a decade
One student, Senior Joelle Ricafort, described how the snowfall around the holiday season made the winter feel even more special. Reflecting on the snowy experience, she shared, “This winter felt nostalgic, especially for Christmas when I woke up, and I looked outside, and I saw snow covering the ground.” Moments like these brought back childhood memories of snow-filled winter mornings when the excitement of seeing the ground covered in white made the day special.
For others, the snow brought something else, like encouragement to try something new. “Though I strongly dislike the cold weather, this winter was bearable as I picked up snowboarding, which brought so much more fun out of this cold and snowy winter season,” Junior Haydyn Cote shared when questioned about how this season has impacted him. With more opportunities to spend time outdoors during the winter, many students found ways to shift the cold temperatures into something fun and enjoyable. This varied between snowboarding, sledding, or even just spending time outside with friends and family.
Now that the winter season has come to an end with warmer temperatures taking over, it will be remembered by students as one that revived the feeling of a classic New Jersey winter. While the winters may continue to be unpredictable, this season full of snow and laughter proved that many of our childhood memories were made in the snow.
