Table of Contents
By Aaron Shwom and Noah Shwom
When we learned that all Winchester Public Schools were closed today because of a chemical spill at the high school, my second-grade son, Noah, had questions — and ideas.
Aaron: So, Noah, how did you feel when you heard school was canceled today?
Noah: I was happy at first — but then I wondered, why did all the schools have to close just because of one spill at the high school?
Aaron: That’s a good question. The spill happened in one of the chemistry rooms, and since all the school lunches are prepared at the high school cafeteria, the district said it couldn’t serve food safely to the other schools.
Noah: But couldn’t we just bring our own lunches? Or maybe if some people don’t have enough money, we could sell Lunchables or have families bring extra food for other kids.
Aaron: That’s creative. You’re saying the community could help provide food so everyone could still go to school.
Noah: Yeah! We could even make booths outside where kids could pick up lunches privately if they needed to, so no one would feel embarrassed.
Aaron: I like that idea. Maybe families could sign up to make or donate lunches, and the PTA could help organize it. If we could solve the lunch issue, maybe most of the schools could stay open.
Noah: Exactly. And they could make sure there are healthy snacks, like fruit and veggies, and have nut-free or gluten-free options so everyone’s safe.
Aaron: You’re thinking like a problem-solver. But what about the high school itself — what could they have done there?
Noah: Maybe they could have just closed off the science room and kept the rest of the school open. Or if it wasn’t safe, maybe high school kids could do homeschool for a day while everyone else still had school.
Aaron: Those are thoughtful suggestions. It’s true that sometimes grown-ups make decisions quickly to keep everyone safe — which is important — but it’s also true that sometimes simple, creative solutions can help keep things running.
Noah: I think next time they should ask the second graders for help!
The health and safety of students and staff always come first — and we’re grateful to everyone working hard to clean up the spill. But this little breakfast conversation reminded me that kids often see possibilities adults overlook.
Sometimes, the best solutions come from asking, “What if we tried it another way?”
Aaron and Noah Shwom are Winchester residents.
