By Hannah Lilienthal

Students at Solon High School got a taste of Wartburg’s Outfly tradition this week.

Wartburg alumnus Nathan Wear ’02, principal at Solon High, implemented the inaugural “High School Hiatus” at Solon Tuesday.

Wear said the idea for “High School Hiatus “derives directly from Outfly. It’s meant to give students a chance to spend the day socializing and building relationships with their peers. Solon teachers collaborated on ideas for event.

Wartburg’s Outfly — a tradition since the 1890s — is a day during Fall Term when classes are canceled and activities are numerous. Only the college president and student body president know the date.

In true Outfly fashion, High School Hiatus began when Wear enlisted the help of several seniors to run through the halls and make as much noise as possible to announce the start of the event. Classes were canceled for a half-day Tuesday to give the students what Wear called a “much-needed break.”

On his blog, Wear wrote, “Once the rest of the student body got over the shock of the announcement, the fun began!”

While students were not allowed to leave school, they did have the chance to participate in a number of activities such as a Bunco tournament, cupcake baking and Dance Central for Xbox 360.

“The smiles and laughs were contagious.  Just another reason why our school has the best kids and staff,” Wear wrote.

In a closing note on his blog post, Wear wrote, “We strive for students to remember all of our teachings, but these are the times we never forget.”

Wear’s blog is at http://www.leadlearnserve.blogspot.com/2012/05/first-annual-high-school-hiatus.html