The L.B. Morris gymnasium buzzed with excitement Friday morning as students saw the Jim Thorpe school’s official groundhog Morris predict six more weeks of winter during its second annual Groundhog Day celebration.

Initiated by Claire Burns, the school’s physical education teacher, the ceremony has quickly become a beloved event aimed at brightening up the dreary winter days and instilling a sense of tradition in the students.

“Last year we had a contest to name an L.B. Morris groundhog,” Burns said. “Our name for our groundhog is Morris. We got him out of the outside stump Friday morning and brought him inside. He has two scrolls and after being pulled from his stump he lets us know which scroll to read for this particular year.”

The “Inner Circle,” consisting of Jim Thorpe administration and faculty members, takes care of Morris year-round and plans the annual Groundhog Day festivities.

Groundhog Day itself has a rich history, dating back to ancient European traditions and finding its way to Pennsylvania through German immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. The celebration involves a groundhog emerging from its burrow, and if it sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if not, an early spring is predicted.

Punxsutawney Phil, the nationally recognized weather-forecasting groundhog, also made his prediction on the same day. Emerging from his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob, Phil did not see his shadow, signaling an early spring.

Jim Thorpe Superintendent Robert Presley had the honor Friday of waking up Morris from his stump, a task that would reveal the critter’s weather prediction for the coming weeks.

“We thought it would be a fun way for the kids to end the week and it gets them involved because they get to vote as well on what they think the groundhog’s prediction will be,” Burns added. “I hope the students take away that it’s a tradition and it is a Pennsylvania tradition, which is pretty cool. It’s fun to come to school and still have fun and see that the teachers can have fun with stuff like that as well.”