In certain places where virtual schooling has been adopted as part of coronavirus prevention measures might have permanently wrecked snow days. But that’s not the case in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
On December 16, in celebration of the first snow of the year, school superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson canceled classes in the district. In a heartfelt letter to the city, Gibson said schools for students and teachers were completely closed, and all classes were called off including virtual learning classes.
Jefferson City, including the towns of Charles Town and Harper’s Ferry, located approximately 70 miles northwest of Washington D.C, was expected to receive up to a foot of snow from Winter Storm Gail.
For any child who grows up where it snows, impatiently waiting to hear if school has been canceled is normal. But now that virtual schooling is prevalent, as adverse weather rolls in, many schools have opted to hold classes online instead of granting students and staff a day off.
For e.g., New York City plans to switch to remote classes if a snow day is expected due to the winter storm. Yet, Gibson allowed 1,100 staff members and 9,000 students from her district to get away for a day from their devices and have some fun.
She ended her letter stating, “Please, enjoy a day of sledding and hot chocolate and cozy fires. Take pictures of your kids in snow hats they will outgrow by next year and read books that you have wanted to lose yourself in but haven’t had the time. We will return to the serious and urgent business of growing up on Thursday.”
