What students do on snow days
Snow days, when school classes are canceled due to excessive snow or ice, are something that many students in America experience throughout their school careers. At St. Ursula Academy, it is no different. Snow days have been a part of student’s lives in the past, and will most likely continue to be in the years to come. According to Mrs. Flores, St. Ursula Academy's principal, St. Ursula Academy typically follows Sylvania School's snow day protocol. The exception is if Sylvania already has a scheduled day off, and therefore doesn’t have to make a decision about the snow day. Mrs. Flores explains that St. Ursula Academy has been following Sylvania School’s protocol since, at least, before she began working at St. Ursula Academy.
Another question on everyone’s mind is, how many snow days are too many? Also, when do students have to make up for lost hours? Some students are concerned that a sudden blizzard will cause the date of the last day of school to be delayed. According to Mrs. Flores, it is unlikely that this will happen. “It's not a perfect science,” says Mrs. Flores. “We do the best we can so [the] girls learn the most [they] can learn.” There is not really a notable academic benefit to students if the last day of school is delayed. As Mrs. Flores points out, students who are taking Advanced Placement courses and trying to prepare for AP exams at the beginning of May would probably not benefit from an extra day added to the end of the year. Mrs. Flores says a more “strategic” approach may be needed. For example, the shortening of spring break to make up for the lost time is an alternative option. That way students, especially those taking AP classes, will benefit from the added time. Mrs. Flores says, “I think there are better solutions that girls and families and teachers would prefer than to push back the end of the year date.” Mrs. Flores also says there are currently no virtual class mandates for snow days.
It is no wonder that snow days are so popular among students, as many of them use the time to get more sleep or do other relaxing things. Harper Slaght, a Freshman at St. Ursula Academy, loves to “sit in [her] bed” on snow days and says that there is no downside to them. However, some students would rather be at school than have a snow day. Freshman Ellie Webb is one of those students. Ellie says she likes being with her friends at school and dislikes the boredom that a day spent with nothing to do can bring. Ellie attempts to fill her time on snow days by doing things she enjoys, like walking her dog. Mrs. Charles, an English and Global Communications class teacher at St. Ursula Academy, says that snow days could potentially disrupt her lesson plans. She claims that she will always try to avoid having her students do work on a snow day, but it is a possibility. Mrs. Charles says that if students are behind in the curriculum and there is no time to spare, they may need to continue reading their assigned book at home.
Ohio weather can vary between blizzards and sunny warm weather, even on consecutive days, but St. Ursula Academy knows what to expect if a snow day occurs. The main goal of St. Ursula Academy is to protect the students and be sure that they are learning as effectively, and as much as possible.
