The Best Way to Announce a Snow Day!
When a major snowstorm hit the Eastern US, on December 16 -17, 2020, schools across the region were closed. While many schools are using remote learning, there was no reason to call a snow day since school buses didn’t have to transverse snowy and icy roads. But one West Virginia school superintendent didn’t want the students to miss out on the joys of a snow day.
Bondy Shay Gibson, the superintendent of Jefferson County Schools, sent a notice on Tuesday afternoon, December 15, that the next day would be a snow day, according to USA Today, even though the district is learning remotely.
“It has been a year of seemingly endless loss and the stress of trying to make up for that loss,” Gibson wrote in the note. “For just a moment, we can all let go of the worry of making up for the many things we missed by making sure this is one thing our kids won’t lose this year.”
Gibson said that instead of worrying about lessons and homework, the kids should enjoy: “a day of sledding and hot chocolate and cozy fires.” She added: “We will return to the serious and urgent business of growing up on Thursday. But for now … go build a snowman.
The school district’s Facebook post of the letter went viral and has received 67,000 shares and 2,700 comments on Facebook in a week with many parents writing messages of support. “Ok, this made me cry a little,” wrote Facebook user Stephanie Mclaughlin. Christen Cotton, another user, said, “Such a heartfelt message. Made me smile.”
The district asked families to post photos from the snow day, according to MSN and later the district thanked them for the overwhelming response by writing on Facebook: “Your stories and pictures from the time you spent with family and friends reminded everyone at Jefferson County Schools why we do what we do. We hope the joy and grace shared today will remain with all of us into the holiday season and beyond.”
The district reminded the parents and kids that remote learning would resume the next day but for one day, kids got to be kids and left the worries of the pandemic and the digging out after the snowstorm behind.
