Remote School Days at Cony

by Tenzin Yangchen Denno

For as long as many Cony students can remember, snow days have been an iconic part of the winter season. Whether it was using the snow day calculator, checking weather apps, or hearing rumors among classmates, the anticipation of a snow day was something to look forward to. However, this year things have changed. The introduction of "Remote Days" at the beginning of this winter season has completely shifted the way we approach snow days. Instead of waking up to a cancellation announcement the night before or early in the morning, it's now likely that the school will decide on a remote learning day by the end of the school day before the snow even falls.

Unlike traditional snow days, where school is canceled entirely, remote days require students to complete classwork from home, which must be submitted within three days to count for attendance.

As a student at Cony, I've noticed mixed reactions from both students and teachers. Being a senior, many of my classmates are more frustrated by the change, likely because our last day of school is fixed and comes earlier than the rest of the grades. For most other students, though, the transition to remote days has been less troublesome.

This school year has already seen numerous changes, from the phone ban to the implementation of orange passes, so I was curious how another shift in our educational system would be received. In general, the remote school days have been a positive development, though as of December 19th, we haven’t yet fully experienced the impact of this new system. Just last week, many students eagerly awaited the school's decision on whether the upcoming day would be a remote learning day or not.

Overall, I’m pleased that Cony is embracing technology and pushing for more efficient educational practices (aside from the phone ban). While I’ll miss the nostalgic appeal of traditional snow days, change is inevitable, and adaptation is key. Many students, myself included, can relate to the fond memories of childhood snow days, so I hope Cony continues to honor tradition in some form, even as we move forward with new approaches