Snow Days

Written by Caleb Cox

February 1, 2023

Snow days are something that all students enjoy. If the roads are too unsafe or the temperature is too low, then school is canceled for that day. Snow days are especially fun because it allows students to enjoy themselves in the snow with their friends and families.

In Douglas County, there are a few factors that will cause a Snow Day. The main cause is an approaching snowstorm because this will bring immense amounts of snow and ice, and these can make roads slippery and unsafe. Also, if the temperature gets lower than negative fifteen degrees, whether it’s snowing or not, school will be canceled. Delayed or late starts are when school is still in session but it starts later than usual. Late starts are important because they allow students to attend school if the roads are unsafe. This is because starting school late allows the streets to be plowed and the snow to melt, making driving conditions much safer. Any time DCSD calls in-climate weather, parents can keep their children at home if they feel the weather is too extreme for them to get to school. The parent(s) would have to call the front office of the school and it would be regarded as an excused absence.

If the weather is too extreme on a snow day, then most services will be closed, such as restaurants and movie theaters. However, there are fun activities that can be done at home as well! Some of these include cooking a homemade meal, and playing games with family and friends. Some extra tasks may have to be done depending on the circumstances. The snow on the driveway may have to be shoveled, snow on the roof may have to be knocked down, and icicles may have to be broken. Normal chores such as taking out the trash and walking the dog will become more difficult, as the outside temperatures will be much lower than normal and snow can be difficult to traverse through. There are snow day rituals that can be done that some believe increase the chance of a snow day. The day before it snows, these rituals are to be performed in hopes of increasing the chances of a snow day the following day. Some of these rituals include flushing ice cubes down the toilet, putting a spoon under a bed pillow, and wearing pajamas inside out. The snow day rituals that are carried out here in America are believed to have originated with the Native Americans. They danced and performed similar rituals in order to invoke a weather pattern that would bring snow.

Whether it’s performing snow day rituals the day before, or checking email to see if school is canceled, snow days are important in keeping students and staff safe during inclement weather this winter.