All day yesterday the school hallways buzzed with conjecture and conversation:
What’s the latest forecast?
Do you think we’ll have school tomorrow?
Oooh! It just changed to a Storm Warning! They’re calling for 6-9 inches now!
We have a new superintendent this year and were unsure what his snow day protocol/parameters might be. It created a lot of uncertainty and a certain level of anxiety. Our last superintendent hailed from Texas and tended to be generous doling out snow days, often doing so in advance. Had we gotten spoiled? Would this one be different?
Do you think he’ll let us know the night before?
Do we know if anyone briefed him about the two bus accidents on snowy days last year? (or was it three?)
I spent much of the day “forecast shopping”–aka trying to find the forecast that made a snow day appear most likely. I visited my apple weather app, Wunderground, NOAA, Snow Day Calculator, and the local forecast web sites. Again and again. And yet again. In the evening, my colleagues and I texted back and forth, weighing the odds, noting other schools that had already announced closures.
I fell asleep still not knowing what to expect, but feeling cautiously optimistic…
When I woke there was still no news, but shortly afterward, the call came in…
NO SCHOOL!
The day unfolded before me like a gift. Time immediately slipped into a slower track, and the urge to hurry drifted away. I filled the bird feeders and soon enough the birds arrived and the snow started falling. I watched as finches, chickadees, juncos, cardinals, bluejays, and masses of bluebirds settled in to feast. Sadly a flock of starlings came by as well–such beautiful gluttons! There were downy woodpeckers, titmice and house finches, too. As my eyes kept drifting to the window, I realized that I might be in trouble if I really wanted to get some work done. I was going to have to seriously consider my snow day plans so that I could both enjoy the day and take advantage of the extra time to get ahead on grading.
As I get older and more resistant to working at home, I’ve leaned into bribery. Whenever I have heavy grading to do, I typically buy myself an amazing treat from a local bakery. Almond tea cake with a raspberry glaze anyone? I set it on the table in front of me while I work. Then, I’m allowed to eat it when I’m done. It works really well, and I’m sure that says a lot about me!
So, knowing how effective this is, I created today’s plan:
- remain in PJs all day
- start up both wood stoves and get the house cozy warm
- write a SOL post
- make gingerbread (the butter’s already softening!)
- score writing prompts (that we quickly rescheduled to complete yesterday in case there was a snow day today)
- enjoy a fat slab of warm spicy gingerbread with a cappuccino
- finish entering grades and reread/revise drafted comments or get some planning done for tomorrow (Could there be a delay for snowstorm clean up?!?)
- read or start a puzzle or watch the birds or take pictures or space out by the wood stove or whatever captures my fancy!
- consider opening the party-sized bag of Skinny Pop, but only if I’m not full of gingerbread
The rest of the day will be list-free. Whatever happens, happens. And whatever I’m doing, I’ll be doing in my pajamas…and that includes shoveling! I know that I’ll probably regret this day come June, but for now, I’m all in!
Snow days are such a gift!
Nix the comfort zone 
Oh, if the weather were better I’d be over for homemade gingerbread! Enjoy your day, Molly!
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It’s a beautiful snowfall, isn’t it!? Hopefully you’re baking up something delicious at your home, too!
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You described the hallway buzz at school with snow in the forecast perfectly! Great use of dialogue! I also like your ending list. I hope you embrace #8! That is where I would spend most of my time on a snow day!! Enjoy!
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Well, I’m halfway through the scoring and working hard to ignore the warm-from-the-oven gingerbread! lol I’m looking forward to leaning into #8 before the day is over.
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I can pretty much guarantee she bust out the popcorn too!
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she WILL bust out the popcorn
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You know me well! lol
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Sounds like a delicious plan for a snow day!
We also have a new superintendent this year, so it was interesting to see how that went with regard to our closure today. In fact, it’s my son‘s first real snow day since starting school in 2022.
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Snow days are one of my life’s purest pleasures! lol I hope you all enjoyed your day!
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Snow falling. Birds at a feeder. And snugly activity indoors. Sounds wonderful! I had such a good time peeking into your snow day. Stay warm and safe.
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Thanks! It was a lovely day and I enjoyed every minute of it–especially the gingerbread, coffee, and reading by the fire!
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Ahhh the magic of a snow day — both for students AND teachers! (Can’t speak for parents!)
I was just talking about this incomparable joy at a dinner a few weeks ago with Ana, our friend Gianna, and her fiance Jason. Jason’s originally from Boston and I’m from NY, while Gianna is from Spain and Ana’s from Venezuela. So Jason and I were explaining what it was like to watch the news and wait for the announcement. NYC Public Schools always came last in the list — and when they were closed? The absolute best!
Enjoy your day and that gingerbread for me!
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I’m old enough to remember listening to the radio to hear them read out the list of closures! We rarely closed in those days, but oh, what joy when we did!
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Once. as teacher, I used to too quickly do the snow day calculus that a snow day means another day of school in June, when teaching is more challenging. I was bummed. In time, I embraced snow days as the gift you describe. No surprise, the superintendent never asked me my opinion about whether (or do I mean weather) I thought it appropriate to have a snow day. This morning Hannah and I had long-standing plans to get our driver’s licenses renewed. It took two plus months to get a scheduled appointment. We made it to Kennebunk, provided the necessary info, paid $40 for our Real ID, and celebrated at Dunkin’ with a medium black coffee and a coffeecake muffin. Sounds a lot like #6 on your list! Seize the snow day.
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I’m so glad you were able to keep your appointment. 2 months wait is ridiculous! I have always been a fan of snow days. Someone once pointed out to me that a day in winter is well worth the cost of a day in June when we still have hours of daylight to embrace after school ends for the day.
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Snow day! Congratulations!
Love the hallway dialogue, ““forecast shopping,” and
“remain in PJs all day
start up both wood stoves and get the house cozy warm”
Oh and also the birds!
Thanks for sharing your snow day gift with us. Wish you could share the gingerbread–ha.
Enjoy!
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Virtual gingerbread for everyone! lol
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Snow days are such a gift! My teacher friends and I used to crowd each other’s classrooms looking at weather reports and texting each other about the percentages on Snow Day Calculator. The best was when we knew without a shadow of a doubt that a snow day was imminent, so we’d go for a long happy hour after school. I hope you enjoy your pjs and gingerbread and don’t do too much school stuff!
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I managed to find a very nice balance to the day 🙂 My greedy side was really hoping for a delay to follow for today (Wed.), but I’m about to head out to dig out! Still, a snow day is well worth that price 🙂
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I love how this post speaks volumes about who you are. You love your quiet time and savor it. I hope you enjoyed quiet and birds and gingerbread.
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I did! Recess will be such fun today! Joyful, snowy chaos!!
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I’m so happy for you and the snow day. My daughter sent me a photo of the snow she got in northern Kentucky. Your excitement reminds me of all the fun of being a kid – – the baking, the pjs, and the puzzle are my favorites. Oh, how I’d love a day like this.
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I didn’t manage to break out a puzzle, but I did just about everything else and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it!
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You captured that excitement so well! We also have a new superintendent, but, alas, she made a bad call (along with most of the other districts in my area) and we were all open, despite some of the worst winter driving! It took me 20 minutes to complete my usual 4 minute commute and then we all spent the next several hours watching the snow pile up, ending just in time for us all to slide our ways back home again! Snow days are a special kind of gift and I’m glad you got yours!!
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White-knuckle driving is the worst! Last year our superintendent made a bad call and two of our buses went off the road! Thankfully, no one was hurt, but I think that spooked everyone a bit. Glad you made it home safely!
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It’s so true…when that “NO SCHOOL” message comes in, there’s a leap of joy for this ‘gift’ and making a decision about how to spend this new ‘free day,” is half the fun. Oh my gosh, I love your idea of ‘self bribery’ and am going to use that idea in the future. Love your list, too! I hope you truly enjoyed your snow day! 🙂
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I am totally motivated by sweet treats! lol I also sometimes do this with reading–After I finish scoring or whatever, I can read for 30 minutes. I need some outside incentives to get me moving sometimes!
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