It snowed
and snowed
and snows
and snows.
The radio announces
the school districts are cancelling school.
The radio announcers laugh
at how happy the kids are to have extended vacation.
Meanwhile the teachers
text one another messages that always end,
“YAY!”
.
.
.
Living in Canada, we’re used to snow. We have the equipment and infrastructure to clear it. As a result, neither as student nor teacher had I experienced a “snow day” before. Sometimes when we lived north in Prince George, BC if it was below -40 C (or F they’re the same at that temperature) the buses wouldn’t run, but schools were still open and teachers were expected to be there. It started snowing Saturday, January 3rd and then it kept snowing Sunday and Monday. Yesterday (Monday) at 9 pm 20 inches (51 cm) had accumulated on our back deck. The snow clearing machinery couldn’t keep up. The side roads were plugged. Cars were stuck all over the place. Because plows were clearing roads, they couldn’t clear school parking lots. So school was cancelled! Yesterday and today!
Yesterday I used the time to do some reading I didn’t get to over the holiday, because I was finishing work on my latest novel project, While I Was Out. Last night, just when the second closure was announced, I got the syllabus and links for my latest Masters class in my email. This class is delivered online. So! Lucky me, I get five bonus hours to work on my course. That makes today a professional development day for me. 🙂
Every day counts, mightily, towards something of value, so what’s downtime, in one context, is diamond time, in another.
So true!
As a retired teacher, I so relate! : )
😉
Today I saw some snow flurries in the early morning and then they were gone.
Yeah.
ha ha
Thanks for that!
😉
I was an elementary school teacher for five years. Snow days always felt like the greatest of gifts, catching up on grading in my pajamas while drinking tea=AWESOME.
lol
I’m pretty faithful about having all my marking done before I leave school every day. I try to never bring anything home, and I will stay late the last day before holidays to ensure that all my planning is done for the first week back, so it doesn’t hang over my head making me feel guilty all holiday. Balance is the key!
What a smart lady you are! Not taking any of it home sounds wonderful. So does staying late to plan before vacation so that you have it all together for the first week back. What incredible discipline you have! How long have you been teaching? This kind of discipline sounds like the kind that has been hard won through experience. My hats off to you!
22 years. It’s a good thing I planned my main course until Feb and posted it on the class room wall (drama production rehearsal schedule) since I broke my ankle yesterday, and a substitute (or several of them) will be taking over for a week or two. Hopefully the structure provided will help the kids shine as they work it out!
That’s amazing!
😉
I realize you become acclimated to your surroundings but I just can’t see how you guys can live in a place that gets so cold! Stay warm!
It’s not at all cold, Jarrod! During all the snow it was barely below freezing, now we’re getting freezing rain, so it’s above freezing. Our houses are well insulated and our heating systems are good.
Love it! 🙂 I had almost forgotten about snow days…almost.
Happy New Year!
Thanks, Ciera! Happy New Year to you, as well!
The school I work at is closing tomorrow because of frigid temps. Not a “Yay!” from one single teacher. I secretly said “Yay!” in my mind. Thanks Shawn 🙂
😉
;-D
It was so nice to have a snow day, until I stepped outside the door!
I know the feeling 🙂
I couldn’t of saying it better… It’s the same here. I follow your blog and really love your posts! keep up the good work! Best wishes, Ayeh.
Thank you, Ayeh!
I heard that the Inuit people were telling Nasa there has been a pole shift. I have no idea if it is true but we are having record polar weather down south of you. 🙂
The Inuit are pretty astute about geological stuff. It will be interesting to see whether the scientists corroborate it.
We had 2 inches way south of Canada, schools were open, but we slid and slipped all over the roads and we all got stuck in unplowed parking lots!
Oh my. Imagine what 20″ was like, then! 🙂 We set records!
Nice and I’m not much for the cold weather
It’s hovering on either side of freezing, which isn’t cold at all. 🙂
-44 when the tires freeze square is cold!