Snow Days. Will we ever have another one again? That’s something that the student body has been curious about since this school year started. On days where students and/or teachers are unable to make it to school, the administration will try to hold school entirely over Zoom, rather than closing school altogether.

“The district administration had decided that if it was a regular snow and we can’t come in because of inclement weather, that we’d try to do things remotely and try to have a virtual learning day,” said NPHS principal Brian Henry. 

While many students had predicted snow days would be few and far between once Zooms had been introduced during quarantine, that doesn’t keep students from being justifiably upset. Snow days were always an important break from the hectic life of high school students, so how do they feel now that their chances of closing school have dwindled?

“My first reaction to hearing that they might do snow days through Zoom in the future is disappointment.” said one high school student. “Snow days have, for decades, been such an upheld event that kids anticipate all fall/winter, and taking that away would almost ‘end an era’ for kids. 

Indeed, many kids look forward to the days where they can sleep in and play in the snow with their friends, but even when there’s a blizzard and the kids can’t play outside, snow days are still a welcome break from the day to day blur of activities. It is something that kids of all ages look forward to and gives them a break from their busy school or sports schedules.

Life can get so hectic, that a small surprising break, such as a snow day, is a sort of reprieve from life’s daily struggles. It’s a different type of relief than a planned break, to wake up in the morning, look out your window, and realize that you don’t have to do anything that day.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” says Nico Arcadia, a freshman when asked about Zoom snow days. “Kids need snow days.” 

However, this is not the end of snow days, not entirely anyway. While regular snow days aren’t enough to warrant a day off the school, the occasional power outage or loss of wifi will force the school to cancel. Even online school isn’t entirely invincible.

“I think it would kind of be treated on a case by case basis,” says Henry when asked about the possibility of cancellation due to extenuating circumstances. “The administration will be trying to conduct remote learning barring really bad storms in which students might have power outages or loss of power.”

Regarding the usual saved up snow days that are either used or added to the planned breaks, it seems like the days will still be saved in case the storm prevents remote learning. 

“In the event additional days are needed to comply with state rules and regulations, prior to the February break, the days will be made up during the February break” states a document containing the break schedule for 2020-2021, which was provided by Henry.

Along with most things this year, this new take on snow days is entirely new. This plan is untested, and not concrete. The administration might change the plan throughout the school year.