January and February have been the prime time for snow days for the past couple of years. With around eight snow days last year and five the year before, the Blue Valley School District has found ways to increase the school hours. In 2024, they required us to come in for the mornings of a late start, and in the other, they extended the school year. This poses the question: Is the pain of a school extension worth us getting a snow day in the middle of the year? To be honest, despite how torn I am, my answer is yes.
It’s true that school can get extended if we end up having more snow days than what the district anticipated. Days of summer break will be cut short, or students will have to wake up early more often due to no late start. However, these days are truly worth it because of the risk of car accidents from the icy roads. They are necessary for their significance in preventing driving issues as students are getting to school. When weighing car accidents over a school extension, car accidents are more prominent.
Snow days also give a sense of relief for students during the school year. The school year comes with homework, tests and work from extracurricular activities. It only gets worse during the third quarter, with many teachers under the impression that students have gotten the hang of handling the workload and managing their time. In times of stress and mental pressure, students can catch a break with an unexpected free day from the weather. A snow day means hot chocolate, a movie and sleeping in after finding out school got canceled, providing a mental break and an escape from the stress just for a little bit. This makes this one day more significant and impactful than a normal day in summer break. In the summer, I would have already had time to relax for months, making one extra day not as significant and impactful.
Additionally, with an extra holiday in the middle of the year, I get more time to catch up on my classes and study for any tests. Even though many students might not admit it, there are always assignments that have been procrastinated and classes that people are behind on. Having this day allows extra time to catch up and be more prepared for the week ahead.
Even though school may be extended or some classes may have extra work for a couple of days, snow days are essential for many students’ and teachers’ mental health. It is important to be able to have that unexpected rest day to recharge and reset.
