Is This the End of Snow Days?
Stephanie Ferrara ‘22 builds a snowman in 2010 with her sister and her sister’s friend. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Ferrara.
By NATHALIE CAMACHO and JORDAN LIN
As kids, snow days were one of the most mystical sights we experienced: a sudden blizzard starting at dusk, the wind howling in the night, and a neighborhood painted white within hours. Next came the excitement of not having to go to school the next day and being able to play out in the snow, or just being able to relax inside the cozy place we call home.
But with the Covid-19 pandemic and the growth of digital learning, the days we treasured are possibly going to end. Now that people are getting used to remote learning, school officials have floated the idea that future snow days could become online instructional days. Students, parents, and teachers need to ask themselves: Can we accept a world without snow days?
“I mean, we grew up having snow days,” freshman Melanny Rojas said. “It played a major role in our childhoods, but now we’re seeing this change where younger kids will be missing out on these core memories. It wouldn’t be fair.”
Maricela Martinez ’22 builds a snowman in early 2021. She eventually used her own glasses to make the snowman complete. Photo courtesy of Maricela Martinez.
After hearing announcements on the local news of public schools closing due to weather conditions, students would be so filled with joy that some would get literal goosebumps.
“It was like finding $20 in your jeans,” junior Elijah Martins said. “I remember the blizzard in 2018, going to the park with my friends at 9 a.m. to play football and tag until our fingers felt tingly and our teeth were chattering. We even decided to go to the deli and get some hot cocoas and marshmallows just to thaw off our hands a little.”
Earlier this year, Stanley Chen, a junior at Forest Hills High School, woke up to eight inches of snow in his front lawn. “I was like, hold up,” he said. “It was the perfect time to build a snowman and take a picture for Instagram and for a memory.” Even as teens are growing into adulthood, the surprise that accompanies a large snowfall still exists. We are, after all, still kids.
“My favorite memory was when my friends and I went ice skating in Manhattan,” junior Gabriella Correa said. “We got hot coffees and just took the day to relax.”
Kyle Chen, a junior at Staten Island Technical High School, remembers the city getting a ton of snow around four years ago. “A lot melted, so a bunch of water went under the platforms in the playground and it was like a ninja obstacle course,” he said. “Honestly one of the best times in my life.”
There are snow day memories that have stuck with our teachers at Midwood as well.
“When I was young, my dad would put my sister, brother, and me into the car and take us to Prospect Park to the big hills for an afternoon of sledding,” guidance counselor Ms. Marcy Kotler said. “We had two sleds; one was a big wooden sled called a toboggan. We could all pile on it, even my dad, and all fit. It was a special adventure day at the park. In front of our home, we would shovel a bit, and then it always turned into snowball fights and building a snow fort.”
Snow days also give hardworking students a moment to clear their minds and relax. It’s a day to destress.
Diana Russo ‘23 said, “A day off will help everyone’s mental and physical health, which will make them happier to go back and know the week is a day shorter than usual.”
“During snow days, I actually enjoy staying inside,” sophomore Sheldon Lipets said. “I would use this break in the week to watch movies and play video games.”
Stanley Chen chills with his snowman “Granny.” Photo: Vivian Zhao
The possibility of turning snow days into remote learning days was not a popular option with the students we interviewed.
“I believe we should still have snow days so that we can enjoy the day off and do some winter activities with friends and family,” junior Avery Hockaday said. “It’s actually kind of upsetting that these days are going to be replaced with more schoolwork.”
“I don’t really want snow days to end,” said Stanley Chen. “Because snow is fun, and when you’re home it’s really cozy.”
Childhood flies past at such an alarming speed, and special moments like snow days create memories that can stick for a lifetime. They’re days when students can spend time with their loved ones, relatives, and neighbors. It feels almost unfair to take these opportunities away from children, and even adults, interviewees said, as each snow day really can feel like a miracle.
“I’m old school,” Ms. Kotler said. “I think students and teachers should look forward to an occasional snow day. It is a special day to go play in the snow and to also help shovel out a car or sidewalk by the house. Snow days are memorable and needed.”
“On a snow day,” Martins said, “you didn’t think about solving equations or learning about presidents. You were carefree and filled with bliss. Your imagination had no bounds, and that’s something every child deserves to experience.”