“Turn off your alarms. It is a snow day” is an exciting line all Lakeland High School students heard yesterday morning.
In this long, dry winter, a snow day is unexpected and even more exciting than in years past. As snow and ice covered the Rathdrum area, students slept in and dove into a pool of nostalgia.
The real purpose of snow days is to keep students who ride buses and those who drive to school safe. Dangerous roads lead to hazardous accidents. Many high school students are new drivers, and on days like yesterday, it is safer for them to stay home.
Snow days make it difficult for teachers, on the other hand, especially this time of year. Right before the semester ends, every day matters so that students can wrap up their assignments and start studying for finals.
Due to the impact of missing school, the school board also has the option of a two-hour late start instead of having a full day off. This will also make it so students don’t have to make days up in the springtime.
Behind all the reasonings and facts of a snow day, the pure nostalgia and joy they bring excite students the most.
Snow days have always been an essential part of many North Idaho childhoods. Children watch the snow dump down after school and hope for a snow day all night long. They are the perfect times to hang out with family and play in the snow.
For many students, it’s the best feeling in the world when they wake up in the morning and are told they do not have to go to school. It is one of the smaller things that unite us as students: the rush of excitement shared from the announcement of a snow day.
Snow days include many different activities for students. Many people stay inside and watch movies. Others brave the cold and play in the snow. A personal favorite is going skiing with friends and enjoying the fresh powder.
Older students can have that time to build snowmen with their siblings and just be kids again. These timeless activities bring students back to when they were younger, giving everyone a chance to escape the pressure of academic responsibilities. A simple day off allows high school students the ability to reconnect with their childlike wonder that has been buried.
Kevin Slover, a senior at Lakeland High School, is a big fan of snow days.
“I wasn’t surprised by the snow day yesterday. It was nice not having school, too,” Slover said, “I just sat at home and played video games.”
Slover said typically, when there are snow days, he stays home or hangs out with friends. Sometimes, he picks up extra hours at work.
Slover also has many good memories of snow days when he was younger, like sledding with his dad.
On the other hand, some students don’t like snow days. Elijah Koller, an LHS student, feels as though snow days disrupt his workflow.
“I have really good memories of snow days from when I was little, though, like sledding outside until I got too cold for hours,” Koller said.
In elementary school, having a snow day was like winning the lottery. Children get a day off when they would normally be in school, and it felt freeing. With their magic of transforming our surroundings into a winter wonderland, snow days bring memories of childhood joy and carefree moments.
