Belle Vernon Superintendent says all lessons will stop at 11 a.m., asks students to go play in snow

BELLE VERNON, Pa. — The Superintendent of Belle Vernon Area School District said all instruction will stop at 11 a.m. Wednesday so students and families can “let go of the stress and worry of school and make some special memories.”

In a letter sent to parents in the district, Dr. Michele Dowell encouraged people to “Go outside and make snow angels or go sledding.” Dowell said families could even make cookies or play cards indoors and suggested making a fort in the living room.

Here is what the letter said in full:

“Tonight, some people shared a letter with me from a Superintendent in Jefferson County, West Virginia about the first snow day of the year that I thought was wonderful. He wrote about “a time of renewed wonder at all the beautiful things that each season holds. A reminder of how fleeting a childhood can be.” His letter has me thinking about all of the stress that our families have been under for the past nine months and how we have not taken the time to appreciate all the wonderful things that we have in our lives. There has been such a focus on all the horrific and negative aspects of the coronavirus.

Tomorrow, we are expected to get a rather significant amount of snow in our area. Usually, this is a time of the year that I dread having to make the call to delay or cancel school, but this year I am going to revel in the beauty of the snow, and I hope that everyone will join me.

Beginning tomorrow at 11:00 am, we will stop all instruction. I know that it is an asynchronous day, but I am asking that all families stop doing any type of academic activity from 11 am through the rest of the day, regardless of whether you finished your assignments for the day or not. Teachers will be flexible tomorrow in giving additional time for the assignments posted.

Take tomorrow afternoon to let go of the stress and worry of school and make some special memories with your families. Go outside and make snow angels or go sledding. Stay inside and make cookies or cards. Play games or make a fort in your living room. If you are a high school student, participate in the Virtual Holiday Extravaganza. Build a new memory and possibly a new tradition in your family. So, please take time tomorrow for you and your family. Enjoy the wonders of this season and forget, even if for a very short period of time, about all the stress that we have been under for so long. We will return to our routine again on Thursday. Take care and stay safe.”

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In the letter, Dowell cited a similar situation in Jefferson County, West Virginia. In a notice posted to that district’s website, the Superintendent there wrote:

“For generations, families have greeted the first snow day of the year with joy.  It is a time of renewed wonder at all the beautiful things that each season holds.  A reminder of how fleeting a childhood can be.  An opportunity to make some memories with your family that you hold on to for life.

For all of these reasons and many more, Jefferson County Schools will be completely closed for tomorrow, Dec. 16, in honor of the 1st snow day of the year.  Closed for students… closed for virtual… closed for staff.  It has been a year of seemingly endless loss and the stress of trying to make up for that loss.  For just a moment, we can all let go of the worry of making up for the many things we missed by making sure this is one thing our kids won’t lose this year.

So please, enjoy a day of sledding and hot chocolate and cozy fires.   Take pictures of your kids in snow hats they will outgrow by next year and read books that you have wanted to lose yourself in, but haven’t had the time.  We will return to the serious and urgent business of growing up on Thursday, but for tomorrow…go build a snowman.”

Many districts in the Pittsburgh area no longer have traditional snow days, instead using flex days which require students to do classwork at home. Students don’t fall behind and make-up days do not need added to the school year.

People around the region preparing to ride out winter weather wallop

Cox Media Group