Penny on the windowsill, spoon under your pillow, pajamas on inside out. If you were lucky, these superstitions would lead to a snow day. Or maybe you put your faith into the snow day calculator, typing in your school’s zip code as you hoped to see a high chance of school being cancelled. You blew off studying for your test the next day and instead thought about what you would do with your spontaneous day off from school: spend time with your family, go outside in the snow, and relax. 

Despite students’ fond memories of snow days, the switch to virtual learning has made them a thing of the past. Given the school’s ability to conduct classes via Zoom or have students learn asynchronously, full days off in the event of a snow storm have become obsolete. With a snow storm expected to hit late on Wednesday, December 16, Superintendent James Santana announced to the district on December 15 that the state will allow schools to implement asynchronous learning or virtual classes on snow days, eliminating the traditional day off.

Principal Bruce Sabatini then reached out to parents on December 16, announcing that students will engage in asynchronous instruction on Thursday, December 17 instead of hybrid learning on the scheduled Y-AM day. Students will check Haiku for asynchronous assignments from their teachers. 

Although snow days are not technically gone forever, asynchronous snow days will not be the same as the snow days students are used to. We asked students about their snow day memories and what they’ll miss the most: 

Joseph Ortelere, junior: For me, snow days were always a chance to bond with family. They also give us a break from the craziness of school and the computer screen to enjoy winter and go outside and take everything in.

Brooke Seldes, junior: I will miss the memories and excitement I used to feel ever since I was little when having a snow day. I will miss wearing my pajamas inside out the night before a snowstorm with the hopes of having a day off to spend with my sister and mom.

Marin DeGennaro, sophomore: Having a snow day always meant a great day. I always loved getting the news the night before and getting excited for snow the next day. I remember when I was younger playing with my sisters in the snow and having snowball fights with my friends. One of my favorite memories of the snow is when my dad took us to a hill to go sledding on the day off. I loved sleeping in and making breakfast with my mom, then watching TV while watching the snow fall. 

Lara Areiqat, freshman: I will miss having snow days because it is a nostalgic thing from my childhood. Waking up and finding out the test you crammed for is pushed until the next day is the best feeling ever. I loved texting my friends the morning of, excited for the day off from school. I’ll also miss checking the snow day calculator every five minutes to see if a day off from school is guaranteed or not.

For the senior class, the death of snow days hits especially hard, adding to the list of “lasts” they will not get to experience this year. Seniors shared their thoughts about saying goodbye to snow days:

Sofia Cruz: I’m really going to miss getting the morning call that school is cancelled—that was one of the best feelings. I also loved going out in the snow with my sister to go sledding, and having movie days with my friends when we were snowed in. I wish that it wasn’t an asynchronous day because I feel like I’m not going to be able to catch a break from school. It’s going to be rough waking up to an asynchronous day knowing we would have had a snow day.

Joelise Montano: I’m going to miss being home and taking advantage of the day off with my family. We would all get to make and eat breakfast together and usually pick out a movie to watch and, if it was okay to, my brother and I would head outside to enjoy the snow.

Kamil Mouehla: Snow days were my “freedom days” because I could stay home, go to sleep, and not worry about doing schoolwork for the entirety of the day. My favorite memory in particular of a snow day during high school was that snow day we had where it didn’t snow at all, which I found hilarious because there was a prediction of over seven inches of snow.

Although we will no longer have a full day off in the event of heavy snow, snow days are still something to look forward to. So grab a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket as you complete your asynchronous lessons, and try not to get distracted by the snow.