Few traditions are as treasured as snowdays—a rare 24-hour period when school is canceled and responsibilities are put on hold. Alarms are abandoned. Folders are forgotten. Children run to the nearest hill, excited to go sledding and play in the snow. This nostalgic childhood memory was once a given, but in the 2025-2026 school year, the number of snow days in LMSD has decreased to none. Now, when it snows, students are expected to log on to Zoom with a mindset to learn, even as the beautiful winter landscape is waiting outside their window, urging them to enjoy it. However, after fully experiencing the switch to virtual learning for one year, the district has announced that in the 2026-2027 school year, there will be one true snow day and 181 scheduled school days. The 181-day model marks notable progress and should become permanent, as it better supports the students in our district than the 180-day schedule.
First introduced in the 19th century, when transportation became more common, the snow day serves a simple purpose: ensuring no travel during hazardous weather conditions. This practice continued until 2020, when COVID-19 caused schools to close and introduced virtual learning via Zoom. The advent of virtual learning has led to significant modifications in recent years, most notably the realization that, instead of pushing back schedules to fit snow days, Zoom can be used to ensure that learning occurs on snow days. As a result, the number of snow days per school year has declined, creating tension concerning which schedule LMSD should adopt.
Although criticized for being unnecessary time off, snow days have proven to have a significant impact on students’ mental health. As mentioned in an article by the UK Council for Psychotherapy, snow days provide older students with a much-needed break from school-related stress and younger students with time to play outside, helping to prevent stress from damaging mental health (Bell, n.d.). In addition to this, virtual learning has shown to have a negative impact on students’ mental health. According to a 2023 study by the National Institute of Health, “distance learning students report psychological problems more frequently” than students who attend in-person school. By providing LMSD students with snow days, we offer them an unplugged mental health reset, allowing them to step away from academics and their demanding schedules.
While virtual days were implemented to maximize instructional time, they have instead led to decreased student immersion and learning. In LMSD, students are asked to participate over Zoom with their cameras on in an attempt to increase engagement. However, in reality, the majority of cameras remain off, which lessens the ability to conduct a productive class and prevents teachers from examining their students’ understanding. Additionally, in the few cases where cameras are on, the issue of productivity still remains, with teachers struggling to encourage their students to participate, leading to classes where little learning occurs. This lack of attention is not just an observation; LMSD students recognize the drawbacks and limitations of virtual learning. Penelope Lockman ’28 shared how, on virtual days, “learning does not actually happen,” adding that “being stuck inside doing work has barely any real meaning to it.” By moderating the number of virtual days and restoring one true snow day, LMSD can better guarantee productive and meaningful learning.
The question still remains: Which schedule should LMSD adopt? A 180-day schedule with no snow days, a 182-day model with two snow days, or a 181-day version that combines both? The main concern with reinstating snow days is that it will lead to decreased learning and disrupt the flow of the school year, which is already impacted by winter holidays. However, this issue can be solved with moderation, something that would not be addressed by a 182-day model, which would overcorrect LMSD’s concerns. If LMSD were to implement a schedule that promised one snow day, the district would allow students to have a mental health break without jeopardizing instructional progression.
The purpose of snow days is not to interfere with learning but to protect students from hazardous weather conditions. Yet, in an age centered around virtual learning, protecting snow days that have been ensured for years has become a struggle. Snow days are a part of childhood, and by adopting a schedule that allows for one true snow day, LMSD can create a balance between tradition, safety, and academics.
