School board "snow days"

[Rachael]

Teachers don't get the day off so snow days. They are expected to work and they do in fact have children in their care. It is very, very rare that on a snow day the school is empty of students. All the walkers still attend and a large number of bussers get dropped off. The only thing that isn't running on a snow day is the school buses.

I guess this is something else which varies by Province.

Here - a snow day means the school is CLOSED to staff and students alike. Teachers do get the day off although some opt to work from home, others hit the ski slopes. A snow day means the school is completely empty - no custodian, no canteen staff, no admin, no teachers, no support staff, no students.

The decision to close is based on safety of travel (buses/parents driving and walkers alike) and likelihood of declining weather during the school day which would adversely affect the journey home.

We have instances where the buses don't run - but these aren't termed as snow days since the school is open for those who are able to get in.

[Lee-Bee]

I guess this is something else which varies by Province.

Here - a snow day means the school is CLOSED to staff and students alike. Teachers do get the day off although some opt to work from home, others hit the ski slopes. A snow day means the school is completely empty - no custodian, no canteen staff, no admin, no teachers, no support staff, no students.

The decision to close is based on safety of travel (buses/parents driving and walkers alike) and likelihood of declining weather during the school day which would adversely affect the journey home.

We have instances where the buses don't run - but these aren't termed as snow days since the school is open for those who are able to get in.

This makes so much more sense to me! I always found it odd that if it was too unsafe for buses to be on the road then teacher's shouldn't be on the road either! When I was teaching there would be 1-2 teachers per school that didn't make it in, since numbers were a bit lower in each class due to no buses we'd shuffle kids around to stay in ratio. Also, since not all kids were present regular teaching wouldn't take place but "snow day activities" instead, fun games and extra learning activities.

Funny how different provinces do things...and how easily we forget that 'our; way isn't everyone's way!

[bright sparks]

This makes so much more sense to me! I always found it odd that if it was too unsafe for buses to be on the road then teacher's shouldn't be on the road either! When I was teaching there would be 1-2 teachers per school that didn't make it in, since numbers were a bit lower in each class due to no buses we'd shuffle kids around to stay in ratio. Also, since not all kids were present regular teaching wouldn't take place but "snow day activities" instead, fun games and extra learning activities.

Funny how different provinces do things...and how easily we forget that 'our; way isn't everyone's way!

Maybe it's a board thing not a province thing. Snow day in Halton and Niagara board means the schools are closed. Buses are cancelled all the time but that's seperate and is not something the schools have any control over. It's the bus companies call. If it's a snow day don't drop your child off, at the most there will be administrators there. Schools are officially closed!

I've had teachers kids who worked in both boards and I've had my own kids in both too so clarified the actual true meaning