As Portland brushes with snow, metro area students discuss virtual “snow days

By Catcher Kemmerer ‘24

While communities throughout the Portland metropolitan area were greeted by accumulating snow the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 26, metro area students shared contrasting comments on the concept of virtual “snow days.”

The northern Willamette Valley has thus far experienced an uneventful winter. The fleeting snow was its first significant snow event since mid-March 2020.

However, many students have voiced support for virtual “snow days,” though remote classes would vastly reduce the dangers associated with inclement weather.

“I feel that snow days should still be a thing,” one Catlin Gabel School (CGS) student, who wished to remain anonymous, wrote in an email interview. “After everything we have been through, why take one more thing away from us?”

The student later elaborated their perspective. “If we couldn’t go to school in person, it would be nice to have the day off virtually too, to enjoy the weather.”

Others completely disagreed.

“I don’t think we need [snow days],” another CGS student said in a text message interview. “We would only get like three hours off… aren’t Wednesdays enough?”

Accurate extended or long-range forecasts are often difficult to generate, especially as a result of climate change. However, prior to this winter, Farmer’s Almanac meteorologists predicted the Pacific Northwest’s coldest weeks to occur in mid January - around the time of the recent snowfall - and mid to late February.

Meanwhile, another metro area student offered a middle ground option on snow days.

“I think that I would rather have a half day because I wouldn’t want the whole day off,” the student offered. “But I would want some time to myself to go outside.”

On the other hand, some students recognized that school administrators might hold virtual classes without regard to inclement weather.

“They should cancel class to give us a break from school and let us go out in the snow,” a Grant High School student remarked. “But I think they would still have class.”

Portland Public Schools, Oregon’s largest public school district, announced in November that their Comprehensive Distance Learning program would continue regardless of snow events; Beaverton School District followed suit. Vancouver School District will allow for two no-school days during remote learning, to be compensated in mid June. CGS’ “Remote Learning” webpage does not specify procedures for inclement weather.

What are your thoughts on virtual “snow days”? Let us know in the comment section!