By Nuvneet Desai
After coming back from break, many students were ready to ease right back into classes, however with the first blizzard hitting New York since 2016, students and teachers gained two snow days in a row. For some, it felt like a gift, extra sleep, no alarm, and an extension of February break. But for others, especially those with exams, AP classes, and packed schedules, the extended break caused some to stress about snow days.
Snow days have always been part of school culture nationwide. There’s always something exciting about checking for a phone call and receiving the lines “have a good old fashion snow day,” early in the morning. They provide a break from routine, work, and sometimes even a moment to enjoy the winter weather outside, if it is safe to do so.
However, the academic calendar is tight. Irvington builds four snow days into the school year, and three have already been used. With such constraints come new concerns about Irvington’s midterm scheduling, and whether the district should follow other districts such as Ardsley and Horace Greeley, who administer midterms differently. There most students attend regular classes while regents and midterms are administered in separate rooms. If additional snow days occur, the district may take away days from scheduled breaks, which can create further tension and complications.
With technology now widely available with all students having a Chromebook, Google Classroom, and Google Meet, continuing classes remotely during snow days is more realistic than ever. A half-day of online classes, recorded lessons, or structured assignments could prevent falling behind while still keeping students safe at home.
Many districts adopted this model during the pandemic, proving that it can work when organized effectively.
In New York city, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has emphasized maintaining learning during winter weather, stating that schools would remain open “or via remote learning” rather than defaulting to a traditional snow day.
On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, when Irvington students had a snow day, public school students in the city were still expected to attend school.
On the other hand, not every snow day needs to become a screen day. Students already spend hours online for homework and browsing on the internet. Snow days offer a mental reset for others, something that can actually improve focus and productivity once school resumes.
There are also practical concerns such as power outages and unstable internet connections. Replacing every snow day with online learning could and will replace the joy of seeing snow pile up against front doors.
A possible compromise might be to limit online classes for only extended closures. For example, if school has been canceled for more than one day in a row. That way, a single snow day remains a break, but multiple days off do not significantly disrupt learning.
Clearly, the decision comes down to a balance between learning and well-being. With only one built-in snow day remaining this year and the threat of snow still looming, online school might need a revival from its pandemic grave.
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