Let It Snow-Just As Predicted!

We got our first major snowfall of the winter season yesterday. The weather guys and gals had been predicting it all week, showing us the models and maps. It was slated to get freezing during the week (it did), then the temps would begin to rise (they did), clouds would form (they did), and snow was to fall as temps warmed further. The snow was supposed to start falling early Friday morning, like at 1 am. They were so sure about this prediction, that at school on Thursday I did what I had planned on doing Friday, the last day before winter break, just in case. I gave my math test and had the kids assemble their 2014 calendar that they were to give their parents for a gift. I also had kids take them home, just in case. I also brought gifts to school that I had to give to certain staff members that I ordinarily would have handed out on Friday. I really didn't think we'd be at school Friday, and instead would get an early start to our winter holiday. Happily, I went home on Thursday. The snow was supposed to start falling sometime between 1 am and 3 am, and we were slated to get anywhere from 1-5". Because it had been so cold, too, it would be very icy. So with all that, and the fact that it was the last day before a two week break, I totally expected to wake to snow and school district closed. I woke at 3 am, and eagerly looked out the window. I could see grass. I could see the pavement in the cul de sac. I could see cars that weren't hidden under a layer of white. Where was the snow they predicted? I was so angry I couldn't go back to sleep. So I headed downstairs. I made coffee, I logged onto Facebook and ranted that the weather guys were liars, and then settled in to read in the quiet house where everyone else was sleeping. At 3:30, I noticed it was snowing. Hurray! The weather guys weren't liars. The snow continued to fall steadily, but tiny little flakes. Even after about two hours there was hardly anything to speak of. Things were white but that was about it. My husband got up to get ready for school. But the snow continued to fall. Soon, the news began to show school district closures. I could see that districts to the north were hard hit and many were either closing or had declared a late-start day. As I watched, I could see that the closures and altered schedules moved south. The snow continued to fall, and was accumulating quickly. Within a half hour time the district where we live called for a 2 hour delay. I told my husband, who wished he had known earlier. My younger daughter had just gotten up, and when I told her, she went back to bed. My district, though, was still looking like it was on regular schedule. Even though I expected a late start, too, I figured I had better start to get ready as normal. So I did. I kept checking with the news, and watching all the excitement unfold with the coming of the snow and school closures. All around us districts were either a late start or canceled all together. Many districts who had called a late start to the day were changing to a canceled Snow Day. On the maps on the news, open districts showed in blue, late start districts showed in yellow, and canceled districts showed in red. My district was beginning to be the only blue in a sea of yellow and red. On Facebook, all of my fellow teachers in my district were in disbelief that nothing was being changed. The only change to my district was that there was to be no "out of district" transportation (I didn't know we had any...). We were remaining open-business as usual. The only open, regular district around. I put off going to school as late as possible. I wanted to give any traffic a chance to get on the roads. My commute, mind you, is 15 minutes at the most. My district is the next one over from where I live. The district I live in was canceled. My kids and my husband got an early start to their vacation. I went out and swept snow off my car, and headed out. It was scary. I live on a hill, and I just crept down. Then, I continued to creep my way to school. The roads were sheer ice. I saw at least 6 cars on the sides of the road as I made my way to school, never getting above 5 MPH. The traffic was heavy and slow. My commute took about 45 minutes. I got to school with only about 10 minutes to spare before my day began with kids. And only 12 kids showed up. Eventually we got up to 18 kids. It was a wasted day. Buses were late, getting accidents, hills had to be closed, the truck that delivers lunches couldn't get around....It was just a head ache of a day. Why they didn't cancel is beyond me. But we had some fun emails. Stay tuned.