Dear Cyclone Nation,
I am sharing with you a different format of our 2024-2025 District calendar. Sometimes a different presentation of the dates is easier to read and clearer.
As you know, Mother Nature let us know winter weather is here this past Monday, so I want to be sure to explain a couple things. There are differing opinions with regard to using an e-learning day vs. a traditional snow day. As much as we wish we could, it is impossible to please everyone, so I want to take a moment to explain my thought process, right or wrong.
West Prairie School District has five (5) emergency days built into our calendar. In addition, we can use five (5) e-learning days.
1) If the weather or road conditions are so obviously hazardous or concerning that a call can be made the evening before or if school will not be in session due to extremely cold temperatures or ice (since these are days when it is not safe for children to be outside), then an e-learning day is more likely to be called. There will be no more than two consecutive days of e-learning if road or weather conditions require us to be out multiple days. More detailed information on e-learning days will be sent soon.
2) However, if a day is called due to several inches of snow that create unsafe road conditions, it is more likely a traditional snow day will be called so that children can be outside playing in the snow. I remember well as a child sitting in front of the television or listening to the radio waiting in anticipation of a snow day. Our kiddos have missed out on that over the last several years.
3) I will make every effort to announce any closings the night before, so that parents can better prepare, but the timing, intensity, and rate at which a storm comes is not always predictable, so it may be necessary to call it that morning. If that occurs, I will do my best to call it by 6:00 a.m.
4) It is important to remember that traditional snow days will have to be made up.
5) When looking at the calendar, please note that if a traditional snow day is called before February 17, school will be in session on February 17 (Presidents’ Day). In addition, if a second traditional snow day is called prior to April 21, school will be in session on April 21. The remaining three emergency days will be made up at the end of the school year if needed.
I hope this helps you to have a little better idea of what you might expect. All school closing information will be sent via our emergency announcement system. You should receive a phone call, an email, and a text. If you do not, please contact the building office where your child attends. We will also post it on our district website and have it announced on WGEM, KHQA, and Tri States Public Radio.
I thank you in advance for your patience and understanding when making these, sometimes, difficult decisions.
With gratitude,
Paula Markey