Snow covers Stone County, area schools dismissed for days
Areas of Stone County received up to eight inches of snow last week from February 2 through February 4, according to the National Weather Service.
Kadee Brosseau DeCourley
Areas of Stone County received up to eight inches of snow last week from February 2 through February 4, according to the National Weather Service.
The snow storm canceled class for several days at hundreds of schools throughout Southwest Missouri, including all of the districts in Stone County.
However, “snow days” often aren’t what they used to be. Districts now have the option to require students to complete school work at home when school is canceled through Alternative Methods of Instruction, or AMI. Through this method, the school provides online, or take-home, lessons to students.
Reeds Spring School District was among the schools closed Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week. All three of those days were “AMI” days at Reeds Spring. Those days will not need to be made up with replacement in-person school days.
“It’s nice that we don’t have to make up these days and change our school-year calendar. It’s also good for students to stay engaged so we can minimize learning loss,” Reeds Spring School District’s Director of Communications Ben Fisher said.
While kids were working at home on school work during those days, Fisher said “AMI” work isn’t designed to take a full day.
“Grades K-6 have a couple of worksheets that teachers sent home in advance and students in grades 7-12 receive short assignments from their teachers through a website called Canvas,” Fisher explained.
However, not all districts chose to make all missed days “AMI” days. At Blue Eye School District, none of the three missed days were “AMI” days. Crane School District designated Wednesday and Thursday as “AMI” days while Friday was a traditional snow day with no at-home work assigned. Hurley School District only had one “AMI” day. Thursday and Friday were traditional snow days at Hurley, which will have to be made up. However, Hurley Superintendent Dr. Allison Pope said longer, upcoming scheduled breaks will not be changed.
“At this time [the snow days] do not impact the end-of-year dismissal date,” Dr. Pope said. “We will not schedule any make-up days during spring break or the Monday following spring break. In addition, we will not touch Easter break days on the 15 and 18.”
Dr. Pope said if more snow days occur this semester, the district plans to utilize “AMI” days.
“Utilizing “AMI’’ days provides flexibility for districts in their calendar dates and protects off-days for parents and families that have already made arrangements,” Dr. Pope said.
Dr. Pope said “AMI” materials are intended to keep students engaged in learning even while they are away from the classroom and the school setting.
“All “AMI” materials and activities should continue the learning process that takes place in their regular classrooms. We utilize paper packets for our younger students and to accommodate families without consistent or reliable internet at home and virtual learning with our older kids who have phone access,” Dr. Pope explained.
Whether students throughout Stone County were required to do work during their “snow days” last week or not, many still found plenty of time to go outside and enjoy sledding, building snowmen, and having snowball fights.
According to the National Weather Service, the recent snowfall was the highest three-day total in Springfield since the February 2011 blizzard that produced 10 inches of snow.
Areas of Stone County received up to eight inches of snow last week from February 2 through February 4, according to the National Weather Service.
The snow storm canceled class for several days at hundreds of schools throughout Southwest Missouri, including all of the districts in Stone County.
However, “snow days” often aren’t what they used to be. Districts now have the option to require students to complete school work at home when school is canceled through Alternative Methods of Instruction, or AMI. Through this method, the school provides online, or take-home, lessons to students.
Reeds Spring School District was among the schools closed Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week. All three of those days were “AMI” days at Reeds Spring. Those days will not need to be made up with replacement in-person school days.
“It’s nice that we don’t have to make up these days and change our school-year calendar. It’s also good for students to stay engaged so we can minimize learning loss,” Reeds Spring School District’s Director of Communications Ben Fisher said.
While kids were working at home on school work during those days, Fisher said “AMI” work isn’t designed to take a full day.
“Grades K-6 have a couple of worksheets that teachers sent home in advance and students in grades 7-12 receive short assignments from their teachers through a website called Canvas,” Fisher explained.
However, not all districts chose to make all missed days “AMI” days. At Blue Eye School District, none of the three missed days were “AMI” days. Crane School District designated Wednesday and Thursday as “AMI” days while Friday was a traditional snow day with no at-home work assigned. Hurley School District only had one “AMI” day. Thursday and Friday were traditional snow days at Hurley, which will have to be made up. However, Hurley Superintendent Dr. Allison Pope said longer, upcoming scheduled breaks will not be changed.
“At this time [the snow days] do not impact the end-of-year dismissal date,” Dr. Pope said. “We will not schedule any make-up days during spring break or the Monday following spring break. In addition, we will not touch Easter break days on the 15 and 18.”
Dr. Pope said if more snow days occur this semester, the district plans to utilize “AMI” days.
“Utilizing “AMI’’ days provides flexibility for districts in their calendar dates and protects off-days for parents and families that have already made arrangements,” Dr. Pope said.
Dr. Pope said “AMI” materials are intended to keep students engaged in learning even while they are away from the classroom and the school setting.
“All “AMI” materials and activities should continue the learning process that takes place in their regular classrooms. We utilize paper packets for our younger students and to accommodate families without consistent or reliable internet at home and virtual learning with our older kids who have phone access,” Dr. Pope explained.
Whether students throughout Stone County were required to do work during their “snow days” last week or not, many still found plenty of time to go outside and enjoy sledding, building snowmen, and having snowball fights.
According to the National Weather Service, the recent snowfall was the highest three-day total in Springfield since the February 2011 blizzard that produced 10 inches of snow.