Even in the Cold, Connection Continued
When Winter Storm Fern swept through the area, it delivered a one-two-three punch of snow, ice, and more snow—making travel nearly impossible at the start of the week and unsafe for buses and drivers across the county for several days afterward. As a result, students began Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) on Monday, continuing through Thursday while crews worked and conditions gradually improved.
While classrooms sat empty, learning did not.
Across the district, students stayed engaged through a wide range of NTI options designed to meet them where they were. Younger students worked through paper packets and hands-on activities using choice boards that allowed them to explore science, language arts, math, and even physical education in ways that fit their homes and schedules. Older students connected digitally, joining Google Meets that allowed them not only to continue their coursework but also to see familiar faces during a week when the weather kept everyone apart.
At the same time, the work inside school buildings never stopped. Grounds and maintenance teams were on site throughout the week, clearing parking lots, treating sidewalks, and caring for facilities during stretches of extreme cold. Crews focused on high-traffic areas, working to expose pavement and walkways to sunlight whenever possible to speed up the melting process and prepare buildings for a safe return as conditions allowed.
NTI is not a replacement for in-person instruction—and the district remains clear that learning is strongest when students and teachers are together in the classroom. But when faced with a prolonged, high-impact weather event, NTI provides a way to keep students learning while prioritizing safety.
It also creates moments that remind educators why connection matters just as much as content.
“Going to school is more than just gaining an education in academics, but gaining one in relationships, as well,” said Meredith Richardson, a fourth-grade teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. “One concern, especially after the pandemic, that society holds is, will our children have quality social skills that help them become effective communicators and citizens down the line? When instances like bad weather have us out of the building for extended periods of time, I love to bring my students together for a Google Meet. Yes, we discuss the academic side of things, but they also have the opportunity to see their peers and have discussions they otherwise wouldn’t have access to having. Listening to students interact with one another is both comical and enlightening, and seeing their smiling faces warms this teacher even during the freezing temps.”
As roads clear and students prepare to return to their classrooms, this week serves as a reminder: while nothing replaces learning together in person, even in the toughest conditions, the work of education—and the relationships that sustain it—never truly stops.
