Remote Learning Allows for Snow Day Flexibility
By Jack Pegler, ’24
As of about three weeks until March break, the GFA community has had three snow days. One occurred before Christmas break in December and another on Monday, Feb. 1. Tuesday, Feb. 2, was a remote learning day. The same decision was made after the most recent snow day on Feb. 18.
The Feb. 1 snow day was announced in a video the day before, with Head of School Bob Whelan initially declaring a day of “virtual learning,” only to be interrupted by a phone call from none other than actor Brian Baumgartner from The Office. Baumgartner then goes on to explain how deserving the GFA faculty and students are of a day off.
“When we were thinking about the prospect of a snow day for that Monday, or a remote day, the feeling was, it's a good time of the year for people to have an unexpected day for people to catch their breath,” Whelan said. “In my mind, everybody had earned that day.”
As for the day after, Whelan decided it would be better to have a day of virtual learning, with anticipation for more snow days between then and March break.
The same decision for a day off and a day of virtual learning was made on Feb. 18, which was announced in a phone call or text message to GFA parents, as well as an email to students.
Whelan also explained the actual process that is involved in making scheduling decisions amidst a snow storm. He is often, if not always, in contact with local officials to determine whether or not the road conditions will be safe enough for students and faculty commuting to school.
“I get up at 4:30 on those mornings,” Whelan said. “I literally will go out, sometimes go out in my own car, and drive around a little bit nearby.”
Whelan also mentioned one more thing to the community members of GFA.
“For our Upper School students who drive, that if they wake up, and it’s a morning that doesn’t feel safe for them to drive, or they feel nervous about it, don’t come in,” he said.