YORKTOWN, Va. - The first snow day of the school year is here.
“My elementary student is just so excited to hear the snow whispered at all, her scream can probably be heard several towns over,” said Ashley Smith.
Smith has three children in the York County School Division.
She says the news that students have the day off came just in time especially for her middle schooler who has some catching up to do. He attends Yorktown Middle School.
“He is a procrastinator! So, he is thankful for that day,” she adds.
School leaders sent emails, text messages and phone calls letting parents know that school is closed just for students.
Smith calls it an unexpected gift. “In the midst of all not this that they are going through, to let them have that was really precious to me,” she adds.
Her 2nd and 6th grade students currently go into the school building two to three days out of the week.
But her 8th grader is still 100% virtual. School isn't closed for everyone - teachers have a two-hour delay.
In a messagesent to parents, leaders say they are also using the snow day to "increase opportunities for a significant number of division staff to receive their first COVID-19 vaccinations."
“I’m hoping our teachers are feeling valued and feeling safe and that they have the opportunity to do that,” said Smith.
She says giving teachers a chance to get the COVID-19 vaccine is a step to safely get everyone back into the classroom.
