Will Braintree Get Snow Days This Year?

BRAINTREE, MA — During a normal year, news of a snowstorm heading for Foxborough would bring the prospect that school could be canceled. But with online learning amid the coronavirus pandemic, that prospect has changed slightly.

This year, the state is allowing school districts to pivot to virtual learning instead of canceling in-person class amid winter weather. School officials said they have their own variation of virtual snow days this year with what they're calling "blizzard bags."

Blizzard bags consist of work that will be sent home and/or provided electronically to students at a future date for them to complete and return within a specified period of time. When a student completes and returns the work it is evaluated and both credit and attendance are recorded.

"Students will be able to enjoy an old-fashioned snow day this week in the event of a closure, through the implementation of blizzard bags, as a day with no school and no newly assigned school work," Superintendent Frank Hackett said in a statement. "Details on the blizzard bag that will be used for your child in the event we have a snow day this week will be provided at a later date."

School cancellation announcements will be communicated via phone calls and text messages through ParentSquare. They will also be posted on Braintree Public Schools' website.

If school is canceled Thursday, school officials anticipate returning to in-person learning Friday.