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School Closures due to Weather (Snow Days)

 

Decision process

If poor weather affects travel conditions, we may close schools or delay buses. Decisions are made based on the best information we have at the time. This includes detailed hourly weather forecasts and satellite and radar images from multiple sources, as well as provincial and municipal road condition reports. A decision must be made by approximately 6:30am, as buses are due to begin shortly thereafter. Schools might also be closed and students sent home early if weather conditions deteriorate significantly during the school day.

Our geography is large and diverse. We are urban, rural, in-land, and coastal. The weather does not always occur as anticipated and will impact areas differently. Our buses travel 33,000 km/day and we have 5000 student walkers. Sometimes what is the best decision for one neighbourhood may not be as apparent for another, but in each case the safety of all our students is paramount. All decisions are made using the best information available at the time.

Options

Depending on the extent of the poor weather, we may decide to:

  • Delay buses one or two hours until road conditions improve. On these occasions, all schools will open at their regular time to receive students. Students arriving late will not be penalized.
  • Close individual schools or all schools in an Education Centre (Hampton Ed Centre, Saint John Ed Centre, St. Stephen Ed Centre) if local conditions are unique.
  • Close all schools in the district.
  • Schools may be closed early if the weather conditions are anticipated to deteriorate significantly during the school day

Parental decision to keep a child home 

If schools remain open, and as a parent/guardian you feel that conditions in your area are not safe for your child to go to school, then you have the final decision whether or not to send your child to school. Absences on these days will not be a factor in a student’s attendance record. 

Notification 

Information about closures or delays will be posted by 6:30am. Because decisions are made using the most accurate, up-to-date forecast information, decisions are not typically finalized in advance or announced the night before. If schools remain open, no announcement will be made. Announcements can be found via:

If schools are closed during the school day due to emergent weather, families will be notified by their child’s school.