Weather Related Closures
The decision to keep schools open or to close them during winter weather conditions is not an easy one, however the prevailing factor in these decisions is the well-being of our students, their families and staff. Because these situations often occur with little forewarning, it is a good idea to have plans made in advance as to what childcare arrangements are needed, and how to adjust if schools are closed due to inclement weather.
Hayden Canyon Charter will close for snow or inclement weather at the discretion of our Administration. When you hear that surrounding Districts have announced that they will be closed due to weather, please check your text, emails and/or Facebook for messages from Hayden Canyon Charter regarding our closure status. We will try to send out notifications of the closure by 5:30 AM. We only announce when we have a closure or delayed start, we do not issue messages if we are open as scheduled.
Please keep in mind that all of us will need to get an early start on snow days when there is not a closure in order to arrive on time.
School Closure/Delay Process
Following is some important information regarding weather-related school closures/delays.
The safety of our students and employees is the top priority when making weather-related decisions that impact the school day. On days when we expect severe weather, such as freezing temperatures and/or rain, heavy snow, or high winds, we evaluate road conditions and forecasts early in the morning. We consider the safety of driving conditions for school staff and families, the expected forecast of the entire school day and the current weather in the area around the school, as well as the areas that are further north and south from which some of our families travel.
We balance these factors with other safety considerations. For example, a school closure may leave some students at home with no adult supervision. For others, school may be the warmest and safest place to be. We understand the impact closing or delaying school can have on families. Please know that each potential closure decision is weighed thoughtfully with careful consideration for the safety of our entire school community, and is based on the best information we have available at the time.
When we experience severe weather or hazardous road conditions, our administrative team will assess current conditions and immediate weather forecasts early in the morning. Any change in normal operations/hours will be shared publicly before 5:30 a.m.
Note: We only communicate these things publicly when we close or delay school; we do not release information if we will be operating normally.
How to find out if schools are closed or delayed due to weather:
- Direct Communication: If you have not opted out of notifications, you should receive a phone call, email and/or text message from us. We use the contact information listed for parents and guardians entered into your PowerSchool account. Please log in to your account and check to make sure you have provided your current email address and mobile number to receive emergency text messages. If you have previously opted out of messages, please reach out to Mrs. Bridgette (bdahlstrom@haydencanyoncharter.org) to request the “opt out” be removed from your account.
- Website: We post school closure and delayed start announcements on our school website.
- Social Media: Closures are posted on our Facebook page. Be sure to Like and Follow the School Facebook page to receive updates when a new post is added. Engaging in our posts with likes and comments ensures the page will show up in your feed when important things are shared there.
- Class Dojo: Closures are added to the School Feed of Class Dojo. If you are not on Class Dojo, please reach out to your student’s teacher to get connected.
- News: Announcements are reported by local news media (KREM, KXLY, and KHQ).
What does a weather closure mean?
- School is canceled for the day and our office is closed.
- All activities, events, and meetings are canceled including field work, clubs, and other extracurricular activities.
What does a two-hour delay mean?
- School will start exactly two hours later than normal.
- Morning kindergarten will be cancelled – PM kindergarten will continue as scheduled.
- The school day will still end at the regularly scheduled time.
Outdoor Recess/Hikes and Cold Weather
Is it too cold?
When there are single digit temperatures at the school (including windchill factor), outdoor recess and hikes will be canceled.
Temperatures are calculated using the NWS Windchill Chart below. Additionally, our Administration has the discretion to cancel outdoor recess and/or hikes for any weather concerns.
We urge parents to help all school staff ensure children are properly attired. If the “real feel” temperature is above 10 degrees, our students are outside for their normal activities, including hikes. To ensure your student is able to enjoy their outdoor time, please make sure they are able to bundle up appropriately for these cold conditions. This includes a warm winter coat, snow pants, snow boots, a warm hat, and gloves that will withstand the snow and cold. Please keep in mind stretch knit, fabric, or cotton gloves get wet too quickly and should ony be used as glove liners since they do not provide the necessary warmth and waterproof protection from the elements. If you choose not to have your student wear snowpants, it is a good idea to keep an extra pair of clothing at the school so they have something warm to change into if their clothing gets wet.
Any families who need help providing winter gear for their students should contact one of our school counselor, Scott Sanford, at (208) 477-1812.
