Blizzard Bags

Schools end blizzard bag program after state cancels initiative

Posted on Monday, July 15th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Grace Bird, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 7/15/2019
Link: Complete Article

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education canceled the “blizzard bag” initiative late last month, citing concerns about equal access to the program. Blizzard bags are educational materials allocated to students to complete at home on snow days. Each bag counts as one day of attendance, meaning schools do not need to tack on an… [Read More]

Mohawk, Hawlemont to test out ‘Blizzard Bags’ during spring vacation

Posted on Thursday, April 5th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 4/4/2018
Link: Complete Article

BUCKLAND — Assigning school homework during spring break may sound like a bad idea — unless it means that students can start summer vacation two days early. Before going ahead with plans next fall to start an “Alternative Structured Learning Time” — or “Blizzard Bag Program” — the Hawlemont and Mohawk school district students will… [Read More]

Mohawk Trail, Hawlemont plan blizzard bag study

Posted on Monday, January 15th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 1/12/2018
Link: Complete Article

BUCKLAND — The Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont regional school districts now have enough volunteers for a study committee to research a Blizzard Bag Program, which would enable students in all grades to keep up their academic programs during “snow days” without having to make up school days lost during winter storms. An organizational meeting is… [Read More]

Orange School Committee Okays Four Blizzard Bags

Posted on Friday, January 5th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Domenic Poli, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 1/4/2018
Link: Complete Article

ORANGE — The Orange Elementary School Committee last night gave the nod to four days’ worth of “Blizzard Bags” this academic year, though Thursday’s snow day was exempt. A Blizzard Bag is a packet of school work sent home with students before a snow day so there is minimal lapse in learning when weather interferes… [Read More]

Gateway Regional introducing free lunch at Chester Elementary and 2 new administrators

Posted on Thursday, August 24th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Sarah Gardner, The Gazette
Date: 8/23/2017
Link: Complete Article

HUNTINGTON — One of Gateway Regional School District’s biggest changes for the upcoming school year will be at Chester Elementary School, where there will be such a thing as a free lunch — and breakfast, too. The school, which offers pre-kindergarten through fifth grade for the towns of Blandford, Chester and Middlefield, will be a… [Read More]

Gateway’s ‘blizzard bags’ cut makeup days in sunny June

Posted on Friday, June 9th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 6/8/2017
Link: Complete Article

HUNTINGTON — Many local students will find themselves staring longingly out the windows of their classrooms during the makeup snow days tacked onto their school year. Students in Gateway Regional School District, however, will be on the other side of those windows, basking in the sun. The reason for the earliest end to school for… [Read More]

Mahar, Orange, Petersham school committees OK online assignment ‘Blizzard Bags’

Posted on Wednesday, November 30th, 2016 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Domenic Poli, Recorder
Date: 11/24/2016
Link: Complete Article

ORANGE, MA — Orange schools will be experimenting this winter with using “blizzard bags” to make snow days count. Mahar Regional and Orange school committees have approved a pilot project to use online learning in place of classroom learning on days school is canceled because of weather. And the mandatory online learning assignments will be… [Read More]