Blizzard Bag

For anything related to schools and education in Lakewood. Includes discussions, announcements, and schedules.

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Kristine Pagsuyoin
Posts: 339
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:28 am

Blizzard Bag

Postby Kristine Pagsuyoin » Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:58 pm

[url]file:///C:/Users/kristine/Downloads/Blizzard_Bag_parent_letter.pdf[/url]


Today, the Lakewood City Schools sent out the following information regarding the "Blizzard Bag" requirement to make-up the March 12th snow day. I have two questions:

1. Didn't the state approve 4 extra calamity days for all schools? If so, why do we need to make up the 6th day?

2. As I recall, the Lakewood City Schools allows for parents to keep kids at home if they disagree with the decision of the district to keep school open on bad weather days without penalty. The "Blizzard Bag" requires kids to do the assignment if they don't want to be counted as absent that day. Yet, it shouldn't ever count against kids who wish to stay at home if parents believe it is not safe for them to walk or be driven on a snow/cold day.

It just doesn't seem like additional work (mostly in the form of worksheets which is busy work) is necessary or fair on top of what they must already complete during the busiest time of the school year. My understanding is that "Blizzard Bag" assignments are normally made available beforehand so that they are offered as work while the kids are at home due to school being closed. Not a month later. Between my 2 middle school students they would be required to complete 12 extra assignments during that week. We will not be completing the assignments.


Michael Deneen
Posts: 2133
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:10 pm

Re: Blizzard Bag

Postby Michael Deneen » Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:14 pm

How many total days were missed?
It sure seemed like more than six.


Kristine Pagsuyoin
Posts: 339
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:28 am

Re: Blizzard Bag

Postby Kristine Pagsuyoin » Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:29 pm

According to the letter that went home to parents (see above link) the district closed 6 times and the State of Ohio allows for 5.


Christine Gordillo
Posts: 195
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:28 pm

Re: Blizzard Bag

Postby Christine Gordillo » Sun Apr 13, 2014 2:31 pm

Kristine, sorry for the delayed response. I just now saw your post.

Regarding the extra days OK'd by the state, as the law is written calamity days 6-9 have to be made up, days 10-13 do not have to be made up and anything over 13 days must be made up. Some Ohio districts have nearly 20 calamity days this year.

You are correct that most districts have the blizzard bags prepared ahead of time but once the state passed the extra calamity days law, the Ohio Dept. of Education allowed any districts that did not apply for blizzard bag usage at the start of the school year to do so after the calamity day law was passed. The district applied and had to wait for ODE approval before sharing the blizzard bag assignments with students.

Hope that clears up a couple of your questions.

Christine Gordillo
Communications & PR Specialist
Lakewood City Schools


Kristine Pagsuyoin
Posts: 339
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:28 am

Re: Blizzard Bag

Postby Kristine Pagsuyoin » Mon Apr 14, 2014 3:57 pm

Christine, thank you for your answer regarding Ohio's laws on making up calamity days beyond the regular days allowed.


Today, my 2 middle school kids brought home complete information on the assignments that would be included in their "Blizzard Bags". At the time of my last post not all of the assignments were posted online. My 8th grader will be required to complete 19 worksheets and my 6th grader will be required to complete 13 worksheets for a missed day of class that occurred over a month ago.

Does anyone think this is fair amount of work to be done for 1 day snow day? Personally, I don't. Nor, do I understand how worksheets of this nature benefit, enrich, or promote learning of any value? I am appalled that worksheets are ever the chosen method to teach; however, this really pushes completing worksheets (bottom of the barrel work) to new heights. Furthermore, the entire grade was assigned the same work which really drives home the opinion that this work is busy work to fill a requirement rather than well-thought out assignments that reinforces the concepts currently being learned by students.

What disturbs me more; however, is that each of my children were told that if they didn't complete the work that they wouldn't be allowed to attend end-of-year parties/dances at school. If "Blizzard Bags" were fair or the best choice for kids then school administration or teachers wouldn't have to threaten our kids. To be fair, I do have a call in to my school to verify if this is true. Also unclear, is whether completing "Blizzard Bag" assignments are just to receive credit for a day of school or if the work will be graded. So far, I have not been able to get a consistent answer.

If the deal being offered by the district is to receive credit to make-up the extra snow day by completing the "Blizzard Bag" than so be it. If a family would rather "opt out" and take the absence it should be the choice of that family without retribution to kids. I am pretty sure I could provide a better use of my kids' time that would be educational and not so brain-numbing as completing 32 worksheets between the two of them. This, in addition to their regular work.

Choice is important--it builds trust. As far as I know, parents and students weren't asked what they would prefer. Both of my kids said that would have preferred an extra day of school. My preference was to lose a day of vacation. Not sure what that tells ya'! Hopefully, better planning next year will avoid this situation next school year.


Christine Gordillo
Posts: 195
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:28 pm

Re: Blizzard Bag

Postby Christine Gordillo » Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:11 pm

Kristine, I will make sure to make the appropriate administrators aware of your concerns. As this is the first time the district has used blizzard bags, there is a lot to be learned from this first experience.



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