Snow and ice days are officially called Emergency Closure days, Dimond Principal Cheryl Guyett said. When are there emergency closure days? It depends on the road conditions. “Superintendent Carol Comeau and the director of student transportation Steve Kalmes decide,” Guyett said. The National Weather Service, Highway Patrol, and city matience are consulted, said Guyett. The Anchorage School District allows 10 days for students to be out of school, but eight of those are taken up by in-service days. So that leaves two emergency closure days. If more than two emergency closure days are needed then the school year could be extended or there could be school on a Saturday, said Guyett. Sometimes the school district has delayed start so it gives the roads extra time to get better. In this situation the school buses would run an hour later. Some students want snow days and some do not. It just so happens Maria Ramirez, freshman, does not want snow days “…because I would not like to make [the snow days] up at the end of the [school] year. I would like to be in Venezuela on my birthday, the 19 th , and I need the 18 th to travel.” Senior Lucas Dubie said, “Yeah, definitely. You could just make it [the lost school day] up. Freshman Morgan Brown said she does not want snow days because she does not thinks Alaska needs them. On the other hand, Suite Nederbrock, also a freshman, said, “Yes [I want snow days] because I like playing in the snow.” Freshman Joryn Felicetty agrees with Nederbrock about snow days. “Yep [I want snow days] because they’re really, really fun.” Caitlin Peterson said, “I want snow days but I don’t want to make them up.” Sophomore Hayley Hinkle wants snow days because, “It’s good to have a break from school to catch up on lost sleep and homework.” People may wonder what kids do during snow days. “I stay home and do random stuff,” said Peterson. Dubie sleeps in, keeps sleeping and doesn’t get up on snow days. Hinkle said she sleeps and does homework. On the next snow day she is going to spend time with her friends. Brown said, “I sleep and eat waffles.” Ramirez said she watches TV and hangs out with people if the driving conditions are okay. “I hang out with friends in the snow and make snow angels,” said Nederbrock. Felicetty and Ramirez have the same ideas. He watches TV and hangs out with friends. What do teachers have to say about snow days? “Most teachers would say yes,” said Michael Baum a Dimond History teacher when asked if emergency closure days disrupt his teaching schedule, “I keep my students busy and would be losing stuff I have planned.” Nicolette Haynes said, “Umm… sometimes it can be a little frustrating. In particular students come in late to first hour it affects first hour most. Susan Derrera, a Dimond English teacher, said, “Students are always greeted with joy [by snow days].” Students think many things about snow days. Hinkle thinks, “They’re like an advantage because all they really are is a break from school and not sleeping.” “Snow days are cool because you’re hanging out with friends when it’s supposed to be a school day, but you can always make up for the day. It’s not really that hard,” Nederbrock said. Felicetty said, “They’re awesome. I think we should have them and not have to make up for them. That’s what I think.” Brown has a different take on snow days. “I don’t really see snow days as good because you have to make them up. Half days would be good. You could just have half days instead of snow days,” said Brown.