Reflecting on Our First Snow Day of the School Year
Yesterday, LVA experienced one of the most anticipated moments of every school year—our first official snow day! While winter weather can be unpredictable in Pennsylvania, one thing remains constant: our commitment to student safety and well-being.
As snow fell across the Lehigh Valley, our leadership team worked closely with transportation partners, weather monitoring services, and local officials to ensure that all decisions were made with safety as our top priority. When conditions made travel difficult, our school community pivoted quickly, allowing students and families the opportunity to stay warm, cozy, and off the roads.
A Pause in the School Routine… and a Chance for Joy
Snow days come with a special kind of excitement. From building snowmen, baking cookies with family, catching up on sleep, or simply watching the snowfall—it was a welcomed winter break from the everyday routine.
At LVA, we recognize the value of moments like these. They remind us that education isn’t just confined to our classrooms. Snow days encourage:
- Creativity
- Problem-solving (especially when shoveling!)
- Quality time with family
- Rest and rejuvenation
These experiences support our IB Learner Profile Traits, especially Balance, reminding students and staff to care for themselves physically and mentally.
The Safety Work You Don’t See
Even on days when our buildings are closed, much happens behind the scenes:
- Updates to campus walkways and parking areas
- Coordination with transportation
- Monitoring of changing weather patterns
- Communication planning
- Technology readiness for potential alternative schedules
Our goal is always to keep families informed, prepared, and supported.
Looking Ahead
As winter continues, weather will sometimes disrupt our day-to-day learning environment. When it does, LVA will remain committed to:
- Clear and timely communication
- Safety first
- Thoughtful decision-making
- Preserving learning time whenever possible
Though snow days are rare and often brief, they offer meaningful pauses in our busy academic year.
In addition, LVA has established clear procedures to help families stay informed when unexpected weather impacts the school day. Our emergency procedures, early dismissal guidelines, and school closing information—outlined in the school handbook and annual calendar—ensure that all communication is clear, consistent, and efficient.
Excerpt from LVA Communication Protocols
Lehigh Valley Academy has developed a comprehensive emergency plan to keep students and staff safe and secure at all times while in school. There are times, however, when school may be delayed, dismissed early, or canceled due to circumstances beyond our control.In the case of an emergency, late start, early dismissal, or school closing, families will be notified through the following channels:
• 69 WFMZ-TV News Storm Center
• LVA Website
• LVA Social Media Platforms
• Schoolwide Messaging System (phone, text, and email)These layered communication tools ensure that alerts reach our LVA community as quickly as possible. To help us maintain accurate records, we encourage families to verify that their contact information is current.
If families ever want to review these procedures in greater detail, they can find them in the school handbook. They are located under the Communication section.
Share Your Snow Day Moments!
We’d love to see how our students and families spent their snow day!
If you snapped photos of snowy adventures, warm indoor moments, or creative snow day fun, feel free to share them on social media and tag Lehigh Valley Academy.
Let’s celebrate the magic of the season together!
Stay safe, stay warm—and here’s to a bright, joyful winter ahead.
Lehigh Valley Academy RCS 