At Main Line school, a 21st Century 'snow day'

For most kids in the region, Tuesday's "snow day" was a perfect storm: A forecast bad enough to cancel classes, yet a dusting so mild that they could spend their unexpected holiday at the mall or the multiplex.

But at Bryn Mawr's Baldwin School, it was an ideal day to stay inside the house and read the Chinese philosopher Confucius or sit at the computer coding new apps.

In fact, they had no choice.

That's because the Main Line girls' academy has replaced "snow days" with "cyber days" - alternative online learning on days when the local roads are deemed impassable but the Information Superhighway is wide open.

"I got up at 8 and was reading some of The Odyssey," said Alexa Diecidue, 14, of Villanova, a Baldwin eighth grader who had assignments in several subjects that she had to complete even though school was closed.

After last winter's snowstorms froze out schools for seven or more days, some educators informally started their own "cyber schools," posting assignments ahead of time and using programs that allow online instruction.

Then, in the fall, state officials announced a pilot program for what it calls "Flexible Instruction Days" focused on Internet or other nontraditional modes of instruction - although no schools have yet received approval, according to the state Department of Education.

Of the 13 districts that have applied, two are in the area, Avon Grove and Unionville-Chadds Ford in Chester County.

Schools would be allowed up to five FIDs, although for most of the state's 501 districts the preparation and implementation would be too time-consuming, educators said.

Mark Klein, superintendent of the Council Rock School District in Bucks County, said that replacing class time with computer time during inclement weather is something officials are considering, but that for districts as large as his - almost 1,000 staff and 11,000 students - it would be hard to do.

"While I think we could pull this off in high school," he said, it is a struggle to figure out how to do it district-wide.

Moreover, not every student has access to the Internet, and a storm could wipe out power, thus wiping out a planned instructional day.

"The concept from PDE is a great idea," he said.

Last year, a handful of independent schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey - including Baldwin and Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill - conducted impromptu cyber classes for students who had laptops and tablets.

William Brannick, who as principal of Bonner-Prendergast implemented "cyber school" after racking up snow days, said there will not be a repeat this year. Now the Office of Catholic Education's technology director, he said the schools' application to PDE has not been approved and he would not want to have a cyber day if it didn't count.

Baldwin didn't get credit last year either when it ordered Upper School teachers to provide assignments on Haiku, the school's learning management system. Middle school teachers are required to do the same this year.

"We've had zero days of lost learning," said Lisa Lopez-Carickhoff, director of libraries and information services. "It's business as usual, but everyone is in their pajamas."

Computer science teacher Laura Blankenship assigned a reading on app development and an online quiz "to see where everyone is."

Last year's online classrooms "worked out pretty well," she said. "The faculty didn't feel like they lost that much time, and students felt the same way."

History teacher Jennifer Cutler assigned Confucius's Analects - the sayings and ideas of the Chinese philosopher - and questions that students could answer on a discussion board, though "it's not as valuable as being there in class to be able to have a discussion," she said.

Sally Chen, a 16-year-old sophomore from Blue Bell, who was assigned history and science readings and an English presentation, said she didn't mind the work, since "otherwise I would lounge around and watch TV all day. It's nice to be able to do something."

And while Chen doesn't like snow, Simi Bleznak, 13, an eighth grader from Wynnewood, started her math, English, Spanish, and social studies work Monday night so she could have time to play outside.

"I'll probably be done around 11:30, then I'll maybe go sledding and build a snowman," she said.

Even teachers, stuck to computers as they helped students with work and prepared for Wednesday's classes, got to enjoy the day off.

After she was done grading and planning her next unit, Cutler said, she hoped to catch up on Downton Abbey or even sled down the Art Museum steps if there was enough snow.

"It'll be my reward for finishing my work," she said.

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@kathyboccella