The decision would be made the morning of. The local TV and radio stations would then announce all the towns and school systems that decided to close, starting as early as 5am.
My parents were always perplexed (and a little annoyed) that us kids would get up at 5am all by ourselves just to find out if we had school or not. On a regular school day, it was a challenge to get us up and off to school on time!
Most school systems in the Northeast would build at least five "snow days" into the school calendar. If those days were not all used up, we would start our summer vacations earlier. But we always wanted to get the snow days we felt we had coming to us.
When a snow day was called, all the kids bundled up and went outdoors. We went sledding, built snow forts, had snowball fights. Then come inside for hot chocolate. It was always great having a snow day.
Sounds like so much fun.
We had snow days, but, not enough snow for sledding...but, a fun day of snowmen and snowball fights. Then, it would all melt, the next day!
We usually had to add on an extra day, at the end of our school year.
And....no one (not the Mayor, not the school superintendent, etc.) called off school days before...we had to wait for the local news to alert us, like you, that morning. They’d announce EARLY ... before Capt Kanagaroo, even.
Are you ready for tonight's "Blizzard"?
I'm praying that we don't lose power.
I remember the snowplows going by, waking me up in the middle of the night - Yesss!! Then in the morning I waited anxiously as my mother listened to the radio for the school closures, rejoicing when I would hear “All schools in Southbridge closed” - Huzzah!