Extreme Hazardous Weather

Schools will close when weather and road conditions in Hanover School Division are such that it is not advisable to transport students via school buses. If weather deteriorates after the school day has started, creating unsafe driving conditions that necessitate cancelling bus service for the return trip home, students will remain in school until other arrangements can be made. Buses will not be sent out early.

Extreme Cold Weather

A partial closure of schools will be in effect when the recorded temperature at the Environment Canada Kleefeld Weather Station at 6:00 a.m. indicates -35° degrees Celsius or colder, OR a windchill of -45° degrees Celsius or colder. All schools will be closed to students but remain open to staff and visitors.

If weather data from the Kleefeld Weather Station is unavailable or inaccessible at 6:00am of the given day, an alternate data source will be used to determine if the criteria for cold closure has been met. For additional information about weather safety please view the HSD Weather Guidelines (PDF) and the HSD School Closure Policy (PDF)

If concerned about child safety during periods of extreme weather, parents/caregivers may at their discretion choose to keep their children at home. Those choosing to exercise this option should inform the school on that day as per regular absence procedures.

Parent Notification
Parents/Caregivers will receive an automated phone message between 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. A closure notice will also be sent by email, posted on www.HSD.ca, X @HanoverSD, and school websites. Closure announcements are also distributed to local media outlets.

Cancellation of Facility Rentals / Events
When schools are closed due to extreme weather, decisions regarding the cancellation of rentals, scheduled events at the school and all extra-curricular trips will be considered on an individual basis, depending on the severity of the weather conditions.

Learning Opportunities

To reduce the potential impact of closure days and to ensure student learning continues regardless of weather, HSD will provide students with learning opportunities on days when schools are closed. If such cancellations occur, please expect the following:

 
  • Extreme Hazardous Weather
  • Extreme Cold Weather

On closure days due to extreme hazardous weather:

  • Teachers of Grades K-8 should prepare a work package to be sent home in advance of winter and periodically throughout the winter months, which may be utilized on inclement weather closure days.
  • Teachers of Grades 9-12 should ensure assignments are posted in Google Classroom and all HSD students in Grades 9-12 have been assigned ChromeBooks to complete work independently.
  • Teachers will send a morning message, instructions, and post assignments/activities/lessons onto Seesaw or Google Classroom as soon as possible in the morning.
  • Teachers will not launch new lessons/units, so please keep in mind the work teachers assign will primarily be work students can engage in independently.
  • We understand that not all students/families will engage in school work on a hazardous weather closure day. We will honour and respect all choices.

On closure days due to extreme cold weather:

  • Teachers will post assignments/activities/lessons onto Seesaw or Google Classroom as soon as possible in the morning.
  • Teachers will send a message to parents (or students, depending on the grade) letting them know how and what time(s) of the day they will be available online or via email to answer questions.
  • Teachers will attempt to connect virtually or via telephone with each student in Grades K-8 to check in and provide suggestions for work.
  • We are not expecting synchronous (all online at the same time) learning to occur.
  • Teachers will not launch new lessons/units, so please keep in mind the work teachers assign will primarily be work students can engage in independently.
  • We understand that not all students/families will engage in school work on a cold weather closure day. We will honour and respect all choices.