On Monday, February 3, Powell High School [PHS] students woke up to a blizzard, the wind whipping snow back and forth across their lines of vision. Due to the lack of visibility and dangerous road conditions, the Powell schools called an official snow day, canceling school. 

Powell students were asked about the weather and road conditions, as well as what they did with their very rare day off. 

“It was cold and snowy,” sophomore Sawyer Wormald said. “[It was] very windy.”

Tim Wormald, the principal at PHS, explained that many factors go into determining whether or not the school implements a snow day. 

“So ultimately, it’s a superintendent’s call, but he tries to get information from various different sources,” Mr. Wormald said. “[Buses] are a big part of it, but he is also thinking about passenger vehicles. I think that safety is the primary consideration there. So are we putting people at risk trying to get them to school and that sort of thing. That’s the number one focus.” 

Students expressed their gratitude for the snow day, with many people describing dangerous driving conditions due to the snow, wind, and ice.

“Visibility was terrible,” junior William Shelby said. “I couldn’t see more than 100 yards past the tree line.”

These treacherous conditions had caused students to go off the roads, get stuck, or simply have to remain at home.

“[The roads] were terrible, so bad,” junior Cash Ashcraft said. “I did not go anywhere that day.”

Even though the roads were concerning, some students still ventured outside. 

“…I went to Maverick and got stuck in a snow drift,” junior Myah Rakness said. “[The roads] were pretty bad over by our house…they were not clear at all.”

Despite the unfortunate weather conditions, some PHS students decided to make the most of their day off. People did everything from classic winter activities to volunteering around Powell. 

“Me, Jude Tillotson, Truett Carter, and Ryan Rivas all went out to Homesteader Park with our ski and snowboard gear,” junior Jackson Baker said. “[We] decided to make a jump and spend the morning in the snow and doing some tricks off the jump.” 

While Baker sought to take advantage of the frozen wasteland, other students looked for unfrozen areas. 

“I went fishing,” junior Dawson George said. “It was really good, I caught my new PR for round trout.”

George’s attitude of enjoying his day off was shared by many of his peers, including some students who took the opportunity to do service for their community. 

“I went over to these old people’s house … and I shoveled their walk and driveway,” said junior Korbyn Warren. “And then I drove over to my great grandma’s house and shoveled her driveway.”

When interviewed, all students said that they believed the snow day was necessary. 

“I do [believe it was necessary], especially for people that live in Clark that always have to drive in,” junior Kate Williams said. “There could have been wrecks, and since there were a bunch of inexperienced high school drivers, I think there would have been… everyone trying to drift.” 

Many students expressed that while they were grateful for their snow day, they wished the school had more of them. 

“There’s people like me and others that live further out of town … and the snow is usually deeper, and the weather’s worse where we’re at,” George said. “I have a Cody address, so the weather’s a lot different than here in Powell.”

The continued severe weather has made some students question how many more snow days the district might impose as the cold season continues.

“On Friday, I think we should’ve had a snow day, because when I tried to get out of the parking lot, I drifted around a corner,” junior Ryan Rivas said. “Then I got stuck in a snow drift.”

Some students believe that late starts would be perfect solutions to the problem, protecting students without having to cancel school completely. 

“It still counts as a day, even though it’s less,” Warren said. “That snow day, we’re going to have to make up, but a late start where we don’t have to come until nine [would be good].”

Overall, students had an amazing time on February 3, thankful for the school’s consideration of their safety and allowing them to have a day off.