Since most of us have been snowed in now for two days — and schools again will be closed Friday, there’s been little else for kids (and adults) to do but sled, sled and sled. Some have broken out the cross country skis — even used them to get to work, as reporter Steve Smalley illustrated in his snowy video. But most of us have stayed close to home and played traffic cop while the kids skid down streets and alleys. Here’s some more scenes around 29th and McGraw. Some people were sledding well past midnight.
School is out again Friday. Seattle Public Schools made the announcement that all schools will again be closed Friday. No word yet on whether St. Anne’s or Our Lady of Fatima are closed, but Seattle Archdiocese schools usually follow SPS’s lead.
Magnolia and every other neighborhood in Seattle is getting more snow. Oy Vey! It’s 27 degrees out and meteorologists are predicting freezing rain and just plain rain through the weekend. Freezing rain was predicted for this morning and the rest of the day, but we’ve got snow. Send us your pictures at tips@magnoliavoice.com.
Today was a snow day and Thursday will be too, for students at Seattle Public Schools.
All schools are cancelled for Thursday, Jan. 19, and all after-school activities are cancelled, too. The schools are closed because of continued winter weather, including the threat of icy roads, making student transportation potentially unsafe.
Schools were closed today, and tonight’s School Board meeting was postponed until Jan. 25. All pre- and post- school activities are also cancelled, including games, practices, events, plays, meetings, etc.
“We hoped that students and staff could return to school on Thursday, but forecasts right now are showing continued severe weather, including the potential for icy roads,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield. “We want to err on the side of caution, and also give families enough time to plan for another snow day.”
Please note that Thursday’s 4 p.m. School Board committee of the whole meeting has not been cancelled. As of now, that meeting will take place, and a decision on whether or not to cancel will be made by noon on Thursday. However, the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence will be closed on Thursday to all non-essential personnel.
As of this afternoon, Seattle Public Schools has not yet determined when and how the snow days will be made up this year. That announcement will be made early next week.
Families and staff will receive an automated phone call about the closure, and can also check for updates on the District website at www.seattleschools.org and via the Public Schools Emergency Communications System at www.SchoolReport.org. Updates are also posted on Twitter @seapubschools.
Students in Mrs. Susan Palewicz’s first-grade class at Lawton Elementary School are embarking on their World Cultures project and need $254.47 to make it happen. Palewicz says students need reading materials and more for their project on China. If you would like to contribute to the project, contact Palewicz at skpalewicz@seattleschools.org.
World Cultures Day at Lawton is an annual event spanning all grades. Student projects are massive and often incorporate artifacts, artwork and written material. The evening event draws throngs of parents and neighbors.
As of 11 a.m., Magnolia has three inches of snow and climbing as predicted. For the most part, folks have either stayed home or just walked around taking in the sights of this rare winter wonderland.
Streets are near empty of cars and other traffic, save a few kids with sleds and fun intentions. Although businesses are open, traffic is light. The busiest places are coffee shops where adults and kids were imbibing in the hot refreshments that go down so well when winter hits.
Because of all the warnings, few souls have made their way to work, and both public and private schools have been cancelled.
The most traffic anywhere in Magnolia consisted of kids sledding in parks and on steep streets with names such as Dravus and McGraw.
It seems everyone is enjoying a mid-week “snow day.”
Well, the snow is here at last and of course what kids want to do most is play in it. Kym Nyyssela Otte took these pictures of her family at play. Thanks for sharing Kym.
Halen taking time to eat some snow.
Sledding down Smith Hill.
Halen and Evan Otte and their dog Oliver getting ready to go sledding.
Having fun in the snow? Send us pictures to tips@magnoliavoice.com. Here’s a snowy scene in the Village.
Kids and kids at heart are taking advantage of the closed McGraw street and doing some sledding.
This is one way to get around. This cross country skier was seen on 34th Ave W.
This is going to be one large snowman!
Most stores in the Village are open. Albertsons and Thriftway are open, too. But it is snowy in Magnolia. All branches of the library will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. today. And as Audra Jackley, a Magnolia resident and volunteer tweeted, the snow keeps coming. Here’s Audra’s photo from early this morning.
Updated 9:15 a.m.: Marybeth Turner with the Department of Transportation tells us that snow plows have gone over the snow routes in Magnolia within the last three hours. She says that because it is continuing to snow (as predicted), the crews are heading back to do our roads again.
The blue roads will be treated so one lane in each direction is bare and wet. Curves, hills and stopping zones will be treated on the green roads. (The full map is here .pdf).
Earlier: A couple of inches of snow has fallen in Magnolia – it’s still falling, with more on the way. Forecasters are predicting the snow to continue throughout the day, easing up around lunchtime. Jenni sent us this picture of the snow near Our Lady of Fatima
Here is information you should know for the day:
Metro buses are on snow routes and some routes have been canceled.
No garbage/recycling/yard waste pickup today. If today is your garbage day, put your cans out tomorrow by 7 a.m. If your trash wasn’t collected yesterday, you can put double the amount out next week at no charge
Seattle Public Libraries will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. today
Got snow pics? Email us at tips@magnoliavoice.com.
