ST LOUIS PARK, Minn. — The bitter cold forced schools across Minnesota to close for most of the week.
But while students of Benilde-St. Margaret's School in St. Louis Park stayed at home, class was still in session online.
"Some years we have more snow days or online days than others but this has definitely been the most... three in one week," said Reilly Rahill, a BSM junior.
Rahill and classmate Maggie Murnan have been working on their biomed group project all week. Thursday morning, they did a Google Hangout with another classmate and teacher Mark Peterson. It was a chance for them to ask Peterson questions. Another Google Hangout was planned for later in the day with the entire class.
"I'd rather talk to people face-to-face. Google Hangouts have been kind of the second best, I guess," said Peterson, a BSM biology and biomedical science teacher. "Starting about 12:20 p.m. until almost 4 the past two days I've been meeting with students. I think my longest hangout was about 17 minutes but they've been typically 10-15 minutes about every 20 minutes."
"It's been a few years having to use it from time to time. This is probably the longest stretch we've ever had to use it. Three days in a row is pretty significant," BSM Senior High Principal Susan Skinner said.
According to Skinner, they first launched online school during the 2013-2014 school year. BSM was one of the first schools in the Twin Cities to roll out these virtual sessions for when unexpected closures happen.
"I think it takes the pressure off missing a school day," Skinner said. "We count them as school days. The curriculum is being moved forward, students are accountable. There are points attached to the work. Teachers are checking in on students."
Skinner is also able to check in on virtual classes. The school provides laptops and makes sure all the students have access to WiFi.
"It's nice to be able to still be in contact with them and be able to get your work done," Murnan said.
Skinner said most students end up doing 3-4 hours of school work a day. And while some students would rather have the full day off, Rahill said she prefers this over having to potentially add any days to the end of the school year.
Rahill said, "In the moment it can seem like a lot of work but it definitely pays off and it's really nice to be able to stay on track with our classes so that we're not doing a bunch of catch-up work the week later, especially at the beginning of the semester like this."