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Inclement Weather Procedures

AXIS International Academy K-5 Inclement Weather Procedures

School Closure, Delayed Start, and Early Release 

  • School closure: school is closed for the entire school day 
  • Delayed start: bus pick up times and school begin two hours later and ends on time 
  • Early release: school may close early due to impending severe weather  
 

Decision Considerations 

At AXIS we take these decisions very seriously, and we put the safety of our students, families, and staff first. We understand the challenges these actions impart on families who have to find care for their children. Because of our location in the Poudre School District and our partnership with Colorado Early Colleges, these two organizations influence the decision-making of AXIS relevant to inclement weather decisions. 

Alignment with Poudre School District (PSD) on Inclement Weather Decisions 

Although we are not a charter school authorized by Poudre School District, we are located in the PSD geographical boundary.  

  • If PSD closes, AXIS will close. 
  • If PSD has a delayed start, AXIS will close or have a delayed start. 
  • If PSD has an early release, AXIS will have an early release. 
 

PSD has a very thorough decision-making process; therefore, if they decide to delay or close, we will always do the same. That being said, there may an occasion when AXIS closes or has a delayed start when PSD does not.  

Why would AXIS close or delay its start if PSD does not? 

While we will always look to PSD in the case of inclement weather, there are times when AXIS might close or delay starting even when PSD has chosen to remain open. Here's why: The majority of students in PSD attend neighborhood schools, which means the majority of families and buses do not need to travel very far from their homes to school. As a charter school, AXIS is not a neighborhood school, and we have students who travel from Greeley, Wellington, Berthoud, or beyond to get to our school. Likewise, our individual buses travel across a more diverse area than PSD school buses do. We love being a school open to all kids in Northern Colorado, regardless of district of residence. However, this also means that we need to consider road conditions outside of our immediate area, along with longer travel times that could increase risk of incident. 

Consideration of Colorado Early Colleges Inclement Weather Decisions 

Because we share a location, transportation services, and food services with Colorado Early Colleges (CEC), we take into consideration CEC inclement weather decisions.   

  • If CEC has a delayed start, AXIS will likely have a delayed start. 
  • If CEC has an early release, AXIS will likely have an early release. 
  • If CEC closes, AXIS will likely close or have a delayed start. 

 

In the event that CEC is closed, and AXIS is open, there are a few important notes for families: 

  • There will be no breakfast served at AXIS. 
  • There will be no hot lunch served, and students will need to bring a packed lunch from home that day. 
  • There will be no morning bus service, and there may not be an afternoon bus service. Parents may choose to drive their children to school or carpool. Students who typically ride the bus who cannot get to school via other means will be given an excused absence. 

 

School Notification 

AXIS attempts to notify parents as far in advance as possible in the case of these events, at least by 6:30am the morning of. Prior to leaving home when there is a weather advisory, watch, or warning (see below for more information on these terms), please double check these AXIS sources to ensure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information on whether school is closed or delayed: 

 

Safety First! 

Remember that as the parent or guardian you have the ultimate responsibility for the safety and well-being of yourself and your children. You can always decide not to send your children to school on a snowy day if you feel it is unsafe. AXIS is flexible with late arrivals due to weather and will always excuse a student absence when called in by a parent or guardian due to weather. Please give yourself extra time driving and stay safe.   

Before Care Available During Delayed Start

AXIS is very grateful to offer before care as a service to our K-5 families. In order to participate in before care, you must be registered with our AXIS Family Programs and have signed up in advance. Read more about AXIS Family Programs here: www.AXISColorado.org/familyprograms/ 

AXIS International Preschool Inclement Weather Procedures

Preschool Procedures When the K-5 is on a Delayed Start 

Typically, AXIS International Preschool will open at 8:00am even when the K-5 is operating on a delayed start. We encourage preschool families to please take their time traveling in inclement weather, as it is perfectly acceptable to be late to preschool when weather conditions are not ideal. During a K-5 delayed start the AXIS front office will not be open until 9:30, so if you are dropping your child off between 8:00-9:30 please drop off at the preschool playground gate on the westside of the building. K-5 drop off begins in this westside lane at 9:30, so we encourage you to be out of this drop off lane at 9:30. Preschool lunch and pick up times will remain the same. When K-5 is delayed due to inclement weather we ask you please email our Preschool Director at familyprograms@AXIScolorado.org and let her know if and when your child will attend.  

Preschool Procedures When K-5 is Closed 

Typically, AXIS International Preschool will open at 8:00am even when the K-5 is closed. If the weather is severe, the preschool may consider a two-hour delay. We encourage preschool families to please take their time traveling in inclement weather, as it is perfectly acceptable to be late to preschool when weather conditions are not ideal. During a K-5 closure the AXIS front office will not be open, so you can drop your child off at the preschool playground gate on the westside of the building. Preschool lunch and pick up times will remain the same. When K-5 is closed due to inclement weather we ask you please email our Preschool Director at  familyprograms@AXIScolorado.org and let her know if and when your child will attend. 

Why would AXIS Preschool be Open when the K-5 is Closed?

We understand it can seem confusing when the preschool is open and the elementary school is closed. In the State of Colorado preschool is not compulsory, whereas elementary school is. You can read more about Colorado Attendance Law here. The elementary school is required to track instructional hours and attendance, and submit this data and our elementary school calendar to the state. These are not preschool requirements. Additionally, as described above, AXIS elementary program makes good faith attempts to align inclement weather decisions with other local public elementary schools. Similarly, the AXIS preschool program makes good faith attempts to align preschool hours of operation and inclement weather procedures with other local licensed, tuition-based child care centers. It is very rare that these local child care centers close in inclement weather.  It can be difficult to find care for elementary-aged children when school is closed or delayed, and in fact it is typically even more difficult to arrange care for children five years and younger. We are also very fortunate to have a lead teacher who lives very close to the school. Regardless, of whether families and staff are a part of the preschool or elementary school we always encourage safety first. 

Important Weather Information for Families 
 
We are very fortunate to have a weather scientist as an AXIS parent. Dr. Joe Grim has generously shared some of his weather expertise and resource recommendations for families. 
 
National Weather Service Advisory Brief Description Likely School Action
Blizzard Watch Issued when blizzard conditions are possible in the next 12 to 36 hours.  School will likely be closed, but will likely wait until a warning is issued before closing.
Blizzard Warning  Issued when all of the following conditions are expected for at least 3 hours: a) sustained winds of 35 mph or greater, b) considerable falling and or drifting snow lowering, and c) visibilities less than 1/4 mile. School would nearly always be closed.
 
Winter Storm Watch 
 Issued when winter storm conditions are possible within the next 3 days, but the timing, intensity, or occurrence may still be uncertain.  School will likely be closed, but likely wait until a warning is issued before closing.
Winter Storm Warning  Issued when heavy snow is occurring or will develop in the next 36 hours. School would nearly always be closed.
Winter Weather Advisory  Issued when considerable snow, freezing rain/drizzle, sleet, or other wintry weather is imminently affecting the area, but not quite severe enough to meet Winter Storm Warning criteria.  School may need to be delayed/cancelled, but wait 12 hours.
Wind Chill Watch   Issued when wind chill warning criteria are possible in the next 12 to 36 hours School may need to be delayed/cancelled, but wait 12 hours.
Wind Chill Warning  Issued for wind chills of at least -25 degrees. School may need to be delayed or cancelled.
 
 
It's important to note the difference between an advisory, watch, and warning (listen in order of severity). An advisory is issued when weather may happen. A watch means the weather is expected to happen, but it's still far enough away in time that we aren't sure how it will be. A warning means the severe weather is more imminent and/or more certain. 
 
Dr. Grim's Recommended Weather Sources
The best place to get information on weather advisories is straight from the National Weather Service at https://www.weather.gov/80526. They have some of the highest accuracy forecasts of any source out there, as their meteorologists are local unlike most private weather companies. I'm personally signed up for weather alerts to be sent to my e-mail address, as soon as they are issued. The one I use is: https://alert.accuweather.com/accualert/. You want to click the box by "I would like to receive severe weather watches and warnings for my area as they are issued" unless you want extra e-mails. Unfortunately, signing up for these alerts will send you e-mails on every weather-related advisory that the NWS issues, many of which are completely un-useful for information relevant to whether school should be in session (e.g., frost advisory, air quality advisory).