As most Minnesota residents are just now coming to grips with the impending winter, one St. Cloud school is being pro-active, scheduling a practice snow day for Nov. 21.

So do they know something meteorologist Paul Douglas doesn't?

Not exactly, but Cathedral High School administrators do know that valuable learning time is lost when students aren't in the classroom.

That's why they've decided that students will work online from home the next time a snow day is called. And on Nov. 21, they've decided to hold a trial run, allowing students to do their work from home on school-issued computers. Teachers will post their lessons by 10 a.m.. that day and be available online to help.

"Technology will never replace in-class instruction, but it provides a way to minimize lost class time and it certainly enhances instruction," said Cathedral Principal Lynn Grewing.

Last year, Cathedral classes were canceled five times because of snowstorms or extremely low temperatures. Governor Mark Dayton canceled classes statewide on January 6 because of dangerously cold temperatures.

Lynn Grewing

Benilde-St. Margaret's in St. Louis Park made a similar move last year and allowed students to work online from home during one snow day. Like Cathedral students, they had school issued MacBook Air computers.

"Cathedral has the technology in place to do online school on those days," Grewing said. "It's another way that technology is changing education."