School canceled due to 'good weather'

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- And a rallying cry goes up around the office:

"They should do that here!"

The Bellingham Christian School plans to cancel school Friday on account of the "exceptionally nice" weather forecasted for the Puget Sound region.

The principal of Bellingham Christian School in the 1600 block of East Sunset Drive sent a letter to parents earlier this week saying they would most likely forgo a day of school to enjoy the sunshine. He called canceling a day of school for nice weather a good move in an effort to "promote positive school culture." He also said a day off was "just for fun."

"Typically we cancel school for bad weather, so why not have some fun and cancel school due to fabulous weather?" Principal Bob Samson said.

Childcare will still be provided during school hours, Samson said.

The school did not cancel any days during the winter. A notice to officially close school will be posted on the school's website at 6:30 a.m. Friday.

Here is Samson's full letter:

To celebrate an exceptionally nice day of the spring season, to promote positive school culture and just for fun, Bellingham Christian School has decided to cancel school due to good weather. 

Typically we cancel school for bad weather, so why not have some fun and cancel school due to fabulous weather?  For us Washingtonians, it’s just as significant we figure.  Our student body and staff are looking forward to a nice day to bask and play in the spring sun, which may end up happening May 2nd, and if not then we will hope for May 3rd.  We encourage the students to get outside and play.

If tomorrow, May 2nd, has clear skies in the morning and if weather.gov has a forecast of 63 degrees or higher, we will cancel the school for the whole day due to good weather.   Wahoooo!  If we don’t cancel school on the 2nd, we will look to the forecast for the 3rd and cancel school Friday. 

Mr. Sampson, the school’s principal, will make the decision to cancel school by 6:30 AM.  The notice will be posted on the school’s website, www.bellinghamchristianschool.org, and the inner school Sycamore website.

There are so many heavy things that go in our world, it’s nice to celebrate, relax and share joy with many. 

Since we’ve had no snow days, we are able to make this cancellation and still have more than enough state allocated hours for the year.   Additionally, childcare will be provided at the school, should there be some parents who are unable to have a place for their children to go.