Twitter is Great for a Common Cause - School Closings !

MCPS schools are CLOSED today (12/9). Administrative offices open at 11 a.m.
— MCPS (@MCPS) December 9, 2013

It used to be difficult to see if school was closed. A few years ago I subscribed to  a private service called Schools Out  which sent alerts when schools closed. I would then email friends and colleagues early in the morning to let them know that schools closed as well. Most local school districts in the area now have alerts that will email and text you about closings and emergencies. For Montgomery County Schools you can sign up on the MCPS website's emergency information page or follow @MCPS on Twitter.

Conversation on Twitter and Instagram surprised me as students schools and colleges in the area took to Twitter to talk about school closings. Here are  a few examples, very creative!:

Looking at the mcps website on my phone this morning #schoolsclosedagain pic.twitter.com/6DRGUk3BJB
— Pearl Yu (@PEARLescent__) December 10, 2013

@MCPS I knew you would come through for me pic.twitter.com/QvnT8zdbr4
— Ethan Core (@Ethan_Core) December 10, 2013

FCPS cancelled school already for tomorrow but MCPS is like pic.twitter.com/tnjbpU64h8
— Dayna Wallace (@_DAYNAmite) December 10, 2013

MCPS kids waiting to see if it snows 😂 pic.twitter.com/ggzIfSlmmP
— chlöe (@chloeeeleonce) December 10, 2013

@MCPS cancel school and make us as happy as the kids on your website pic.twitter.com/pK8hLWxewQ

— Gustavo Marinho (@MeGustavo14) December 8, 2013

@MCPS what will happen to every mcps student tomorrow morning if you don't cancel school. pic.twitter.com/kyjZOgnBKs

— kimmy ✨ (@Call__me_kimmy) December 8, 2013

@MCPS live shot of the local roads pic.twitter.com/C2k1DqPtUa

— Tyler Lavigne (@PTLavigne) December 8, 2013

One day maybe this will happen-

One day @MCPS is going to reply to all of us with a sassy remark #callingit#sweg#help
— mcivor (@McIvorSM) December 10, 2013

How do the school systems make a decision?
“Our Preference is Always to Have School”

Also see the Fox5 video clip on the same topic
DC News FOX 5 DC WTTG

Be careful to double check both Twitter and the websites because pranskters can create fake ids to give misinformation.