BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — On Monday, Warren county Public schools returned to class for the first time since the tornado hit.

Thursday’s winter storm may have cut their in school session short, but students were still making the most of the snow day. 

Schools closed, but class was still in session thanks to the Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) Program. 

“It’s good that we get snow because we still get to play in the snow, but I would rather be working in my classroom,” said Natcher Elementary student Callen Christopher.

Natcher Elementary 4th grade teacher Matthew Nelson said NTI has proved to be a resourceful tool for schools throughout the pandemic – and now through Thursday's bad weather. 

“Those kids didn't need to be coming in here even though it was clear when the buses would have gotten here, it’s blizzarding now, and getting them home on the buses, especially in rural Warren County, that would be really dangerous,” said Nelson. 

Snows days before NTI were very different, Nelson said.  

“You just don’t teach, maybe just plan for the next week, plan for the next day, put grades in,” he said. 

NTI is allowing students get to enjoy their school family even if they are snowed in. 

“They belong here and they like being here with each other. They can talk to their friends about what has happened. That's something that we miss when we're out of school is just talking,” said Nelson. 

Some students made their afternoon plans earlier in the day.

“You get to make snowballs and you just have snowball fights and make snowmen and sometimes it's like really, really cold and you didn't really know that and so sometimes it's a little too cold,” said Cor Partingon. 

Before they could have fun in the snow, they had to finish their school work first and layer up. 

Due to the inclement weather, Warren County Public Schools will be closed again on Friday, Jan. 7.