Kids in class, instead of winter break

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Kids throughout New Haven are sitting in classrooms on a day they should be on winter break, but that break came early thanks to the blizzard of 2013.

News 8 found a split report card when it comes to canceled vacation.

"I want to know who at your house was happy this morning, you or the kids," asked News 8's Erin Cox.

"I am. I am so happy, so happy for them to be back at school," said Tanya Thomas, parent.

The city canceled five school days due to the snow, and rather than make up the days at the end of the year, vacation was canceled.

"They were going to go on with it because people had vacations," said parent Maurice Williams, "my daughter was actually going to go to Ohio. She can't go now, now we will wait to see what happens with the April recess."

For teachers not reporting to the classroom, this week replaced by substitute teacher or staff from the school building or the central office. Students not in school will be issued excused absences.

"Only have four teachers out," said Sequella Coleman, Principal at John Martinez School. "My school is here, we talked about working on sustained reading, getting back into the idea that testing will be coming up in the next three weeks."

So back to school is the official cure for cabin fever.

"We had a vacation last week," said Thomas. "We were trapped in the house for days and oh my God I had to take the bus to the mall just to get out. I am so glad they are at school today."