While the first major Midwestern snow fall of the season made driving to work Monday treacherous and canceled many schools and programs, it was a gift from the heavens for school kids wishing for a snow day.

Fourteen year-old Cole Herkert, of Utica, spent part of his day away from Waltham School classes surviving tumbles down snow-packed hills. "It is great to have the day off," Herkert said. "It's fun to be on this hill."
Three Waltham School students spend some of their day away from classes by climbing up and sliding down the snowy cemetery hill off Route 178 in Utica.
Kaitlyn Herkert, 11, holds tight to her speeding sled on a snow-packed hill not far from her home in Utica on Monday.