Marge pulls Homer away from television so the family can enjoy the Cirque de Puree, an upscale circus featuring clowns, mimes, contortionists and other French Canadian performers. During the show, a sudden winter storm erupts, blowing the huge tent off its moorings. The next morning, Bart and Lisa eagerly listen to the radio as school closings are announced. But Springfield Elementary remains open. With the teacher’s union having called an emergency caucus, Skinner finds himself alone with the students. He runs an old movie, hoping to entertain the children. But the Christmas-themed film is so boring, the students place their heads onto their desks. Eventually, the end of the school day arrives and Skinner bids the children farewell, wishing them a productive holiday. The children cheer and head for the door…only to realize that a giant snowdrift has blocked their exit. Fearing they will miss Christmas, the children scream.

Homer jerry-rigs Flanders’car, turning it into a makeshift snowplow, and heads off to rescue the children. Unfortunately, Homer crashes into a fire hydrant, and the gushing water encases him and Flanders in ice. Meanwhile, back at the school, Skinner worries about losing authority over the children. He dons his old Army uniform and combat boots and assumes a drill-sergeant demeanor. When Nelson questions his authority, Skinner instructs Groundskeeper Willie to hang the boy on a coat hook. Later, Skinner catches Bart attempting to tunnel out of the school. He orders Willie to destroy the tunnel, but Willie bristles with indignation. Skinner jabs at it with a broom, causing a cave-in. Only Skinner’s head protrudes from the snow. When Nelson laughs, Bart declares that Skinner has lost control. Bart then pulls off Skinner’s toupee…which Willie places on his own head. Skinner can only watch as the kids cheer at the rebellion.

The students bind and gag Skinner and tie him up to a chair. As the children run rampant in the school, Willie constructs a meticulous tunnel in the snow. Meanwhile, Marge stumbles upon Lenny lying in a snowdrift. She helps him to Moe’s bar, where she entertains the regulars with jokes. Meanwhile, Homer and Flanders, still entombed in the ice, begin to succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning and pass out. Back at school, Bart delights in humiliating Skinner. At his wits’ end, Skinner places a hamster inside an exercise ball along with a note asking for help. He then sets the ball atop a snowdrift and watches as the hamster rolls away…only to suddenly plunge out of sight. The hamster ball crashes through the windshield of Flanders’ car, prompting Homer to hit the gas and break free of the ice. But Homer loses control and collides with a salt silo. The silo bursts at the top, spilling salt near the school entrance. The snowdrift melts, the kids throw open the doors and everyone escapes. As Homer drives home, carbon monoxide again fills the car, causing it to fishtail. At that moment, Groundskeeper Willie breaks through the snow…unaware that the car is barreling towards him.