On the third Thursday of every December in years past, students and teachers alike have rejoiced, for at the hour of 12:50 p.m., they have accomplished something miraculous. At that point, they have survived a long and grueling semester of school.
Over the past 4 months, they’ve spent countless hours learning, studying, planning, testing, teaching, and more, all to reach this very last moment. They finish their sixth-period final after three long days of testing, ready to go home and start their winter break, which is packed with fun-filled holiday events and relaxation. The very next day would be the one they had dreamed of since that first early morning in August, the Friday that kicks off winter break.
However, as students wrap up their Thursday finals this year, they will not be met with the winter wonderland of holiday break on the horizon. Instead, they will be brutally slapped by the ultimatum that they still have another long day of testing awaiting them.
Instead of starting finals on Tuesday, December 16, and lasting through Thursday, December 18, like it has for past years, finals will now start on Wednesday, December 17, and last through Friday, December 19.
This change of schedule was made due to the extra Monday we have off for a four-day weekend, on November 10, before Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11, to fulfill the state requirements for the number of school days.
A drastic change has altered the annual schedule that we, as students, have grown accustomed to for our entire educational careers, modifying the outline of winter break that has always started with a relaxation-filled Friday, and now that has been stripped from us.
Few students were aware of this schedule change, and those who were made aware felt discontent with the alteration of tradition. One Junior, Rian O’Dea, said, “One day seems like it’s not a lot, but it is a full day extra that we have to come in and wake up early, cutting into our time to decompress.”
That Friday used to be a crucial day for students to have a mental break after a long week of finals and a whole semester of continuously working, and they will now have to wait an extra day for the burden to be lifted from their shoulders and reach the mental sanctuary that comes during winter break.
It is more important than ever to value the students’ mental health and consider that they may be reaching their point of exhaustion on that Friday, as they are met with the continuous demand of waking up early after spending long nights studying for their stress-inducing finals. Prolonging this stress and anxiety-filled time period, students may find themselves both mentally and physically drained when they reach their finals on Friday morning.
By adding this day to the week and prolonging the semester, many students who had previously scheduled vacations and were supposed to leave on Friday, December 19, either have to adjust and reschedule their vacation plans or miss two of what could be grade-altering finals. This sacrifice will have to be made by many groups and individuals who are being forced to decide between their grade and their responsibilities.
Several school groups also have activities, bonders, or events scheduled for that Friday to kick off the holiday season, which they will have to either cancel or face the nuisance of rebooking. For instance, the school Jazz Band has previously gone to the nearby retirement home, Merril Gardens, on the first day of break to play holiday music for the senior residents and spread Christmas cheer. They will no longer be able to attend this performance because of schedule changes, and will miss the opportunity to play music for their community.
This change affects more than just the students; it affects the teachers, admin, janitorial staff, cafeteria staff, and anyone who is involved in the school community, as they are required to stay and continue working well into their deserved break time.