This year in the West Ada School District, students get out of school on Dec. 22, 2023. This is only three days before Christmas. Getting out of school this close to the holiday makes the season, which is supposed to be filled with joy and relaxation, one of the most stressful times of the year.
Winter break should be a time to get in the holiday spirit and spend time with family. With break starting so late, students don’t get to properly enjoy the holidays. Instead of getting to watch a movie or look at Christmas lights, they have to prepare for finals.
“I don’t like how late break starts. It feels like it’s not the holiday season,” said junior Nathan Dutchover. “The only thing on your mind is doing good on finals. It turns what’s supposed to be the best time of the year into one of the most difficult.”
Dutchover isn’t the only student that feel this way. Many Eagle High students have talked about how it doesn’t even feel like Christmas time because of school. The students also believe that starting break earlier would fix this problem.
Some might say this is not needed. However, there are many benefits to having break be longer. Students will perform better in school if they can actually enjoy the holiday spirit.
The problem is that making break a week longer is a very difficult thing to do. Other schools have done this and found success. Many colleges and even high schools have done this. However, many students have ideas about why this could be done.
“I think making break longer would be really beneficial. Students would be able to leave for the holidays and relax,” said junior Trevor Kadlec.
There are many benefits to making break longer. Students can come back to school ready after break to start the new semester fully refreshed. The best way to do this is starting break earlier.
