Many of us struggle to make it through the dreaded period between winter and spring break and with no break in sight, we tend to lose hope as we search for our next much needed break in the school year.
The winter season is an exciting time during the school year. With all the holidays, snow days and especially breaks, we tend to get used to all of the free time. We can spend more time with friends, stay up late and most of all, enjoy a break from school. However, the fun times end when we have to come back from winter break. Many students, including myself, see the three-month period between winter and spring break as the most difficult part of the year. The weather is always mediocre and we are bombarded with constant pressure from school. Because of this, we tend to feel burnt out and lose our motivation for school. Because of this immense academic pressure and seasonal depression that takes place during this time, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) needs to implement a break between winter and spring break.
For starters, there is plenty of time for a break. As mentioned before, we have three months of nothing but school. Why is FCPS unable to take out one week to maintain positive morale with students? Considering FCPS’ celerity when it comes to canceling activities due to weather, it’s apparent that FCPS isn’t opposed to giving students extra time off. We either have to go to school while there is still snow and ice on the roads or get two days off because of a patch of ice on the sidewalk. As an example, all after school activities were canceled on Jan. 9 because of the weather. Not any kind of weather though, rain. If the county is too scared for students to come to school over rain, then why not factor in a break that is actually needed by students and staff members.
While FCPS isn’t scared to close school because of a little rain, they sure are insistent on starting the school year earlier every year. I can’t be the only one who remembers when September was the month school started. For the past few years, that date has crept earlier and earlier into the summer until it got to mid-August. Looking at the FCPS calendar for the 24-25 year, school starts on Aug. 19. Is that not absurd? Just nine years ago in the 2015-16 year, school didn’t start until Sept. 9, nearly a month later. I understand many holidays have recently been factored into the calendar, but surely not enough to push the start of school forward 21 days. It’s not like school is ending any earlier either. If they must take away our summer, then at least give us a small break within the year to make up for it. Due to the timing of winter and spring break, the break should be placed as close to the middle of the two breaks as possible. This would create an even split of time that students would be in school between the breaks. Any time in March would be acceptable, though it would be best for it to be either the first or second week of March so that there is not too much time since the previous winter break. This break would help with student’s mental health as it would help to reduce stress and workload during the school year.
“I think a break [between winter and spring break] would be good,” Ryan David (’26) said. “I start feeling burnt out and overworked when we haven’t had a real break for a few months.”
In short, there is opportunity for a much needed break for students in such a dreaded time of year. If FCPS cares about the mental health of their staff and students, then they should implement this break.
