As marking period three comes to a close and with it the final winter month of March, students are now growing excited, with the second longest break of the academic year on the horizon. After persevering through the cold, breakless months of January, February and March, spring break offers students 10 days of much-needed rest from Saturday, Apr. 12, through Monday, Apr. 21. The full week and two weekends off will allow students time to relax, travel, spend time with family and rejuvenate themselves before returning for the home stretch of the school year.
For the time off, seniors are headed to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for the senior trip, which is not school-sponsored but rather a tradition organized by students in the class. Included in that group is senior Abby Needleman, who said, “I am excited to go on the trip with my friends.”
Other students may not be travelling far or may not travel at all, staying home in comfort or heading somewhere close to spend time away. Sophomore Christian Lee said, “I am very excited for spring break,” when he is “going to a lake in Virginia to go fishing.”
The break may provide an opportunity to explore somewhere students have never been before, whether in a different state or a country on the opposite side of the world. Freshman Reed Gottesman is traveling to Chicago with his family for the first time, where he plans to “go to a baseball game, tour the city and eat some good food. I am really excited [for the trip],” Gottesman said.
The extended break this year comes later than usual for MCPS, which typically aims to align the pause of instruction with the Easter holiday to allow students more time to spend with family and friends. This leaves fluctuation as to when the break is, however, as Easter is based on the lunar calendar and can fall as early as Mar. 22 or as late as Apr. 25. This year, Easter falls on Apr. 20 which means the break comes much later than usual, causing students to have a longer stretch of school between winter and spring break and a shorter period between spring break and AP season, with AP exams beginning on Monday, May 5, just two weeks from the end of break.
Students have mixed opinions on the delay. Gottesman said, “I am happy it’s later, [as due to it,] fourth quarter feels shorter.”
Disagreeing, Needleman said, “Having it a week into fourth quarter is a weird time [and] it’s best when it comes right after third quarter so [students] get a break before fourth quarter.”
Lee sees both the positives and negatives of a shorter break. “[I am] upset we have to stay in school longer but also happy that [break] will be hotter and more enjoyable in April,” Lee said.
