As mid-winter break, also referred to as ski week, approaches, the Carlmont community is preparing to spend its time off in a variety of ways.
From snowboarding trips to quiet time at home, the break allows both students and teachers to take time away from the busy demands of school and work.
For many students, the mid-winter break comes at a crucial point in the school year. Homework and responsibilities often increase as the second semester progresses, making time away from school especially valuable.
Carlmont sophomore Eloise Waight will be traveling to Tahoe with her family to go snowboarding, labeling her trip as both exciting and necessary after a stressful stretch of school.
“I’m going to Tahoe to go snowboarding with my family,” Waight said. “I don’t get opportunities like this during the school year often.”
Breaks play an important role in maintaining students’ mental health. As classes become more demanding, time away from school helps students regain perspective.
“Breaks are important because, especially as you get further into the year, homework gets harder. The second semester gets tougher, and students need breaks, especially mental breaks,” Waight said.
Being able to participate in a variety of activities like snowboarding also brings personal benefits beyond relaxation. Practicing resilience and tackling challenges can benefit students like Waight in academics as well.
“Skiing and snowboarding really help build your confidence and build up that mentality and skill of being able to do hard things,” Waight said.
While some students travel, others are choosing to stay close to home and focus on rest. Carlmont freshman Hana Hegde plans to spend her break intentionally by slowing down and preparing for the weeks ahead.
“For mid-winter break, I’m mainly staying home,” Hegde said. “During the school year, everything feels really rushed. So I just want to take time to reset and start planning for academics in the following weeks.”
School breaks like mid-winter break not only allow students to relax, but also give them opportunities to spend their time reconnecting with family and prioritize basic self-care that can be difficult to do during busy school weeks.
“Break is a really good opportunity to slow down. It also gives you a chance to repair your sleep schedule and do things that you don’t normally have time to do,” Hegde said.
For students like Hegde, having a week-long break in the middle of a busy and stressful second semester provides students with an opportunity to reset and prepare for upcoming academics, as well as serving as quality time to spend with family or by themselves.
Additionally, for other students, mid-winter break can serve as an opportunity to continue participating in extracurriculars while simultaneously balancing their activities with free time.
As a member of Carlmont’s track and field team, sophomore Sara Brittain will attend daily practices throughout the week.
“I choose to spend my break at daily track practices because I know it will help me improve, and I enjoy spending time with my teammates,” Brittain said.
Even though practices continue, the mid-winter break still feels refreshing for student athletes, as time outside of practice can be used for resting, instead of school and homework.
“Training during break is different than during the regular school week because it gives me more freedom throughout the rest of the day,” Brittain said. “Breaks are still important for student athletes because they give them the academic rest and allow them to take a break from the other pressures of school.”
Teachers also see the value of breaks firsthand. Carlmont English teacher Cheri Watkins notes the stressful challenges that both teachers and students face during school weeks, and the importance of breaks as a result.
“There are seven class rotations, long days, assignments, projects, and presentations; the list is never-ending,” Watkins said. “Breaks allow all of us to pause, engage in other aspects of life like family and wellness, and avoid burnout.”
Watkins explained that managing around 160 students, while rewarding, can become exhausting over time. She encourages the importance of breaks from school, as they allow teachers like herself to relax and prepare for the future.
“I always return from break with a calmer demeanor, less overall stress, and a refreshed outlook,” Watkins said.
For her personally, mid-winter will be spent with family, including her two young children, and enjoying time away from rigid schedules.
Beyond rest, Watkins notices a change in students after they return.
“Students are always really refreshed and ready to work,” Watkins said. “I definitely see optimism and increased productivity as we return from break.”
Although each person spends their week off differently, students and teachers agree that the mid-winter break provides an important opportunity to recharge before the semester continues. Whether it’s on the slopes, at practice, or simply at home, the time away from school helps many return with renewed focus and motivation.
