As Thanksgiving comes to a close and the North community looks forward to the holiday season, many students and faculty alike are asking the question, “Why must we return from winter break on Jan. 2?”

In the 2001-2002 school year, we returned on Jan. 7 and had 11 total weekdays off.  This year we have only eight. 

This is primarily due to the fact that second semester is beginning on a Thursday this year instead of what seems to be the more logical choice of a Monday.  Those two days at the end of the week really won’t make very much difference in the amount of curriculum that we are able to cover.  However, the addition of that Thursday and Friday and the following weekend to winter break would make a vacation or cruise that much longer and that much more enjoyable. 

It seems as though starting in the middle of the week could cause more harm than good.  Imagine how many teachers will spend a good 30 minutes of class on the first two days back discussing what each person in the class did over the break only so that they could have a fresh start at the beginning of the week. 

Not to mention the fact that our band students will be leaving on Dec. 26 for a California performance and will be returning to Kansas City around midnight on Jan. 2.  The majority of the marching band probably will not be attending class on the first day of the semester. 

On the other hand, we are not being forced to sit in class any more days than we were last year.  The vacations are just being distributed differently.  Last year, the last day of school before summer vacation was May 30, and this year it will be May 28.

   Coming back from winter vacation on a Thursday, especially on Jan. 2 is an inconvenience that no one should have to endure. New Year’s celebrations should not be shortened just to make summer vacation longer.  A few days in the summer are not equal to a few days in the winter because summer break is so long, and winter break is so short.  Hopefully, next year the school vacation schedule will accommodate the needs of the students and faculty.