The prospect of a break from the routine students have grown accustomed to means they either work harder or drag their feet. Either way, having a break before finals is unnecessary. Along with the culmination of nine weeks of learning, the end of the semester is a stressful time for students. Whether they are studying for a final or seeing how much time is left to hand in an assignment, the interruption that winter break causes is detrimental to students’ workflow. At a time when mental health is at its worst and students are left feeling sluggish, this break in between may help with the slump, but ultimately causes students to dread coming back more than ever.

Ending the semester before winter break allows students to be more engaged in their classes- understanding the material when it matters most. It would also give teachers time to fully prepare for the next semester, giving both staff and students a fresh start.

With a new beginning and a clean slate, students and staff would be more organized and ready to dive into something new. The start of a new semester coming after a large break strengthens students’ abilities to take in new information, instead of cramming for finals the week before to study information learned two months prior. Having the semester end before break would therefore allow students and staff the necessary amount of time to rejuvenate and not burn out as quickly as they currently do. 

If the semester ended before holiday break,  school itself would start sooner and end earlier, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the best parts of summer for longer. This new and improved schedule would allow for longer holiday breaks.

A schedule that permits the end of the semester to happen before winter break would allow students to truly enjoy their holiday season by spending time with family and friends, instead of worrying about schoolwork or finals.