Every school year has moments when students and teachers begin to feel pressure building; assignments start to pile up, extracurricular activities demand more time and routines start to feel repetitive and exhausting. That is exactly why having a long Thanksgiving break is not just a privilege, it’s a necessity. Fall, in particular, is a notably demanding time of the year. A longer break allows for time for travel, family time and, most importantly, mental health recovery.
This year, students have the whole week of Nov. 24 off, meaning Thanksgiving break will be nine days long. This differs significantly from previous years; last year, Thanksgiving break was five days in total.
One major benefit of a long Thanksgiving break is the opportunity for travel. Many State High families are spread across Pennsylvania or even the country, and a short break doesn’t give people time to travel without stress.
“I like it, especially as someone who has family far away. It’ll be very nice to go up and travel and visit family and not feel rushed on getting back here,” Librarian Ellen Stolarski said.
With a longer break, families can travel safely, settle in, and actually enjoy being together instead of worrying about when they need to get home or about school they could have missed.
“This break I’m going on vacation to Punta Cana with my family, and I’m really excited. [I] get a break from school and get all the stress off me. Just forget about it for a week,” sophomore Kamryn Nicolas said.
Traveling offers more than just fun; it allows students to feel refreshed and grounded. It gives them space to decompress and just take in the moment without worrying about school. In a study by Emory University, it is proven that taking breaks benefits mental and physical well-being.
“I think everyone needs a good break, especially after a lot of schoolwork. So I think it’ll be good, a nice little refresh,” Nicolas said.
This extended break helps students catch up academically. Students will have time to work on any missing assignments or study for upcoming tests, while also balancing family time.
“It’s nice to take some time to get caught up on whether it’s school projects, home projects, and also a factor in that time for family time, because sometimes when it’s a short break, you only get the family time or you only get the catch-up time,” Stolarski said.
Having a whole week allows students to manage both responsibilities without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. Instead of choosing between family and academics, they can divide their time in a balanced way. This flexibility makes the break more productive and meaningful as students can complete overdue tasks, prepare for upcoming exams and still enjoy downtime.
The extended break also supports mental health and provides time to take a mental break from the stress of school.
“This break helps my mental health in school because school can be very overwhelming, and it can just all add up and build up, so this will just help me get it all out and leave it in the middle of the ocean on my cruise,” sophomore Olivia Bradachia said.
Although some may worry that a long break could lead to students forgetting material, extended time off does not equate to lost learning. When students are overwhelmed, they retain less information. Stepping away from schoolwork allows the brain to reset, making it easier to recall and apply knowledge later. By giving students a chance to recharge, the break helps them return more focused, organized, and ready to pick up where they left off.
A long break gives students a moment to breathe, reset, and release all the stress they’ve been holding onto. A National Library of Medicine states that student burnout is highly correlated with school and its environment. Having this break can put a pause on all the stress and the feeling of being burned out.
“Sometimes, whether students are involved in a bunch of things…it’s nice to kind of break up the routine and give a little more of an extended break,” Stolarski said.
This long Thanksgiving break grants students the opportunity to slow down. By giving students time to travel, catch up and focus on their well-being, the break yields healthier and more prepared students. Instead of seeing a long break as lost time, it should be viewed as a time that allows everyone to return to school calmer and clearer.
