WOODBURY – With the countdown to Spring Break upon us, NHS students are eager to enjoy a week off campus. And for some Nonnewaug students and teachers, they’ve been looking forward to this week off since winter break ended in January. Let the countdown begin.
Around the school, Spring Break might look different for each student in each grade– and even our teachers.
Toby Denman, NHS science department chairman, already has a plan set up to get away from the campus routine.
“I’m taking a trip to Spain with Senora Sandor and Madam Peterson,” says Denman who will step foot in Europe for the first time as a chaperone. “I’m looking forward to seeing places that I learned about as a kid, and practicing my high school Spanish that I still know to a certain degree.”
For Denman and the group of students headed overseas, there’s a lot to look forward to this Spring Break.
“I’m interested in cool, old buildings, architecture, and historic sites,” Denman said. “It’s definitely better than playing golf in the rain like last year.”
While nearly two dozen students will head to Spain this weekend alongside NHS faculty, other students will migrate south to the Florida Keys where students will study the ecology of South Florida. For those who aren’t traveling on school-sponsored trips, Spring Break promises a week of something new.
Even though all NHS students all have the same amount of time to make the best out of their Spring Break, it looks different in each grade.
Most of the seniors are now adults while the youngest in the school are 14. For those that are of driving age, Spring Break offers unlimited potential opportunity to make the most out of what’s left of high school.
“My definition of spring break is simple: it’s the last hoorah,” says senior Abby Rinaldi.
As a high school senior it is sad that this will be the last spring break with all of your childhood friends, but for the soon-to-be graduates, taking advantage of this time is critical.
“Knowing that it’s your last spring break, you should make the best out of it, just because it’s the last break,” says senior Ethan Hinerich.
Upperclassmen are able to drive and make money to go to fun places while underclassmen have to beg to go out.
Freshman Lilah Cacciatl and sophomore Jadyn Heron’s biggest complaint about spring break is that they can’t drive.
“I can’t do much other than stay home, and I’m sure that’s how it is for a lot of the freshmen,” says Cacciatl. “My definition of spring break is just being able to miss school, nothing special.”
For underclassmen like Heron, sports consume much of the week off.
“I plan on playing lacrosse and hanging out with my friends,” says Heron. “My parents are still working, while I’m stuck at home.”
And for underclassmen who see their upperclassmen friends who can drive, it can be frustrating.
“I do have older friends who can drive, which makes up for the fact that I can’t,” said Heron.
Regardless of where students and staff are headed, everyone plans to come back to campus recharged and ready to conquer a spring slate chock-full of AP tests, final exams, and graduation.
Time to commence the countdown.
