OPINION

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By Miles Prusek

The days are short and cold. The second semester is in full swing, but exams still seem far away. The 28 days of February seem to last twice as long, but after the month is over, there is a gratifying reward: Spring Break. The break seems early, and it is much earlier than many other schools’ spring breaks. But is it too early?

The Collegiate spring break landed on the first week of March this year, which seems early compared to public schools which have spring break around the first week of April. This difference is partly because Collegiate typically ends school one to three weeks earlier than many public schools (with only a one week difference this year), and because public schools’ spring breaks are often tied to Easter, either starting or ending on Easter weekend. 

The timing of Collegiate’s spring break gives students and their families a time to relax, and, for those who choose, an opportunity to travel. The early spring break gives families that do choose to travel the option to go to a warm or cold destination. The weather is usually warm in the South during the break, but the ski season is still in full swing up North and in the West. 

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Photo credit: Jelene Morris via Flickr.

The early March weather might be a positive for some, but other students do not share the same fondness for early spring weather. Breakout varsity soccer player Tom Meyers (‘24) voiced his frustrations with the timing of the break. He said,“My family and I love to go surfing, but the timing of spring break forces us to travel extremely far to find weather and water warm enough to enjoy.” His experience highlights a negative aspect of the earlier break, and it shows the distance that some families must travel to find a warm beach vacation. Meyers shared his experience from last year, when his family tried to travel closer to home and visited a beach in South Carolina. He claimed that the water was “too cold to even step foot in,” and that the weather was “cold and didn’t feel like spring.” 

Ryan Holdych (’24), and his brother Cam (’22) skiing together during Spring Break. Photo Credit: Ryan Holdych.

The unpredictable weather of early March can be brutal for those looking for a warm spring break, as some days are sunny with temperatures in the 80s, but at other times it can be snowing. This unpredictable weather can lead to a relaxing spring break interrupted by near freezing temperatures, but there are also people who seek even colder weather. Skiing fanatic Ryan Holdych (‘24) is a “huge fan” of the timing of spring break, and he says that the early spring break allows him and his family to travel to Crested Butte, Colorado every year. He remarked, “I’m thankful that the break is early enough in the year that I can still hit the slopes with my brothers and family. We have had so many great memories on our Spring Break ski trips that I wouldn’t want to do anything else.” Holdych and his family are able to take advantage of the end of the ski season, and the timing of spring break gives them an opportunity to ski together without missing school. 

The timing of spring break also gives an opportunity for spring teams to practice for the upcoming season. The break lands on the third week of the spring sports season, and many teams practice and start their seasons during the final days of break. From my experience, I think that spring break practices have been a crucial part of the baseball team’s preparation for our annual double header on the final Sunday of spring break, but I have also had to miss out on family trips to be back for practice. 

These practices are a great opportunity for teams to be together. However, they cut athletes’ break in half. Many teams start their spring break practice on Wednesday, in the middle of the break, and this forces athletes to cut any plans for the break in half. This shortened break restricts athletes’ ability to spend the rest of their break relaxing and spending time with their families. 

Even though some athletes have to plan around practices and the weather can sometimes be cold, I think the early spring break gives families more flexibility, and it gives students a break before the final stretch of the school year. It’s impossible to schedule spring break on a week that satisfies everyone, and the current break offers many benefits that would not be possible at a different time during the year.

Featured image photo credit: Miles Prusek.