April vacation is already upon us here at Walpole High even though it seems like February break just passed. This feeling of remembrance can be completely justified as there have only been four full weeks and three shortened weeks in between February and April break.  Students experienced the same thing in between December and February break when they only had four full weeks of school.  The students in Walpole schools would benefit from one longer break in March than having two shorter vacations in February and April.

Most students wouldn’t notice a change because the time between December and February vacations is so short. This would make things more consistent for students because they would have more full weeks of school.  Students would still get little breaks from school because they would have the same holidays before and after a new March vacation.

Local colleges like Boston College and The University of Massachusetts Amherst all have their vacations in March.  A March Vacation would help prepare students for their college experience.  Having more full weeks gives students a more structured schedule to follow.

Most students have a lot of tests and quiz the week before a vacation because teachers don’t want them to forget what they have recently learned.  Before a vacation is one of the worst times to take tests because the students are focused on their vacations; thus, they more likely to get a bad grade on a test.  If the two shorter vacations were combined the students would only have one stressful week of tests instead of two.  Teachers would also have an advantage because it is hard to plan a class around a vacation.

With a longer vacation, students would have more opportunities to travel.  The students that participate in Foreign Exchange Programs are usually forced to miss one week of school because the trips last two weeks.  A March vacation would be better for these students because they could still go on the trip but they would not have to miss any school.  For families that travel, they often  have to take their kids out of school two or three days before or after a vacation week because they want more time in their vacation.  A longer vacation would prevent absences for many students.

Two short vacations can be stressful for students, teachers, and parents.  A two week March vacation would give students more regularity in the weeks before and after the vacation.  Also, teachers and parents would find planning for March Break much easier.  There are benefits for everyone in a two week long March break.