“NOOOOO!!!! That’s unfortunate!” says an 8th grader from Cannon Falls Middle School. This year for Cannon Falls Schools, Christmas break seems shorter than regular years, because last school year it was about two weeks long, which is abnormal. Cannon Falls normally has a fairly long Christmas break, but this year students will only have eight school days off (12 including weekends). Not to mention that the break starts on Christmas Eve! Teachers and students alike will come to school for a very short week, Monday the 22nd and Tuesday the 23rd. 

The big question that many people might have is why break is like this. “Christmas break is normally around this length; last year it was extra long because of where Christmas break ended.” explains school principal, Mr. Hodges. He also goes on to say that last year the calendar happened to fall on an odd day which would have resulted in students coming back for just a two day week. So it was decided that they would get the week off and have a two day longer break. 

If the short week, the week of Christmas, were to have been taken off this year, the school year would have had to have gone all the way into the second week of June. To put that into a little more perspective, Cannon Falls Schools frequently get out around June 4th. Hodges also states that students need to attend a certain amount of days at school and that they try to get done as early as possible.

 “I am very glad to have the two day week, as opposed to having to go all the way into the middle of June!” exclaims 8th grader, Isla Harrison. Although it is only a two day difference, people may either like that there is the two day week or wish to get off earlier so that their break could be longer. “I really think that we could do with more days of break,” comments Riley Iverson, “because a lot of people need more of a break, and eight days isn’t really much.” Mrs. Davisson, a Cannon Falls Middle School teacher says, “No, I really don’t like that idea of coming back for two days because I don’t think that a lot will be able to be accomplished.” 

Opinions may vary depending on the person, their traditions, and how far into June they would prefer the end of the school year to go. Overall, this year’s Christmas break isn’t really that far from last years’ because it’s only about a two day difference including weekends. Next year, tentatively the school is planning to have a similar break to this year, but it still needs to be approved by the school board.