It’s Halloween!
But looking around, it is hard to differentiate today from any other Friday. There are minimal costumes, decorations and acknowledgements of the day. While there may be a half-hearted “Happy Halloween” from teachers or a single jack-o’-lantern drawn on the whiteboard, the magic that once came with dressing up and celebrating is buried underneath the weight of school work. Students maintain the routine of balancing rigorous coursework and worrying about a test next block.
This pattern will carry on through the rest of the semester. With finals moved before winter break, major holiday events like the Winter Concert, All School Winter Assembly and Winter Showcase Art Exhibit are packed into the week leading up to finals. These events are supposed to be a time of celebration. Instead, students will be focused on finishing off the semester well, and teachers will likely feel pressure to cram in material. The result: a school environment too tense for holiday spirit.
But the absence of celebration is not only due to workload. It is also about priorities.
Students often use the excuse that they do not have time for anything other than school yet spend hours scrolling on their phones after class. Reclaiming the holiday spirit does not require long hours but rather small choices.
We encourage students to reconsider how they dedicate their time. Instead of wasting time on social media, take a few minutes to do something small to engage with the holiday spirit. Carve a pumpkin. Watch a cheesy movie. Decorate a gingerbread house. These acts may seem minor, but they can bring back some of the excitement that reminds us we are more than just students trying to survive the semester.
Teachers can help by making space for celebration. While fitting in course work and assessments to adapt to the changed calendar may feel urgent, small acts in the classroom can play an important role in creating a festive environment. Starting class with a themed question, playing music during independent work or tossing out a trivia question does not have to take away from learning.
Celebration does not need to be grand to be meaningful. Students and teachers alike can reclaim the holiday season in simple ways, whether that be choosing to attend the winter assembly instead of skipping it to study or buying a peppermint hot chocolate from the cafe as a homework break during SRT.
It’s Halloween, but that does not mean the opportunity to celebrate is over. Holiday magic is not gone. It is waiting to be claimed. Do not be scared to embrace it.