Last year, when we reached Christmas break, exams were taken when we came back. The entire Christmas break was spent studying and getting missing work done. It was a horrible way to spend the holidays. High school is very hectic, and students really need those two weeks to relax.

When we got back, it wasn’t a new semester. We still had a week of school, and then finals, so the new semester didn’t start until mid-January. Any schedule changes for the new semester didn’t take place until then.

It was very confusing and hard to get used to. Some of our friends weren’t in the same classes, and some had completely different teachers. It felt like we had started school all over again.

This year, mid-terms will be next week, before the break. This is helpful, because then the material is still fresh in our minds, and we can finish the semester strong. We don’t have to worry about finals afterwards, and can enjoy the break.

Moving finals to before the break means that the first two grading periods were shortened to only five weeks. This takes a little getting used to, but isn’t all that bad, it’s just a week or two difference.

This change also is good for teachers, because they can enjoy their whole break, and they don’t have to grade papers and get grades in, everything is done for the semester.

Changing finals may be a little hard to get used to, but in the long run it will help us. When we get back from the break, we’re getting a clean start.