Students Share Their Thoughts on February Break

The NHS school year consists of 183 days with three snow days built in. In the event that none of the snow days are used, the school will close for students on the 180th day of school. High School Graduation is currently set for a single session day on June 15, 2023.

In the 2021-2022 school year, the last day of school was June 23, 2022. In an effort to shorten the school year, the Nutley Board of Education eliminated the February break that typically took place on the last whole week of February and replaced it with only two days off. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school will be closed on February 20 and February 21, giving staff and students a four-day weekend instead of the pre-existing break.

Students have mixed opinions about the new structure of the academic calendar. Sophomore Sianna Kantor said, “I prefer having February break but still I think that the four-day weekend is good. However, it isn’t as relaxing or enjoyable as having the whole week off. The 4 days are really only 2 days off of school because we already had Saturday and Sunday off.” Junior Kaan Aydin said, “I would rather have February break since I need my brain and body to relax after a difficult-to-adjust-to-new school year.”.

Other students, however, prefer not to have February break and to end the school year roughly a week earlier. Sophomore Brooke Yero said, “Although the February break was always nice, it's refreshing to know that we will be getting out of school two weeks earlier than usual, while still being given two days off where the week-long break used to be.” Sophomore Isabella Dimasi said, “I don’t mind having the four day weekend instead of February break because it means we get out earlier for the summer.”