Annie Doig’18, Hannah Moriarty ’18: Winter break, the eagerly awaited two and a half week period from December 18th to January 4th, allows students and faculty alike to step away from traditional academic schedules and partake in various traditions and plans. Plans for this year’s winter break vary among members of the EA community. Some visit with family and friends, celebrate holidays, or simply take a break from rigorous academic schedules.
For many members of the EA community, tradition is also a big part of winter break.
“Holiday traditions are definitely what I think of when it comes to winter break,” says Alexandra Peyton ’18. “Every year on Christmas morning, my mom makes all of my siblings take a picture on top of the stairs before we open presents.” Olivia Dirks ’19 also celebrates traditions over winter break with her family. “My family and I sometimes go to New York City as a family tradition, where we go and see a Broadway show and watch the tree lighting at Rockefeller.”
Dirks, who travels to New York City over winter break, is one of the many members of the EA community that spends time travelling during this break. Some EA families are lucky enough to escape the cold of Pennsylvania winters for much warmer climates.
winter break practice and games for their winter athletic teams
Photo courtesy of Shanon Conlin ’17
Upper School French teacher Christèle Furey offers her winter plans, “Over winter break I am planning on spending Christmas with my husband’s extended family and then we will go to Florida for a few days for some more family time. During New Year’s Eve we go to visit our immediate family.” Along with Furey, Dan Baker ’17 shared his travelling plans over the break. “I will be traveling at the beginning of break to Aruba, and I’ll be coming back the 23rd before Christmas to spend time with my family and girlfriend. During New Years I will be spending time with my family.”
Mike McFillin ‘18 also described some of his plans to spend time with family over winter break. “To be honest I’m not doing a lot this break,” he said. “Although on Christmas my grandmother will be coming to my house for the holiday. I’m excited to see her and catch up.” Josie Konopka ’18 shared a similar sentiment about catching up with family during winter break. “My family and I celebrate Christmas at my house and then go up to New York with my grandmother. Then we come home again for New Years. I don’t have anything super interesting that I do. It’s just nice to be at home and celebrate with family over the holidays.”
Although the break allows students and faculty to relax and step away from their academic schedules, athletics play an immense role in winter break plans for a great number of students.
Students that are dedicated to their sports or play for travel teams often find themselves travelling for tournaments and games over winter break. Meghan Manley ‘16 shared her plans for a sports filled winter break. “This winter break I have a soccer tournament in Orlando Florida which should be pretty fun,” she said. But athletic commitments do not prevent many students from spending time with friends and family during the winter break. “My whole family is coming down with us, like my grandparents and uncle. Also my sister is coming home from college which is exciting, I get to spend time with her over the holiday.”