School Schedules

by Tegan, 8th Grade

Some school districts return from winter break after two weeks. Others stay out closer to three. Most students and parents don’t think much about it until schedules stop lining up, when one district is already back in class while another is still sleeping in.

The difference usually is not about generosity. It is about how districts choose to structure time. By December, the school year has momentum. Classes are finishing units, teachers are closing grade books, and students are running on deadlines and caffeine. Winter break interrupts that pace on purpose. It gives teachers space to reset and students a chance to step away before everything starts again. Studies on learning patterns suggest that even short breaks can improve focus, though they often come with a period of re-adjustment once school resumes.

December is also incredibly heavy. Finals pile up, expectations rise, and stress quietly becomes the norm. Time away from school doesn’t solve that, but it does give students room to breathe. Education researchers have linked breaks during high-pressure periods to lower burnout and better motivation, especially in adolescents.

The duration of such a pause depends on how a district lays out its year. California schools are required to meet a minimum number of instructional days of 180, but the order of those days is flexible. Some districts return earlier in January to keep semesters tight and avoid pushing the year deeper into summer. Others allow winter break to stretch longer, spacing instruction out more evenly instead.

This difference may be observed locally. The Fullerton Joint Union High School District generally schedules about two weeks of winter break, returning shortly after New Year’s. The district follows a traditional semester system, and an earlier return keeps grading periods and course pacing consistent. The Fullerton School District, which serves elementary and middle schools, usually schedules a longer break, closer to three weeks, often running from mid-December to early January. Its calendar is built differently, leaving more space between instructional blocks. For younger students, that extra time softens the transition back into routine.

A Grape Way to Start the Year

by Erin, 11th Grade

As the clock inches closer to midnight on New Year’s Eve, you can find me under the table, shoving my mouth full of grapes. I wrote twelve intentions– one for each grape– and goals I had for 2025 on a sticky note, reading it over and over in the dark.

The tradition is a variation of the Spanish custom las doce uvas de la suerte, or “the twelve grapes of luck.” In Spain and many Latin American countries, people eat one grape with each of the twelve chimes of the clock at midnight, symbolizing good fortune for each month of the upcoming year. This ritual has become popular among younger generations, especially through social media. It often involves eating the grapes while sitting or hiding under a table, with the intention of manifesting love or goals in the new year.

I would say it is something worth trying, as I believe it helped drive me to accomplish the goals I wrote on that sticky note at the beginning of the year. Eating grapes under the table at midnight is less about superstition and more about symbolism. Whether or not the grapes “work,” the ritual allows space for reflection, intention and the hopes we carry into the year ahead.

Glowing Up for 2026

by Alicia, 8th Grade

A glow up is not just about looking good but about feeling confident, healthy and comfortable in your own skin. When 2026 comes around, the most effective glow ups should involve having a balanced life—taking care of your body, your mind and your habits.

When you improve all these areas of your life, you will begin to see positive outcomes. A crucial aspect of a glow up is self-care. While self-care does not mean investing in expensive creams or following a super intense routine, there is so much you can do simply by drinking enough water, getting enough sleep and eating foods that nourish and support your body.

Getting enough sleep especially has the ability to impact your skin in a positive way while also improving your energy and mood. Another major domain is physical health. Exercise is good for your body and your confidence too.

You do not have to go to the gym to glow up. Choose something you feel comfortable with and genuinely enjoy, such as dancing or volleyball or yoga or a home workout. Regular exercise helps you feel stronger and more confident and that confidence shows in your posture. A genuine glow up consists of physical transformation along with mental and emotional development.

Confidence is attractive, and confidence stems from self-respect. Learn to set boundaries, learn when to say “no” and stop comparing yourself to others on the Internet. Everyone develops at different rates.

Writing down your thoughts, reflecting or simply taking time alone can help you recognize your goals and feelings. Break away from habits that hold you back and focus on the ones that make you feel good about yourself.

Your personal style is another way of “glowing up” too. It does not have to mean following every new trend. Instead, it means discovering what works best for you.

Try new things with your wardrobe, your hairstyles and your accessories—things that reflect your personal identity. When you wear what feels like you, you naturally feel more confident.

Organizing your living space and creating healthy habits can also contribute to how put-together you feel overall. Finally, any glow up that takes place in 2026 should include growth and purpose.

Set small goals related to school, art or anything else that interests you. Skills, discipline and curiosity all play a role in confidence. A glow up does not happen overnight—it is a gradual process of becoming the best version of yourself.
In 2026, the biggest glow up will come from staying consistent, treating yourself with kindness and choosing progress over perfection.