The party's over kids: Time to get back to school after the two-week holiday break.
"First day back kids are a little quiet, they're still used to sleeping in, and being on their own schedule and doing things when they want to do it," said Principal Krista Herrera. On this day, her school, Glades Middle in Miramar, could be anywhere in the country.
"This morning we were calling them to get them in because they were not getting here on time, because they're not accustomed to getting up at the time they had to get up this morning, they lose that in two weeks," she said.
Joy Talley teaches sixth-grade social studies, and says this day is usually a get-back-up-to-speed day.
"We have to do a big review on what we learned before we went on break," Talley said.
I asked her class for a show of hands as to how many of the students had a great holiday break. Every arm shot skyward. When I asked how many were glad to be back in school, three hands went up.
"They come back, they expect to have a little down time, a lot of them don't want to think of homework on the first day," Talley said.
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It's the same with adults. Think of going back to work after a vacation, you feel, mentally, like you're still on a break. Herrera says the winter break replenishes her students' batteries.
"Think it very much is a time for them to recharge, I think it's an important time for them to spend time with family and friends. I personally, as a principal, encourage my teachers not to give long-term projects over the holidays," Herrera said.
Herrera wants her students to get away from academics for a couple of weeks so they're mentally rested for the second half of the school year, to be strong at the finish line.
