Letter to the Editor: CHS Senior Says Days Off Are Needed

Editor's note: Cinnaminson students originally had off from school Nov. 6-9 for Election Day, a teachers' in-service day and the New Jersey Education Association Convention in Atlantic City. Students still have off Election Day but school is now in session Nov. 7-9 due to days missed from Hurricane Sandy after the convention was cancelled. Read that story here. 

To the editor:

I know I'm speaking for many students when I say that removing our days off next week is an unwanted inconvenience. 

As a result of my rigorous course load and extracurricular activities (both required to get into college), I have had very little time to write the many application essays my prospective colleges require. I was looking forward to the days off next week to have extra time to get all of my applications done, especially since they are due by Thanksgiving break in order to be sent to the schools by Christmas break. Now, with the removal of our days off, I will have little time to apply to college, adding more pressure. 

Being a senior alone is no simple task, regardless of the rigor of our course load or the classes taken individually. It is the year that decides our futures. To let a possible opportunity be missed due to a few days, would not be justified. These days can be made up elsewhere if need be.  Many of my fellow students look forward to this week as a much needed mid-semester break, and it is unfair to promise such days and then take them away.

Our days off during Hurricane Sandy were not a vacation whatsoever, and many of us are still recovering. I know several of my classmates have also scheduled vacations and college visits for this week. I understand the convention is cancelled due to the unfortunate weather situation, but us students need days off.

I am not demanding we get our days back, I just hope to communicate how important days off are to students like me. School puts enough stress on us as it is. I am trying to get in touch with the governor's office to find out the school policies during a state of emergency, and whether or not schools are required to make up school days that were cancelled during a state of emergency.

There is already no escape from school due to the piles of homework and projects assigned every single day, so a few days to work on college essays or catch up on some work would have been greatly appreciated. A break is hard to come by when you are a student in a competitive high school like CHS. 

The parents or administrators may see this as a good idea, to take away the days off, but students see it as more stress. Maybe if it wasn't so sudden we wouldn't be as upset, but we have been looking forward to the break. Days off are rare and something that all students, all human beings, need. 

Olivia D'Aiutolo
Cinnaminson High School senior 

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