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The arrival of the March Break is always a welcome part of the school year – for students, teachers and parents (grandparents, too, if living at a distance means children might make a special trip to see them!). We hope that all of our Matthews Hall families will have the chance to take a break from their routines to refresh and recreate for the coming spring term. The old adage about a change of scenery being good for the soul is usually true, so we wish you all well whether you are traveling or sticking close to home during the next two weeks.
Have you ever heard the saying “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”? Well, for students on March Break, the absence of not getting up every day and going to school makes some kids actually miss their daily routine. But as we all know, the majority of kids don’t object to March Break. After all, a long dreary winter can make kids grumpy and sleepy, which affects learning greatly and can make motivating them a challenge, too.
Besides being a chance for some unstructured time, are there any benefits to the perennial March Break in Canadian schools? Let’s consider a few.
Exploration can inspire learning. With special family trips near and far, exciting day camps or simple days with friends and relatives, there is a lot of important learning and discovery to be had. The privilege of an excursion to another country – or even time spent in another city – can offer children new insights and perspectives that may fuel learning when they return to school. It is always exciting for students to have something new to share with their friends and teachers after time apart!
The thing about March Break is that students can also start missing their school and the classmates with whom they banter on a daily basis. Most students also like interacting with their teachers, so they’ll definitely want to see them once the March Break has ended. When students miss their teachers and friends, it changes their outlook on learning. When they return to school after the break has ended, they’re often more engaged in class – and more engaged with their friends and teachers.
Kids always look forward to March Break every year because it’s a time for them to enjoy fun activities, downtime, make new friends, or participate in some unique adventures. Creating excitement in children’s lives helps them learn better because they’re happy and engaged in something they enjoy.
However, once all the fun has stopped, it’s time to head back to school and apply some of that excitement to the learning that awaits them for the remainder of the year.
And that’s where we’ll pick things up again on March 26th. Take care for the next little while and we look forward to seeing everyone again soon – sunkissed and with some stories to share!
Ric Anderson, Head of School