As people around the world are celebrating all the hope that 2025 has to offer, classes at the Hun School of Princeton have restarted. Hun Students had no classes from December 21st, 2024 to January 5th, 2025. This results in a full 16 days off from school.
Because the Hun School is a mix of boarding and day students, the winter activities of students across campus differ widely. Some students are going home for the holidays, others are traveling around the world, and some are staying local, enjoying a cozy Winter break in the New Jersey area
To try and escape the cold winter weather currently passing through New Jersey, many Hun students chose to travel to warmer places, either with family or friends. For example, 10th grader Kevin Xu traveled to the state of Hawaii in hopes of embracing the warmth that is so hard to find on the East Coast.
A majority of the student population chose to travel over break, though many had less of a trek to make.
During the sixteen day break, 10th grader Liam Frykholm stayed a little closer to home, choosing to travel to our neighboring state of New York.
Opting out of travelling for the holidays, 10th grader Gabriella Peek decided to stay home, saying she “hung out with family.”
Even though classes may have stopped, the Hun community has not stopped continuing to thrive. Winter break falls in the middle of the season for winter sports, meaning athletes are still on campus for team practices.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach Lauren Tomei discussed how sports practices and individual workouts work during prolonged breaks from school: “As of this year, the strength and conditioning realm is shut down for weight training [during breaks],” she explains. “Sports practices remain ongoing for a certain amount of time, depending on the coach.”
Along with team practices over the break, some students may have tournaments or competitions for their sport.
If students need a break from school, it is understandable that teachers and faculty members need a break too.
Upper school French teacher, Michelle Koenen, talked about her views on the length of the school’s winter break, saying, “Well everyone needs a break.”
She also noted that having 16 days off from school gives the students who “need to travel to go home the time to do it.”
Regardless of whether members of the Hun community decided to travel, return home, or spend quality time with family and friends, it can be assured that this break was much needed and very beneficial for the community as a whole. Now, it’s time for the Hun student body to put in the work to get through trimester 2, core skills exams, and make it to spring break in March.
