As Christmas festivities and the excitement of the New Year fade away, Flint Hill students are faced with a harsh reality: Winter Break is over. Transitioning from two weeks of sleeping in back to early morning alarms and long school days is never easy, and many students are already counting down the days to Spring Break. So, the timing of Flint Hill’s Faculty Professional Development Day on Friday, January 16, which, when combined with Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 19, formed a four-day long weekend, was very appreciated by everyone in the Upper School.
“It was kind of hard getting back into the week, but the MLK long weekend and the extra day we had really helped ease us back into the year for sure,” says Naaya Patel ‘27. “But I hope we have a snow day this weekend, and I still want more days off.” Indeed, a massive snowstorm is currently headed for the Northern Virginia area on Sunday, January 25. Meteorologists are predicting anywhere from 6 to 14 inches of snow and ice that could give students an additional mini Winter Break.
For the Senior Class of 2026, the return from Winter Break comes with a collective exhaustion but also a huge sense of relief, as the majority of college applications are finally finished and submitted. Many Seniors spent their breaks writing supplemental essays and polishing their regular decision applications, making the second semester workload feel much lighter than before Winter Break. “I feel like it’s definitely really good that college apps are over, and I feel like it’s been somewhat hard to come back. especially after writing a lot of college apps over break, but at the same time it’s felt kind of overall ok,” says Mackenzie Sanford ‘26. “I’ve just tried to keep up with work in general, keep up with things across the board, and it’s been really good to see everyone again, and I’ve been trying to talk to more people. But at the same time, it’s a bit difficult getting back into it.” This difficulty is a common sentiment across the Upper School, with assignments and deadlines starting to flood in again. “I’m tired. I’m very tired,” says Callie Snow ‘26.
As the Upper School settles back into a regular school routine, the focus is slowly shifting to the new semester. From winter sports playoffs to upcoming club events and looming Senior Project deadlines for the class of 2026, the calendar is quickly filling up. But despite the stress of returning to school, students are finding ways to keep the atmosphere bright. On Friday, January 23, the Upper School enjoyed the first Open Mic of the semester, which many students saw as a reminder that school is still a place for fun and connection. And while the transition back into school might be tough, with events like Open Mic to look forward to, the wait for Spring Break won’t feel nearly as long.
