It is Monday of the week before winter break. You blankly stare at your homework. Your eyes glaze over after hours spent on homework. You can’t wait for the break to start: to see friends, family, and engage in needed relaxation. 

Despite your desire for rest, you have three tests (two of which are on the same day), an essay, and a project due all in the week before break. 

You begin to feel overwhelmed as you consider how to manage your time and complete all assignments on time. Instead of looking ahead to the joy of the holidays, you are consumed by your seemingly infinite workload. You wonder how and why teachers are able to pile on so much work the week before break when you’re supposed to be gearing up for fun. 

This scenario has become standard for students. The week before extended breaks can often feel unbearable. As students attempt to balance an inflated workload alongside holiday festivities, it often leads to feelings of distress that can negatively impact academic performance. 

Therefore, to counteract student academic-based anxiety, administration should instate a testing and assessment calendar for the two weeks preceding break, dedicating a specific day to each department. By ensuring tests and assessments are spread over two weeks, administrators will help students better manage their time, enjoy improved academic performance, and hold space for holiday festivities.  

Lucas Freedman (’26) expressed his interest in a testing policy noting how, currently, during the week leading up to break “no matter how much I study, I can’t prepare enough for everything.” Freedman continues, arguing that “by the time I get to the second or third test of the day, I’m so mentally drained that I’m not doing my best.”

Teachers often argue that coordinating assignments is challenging due to varied student schedules, and that the stress of meeting deadlines prepares students for the real world. While these points have merit, better coordination among teachers could significantly reduce the mental strain on students. To guarantee this coordination, a school-wide policy that delegates days for each department to test is necessary.

Math teacher Jacob Lee notes, “ I coordinate with other teachers to see if we can try to give an exam earlier so we are not trying to pile a test on the students before the break. I also try to make sure I am not scheduling tests on the same day as other classes that are also giving a test, especially on days very close to the break.” Lee emphasizes that communication among educators can reduce student stress without compromising academic rigor. Spreading out deadlines would still challenge students but allow them to manage their workload more effectively.

Addressing the pre-break workload through better teacher coordination is both achievable and necessary. Schools must prioritize student well-being by planning ahead to distribute assignments and tests more evenly. This approach fosters a healthier environment where students can succeed academically without sacrificing their mental health.