By Molly Chang & Minh Ngoc Le
This year, Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) is starting its winter break on December 23rd, as opposed to previous years, when the break started around the 17th to 18th of December. The start date raises many questions, as it is just days before the widely celebrated holiday, Christmas, takes place.
Let’s hear what Barons have to say about this new change.
All photos by Trinity Chau.
“I don’t like it because I have less time to get gifts and presents ready for my family and friends,” sophomore Summer Nguyen said. 
“I don’t like that it starts on the 23rd because I like to [have time to] prepare for Christmas and hang out while the Christmas spirit is still around,” sophomore Linh Le said. 
“I don’t really like it. I wanted to go home early, but now I can’t. It’s annoying because I wanted to spend more time with my family early on, but now I’m stuck at school,” senior Noah Matthews said. 
“It’s definitely kind of weird having the coming Christmas so early in the break, but I feel like regarding the situation for school and finals, it’s going to be difficult to have [break start] days before because we need to finish what the curriculum has for us before the break. It just might be difficult because people are traveling for the break, but for me personally, I’m fine with it,” senior Rylan Bonner said. 
“I think it’s really great because it gives us more time to study and learn new chapters before finals. [Since] it’s several weeks before the finals week, we have more time to soak [the knowledge] in. It [also] gives teachers less of an excuse not to squeeze things in at the last minute,” senior Bianca Do said. 
“I personally like it because it gives me more time to hang out with my friends and family during winter break. I’m traveling a lot, and am going on a few trips with my family [as well as] skiing and camping at the beach,” freshman Alaisha Martone said. 
“I think [the late winter break start] is stupid because Christmas is just two days after the break starts and it’s not enough time [to prepare],” junior Dylan Dieu said. 
“I think that it’s giving people less time to get ready for the holidays and spend time with their family. If it started a little earlier, I think I could have gotten all of my holiday shopping finished,” freshman Henry Vuong said. 
“It’s so aggravating [for me]. The winter break is cut so close to Christmas—just nearly three days before. If [it] was earlier, I would have had more time to work on myself and improve my mental health,” freshman Minna Nguyen said.
