It is pretty crazy to think that it is already December. Seniors are beginning to hear from colleges, midterms are upon us, the KITs are in sight, and most importantly of all, it is the holiday season! KO has done a better job recently of incorporating the holiday spirit into life on campus in December. Decemberfest is a primary example of this. It is nice to devote an assembly/day to celebrating the holiday season, and it gives students a nice opportunity to take their minds off exams.
Decemberfest remains an outlier in KO’s holiday spirit showcase. As an editorial staff, we believe KO can and should be much more jolly during these final few weeks of December. Everyone knows December is a stressful time with exams and other assignments. Additionally, for our seniors, it can be an overwhelming time due to the release of many early college decisions. Celebrating the holidays allows students and faculty to get closer, and it is also time to get away from studying and overthinking. By spending every day of the month just looking forward to the break, we actively drag out the days in between. Instead of eagerly staring at the clock until the holiday break starts, we should embrace this time as part of the holidays themselves. We are all here, we are all together, so let’s make it a little jollier.
As a staff, we would not just sit here and tell KO that we need more holiday spirit without a plan of action. There are several activities and events we can plan to boost the jollyness of KO in the final few weeks of 2025 and in future Decembers.
First off, KO needs to do a better job decorating the school for the holidays. It would be nice to walk around the school and see some holiday spirit in between classes. A Christmas tree in Rob Lob or a menorah in CT would be a great start. Snowflakes on the walls would also be a nice addition to our school decor. Some holiday lights sprinkled across campus would lift the mood a lot, especially given the darkness and dread that set in after 4:00 p.m. The academics we face altogether are already taking a mental toll, so alleviating this seasonal depression with the changes to our setting would be enough.
Additionally, it would be nice to hold several different holiday celebrations (not more assemblies) during this period. Not only would they bring our community together and show students and faculty the vast number of cultures our students at KO belong to, but they would also allow us to celebrate the different events of Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. They would give students a chance to learn about their peers while also having some fun during the day, which is something we could all use. These events could include food, games, or speeches explaining why the day is essential or a holiday in their respective religions. An opportunity to showcase all holidays in a more informal setting would enhance the overall holiday spirit at KO.
Of course, propositions are great, but that also begs the question of what we can do for now. This month in particular can be somewhat chaotic, so some words of encouragement are for every student at KO.
To our freshmen, new beginnings always hold a lot of potential, so we really recommend you guys take it all in before break. There is nothing quite like doing anything for the first time, and relishing that distinction makes you really appreciate things you might not notice later on.
Next up are the sophomores. In the middle-of-the-pack in the Upper School, things are going a little more steadily for you all. This year is that time when you really put down your roots, and find a lot more about yourself and where you are relative to others. In short, it’s one of the most transitional years of high school, so take this time to ponder and navigate what’s to come. Then there are the juniors. This year slingshotted you into more rigorous academics and the college process. Looking a bit ahead, things may start to pick up after your well-deserved break. In the coming month and the time after, you will face new challenges and changes. Embrace everything and keep an open mind about what’s happening around you.
Finally, for the seniors. With the big, final year at KO already in December, this month, break, and school year are not just about embracing new beginnings, sticking together, or embracing the absurdity of change. It is about remaining optimistic and jolly during this holiday time. If anything, however, this conflicted, expansive, and complicated mish-mash of happiness, reflection, chaos, nostalgia, and anticipation is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience, at least for a good long while until the next one.
There is so much to be said about KO’s holiday season with midterms, the Decemberfest, and every individualized experience over the coming few weeks. That said, even if things are stressful, being there for yourself and others is the best thing we can do for the holidays ahead. It is a chaotic month, but it can also be a pretty jolly one, too, if we try.
