As the holiday season arrived, students at JCHS looked forward to unwinding from the busy first four months of school. From adventurous travels to cozy days at home, the 2024-25 winter break was filled with memorable experiences and relaxation for many students.
Exploring New Places
For many students, the break was an opportunity to explore new places. Jordan Weinstock went on a family trip to Aruba in the Southern Caribbean, enjoying the sun and escaping the winter temperatures here in Caldwell, NJ. He explained how this was an annual trip he has taken for as long as he could remember with a timeshare right on the beach. He continued saying, “It was amazing to spend time on the beach with family and just relax.”
Others stayed within states but still made the most of their break. Cole Bazerman visited Tampa, Florida where he and his girlfriend explored the waterfront, food, and warm weather. “The highlight of my trip was definitely going to the Tampa Bay Lightning game,” Cole said, adding that the experience was unforgettable.
Some other students like Alex Harris and Fiona Laddey stayed close to home and took day trips to New York City. This destination was very popular among the students at JCHS. It is a quick trip with many exciting activities across all of the boroughs, especially Manhattan. Both Alex and Fiona shared similar experiences. Alex went to the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” featuring the Rockettes which is a show he says he has gone to every year since he was a child. Fiona visited the Bryant Park Holiday Shops and walked around the famous Rockefeller Center with a few of her friends. She also stated that “Going to New York during this time of year is the best holiday experience.” This truly shows that even close to home there are multiple winter break activities to participate in.
Relaxing at Home
Not all students traveled far during winter break. Some used their time off by staying local. Toniann Garruto enjoyed quiet days at home filled with movie marathons, baking, and catching up on sleep. “I really needed the rest after these past few months,” she said, saying how refreshing it was to have some time to herself.
Hitting the Slopes
Snowy weather also provided many opportunities for fun. Marco Vicidomini, Alex Carillo, Sebastian Riveros, and Chris Irwin took advantage of the snow to go snowboarding at Mountain Creek in Vernon, NJ. “The slopes weren’t perfect, but [it was] still really fun,” Marco said. On the other hand, it was Alex Carillo’s first time ever snowboarding. He shared how although it was scary and he experienced a few hard falls, it was still really fun. He even bought himself a season pass to the mountain.
Whether traveling far from home or enjoying a simple, cozy winter break, students at JCHS made the most of their time off. The experiences they shared, from adventurous activities to peaceful relaxation, have left them ready for the next few months of school until Spring Break.
