John Champe Student and Faculty Thanksgiving Break
This year, students and faculty enjoyed a well-deserved Thanksgiving break. Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States on which people celebrate the harvest and blessings of the past year. It is based on a 1621 harvest feast the Pilgrims of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people shared.
Thanksgiving is rich in legends and symbolism. The traditional Thanksgiving meal consists of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. The holiday is often the busiest time of year as family members travel nationwide to gather and celebrate.
Thanksgiving break ran from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1. Students and staff celebrated during and before Thanksgiving with five days off.
A Google Form was posted on Schoology asking John Champe students and teachers about their plans for the 2024 Thanksgiving break. Questions were asked about travel plans and anything students or teachers at Champe are doing to celebrate the holiday.
A total of 106 responses were collected, with some surprising results.
Of the respondents, 80 people (75.5%) did not travel, while 26 (24.5%) said they traveled during the Thanksgiving break.
Respondents who replied that they traveled said that 16 went out of state, 61.5% of the respondents, six within Virginia (23.1%), and three traveled out of the country (11.5%).
Everyone who took the survey was asked about their plans for the break, whether traveling or staying home. Based on the results, Champe’s students and faculty prepared for an exciting and productive Thanksgiving break.
“I ate traditional food with my family, such as pumpkin pie, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese,” an anonymous student said. “I was very excited for Thanksgiving because I got to spend time with my family and extended family I didn’t see often.”
Many said they spent the holiday with family, at home, or traveling. Popular destinations included Delaware, South Carolina, Cancun, and Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland.
“My cousins and I, including our families, went on a weeklong cruise,” one student mentioned. “We participated in a Thanksgiving turkey trot on the ship’s track and celebrated my mom’s birthday with excursions like swimming with pigs, ziplining, and a fancy family dinner.”
Others described their laid-back break as watching movies and football, baking desserts, and even decorating for Christmas early.
One faculty member wrote, “My husband and I hosted neighbors who live too far from family, like us. We prepared a feast, watched football (Go Bills!), and shopped online.”
A few students mentioned using the break to focus on studying. “I studied for the SAT,” one student said.
Before the break, DECA, Champe’s largest club focused on developing leadership and career skills in business, recently hosted a Friendsgiving celebration on Nov. 19th after school in the cafeteria from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Club members brought food and drinks to celebrate a Thanksgiving meal together before the holiday.
“I was looking forward to this year’s DECA Friendsgiving celebration because it was my first time attending one. I was so excited to spend time with my friends and enjoy delicious food,” an anonymous student responded.
Whether traveling to exotic places, hosting Thanksgiving dinners, or simply relaxing at home, Champe students and teachers made the most of their Thanksgiving break. From Friendsgiving celebrations to Black Friday shopping and cruises, the Champe community embraced the holiday spirit in many ways.
