Spring Break Newsletter

I trust that we have all had a restful Spring Break and are ready to return to the last leg of the race! I hope your break was filled with exactly what your family needed—whether that was partaking in the adventure of travel, celebrating and engaging in cultural or religious traditions, or simply enjoying sharing a meal with loved ones. As we return to the classroom, we have the finish line in sight, but we know that this final sprint often requires the most endurance. After a relaxing break, it can be a challenge for students (and parents) to find their rhythm again. Be encouraged to maintain routines, make the necessary seasonal adjustments, and know that you are doing your best!

In this newsletter I am also highlighting some very special celebrations/events that many in our Nichols community participate in. No matter how you've spent your Spring Break I hope it has been restful to your body, rejuvenating to your soul, and peace unto your heart!

This week many of our families and staff are currently recognizing Holy Week, the week that represents the most sacred week of the Christian faith (Protestant and Catholic) that culminates with the death and resurrection of Christ. Each day of the Sacred Week (which began on Sunday, March 29th, known as Palm Sunday , many in the Christian faith attend church for a special service that recognizes when Jesus enters into Jerusalem(Monday), His teachings, (Tues/Wed) the Last Supper and the Eucharist (Thursday), His crucifixion (Friday), the tomb (Saturday)and Resurrection (Sunday). Many will use this week as a time of reflection, mourning, and then a celebration of life over death.

We have many students and staff who are Greek and have some very special celebrations happening! Orthodox Easter (Pascha) in 2026 is on Sunday, April 12, falling one week after Western Easter. It concludes the 40-day Lenten period and marks the culmination of Holy Week, which begins on April 6 and ends on April 11, 2026.

Key Dates for Orthodox Easter 2026:

• Lent (Clean Monday): February 23, 2026
• Clean Monday (Greek: Kathara Deftera), also known as Pure Monday, is the first day of Great Lent in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is a fasting day
• Kyra Sarakosti, or "Lady Lent," is a traditional Greek, seven-legged paper or dough doll acting as a calendar for the 40 days of fasting before Easter. Beginning on Clean Monday, one leg is cut off each Saturday to count down the weeks, with her folded hands, no mouth, and no ears symbolizing prayer, fasting, and silence
• Palm Sunday: April 5, 2026.
• Holy Friday (Good Friday): April 10, 2026.
• Orthodox Easter Sunday: April 12, 2026.

Our Jewish families and staff are currently recognizing Passover! “Pesach is the oldest and most transformative story of hope ever told. It tells of how an otherwise undistinguished group of slaves found their way to freedom from the greatest and longest-lived empire of their time, indeed of any time. It tells the revolutionary story of how the supreme Power intervened in history to liberate the supremely powerless. It is a story of the defeat of probability by the force of possibility. It defines what it is to be a Jew: a living symbol of hope.” — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

The festival of Passover (Pesach) lasts for seven days in Israel, and eight days in the Diaspora. Pesach starts with an evening full of rituals, symbols and storytelling, as Jews all around the world re-visit the momentous exodus from Egypt and their first steps in their journey towards their own land.

Begins: Sundown on Wednesday 1 April 2026

There are some other fun family traditions that many partake in during Spring Break:

🌸 Refreshing the Home

Spring break gives time for a "fresh start." Many families use this break to what's knows as "spring cleaning!

• Spring Cleaning: It’s a classic for a reason! Opening the windows, scrubbing away the winter dust, reorganizing cabinets- the list is endless. If you're like me, you use fabric softener sheets to catch the dust along the floor boards that gets trapped (trust me- it works great!)

• Out with the Darks, In with the Brights: This is the perfect time to pack away the heavy wool blankets, dark flannels, and bulky coats. Replacing them with light linens, pastel pillows, and floral accents instantly "brightens" our living spaces and welcomes in Spring!

• Bringing Nature Indoors: Whether it’s a vase of tulips (my personal favorite) or a few new potted herbs on the windowsill, adding greenery symbolizes the growth happening right outside our doors.

🐣 Festive Traditions

For many, Spring Break coincides with Spring celebrations, bringing a sense of play and fun for the entire family.

• Easter Baskets: A beloved tradition of gifting treats, small toys, candy, or spring essentials (like new bubbles or sidewalk chalk). I even make baskets for my grown children that include household essentials like cleaners, detergents, fabric softeners, paper towels and other toiletries. It's a treat they definitely look forward to!

• The Great Egg Hunt: Whether held in the backyard or a local park, the egg hunt is a highlight for children. Many will also decorate eggs with bright colors or stickers. Some use plastic eggs and leave surprises in the eggs such as candy, dollar bills, or fruit snacks.

• Dinner with Relatives: Spring often brings the first big family gathering of the year. Tasty treats such as sweet ham, mac n cheese, greens, sweet potatoes, and 7 layer salad will cover many dining room tables this Sunday!

✈️ Time to Explore

Spring Break is synonymous with traveling, offering a much-needed change of scenery before the final push toward the end of the school year.

• The Getaway: Whether it’s a trip to a warmer beach , a new city abroad, or a snowy mountain for the last tracks of the season, traveling allows families to break out of their daily bubbles and create lifelong memories.

• The "Staycation": You don't have to go far to explore! Many families use this time to visit local museums, visit relatives, or visit nearby towns they usually don't have time to see during a busy school week.