It is Spring Break for both students and teachers throughout the southeast and the President of the Hanover Teacher’s Association says the time off school is good for everyone.

“Manitoba winters are hard on everybody,” states Wendell Head, “when spring finally comes you can feel spirits lift.”

After months of dark and cold winter weather, Head says students have been cooped up in buildings for a long time. He indicates that so many indoor recesses eventually take a toll by making kids increasingly antsy and distractable. Meanwhile, without the recess break to mark assignments and prep classes, Head indicates that many teachers would have had to take a lot more work home with them.

With that in mind, Head believes Spring Break is a valuable resource for everybody.

“At this point in the year the weather breaks and the kids are ready for some outdoor activity,” comments Head. “For the teachers, a lot of them use the time to relax and catch up on work so everyone can start fresh the following week.”

Head explains that Spring Break is not only a healthy reset for everyone, but a time of education as well.

“Its amazing how much learning happens during Spring Break—and not just for kids, but for teachers too!” Head says everyone will return to school with a handful of new experiences and exciting stories that can help strengthen relationships in the classroom and create unexpected teachable moments.

“Some of them might not admit it,” laughs Head, “but a lot of kids like going back to school so they can share their stories.”

Head calls the break “an opportunity for teachers and students to come back with renewed energy and enthusiasm that will help take them down the stretch to June."