Manhattan High School seems to be looking forward to winter break, and more so, students are ready for it, despite the pandemic. 

Junior Matthew Kelly is looking forward to a break from school, along with other students, teachers and staff.

It is common for people to visit their extended families during winter holidays, or they spend it with their immediate families. 

 “[On] previous holidays, we would have my grandmother, my great aunt and my great uncle, and [a] friend of my grandmother and my parents [over], and we would just eat at my [grandmother’s] house,” junior Matthew Kelley said. The usual plans to spend time with family have changed, mostly because older members are in the high risk group for COVID-19.

 “One of my children is quarantining, and not going out at all because his mother-in-law has cancer, so they don’t want to expose her at all to any virus.” office professional, Ronna Olivier said. “My older daughter who lives in Omaha is going to quarantine before she comes with her family.”

 Even though staff and students won’t be seeing much of their families, they are sure they will enjoy winter break this year just as much as previous years.

 “Giving me time to take a break from getting ready for classes, and I still get to enjoy … our good food that we make for Christmas eve dinner, so as long as I have … my fish for Christmas eve dinner on the holiday,” teacher Doug Andreson said. Meanwhile, junior Anna Keenan is still hopeful this winter break because the pandemic gives her an excuse to avoid Christmas concerts. While Kelley plans to spend this extra time on video games.