By: Joshua Orbase, Staff Reporter
Denton ISD school districts are shifting from half days to full student holidays starting next school year.
The aim is to provide students with more time to recharge and to prioritize mental health, but many are concerned that too much unstructured time could affect their academic engagement and learning.
To many students, replacing what was once a half day with full days off may seem like more time to relax, prioritize their mental health, or simply catch up on assignments. However, beneath the extra hours of freedom lies a shift that could quietly reshape the structure of their school lives. Without the predictable rhythm of early dismissal days, students may find their routines disrupted, their time management challenged, and their sense of balance tested. Freshman Kennedy Scherpenisse explains the difficulties in managing this new change.
“I think that students navigating the switch from half days to student holidays may disrupt their routines,” Scherpenisse said. “Though the holidays may be better, it still messes up what has already been set into their minds.”
David Cassidy, Honors World Geography and AP World History teacher, highlights the possible advantages of the upcoming switch.
“By giving students a holiday, it creates a consistent schedule that students can expect,” Cassidy said. “So if they’re not there for that day, they know the following day is when something is going to be due,” Cassidy said.
Scherpenisse believes it is essential to take student breaks, especially to prioritize mental health.
“Students can feel so overworked and drained at times due to constant stress here at school,” Scherpenisse said. “It’s important that they take breaks because it allows them time to focus on themselves for once, rather than focusing on what’s causing them stress,” Scherpenisse said.
Cassidy argues that prioritizing mental health can still be achieved without disrupting traditional education, and that there’s a larger disruption beneath student holidays.
“I think the bigger disruption was us moving to half days,” Cassidy said. “I think, for the most part, it’s only going to cause a disruption for teachers who aren’t prepared ahead of time,” Cassidy said.
The switch from half-day to full student holidays marks a turning point, offering students a chance to truly rest and reconnect. Yet, this shift also invites questions about balance—will the extra time inspire growth, or will it leave some feeling disconnected? As this transition occurs, it’s not simply an increase in time off; it represents an opportunity to explore new avenues for learning, development, and success, both within and beyond the classroom.
