Hello 2025 and welcome back, fellow NDCL community members! We hope your winter break was filled with Christmas Joy, New Year excitement, and, of course, some much-needed relaxation. All that hard work that goes into schoolwork and grading papers makes you slump! Unfortunately, it is time to snap out of the vacation mood and lock in. As we were all celebrating the arrival of the new year, NDCL staff were already preparing for the return of all the students. 

The first week back at school, students and staff slowly adjusted back to their typical schedule. However, the following week was full of relaxing chaos. Temperatures reaching an extreme low of nearly negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit led to the cancellation of school for both Tuesday and Wednesday (January 21 and 22). This was to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being. Given that school was already off in honor of Martin Luther King Junior Day, NDCL students practically received a second mini-winter break. We hope the students took this time to stay warm, catch up on pending assignments, and maybe even enjoy some winter activities indoors. Coming back to school for Thursday and Friday was still cold, yet nowhere near where it was before.  

As the end of this chaotic week reaches, we can say that it was relieving and great to be able to finally see everyone’s faces after so long. Hopefully, this weekend will allow students and staff to catch up on delayed work, finally be able to relax, and show up to school next week refreshed and rejuvenated!