November's arrival unofficially marks the start of the holiday season, and soon we'll all be getting together with family and friends to celebrate and give thanks.

During this time, it's also important for our teachers, staff, students, and families to focus on their overall health and wellness.

Dr. Dixon recently announced the week of Thanksgiving as "Wellness Week" in Columbus City Schools, and Monday, November 22, and Tuesday, November 23, will be asynchronous remote learning days for all students. Teachers will assign independent work to be due after the Thanksgiving break, but there will be no in-person or synchronous remote learning that week.

Most of our district operations will be closed for the entire week to give the majority of our workforce time off. Our schools are already closed that Wednesday through Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, and this adjustment gives our CCS Family a whole week off to reset and recharge.

This school year has been challenging as we transitioned back to five days a week of in-person learning for the first time in 18 months, not to mention the national shortage of bus drivers, security threats, and the continuing pandemic.

We recognize that our schools need a break. Our teachers, principals, and nurses are exhausted, our classified staff is stretched thin, and our students are drained.

Of the many lessons we have learned during the pandemic, we know that mental health is essential. That's what this decision is about, to prioritize the mental well-being of our district community so we can come back ready to meet all of the challenges in front of us head-on.