As the holiday season approaches, many of us will find a way to celebrate their holiday break, whether it is spending time with family or watching the finale of “Stranger Things.”

The East Penn School District will be closed Dec. 19 through Jan. 4, 2026. We will have off Jan. 19, 2026, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Midterms will follow on the week of Jan. 20-23, 2026. The schedule will look like this – on Jan. 20, 2026, students will have their blocks 1A and 2A class exams. On Jan. 21, 2026, students will have their 1B and 2B exams.

On Jan. 23, 2026, students will have their 3a and 4a classes. And finally on Jan. 24, 2026, students will have their 3b and 4b class exams. Every day of that week will have an 11 a.m. dismissal with no open campus. If students have a study hall either at the beginning or end of the day, they cannot arrive late or leave early. Every student received an email to help prepare for these exams. If extra help is needed, reach out to your teachers.

The Red Cross is receiving blood donations until April 30, 2026. If you are interested, check the Emmaus High School websites in the school update section.

If any student is riding home on a bus with their friend that isn’t their normal assigned bus, both of the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) must sign a note granting permission. Then the students must bring the notes to their individual designated assistant principal. These notes must be handed in first thing in the morning. At 2:25 p.m. the bell rings. If students aren’t on their buses by the time they leave, the buses are not obligated to turn around and pick the student back up, which will result in the student finding an alternate ride home.

Having Chromebook issues? From 2-2:30 p.m. Mondays, the IT and tech department will be open for repairs and fixes. They are not open during homeroom.

Every Thursday, Habitat for Humanity sells Celsius, an energy drink and doughnuts in The Hive. They take cash. All funds go to support their club.

To those that celebrate, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa. And to those who don’t, have a happy and safe New Year and enjoy the nice long break.