Winter break at Minarets ☃️

January16th, 2026 O'Neals, CA Allyza Ortiz-Ledesma, Reporter

Over the winter break, students at Minarets High School spent their time in many different ways. For instance, many used their time off from school to relax, reset, and participate in activities they may not have time for during the school year. For many other students, the break was a chance to step away from school stress and enjoy Christmas time with family and friends. Some students, like Avani Cheema and Frannie Morris participated in extra curricular activities like soccer, winning their game 4-1 against Tranquility. Other students stayed at home and enjoyed quieter activities such as watching movies, playing video games, reading, or simply catching up on sleep. Some students received very exciting Christmas gifts. For example, Kaydence Musacchio was given F1 racing tickets, sharing that it was her favorite part about break.

Minarets Soccer Game over winter break Photo by Allyza Ortiz-Ledesma

Not only did students enjoy their break, but so did the teachers. Rubio Contreras, one of the ag teachers at Minarets, spent his break enjoying a mix of travel and time at home. He shared that he also used the break to binge watch the show Stranger Things, enjoying his personal time.

While some students focused on rest and having fun, others stayed busy with responsibilities and productive activities. Troy Suehiro shared “I was given the responsibility of helping film his sister's proposal video”, afterwards using his media skills to edit the video. Troy Suehiro also used the break to prepare for upcoming classes, studying his way through the break. Overall, students agreed that the break gave them time to relax and reflect, and many returned to school feeling well rested and ready to take on the rest of the school year.

Written by Allyza Ortiz-Ledesma

Edited by Josephina Emerson, Travis Padgett and Hailey Nelson

Photo by Allyza Ortiz-Ledesma