The holiday that brings family together, food to the table, and memories to come: Thanksgiving, a day that families spend together and reflect on what they are thankful for. Let’s take a look at how the staff and students of Berkley High spend their Thanksgiving break.

Berkley High School Principal, Mr. Meloche, enjoys his break from school. He spends it with family and friends, more specifically, his wife’s side of the family in Ohio. Mr. Meloche says that his day “centers around the Lions game,” though he doesn’t watch it in person, but instead on his TV. Thanksgiving offers a day when family value matters most. Mr. Meloche, his wife, and two children play games, throw a football around outside if the weather is nice, and watch movies. Essentially, it’s a “family day,” as Mr. Meloche states. Even after Thanksgiving, it’s still time off from school, which allows him to spend time with each other as well. No matter what the day brings, it’s one to enjoy, as his day revolves around the things he loves most: family, friends, and of course, the Detroit Lions.

For Sergeant Arney, things look a little different. While students get to spend time with their loved ones, Arney has to work on Wednesday and Friday; he plans on “taking Thursday off” to celebrate the Holiday. Because he is a police officer, he will work at the station the rest of the week. During Thanksgiving, he plans on spending time with extended family. Arney claims “my favorite dish is turkey”; however, he enjoys “the majority of the food” as well. Along with many, Arney plans on watching the Lions play football, rather than cooking or running the Turkey Trot, which are also well-known traditions. While students relax and relish their break, Sergeant Arney will be working at the police station, doing what he does best, keeping the community safe while also celebrating the holiday.

Mr. Green, one of our hall monitors at Berkley High, is overjoyed for the upcoming break. Mr. Green loves the Fall and Wintertime; he enjoys “all the fun activities that the seasons bring.” Mr. Green likes to go to orchards, go fall fishing, and most importantly, spend time with his loved ones. He plans on going out of town to spend time with his daughter. Mr. Green claims that he does “all the cooking” in preparation for the feast; in fact, some of his favorite dishes include Chitterlings and Collard greens. Along with cooking, he plans on spending his time away from school watching sports, “specifically The Lions”. Accompanied by his daughter, Green can’t wait for the upcoming break.

English teacher, Mrs. Emery, spends the break with her loved ones. One special tradition includes going to the Christmas tree farm and picking out a tree for the holidays with her family. “I like to get ready for Christmas early,” says Mrs. Emery. Rather than traveling over the break, she enjoys staying with her family in the comfort of her own home. On the morning of Thanksgiving, Mrs. Emery spends that time with her husband’s family tailgating at the Lions game, and at night her family goes to her aunt’s or mom’s house, “around 4 p.m. is when we usually go,” states Emery. She often cooks and brings certain dishes (that vary each year) for the night, and enjoys the feast along with the football games that are on. From Mrs. Emery’s perspective, Thanksgiving with a bunch of little kids is hectic; however, she claims that she wouldn’t want it “any other way…it’s a cozy feeling spending time with loved ones and really appreciating what life brings.” She is excited for some time away from work, and grateful to be able to spend it with the ones worthwhile.

For many students, Thanksgiving break isn’t just a time away from school but also a chance to spend time with family and friends. Freshman Mia Levine takes a fun and active approach to celebrating the holiday. Traveling to North Carolina for just a couple of days, she and her family gather with relatives to enjoy their annual traditions. After coming back to Detroit, the family festivities continue. Usually, Levine and her family lace up their tennis shoes to run in the Turkey Trot, a series of races in Detroit on Thanksgiving morning to kick off America’s Thanksgiving Parade. “It’s one of my favorite traditions,” Levine says. Whether it consists of running alongside her loved ones in the Turkey Trot or gathering for dinner, Levine values the time and traditions that are spent with the people who matter most.

For sophomore Ethan Weber, Thanksgiving is more about slowing down and spending time with loved ones, and a well-deserved break from school. As one of his favorite holidays, Weber shares, “I love Thanksgiving food and spending time with my family.” Each year, his family hosts a dinner for their relatives. Weber enjoys helping with the preparations, cooking, setting the table, and tidying up his house. Finishing off the day, Weber looks forward to his favorite Thanksgiving dish, a slice of pumpkin pie. When all of the Thanksgiving festivities conclude, you can usually find him hanging out with friends or unwinding at home, making the most of his time off.

Junior Noah Katkowsky looks forward to Thanksgiving as a chance to spend time with family and watch football. With family being in town, Katkowsky usually spends his break at home. He enjoys having a time solely dedicated to being with his family. He especially looks forward to sitting down for a Thanksgiving meal, digging into mashed potatoes while enjoying the company of his family. In addition to helping with the usual dinner preparations, Katkowsky plans to attend a Lions football game. In support of his local team, Katkowsky says, “I love football, especially the Lions, so I’m excited to watch them play.” After the game, he looks forward to relaxing at home, appreciating the rest of his break.

Senior Scarlett Buick plans to make the most of her Thanksgiving break with a mix of activities, family, and fun. She and her family usually like to stay in town for the break, with Buick explaining, “It’s so nice to be home and see family while being able to hang out in your own house.” Continuing her traditions from the year prior, Buick plans to run in the Turkey Trot accompanied by her friends, family, swim team, and even her grandparents, who will walk the mile race. With her birthday falling close to the holiday, Buick and her family usually weave in celebrations, with Buick joking, “There is probably a good treat with my name on it!” Other than the sweet treats, Buick enjoys the variety of food, especially mashed potatoes. Not only does her family plan to give thanks, but they also plan to give back by doing some volunteer work, such as packaging up meals for those in need. But before any of that, the first thing on her list is to set up her Christmas tree, kicking off the festive season in her own special way. At its heart, Buick’s Thanksgiving is about being with loved ones, enjoying her favorite foods, and making lasting memories.

Over the break, staff and students embody the time away from school, most will say that their favorite part is the time they get to spend with their friends and family or watching The Lions play, of course. Thanksgiving gives everyone of us a time to think back and appreciate what we have, which is why lots of excitement and eagerness are approaching along with the break. The difference in how staff and students plan on spending their break is what brings us all together, shaping the Berkley High School community.