Good news for NYC public school students: Next winter’s holiday break just got a little longer, and a lot less confusing.

In an update to the 2025–2026 public school calendar, the Department of Education officially gave students and staff Friday, January 2, off, extending winter recess through the entire week. The original calendar had classes resuming that Friday, making for a lone, awkward school day between New Year’s Day and the weekend. Students will return on Monday, January 5, making for a much cleaner (and cheerier) break.

“We got it done! Friday, January 2, is now part of winter break,” the United Federation of Teachers texted to its members last week, according to Daily News , which first broke the story. A DOE spokesperson confirmed the change.

It’s not the first

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