When thinking about the winter holidays, Hanukkah is not the first one you’d think of. Hanukkah, also spelled in multiple other ways, is a small celebrated holiday in the school. Throughout the years, Hanukkah has become more of a known holiday. This year, Hanukkah started Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in the evening and ended Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday lasting eight nights starting at sundown. The story is about a miracle with oil lasting for eight long nights instead of one. The message or theme that the holiday brings is all about hope and light. Fun songs, much like Christmas songs, are played around the holidays. A popular song that is easy to recognize is Dreidel. The song is about a game played with coins and a spinning top. Many Jewish holidays include food. Hanukkah includes food such as potato pancakes, or latkes, applesauce, and jelly donuts.
“I think that we have tried to make Hanukkah included [in our holiday celebrations at school] with the Hanukkah relay race last year and the blow ups [outside the library]. We’re trying to include it with the traditional holidays,” Ms. Sara Heiman, middle school librarian, said.
Last December of 2024, during the winter PAWS assembly, one of the activities included a Menorah relay race. Festive activities and decorations have also been put up. The two bears outside the library are put up yearly and even have names, Latke and Hank. The Wednesday announcements have included a few Hanukkah songs, such as “Oh Hanukkah.”
“Personally, I’ve learned more about it because of students celebrating the holiday,” Ms. Heiman says.
