From Zoo Lights to Lunar New Year; How Do Walls Students Enjoy the Winter?

DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle – Photo Credit: Sadie Greenhalgh 

When people think of the winter season, many think of winter break, holidays or cold weather. However, there are many fun activities to do around the DMV area in order to make the most of this winter in the later months of the winter. 

Ice skating is a popular winter activity among students. There are many accessible rinks in DC, including the National Gallery of Art, the Wharf and Canal Park. Cecile Nouga-Ngog (‘28), recommended skating, because “you can do it with friends [and] it’s a good way to exercise in the winter.” Maia Riggs (‘25) agreed with Nouga-Ngog, explaining that she loves to “ice skate at the Portrait Gallery and then go to a Christmas market nearby.” 

According to all major weather reports, it’s supposed to snow more in DC this year, allowing Walls students to go sledding, an all-time favorite. Some favorite sledding spots of Walls students around DC are the U.S. Capitol Lawn, Reno Park, Piney Branch Park, Turtle Park. Also, many students prefer to just stay home! Some students, including Rethy and Nicole Winkle (‘27), love to bake or make hot chocolate, others hang out with friends, and some watch their favorite winter movies. Some winter movie favorites around Walls include Elf, Home Alone, the Grinch, Cloud 9, Love Actually, Die Hard, and Frozen.

Walls also has its own holiday traditions! Some examples from previous years are hot chocolate sales, candy cane grams, and a Christmas tree covered in candy canes. This year, the seniors celebrated the last week before break with a winter-themed spirit week, including Merry Monday and Fa-la-la Friday. Additionally, on Friday afternoon, there was a shortened schedule for fun, grade wide activities. The sophomore class, for example, had a grade wide pickleball tournament, hosted by the pickleball club, at the GW gym. The seniors participated in various activities in the school, including card games, decorating cookies, and playing Just Dance.

 Augusta Kankel (‘25) commented that she enjoyed the shortened schedule, but she would’ve liked if “the different grade levels could have interacted with each other.” Walls students also came up with ideas for more school activities for this winter season. Winkle suggested “[a field] trip to a holiday market [or] free baked goods like we did for Thanksgiving.” Many other Walls students agreed with Winkle about a field trip, whether it be to a holiday market or another winter activity in DC. Miller also suggested a discount for Walls students to go ice skating.

Looking forward, there are many more family friendly, winter themed activities around the DMV. Throughout February, there are candlelight, orchestral concerts of all genres, from the Bridgerton soundtrack to Taylor Swift. To get more information or tickets, go to candlelightexperience.com. Additionally, on Saturday, January 27, at 6 pm, there is a Lunar New Year celebration at the Millennium stage at the Kennedy Center. Tickets are free, but are first come, first serve.