Teja Hanumolu

Veterans Day, observed on November 11, is a federal holiday, honoring veterans and the sacrifices they have made to defend the nation. However, Nobles stands unique as one of few schools nationwide that has decided to hold school on this day. This decision is relatively controversial across the community, as many believe that Nobles should observe this holiday and honor veterans by taking the day off. While taking the day off would align Nobles with many other communities, the decision to hold school has historical precedence.

The decision to hold school on Veterans Day dates back to Nobles’ old traditions. Instead of giving November 11 as a day off, the school used to have every Monday off before Veterans Day, which would ensure that sports teams would be aligned with other ISL schools, especially as the playoffs were approaching. Had Nobles given Veterans Day off, while the other ISL schools did not, playoff matchups and game scheduling would have become significantly more convoluted. However, the school felt that taking the day off before Veterans Day failed to truly honor veterans, especially those who have served within the school. “It feels like it lacked humility to decide that we’re going to take the Monday off because it’s more convenient for us. The thought of that made us very uncomfortable,” Assistant Head of Upper School Kim Genecco said. These sentiments culminated in the eventual decision to hold school on Veterans Day. Thus, while many individuals in the community believe that Veterans Day should be taken off, part of honoring the sacrifices made by veterans is accepting some slight inconveniences in exchange for recognizing them. 

While having school on Veterans Day will likely continue, the ways in which the school honors veterans are constantly changing. From having veterans from the Nobles community speak about their experience in the military to showing presentations and videos during assembly, the wide range of methods enables students and faculty to actively honor veterans throughout the day. “If you think about students’ four or six-year journey at Nobles, I hope we kind of piece together a thread,” Head of School Cathy Hall said. Through this variety of approaches during Veterans Day, Nobles seeks to honor the day’s historical significance, while also making a lasting impact on the community. “I hope there’s a natural rhythm to how we think about recognizing Veterans Day, and it’s a combination of stories and history pushing students to go home and ask questions,” Hall said. As a result, the community can gain a deeper appreciation of this day and understand the importance of respecting veterans. 

Some students have expressed feelings about having school on Veterans Day that directly contrast the administration’s decision. Having a direct relationship with veterans, Morgan Gibson (Class I) has a unique perspective. Her father served in the military for much of her childhood, and as a result, she lived on a military base. “We used to have a day off on base,” Gibson said. However, coming to Nobles has been a drastic change from traditions on base. Gibson expresses dissatisfaction with the school’s approach. “I feel that having the day off is the school’s way of showing that they’re honoring the veterans,” Gibson said. To Gibson, the decision to have school on this day subtracts from the school’s intention of honoring veterans. Tomás Hernández (Class II) shares a similar view to Gibson. He believes that having school on this day inherently contradicts each individual’s responsibility to honor those who have served our country. “In my opinion, Nobles treats this day like a normal day. If we had the day off, I would have spent some of my day honoring veterans,” Hernández said. Both Gibson and Hernández’s statements contradict Genecco and Hall’s earlier attitudes surrounding having the day off. These sentiments demonstrate a need to raise awareness of the history and significance of Nobles’ decision to have school on Veterans Day. The decision to hold school on Veterans Day involved a multifaceted process, including scheduling responsibilities, a historical precedent, and the belief that Nobles could effectively recognize veterans during the school day. However, student perspectives suggest a divide between what the administration seeks to portray through this day and its impact on the student body. This gap highlights an opportunity for Nobles to deepen its efforts in ensuring that the entire community fully understands and appreciates the significance of holding school on November 11. By aligning intent with impact, Nobles can ultimately make Veterans Day more meaningful.