Mathews students, teachers and other school employees will now get two full weeks off for Christmas and New Year’s, following action by the Mathews County School Board Tuesday night.

The division will also pick up three 1 p.m. dismissal days in February and March, giving students time off during a long stretch with few other breaks, and teachers an opportunity to catch up on some of their grading and other paperwork.

The school board added Dec. 20, 21 and 22 to the division’s Christmas break. Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, the division had designated Thursday, Dec. 23, Friday, Dec. 24 and the following week as its winter break.

The 1 p.m. dismissal days were added on three Wednesdays in February and March (Feb. 9 and March 9 and 23).

The actions were taken days after the board’s legislative tour of Thomas Hunter Middle School in which students and teachers discussed the additional stresses placed upon them over the last couple years during the pandemic (See related school sto...