Missouri educators - and educators nationwide - have been thrown plenty of curveballs since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. And the curves keep coming, with students and staffers continuing to face quarantines and general uncertainty as COVID refuses to release its grasp.

With that in mind, the Mexico Public Schools Board of Education decided to offer some relief.

On Wednesday, Nov. 10, the board approved an amendment to the 2021-22 school calendar, extending the Thanksgiving holiday break in order to provide some “much-needed time for rest and renewal."

All classes scheduled on Monday Nov. 22 and Tuesday Nov. 23 will be cancelled, and all Mexico School District schools, buildings, and offices will be closed Nov. 22 through Nov. 26. These days will not be made up later.

The board’s decision was made out of an abundance of concern for the mental and physical wellbeing of students, faculty and staff, and parents and guardians after months of working through the most challenging times in the history of public education. Administrators are hopeful that the closure will ultimately benefit everyone, and all staff and students are able to return on Nov. 29 more focused and rested.

Melissa Chastain, superintendent of Mexico Public Schools, thanked the board of education for taking time to meet, thanked the staff of Mexico Public Schools for their high level of commitment to students over the last few months, and thanked the community for always stepping up to help the students and staff of Mexico Public Schools.