As 2025 begins, many students look back on three main things about the previous year’s final month. One of those things is Christmas, while the other two are New Years Eve and New Years Day. These two days mark the end of one year, and the beginning of a new one. It’s a memorable occasion. So, what did Valley students and teachers do to celebrate the beginning of the new year and end of the old?

Some, such as Sophomore Caden Pelletier, prefer to spend their time on New Years Eve with their family and watch the ball drop together.

Sophomore Michelle Kupis likes to host family to celebrate the start of a new year. “We usually have a big dinner…we have a party and then we go to bed at like, 4:00” Kupis said. 

Sophomore Luke Bradtrud and his family prefer to spend the day celebrating at someone else’s house. “We like to go to one of our friend’s house…they always like to have a big bonfire.” Bradtrud said.

Students aren’t the only ones who celebrate new years in fun ways. Valley teacher Micheal Schaefer’s family has a tradition of baking desserts to enjoy the start of the new year. 

“It’s like a cake with no icing,”Schaefer said. “In the cake is a coin, like a dollar coin. And each person gets a slice…and then you go from oldest to youngest, and whoever gets the coin gets a year of good luck.” 

As the year 2025 begins, and with 2024 finally over, plenty of Valley students and staff celebrate the beginning of the next twelve months in different ways, whether that be with family or friends or neighbors, and with varying traditions. How do you celebrate New Years?