Families gather around Christmas trees, grandmas make hot cocoa for little ones and it’s snowing outside while teachers are stuck grading papers from finals. In between the constant grind of grading, they take a break every once in a while and put on one of their favorite holiday films during winter break.  

“I always say [my favorite Christmas film is] ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ because it was always on when I was growing up and that meant Christmas break was right around the corner,” FHS physics teacher Daniel Mach said. 

While some teachers prefer films that are stop motion, others prefer the classics that stand the test of time.  

“I would say ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ I think as you age that movie means more and more to you, especially since I’ve had kids just understanding the frustration George [the main character] is going through,” FHS English teacher Erin Domokos said. “He has kind of a breakdown, but it ultimately helps him get a better perspective on life for the long term,” 

There were some teachers who chose their favorite film because they grew up watching them.  

 “My favorite Christmas is a made-for-TV movie from 1990 called ‘A Mom for Christmas’,” World history teacher Andrea Carson said. “There’s Olivia Newton John in it, she is a mannequin that comes to life and acts as the mom for a little girl whose mom died. It’s so campy and full of 1990s nonsense, it’s really cute. My family always watched it, so I love it.”  

For some like French teacher Dahnya Chop, the movies with the biggest appeals are the ones that are family friendly. 

“The first one that comes to mind is ‘Elf’ just because it’s a family film. My whole family enjoys it, and every time I watch it, I laugh.” Chop said.  

This holiday season, if you’re up for diversifying your taste, put on one of these films and see if you like them just as much as the teachers. Remember, just because they’re teachers doesn’t mean they can’t feel the same holiday spirit you do.