A holiday refuge

Amid stacks of papers, mugs of hot cocoa and a half-eaten plate of cookies, a number of weary teachers seek refuge from the pre-holiday pressures raging outside their small room in the media center. An atmosphere of calm and quiet is in the air. All that is needed to complete the picture is a crackling fire and a snow-capped mountain vista through the window.

This week, Blair's media center has been reserving a room for teachers to use as a quiet haven to grade papers and do other work, complete with cookies, holiday M&Ms and hot chocolate. "We know that teachers take home great big stacks of papers for grading before the holidays," says media specialist Lisa Hack. "We just wanted to provide a place for them to do work with things that they would like."

English teacher Nina Blake has frequented the media center for the holiday treats and the opportunity to get some work done before winter break. "I love it," she says, "It's easier to work when other people are working around you, and they have cookies!"