On June 21, the Oakton High School class of 2016 officially graduated and began to commence their new chapters of their lives. As a majority of them chose to attend college this upcoming fall, the rising college freshmen began to prepare for their new lives as a college student. However, leaving their hometown and the friends they made along the way was difficult, and it’s not easy for those still here to see them gone and continuously watch their Snapchat stories to see what they’re up to. To make this easier to keep track of, below is a compiled list of the dates for first semester for Virginia and D.C. colleges that many of our newest graduates are attending. For those alumni that are a little farther away, and even for the ones close, here are a few ways to remain in contact with them and send them something special during their first year away from home.

VIRGINIA TECH

• August 22: Classes Start
• October 14-16: Fall Break
• November 19-27: Thanksgiving Break
• December 7: Classes End
• December 8: Reading Day
• December 9-15: Exams

CNU (CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY)

• August 22: Classes Start
• October 7-11: Fall Break
• November 22-27: Thanksgiving Break
• December 2: Classes End
• December 3-4: Reading Days
• December 5-10: Exams

LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY

• August 22: Classes Start
• September 29-October 5: Fall Break
• November 23-25: Thanksgiving Break
• December 2: Classes End
• December 3: Reading Day
• December 5-6: Exams
• December 7: Reading Day
• December 8-9: Exams

UVA (UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA)

• August 23: Classes Start
• October 1-4: Reading Days
• November 4-6: Family Weekend
• November 23-27: Thanksgiving Recess
• December 6: Classes End
• December 7: Reading Day
• December 8-16: Exams
  • December 11 & 14: Reading Days

COLLGE OF WILLIAM & MARY

• August 24: Classes Start
• October 8-11: Fall Break
• November 23-27: Thanksgiving Break
• December 2: Classes End
• December 3-4: Reading Days
• December 5-9: Exams
• December 10-11: Reading Days
• December 12-14: Exams

VCU (VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY)

• August 25: Classes Start
• October 20-21: Reading Days
• November 23-27: Thanksgiving Break
• December 10: Classes End
• December 12-16: Exams (MCV Campus)
• December 12-17: Exams (Evening Classes)
• December 12-20: Exams (Monroe Park Campus)
• December 23-January 2: Winter Break

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

• August 29: Classes Start
• November 23-27: Thanksgiving Break
• December 10: Classes End
• December 12: Reading Day
• December 13-20: Exams

JMU (JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY)

• August 29: Classes Start
• September 30-October 2: Family Weekend
• October 14: First Block Classes End
• October 16: Second Block Classes End
• November 19-26: Thanksgiving Break
• December 9: Classes End
• December 10-16: Exams

UMW (UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON)

• August 29: Classes Start (1st 8-week term and 16-week semester)
• September 16-18: Family Weekend
• October 14: Classes End (1st 8-week term)
• October 15-18: Fall Break
• October 17-21: Exams (1st 8-week term)
• October 24: Classes Start  (2nd 8-week term)
• November 23-27: Thanksgiving Break
• December 9: Classes End (2nd 8-week term and 16-week semester)
• December 10-11: Reading Days
• December 12-16: Exams (2nd 8-week term and 16-week semester)

GWU (GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY)

• August 31: Classes Start
• November 25-28: Thanksgiving Break
• December 9: Classes End
• December 10: Reading Day
• December 11-19: Exams

* All of this information is from the corresponding university’s website.

** Reading Day is a day that students use to study for exams, such as reading the textbook, hence the name.

While our friends are in college, the rest of us are stuck here, wondering how we can still see them during this new chapter of their lives. Really, it’s simple. All that needs to happen is constant contact. Whether it be a text, call, FaceTime, email, Snapchat, letter, Facebook message, Twitter or Instagram DM, a visit, the opportunities are endless. Remaining in contact with your friend will also make it easier to plan to get together during their breaks, like seeing a movie, getting dessert, or just hanging out.

There is also another way to keep in contact while showing your favorite Oakton alum you care about them: a care package! Care packages are a great way to send your friend some of his/her favorite things while they are away, also a great way to start a conversation after not talking for a while. To send a college student a care package, all that is needed is a box and a few of their favorite things. This can include candy, snacks, items in their favorite color, DIYs, anything that you know they’ll appreciate.  After gathering all the items to send to your favorite alum, all you need to do is fill the box, address it, and send it on its merry way to your friend’s dorm room. There are also many articles out there that can help with themed care packages or other sorts of goodies, just by searching Google for “how to send a care package.”

All in all, keeping up with the alumni is not as complicated as keeping up with the Kardashians, and near or far, the class of 2016 is only a text away, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them and show them you miss and appreciate them.