Need some advice: Annual down times

I need CD's advice. My team, Team 256, runs well during the build season, and the same during the time of offseason events. But when we're not in competition, we go to a team stand-still, mainly in the November - December and the entire summer ranges. I know that both are break times, but the time in December is the time when we're dead the most (aside from me), and it's also the time when we need to be doing the most.

Aside from the CALGames offseason, we do almost no training, no meetings, or anything else the first semester of school, and when it gets time to build season, it really hinders the team. I know the mentors need breaks, but this time is sort of crucial for FRC teams like us.

What do you think?