Religion and Culture
Our calendar provides insight into the diversity of our school community. We have highlighted the many religious and cultural observances celebrated within our community**. Check it out.
Parents - Please be sure to call or email your school and excuse the absence for religious or cultural celebrations related absences.
*Please note, since some religious holidays are based on lunar observances and the sighting of the moon, the day may change by one day.
**This calendar does not cover all holidays that may be observed by students, and students may practice the same religion differently.
| Dates through 2024-2025 | Celebration/Practice/Tradition | Impact on Student Learning or Link to Information |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, September 6, 2024 | Ganesh Chaturthi (Birth of Lord Ganesh) – Hindu community |
Some students may be absent. Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend evening events on this date. |
| September 15 - October 15, 2024 | Hispanic Heritage Month - Celebrating the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States. | Learn about Hispanic Heritage Month on the U.S. Library of Congress webpage. |
| Tuesday, September 17, 2024 |
Harvest Moon Festival/Mid-Autumn Festival - Chinese, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Called Chusok in Korean, Trung Thu in Vietnam. Celebrated in some other East & Southeast Asian communities |
Some students may be absent on Tuesday, September 17. Families may not be able to attend evening events. Community and family celebrations may result in students not having assignments or ready for tests on Wednesday. |
| October |
Disability History and Awareness Month - Celebrates the achievements and struggles of people with disabilities, encouraging awareness and inclusion. Bullying Prevention Month - Raising awareness about the effects of bullying, promoting strategies for prevention and a culture of inclusion. |
Learn about Disability History and Awareness Month at AWSP.
Learn about Bullying Prevention Month. |
|
Wednesday, October 2 (sunset) to Friday, October 4 (sunset), 2024 |
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) – Jewish community |
Some students may be absent from school on October 3 and 4th. Some families will choose to abstain from technology use during this holiday. Holy days may result in student not having completed assignments or ready for tests the following day. Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend events on these dates. |
|
Friday, October 11 (before sundown) until Saturday, October 12 (after nightfall), 2024 |
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) – Jewish community (Holiest day) |
Many over the age of 12/13 will also choose to fast from sunset to sunset. Some families will choose to abstain from technology use during this holiday. Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend events on Friday. Holy days may result in students not having assignments or ready for tests on Monday. |
| Friday, October 11, 2024 | Double Ninth Festival/ Chongyang Festival/ the Senior’s Festival –Chinese community | Students and families will be unable to participate in evening events on Friday |
| Thursday, October 3 to Saturday, October 12, 2024 |
Navaratri – Hindu community (Oct. 11th and 12th - Saraswathi Puja and Vijayadashami or Dussehra) |
Students may not have school work ready due to religious observances. Celebration ends on Friday and Saturday with major religious festivities and celebrations. |
|
Wednesday, October 16 (sunset) to Thursday, October 24 (sunset) |
Sukkot – Jewish community |
The first two days (October 16 at sunset to October 18 at sunset) and the last two days (October 23 and 24) some students may miss school. Students and families will be unable to participate in evening events during this time. |
| Thursday evening, October 24 to Friday evening, October 25, 2024 | Simchat Torah – Jewish community | Students and staff may absent during the day and may be unable to participate in evening events on those two days. |
|
Tuesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 3, 2024 Main observance * - Friday, November 1 |
Deepavali/Diwali (Festival of Lights) – Indian communities - Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain |
Celebrations vary among the different communities. Some Jains may choose to fast for the two days of Diwali. Students and families will be unable to participate in evening events on Friday. |
| November | Native American Heritage Month - Honors heritage with events, education and advocacy, celebrating culture and addressing issues. | Learn more about Native American Heritage Month on the U.S. Library of Congress webpage. |
| Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2, 2024 |
Dia de los Muertos – Mexican and some Central American communities Christian communities celebrate:
All Saints Day – November 1
All Souls Day – November 2
|
Some students and families may not be able to attend evening events on Friday. Families and students may not be available for events on Saturday |
| Saturday, November 2, 2024 | Birth of the Báb - Baha'i community | Families and students may not be available for events on Saturday. |
|
Sunday, November 3, 2024 |
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh - Baha'i community |
Families and students may not be available for events |
|
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 |
Greek Orthodox Christmas |
Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend evening events on these dates. |
| Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | Greek Orthodox New Year | Some families may not be able to attend evening events. |
| Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | Makar Sankranti/Pongal/Bihu/Lohri – Hindu community and Sikh Community - Harvest Festival |
Some families may not be able to attend events in the evening. This may result in students not having assignments or ready for tests the next day. |
|
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 (New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, January 28, 2025)
|
Lunar New Year/ Chinese New Year/ The Spring Festival - Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and other East & South East Asian communities |
Students and families will start celebrating from the eve before Lunar New Year’s Day, and it is the most important festival in China or for people of the Chinese descent. It will last for 6 to 15 days until the Lantern Festival, the day that marks the end of the Chinese New Year. Students will be attending family gatherings and festive events in celebration. Some families may not be able to attend events on January 28 and 29. |
| February | Black History Month - Honors African American achievements, culture and contributions to our country throughout history. | Learn more about Black History Month on the U.S. Library of Congress webpage. |
|
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 |
The Lantern Festival - Chinese community and a lot of East & South East Asian communities |
Some families may not be able to attend events in the evening. This may result in students not having assignments or ready for tests the next day. |
| Wednesday, February 12 (sunset) - Thursday, February 13, 2025 | Tu Bishvat: New Year of the Trees – Jewish community | Some families may not be able to attend events in the evening. |
| Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | Maha Shivaratri (Festival for Lord Shiva) – Hindu community |
Students may be absent or not fully prepared for the following school day due to religious observances on Wednesday. Some families may fast on the day. |
|
Tuesday, February 25 to Friday, February 28, 2025 |
Ayyám-i-Há or Intercalary Days – Baha'i community |
Many families will attend festive events and focus on service projects within the community all four days. Students and families may not be able to participate in events on these days. |
| Friday, February 28 (sundown) and ends of Saturday, March 29, 2025 (sundown) | Ramadan - Muslim community |
Students aged 9 and above may be fasting from sunrise to sunset Impact on student ability to do PE or other strenuous activities. Impact on student’s ability to focus – especially toward end of day. Schools will provide alternative location for Muslim students who are fasting for lunch, away from the lunchroom. |
| March | Women's History Month - Recognizing the struggles of women throughout history, promoting gender equality and empowerment. | Learn more about Women's History Month at the U.S. Library of Congress webpage. |
| Saturday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | Nineteen Day Fast – Bahai community | Members of the Bahai faith ages 15-70 fast (food and drink) from sunrise to sunset |
|
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 |
Ash Wednesday – Christian community |
Students and families may be attending religious services in the evening. May impact student work the next day. |
|
Wednesday, March 5 to Saturday, April 19 April 17 Maundy Thursday
April 18 - Good Friday
|
Lent – Christian community |
Ash Wednesday to Good Friday Christian community - Students may be impacted by religious services on Wednesday and Friday evenings. Please keep in mind families may not be able to attend school events Wednesday and Friday nights during Lent. Many families may attend services Maundy Thursday or Good Friday evening and may not be able to attend afterschool or evening events. |
|
Thursday, March 13 (evening) to Friday, March 14, 2025 (evening) |
Purim – Jewish community |
Please keep in mind students and families may not be able to attend school events on those dates. This may result in students not having assignments or being ready for tests on the following Monday. |
| Friday, March 14, 2025 | Holi (Festival of Colors start of Spring celebration) – Hindu community |
Students and families may attend family or festive gatherings in the evening. Many families will also have community celebrations the following weekend. Celebrations vary based on regions. |
|
Thursday, March 20, 2025 |
Naw-Rúz or Nowruz – Persian and Bahá’í Community Persian New Year
|
Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school |
|
Sunday, March 30 and ends Monday, March 31, 2025 (sundown)* |
Eid al-Fitr – Muslim community |
Students may be absent the day of the celebration and the day after – big feast/family celebration (comparable to Christmas in Christian faith). Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend events on these dates |
| April | Autism Acceptance Month - Celebrating diversity and promoting understanding and inclusion for individuals with autism. | Learn more about Autism Acceptance Month at theInteragency Autism Coordinating Committee webpage. |
|
Friday, April 4, 2025 |
Ching Ming Festival – Chinese community |
Students and families may not be able to participate in events on this day. Students may be absent as they celebrate this day with their families and community. |
|
Sunday, April 6, 2025 |
Ram Navami (birth of Lord Ram) – Hindu community |
Fasting is observed throughout the day. Some families may not be able to attend events on this date. |
|
Saturday, April
12 (sundown) First day and ends Sunday,
April 20, 2025
|
Passover-Jewish community |
Student activities during Spring Break may be impacted. Students refrain from eating certain foods such as bread and anything with leavening (avoid class treats with bread or leavening). Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend events on these dates. (Spring Break) |
| Monday, April 14, 2025 | Baisakhi or Vaisakhi – Hindu and Sikh community | Students and families may not be able to participate in events on this day. (Spring Break) |
|
Friday, April 18, 2025 |
Good Friday - Christian community |
Students and families may not be able to participate in events on this day. (Spring Break) |
|
Sunday, April 20, 2025 |
Easter also Orthodox Easter |
Families and students may be unable to attend events on Saturday or Sunday. |
|
Sunday, April 20, 2025 |
First Day of Ridván Festival – Baha’i community |
Members of the Bahai faith may be unable to attend events on Sunday. |
|
Monday, April 28, 2025 |
Ninth Day of Ridván - Bahá’í community |
Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school. |
| May |
Jewish American Heritage Month - Celebrates Jewish Americans' contributions, culture and achievements in history and society. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - Honors the culture and contributions of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians. |
Learn more about Jewish American Heritage month at the U.S. Library of Congress webpage.
Learn more about Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at the U.S. Library of Congress webpage. |
|
Thursday, May 1, 2025 |
Twelfth Day of Ridván - Bahá’í community |
Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school. |
|
Monday, May 12, 2025 |
Vesak – Buddha Day – Buddhist community |
Students and families may be absent from evening events. |
|
Friday, May 23, 2025 |
Declaration of the Báb - Bahá’í community |
Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school. |
|
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 |
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh - Bahá’í community |
Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school. |
| Saturday, May 31, 2025 | Dragon Boat Festival - Chinese community and some members of East Asian Heritage | Students and families may not be able to participate in events on this day. |
|
Sunday, June 1 (evening) to Tuesday, June 3, 2025 |
Shavuot-Jewish community |
Students may be absent Monday and Tuesday. Holy days may result in student not having assignments or be ready for tests the following day. Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend events on these dates. |
| Friday, June 6 (sundown) - Saturday, June 7, 2025 (sundown)* | Eid Al-Adha - Muslim community | Students may be absent the day of the celebration and the day after – big feast/family celebration Please keep in mind students and families may not be able to attend events on these dates. |