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.
Religious or Cultural Celebrations that may impact student learning for 2021-2022
Parents - Please be sure to call or email your school and excuse the absence for religious or cultural celebrations related absences.
*This calendar does not cover all holidays that may be observed by students and students may practice the same religion differently
| Dates for 2021-2022 | Celebration/Practice/Tradition | Impact on Student Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, September 6 (evening) to Wednesday, September 8 (evening) | Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) - Jewish community |
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. |
| Wednesday, September 15 (evening) to Thursday, September 16 (evening) | Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) – Jewish community |
Students will be absent from school on Thursday. 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. Holy days may result in students not having assignments or ready for tests Friday, Sept 17. Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend events on these dates. |
|
Tuesday, September 21 |
Mid-Autumn Festival - Chinese, Korean and some other East & Southeast Asian Communities | It will be great if students whose families celebrate this festival can be excused from school. |
|
Tuesday, October 4 |
Double Ninth Festival/ Chongyang Festival/ the Senior’s Festival –Chinese Community | Some families may not be able to attend evening events. |
| November 6 | Birth of the Báb - Baha'i Community | Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school |
| November 7 | Birth of Bahá’u’lláh - Baha'i Community | Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school |
|
Tuesday Nov. 2 to Saturday, Nov. 6 Thursday, Nov. 4 (main observance) |
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. Diwali and the day after Diwali, students celebrating this holiday may be absent due to religious and traditional celebrations. |
| Sunday, November 28 (evening) to Monday, December 6 (evening) | Hanukkah – Jewish community |
For most students, it will not significantly impact their ability to engage with school-work such as homework or studying for exams. Please avoid comparing it to Christmas. Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend evening events on these dates. |
| Tuesday, February 1 |
Lunar New Year/ Chinese New Year/ The Spring Festival -Chinese Community and a lot of 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. Students will be attending family gatherings and festive events in celebration. Some families may not be able to attend events on this date. |
| Tuesday, February15 | The Lantern Festival - Chinese Community and a lot of East & South East Asian communities |
Some families may not be able to attend events on this date. This may result in students not having assignments or ready for tests on Wednesday. |
| Wednesday, Feb. 25- Tuesday, March 1 | 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. |
| Monday, February 28 (evening) to Tuesday, March 1 | Maha Shivaratri (Festival for Lord Shiva) – Hindu community |
Some families may fast on the day. This may result in students not having assignments or ready for tests on Tuesday. |
| March 2 to March 20 | Nineteen Day Fast – Bahai community | Members of the Bahai faith ages 15-70 fast (food and drink) from sunrise to sunset |
| Wednesday, March 2 | Ash Wednesday – Christian community | Students and families may be attending religious services in the evening. May impact student work the next day. |
| Wednesday March 2 to April 2nd (April 14 – Maundy Thursday, April 15 – 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. |
| Wednesday, March 16, 2022 (sunset) to Thursday, March 17, 2022 (nightfall) | Purim - Jewish community |
Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend school events on Wednesday. Students may be absent on Thursday for services/celebrations. This may result in students not having assignments or being ready for tests on the following Friday. |
| Friday, March 18 | Holi |
Students and families may attend family or festive gathering. Celebration vary based on regions. |
| March 20 | Naw-Rúz The Bahá’í New Year - Bahá’í Community | Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school |
|
Friday, April 15 (sunset) to Saturday, April 23 (nightfall) |
Passover-Jewish community |
Students may be absent (starts on weekend so no missed school days). 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. |
| Saturday, April 2 (sunset) to Monday, May 2 (evening) | Ramadan – Muslim community | Students aged 9 and above may be fasting from sunrise to sunset |
| Sunday, April 20 | 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. |
| April 21 | First Day of Ridván Festival – Baha’i Community |
Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school |
| April 29 | Ninth Day of Ridván - Bahá’í Community |
Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school |
| Monday, May 2 | Twelfth Day of Ridván - Bahá’í Community | Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school |
| Monday, May 2 (evening) and ends Tuesday, May 3 (evening) | 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). Starts the night before (May 2th) Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend events on these dates. |
|
Thursday, May 5 (5/5) |
Children’s Day - Korean | Students of Korean heritage may stay home since it is a national holiday in Korea to celebrate the child. Families may have special events planned that day. |
| Saturday, June 4th (Sunset) to Monday, June 6 (nightfall) | Shavuot-Jewish community |
Students may be absent. Holy days may result in student not having assignments or ready for tests the following day. Please keep in mind families will not be able to attend events on these dates. |
| May 24 | Declaration of the Báb - Bahá’í Community |
Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school |
| May 29 | Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh - Bahá’í Community |
Members of the Bahai faith will be absent from school |