Cultural & Religious Holidays & Observances
The Beaverton School District has a richly diverse student population. To support our students and reduce conflicts between their academic achievement and observation of important cultural and religious traditions, the BSD School Board has revised Policy IGACA - Recognition and Accommodation of Religious and Cultural Beliefs, Customs and Observances. We see this policy as an opportunity for our school communities to better understand and appreciate all our families’ backgrounds and traditions.
Some key points include:
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A student will be given an excused absence from school on the day of their cultural or religious holiday or observance. A parent/guardian should call the school’s main office to report the excused absence.
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If a student misses a test or assignment, the teacher will provide a meaningful opportunity and reasonable time to make up the missed assessment or work. We encourage families to communicate potential conflicts in advance so that teachers have time to make reasonable accommodations.
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Make-up opportunities will not be required on the school day immediately after a student’s absence related to a cultural or religious holiday or observance.
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Schools will avoid scheduling important events on these major holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Diwali, Christmas, Lunar New Year, Easter, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The district developed this list with input from the community; it is limited and does not reflect all important cultural and religious holidays.
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Teachers will avoid scheduling tests on the above days. They also are encouraged to avoid scheduling tests or making major assignments due on the day immediately following one of these days, respecting that impacted students may be unable to study on the holiday or may be affected by fasting or late-night observances.
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There may be circumstances in which scheduling events or assessments on these days is necessary or outside the control of the school, but those exceptions will be rare.
Downloadable Accommodation of Students’ Cultural and Religious Observances 2022-2025
Downloadable Accommodation of Students’ Cultural and Religious Observances 2024-2027
Do-Not-Schedule Dates
| Holiday | 2025-2026 School Year Dates |
2026-2027 School Year Dates |
2027-2028 School Year Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rosh Hashanah |
Sunset Monday, September 22-nightfall Wednesday, September 24 | Sunset Friday, September 11-nightfall Sunday, September 13 |
Sunset Friday, October 1-nightfall Sunday, October 3 |
|
Yom Kippur |
Sunset Wednesday, October 1-nightfall Thursday, October 2 | Sunset Sunday, September 20-nightfall Monday, September 21 |
Sunset Sunday, October 10-nightfall Monday, October 11 |
|
Diwali |
Monday, October 20 | Sunday, November 8 |
Friday, October 29 |
|
Christmas |
Thursday, December 25 | Friday, December 25 |
Saturday, December 25 |
|
Lunar New Year |
Tuesday, February 17 | Saturday, February 6 |
Wednesday, January 26 |
|
Easter |
Sunday, April 5 |
Sunday, March 28 |
Sunday, April 16, 2028 |
|
Eid al-Fitr* |
Likely sunset Thursday, March 19-Friday, March 20 | Likely sunset Tuesday, March 9-Wednesday, March 10 |
TBD: Likely sunset Saturday, February 26-Sunday February 27 |
|
Eid al-Adha* |
Likely sunset Tuesday, May 26-Wednesday, May 27 | Likely sunset Sunday, May 16-Monday, May 17 |
TBD: Likely sunset Thursday, May 4-Friday, May 5 |
*Estimated dates due to the lunar calendar; dates are determined based on when the crescent moon is sighted in North America. Please check the calendar closer to the holiday.
You also can find a supplemental calendar of holidays and observances below; again, this list is not exhaustive and does not reflect all cultural and religious observances. Schools and teachers will be aware of these dates when scheduling events, tests and major projects. The calendar also will be shared with school PTOs and PTCs for event planning purposes.
Supplemental Calendar of Holidays and Observances
|
Holiday |
Observance Notes |
2025-2026 School Year Dates |
2026-2027 School Year Dates |
2027-2028 School Year Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Al Hijra* |
Islamic New Year, cultural celebration |
Evening Monday, June 15-Tuesday, July 14 | Evening Saturday, June 5-Sunday, July 4 |
Evening Wednesday, May 24-Thursday, May 25 |
|
Mid-autumn Festivals |
Important holiday in the cultures of many East Asian countries; holidays include Moon or Mooncake Festival (China), Chuseok (Korea), Tsukimi (Japan), Tết Trung Thu (Vietnam). |
Moon Festival: Monday, October 6 Chuseok: Sunday, October 5-Tuesday, October 7 Tsukimi: Monday, October 6-Thursday, October 9 Tết Trung Thu: Nightfall Sunday October 5-Monday, October 6 |
Moon Festival: Friday, September 25 Chuseok: Thursday, September 24-Saturday, September 26 Tsukimi: Friday, September 25-Monday, September 28 Tết Trung Thu: Nightfall Thursday, September 24-Friday, September 25 |
Moon Festival: Wednesday, September 15 Chuseok: Tuesday, September 14-Thursday, September 16 Tsukimi: Wednesday,, September 15-Saturday, September 18 Tết Trung Thu: Nightfall Tuesday, September 14-Wednesday, September 15 |
|
Durga Puja (especially days 3–5) |
Hindu festival |
Monday, September 29-Thursday, October 2 | Saturday, October 17-Wednesday, October 21 |
Wednesday, October 6-Sunday, October 10 |
|
Dussehra |
Hindu festival |
Thursday, October 2 | Tuesday, October 20 |
Saturday, October 9 |
|
Sukkot |
Jewish holiday |
Sunset Monday, October 6-nightfall Wednesday, October 8 | Sunset Friday, September 25-nightfall Sunday, September 27 |
Sunset Friday, October 15-nightfall Sunday, October 17 |
|
Shemini Atzeret |
Jewish holiday |
Sunset Monday, October 13-nightfall Wednesday, October 15 | Sunset Friday, October 2-nightfall Sunday, October 4 |
Sunset Friday, October 22-nightfall Sunday, October 24 |
|
Simchat Torah |
Jewish holiday |
Sunset Tuesday, October 14-nightfall Wednesday, October 15 | Sunset Saturday, October 3-nightfall Sunday, October 4 |
Sunset Saturday, October 23-nightfall Sunday, October 24 |
| Indigenous Peoples Day | Recognizes the significant contributions that Native Americans have made to the U.S. | Monday, October 13 | Monday, October 12 |
Monday, October 11 |
|
Five Days of Diwali |
Hindu Festival of Lights |
Monday, October 20-Friday, October 24 | Sunday, November 8-Thursday, November 12 |
Friday, October 29-Tuesday, November 2 |
|
Día de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead |
Mexican cultural celebration |
Evening Saturday, November 1-evening Sunday, November 2 |
Evening Sunday, November 1-evening Monday, November 2 |
Evening Sunday, November 1-evening Monday, November 2 |
|
Gurpurab |
Sikh festival |
Wednesday, November 5 | Tuesday, November 24 |
Sunday, November 14 |
|
Our Lady of Guadalupe |
Mexican Catholic celebration |
Friday, December 12 | Saturday, December 12 |
Sunday, December 12 |
| Chanaukah | Jewish religious holiday | Sunset Sunday, December 14-Monday, December 22 | Sunset Friday, December 4-nightfall Saturday, December 12 |
Sunset Friday, December 24-nightfall Saturday, January 1 |
|
Kwanzaa |
African-American cultural celebration |
Friday, December 26- Thursday, January 1 |
Saturday, December 26-Friday, January 1 |
Sunday, December 26-Saturday, January 1, 2028 |
|
Shōgatsu |
Japanese cultural holiday; January 1 is the official New Year holiday. Celebrations may continue through the week, particularly the first three days. |
Thursday, January 1-Saturday, January 3 | Friday, January 1-Sunday, January 3 |
Saturday, January 1-Monday, January 3 |
|
Three Kings Day |
Christian holiday |
Tuesday, January 6 | Wednesday, January 6 |
Thursday, January 6 |
| Orthodox Christmas | The Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar to calculate Christmas’s date | Wednesday, January 7 | Thursday, January 7 |
Friday, January 7 |
|
Pongal |
Hindu harvest festival |
Wednesday, January 14-Saturday, January 17 | Friday, January 15-Monday, January 18 |
Saturday, January 15-Tuesday, January 18 |
|
Saraswati Puja |
Hindu festival |
Friday, January 23 | Thursday, February 11 |
Monday, January 31 |
|
Nowruz |
Persian New Year |
Saturday, March 21 | Sunday, March 21 |
Sunday, March 19 |
|
Passover Seder |
The Jewish Seder feast is held on the first two nights of Passover. Recommended: Avoid scheduling important evening events, if possible. |
Evening of Wednesday, April 1-evening of Thursday, April 2 | Evening of Wednesday, April 21-evening of Thursday, April 22 |
Evening of Monday, April 10-evening of Tuesday, April 18 |
| Orthodox Holy Easter | The Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar to calculate Easter's date | Sunday, April 12 | Monday, May 2 |
Sunday, April 16 |
|
Passover |
Some Jewish families observe food restrictions. Recommended: Avoid scheduling food-focused events, if possible. Some students may be absent from school on the first day or first two days following the sunset start. |
Sunset Wednesday, April 1-nightfall Thursday, April 9 | Sunset Wednesday, April 21-nightfall Thursday, April 29 |
Sunset April 10-nightfall Tuesday, April 18 |
|
Holi |
Hindu festival |
Tuesday, March 4 | Monday, March 22 |
Saturday, March 11 |
|
Ramadan* |
During the Islamic holy month, some Muslim families fast from sunrise to sunset each day. Recommended: Avoid scheduling physically rigorous or food-focused events, if possible. Avoid scheduling tests later in the day, if possible. |
Likely evening of Wednesday, February 18-Thursday, March 19 | Likely evening of Sunday, February 7-Monday, March 8 |
Likely evening of Thursday, January 27-Friday, February 28 |
|
Holy Week, including |
Christian observance |
Sunday, March 29-Saturday, April 4 | Sunday, March 21-Saturday, March 27 |
Sunday, April 9-Sunday, April 16 |
|
Vesak |
Buddhist holiday |
Friday, May 1 |
Thursday, May 20 |
Monday, May 8 |
|
Vaisakhi |
Hindu & Sikh holiday |
Tuesday, April 14 | Wednesday, April 14 |
Thursday, April 13 |
|
Mother’s Day (Mexico) |
Mexican cultural celebration |
Sunday, May 10 | Monday, May 10 |
Tuesday, May 10 |
|
Shavuot |
Jewish holiday |
Sunset Thursday, May 21-nightfall Saturday, May 23 | Sunset Thursday, June 10-nightfall Saturday, June 12 |
Sunset Tuesday, May 30-nightfall Thursday, June 1 |
|
Juneteenth |
District closed for state & federal holiday |
Friday, June 19 | Saturday, June 19 |
Sunday, June 19 |
* Estimated dates due to the lunar calendar; dates are determined based on when the crescent moon is sighted in North America. Please check the calendar closer to the holiday.
