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Beaverton School District
Beaverton School District

Beaverton Schools

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:

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

Do-Not-Schedule Dates

Holiday 2022-23 School Year Dates 2023-24 School Year Dates 2024-25 School Year Dates

Rosh Hashanah

Sunset Sunday, September 25-nightfall Tuesday, September 27

Sunset Friday, September 15-nightfall Sunday, September 17

Sunset Wednesday, October 2-
nightfall Friday, October 4

Yom Kippur

Sunset Tuesday, October 4-
nightfall Wednesday, October 5

Sunset Sunday, September  24-nightfall Monday, September 25

Sunset Friday, October 11-
nightfall Saturday, October 12

Diwali

Monday, October 24

Sunday, November 12

Friday, November 1

Christmas

Sunday, December 25

Monday, December 25

Wednesday, December 25

Lunar New Year

Sunday, January 22

Saturday, February 10

Wednesday, January 29

Easter

Sunday, April 9

Sunday, March 31

Sunday, April 20

Eid al-Fitr*

Sunset Thursday, April 20-Friday, April 21

Likely sunset Tuesday, April 9-Wednesday, April 10

Likely sunset Sunday, March 30-Monday, March 31

Eid al-Adha*

Likely sunset Wednesday, June 28-Thursday, June 29

Likely sunset Sunday,  June 16-Monday, June 17

Likely sunset Friday, June 6-Saturday, June 7

*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

2022-23 School Year Dates

2023-24 School Year Dates

2024-25 School Year Dates

Al Hijra*

Islamic New Year, cultural celebration

Evening Friday, July 29-evening Saturday, July 30

Evening Tuesday, July 18-evening Wednesday, July 19

Evening Sunday, July 7-evening Monday, July 8

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: Saturday, September 10

Chuseok: Friday, September  9-Sunday, September 11

Tsukimi: Saturday, September 10-
Tuesday,  September 13

Tết Trung Thu: Nightfall Friday, September 9-Saturday, September 10

Moon Festival: Friday, September 29

Chuseok: Thursday, September 28-Saturday, September 30

Tsukimi: Friday, September 29-Monday, October 2

Tết Trung Thu: Nightfall Thursday, September 28-Friday, September 29

Moon Festival: Tuesday, September 17

Chuseok: Monday, September 16-
Wednesday, September 18

Tsukimi: Tuesday, September 17-
Friday, September 20

Tết Trung Thu: Nightfall Monday, September 16-Tuesday, September 17

Durga Puja 

(especially days 3–5)

Hindu festival

Monday, October 3- Wednesday, October 5

Sunday, October 22- Tuesday, October 24

Friday, October 11- Sunday, October 13

Dussehra

Hindu festival

Wednesday, October 5

Tuesday, October 24

Saturday, October 12 

Sukkot

Jewish holiday

Sunset Sunday, October 9-nightfall Tuesday, October 11

Sunset Friday, September 29–nightfall Sunday, October 1

Sunset Wednesday, October 16–nightfall Friday, October 18

Shemini Atzeret

Jewish holiday

Sunset Sunday, October 16-nightfall Monday, October 17

Sunset Friday, October 6-nightfall Saturday, October 7

Sunset Wednesday, October 23-nightfall Thursday, October 24

Simchat Torah

Jewish holiday

Sunset Monday, October 17-nightfall Tuesday, October 18

Sunset Saturday, October 7-nightfall Sunday, October 8

Sunset Thursday, October 24-nightfall Friday, October 25

Five Days of Diwali

Hindu Festival of Lights 

Monday, October 24-Friday, October 28

Sunday, November 12-Thursday, November 16

Thursday, October 31-Monday, November 4

Día de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead

Mexican cultural celebration

Evening Tuesday, November 1-evening Wednesday, November 2 

Evening Wednesday, November 1-evening Thursday, November 2 

Evening Friday, November 1-evening Saturday November 2 

Gurpurab

Sikh festival

Tuesday, November 8

Monday, November 27

Friday, November 15

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Mexican Catholic celebration

Monday, December 12 

Tuesday, December 12

Thursday, December 12

Kwanzaa 

African-American cultural celebration

Monday, December 26-Sunday, January 1

Tuesday, December 26-Monday, January 1

Thursday, December 26-
Wednesday, January 1

Shōgatsu 

Japanese cultural holiday; January 1 is the official New Year holiday. Celebrations may continue through the week, particularly the first three days. 

Sunday, January 1-Tuesday,  January 3

Monday, January 1-Wednesday, January 3

Wednesday, January 1-Friday, January 3

Three Kings Day 

Christian holiday

Friday, January 6

Saturday, January 6

Monday, January 6

Pongal

Hindu harvest festival

Saturday, January 14-Tuesday, January 17

Monday,  January 15-Thursday, January 18

Tuesday, January 14-Friday,  January 17

Saraswati Puja

Hindu festival

Thursday, January 26

Wednesday, February 14

Sunday, February 2

Nowruz

Persian New Year

Tuesday, March 21

Thursday, March 21

Friday, March 21

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 5 & evening of Thursday, April 6

Evening of Monday, April 22 & evening of Tuesday, April 23

Evening of Saturday, April 12 & evening of Sunday, April 13

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 5-nightfall Thursday, April 13

Sunset Monday, April 22-nightfall Tuesday, April 30

Sunset Saturday, April 12-nightfall Sunday, April 20

Holi

Hindu festival

Wednesday, March 8

Monday, March 25

Friday, March 14

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, March 22-Thursday, April 20

Likely evening of Sunday, March 10-Tuesday, April 9

Likely evening of Friday, February 28-Sunday, March 30 

Holy Week, including
Good Friday

Christian observance

Sunday, April 2-Saturday, April 8

Sunday, March 24-
Saturday, March 30 

Sunday, April 13-Saturday, April 19

Vesak

Buddhist holiday

Friday, May 5 

Thursday, May 23 

Monday, May 12 

Vaisakhi

Hindu & Sikh holiday

Friday, April 14

Saturday, April 13

Monday, April 14

Mother’s Day (Mexico)

Mexican cultural celebration

Wednesday, May 10

Friday, May 10

Saturday, May 10

Shavuot

Jewish holiday

Sunset Thursday, May 25-
nightfall Saturday, May 27

Sunset Tuesday, June 11-nightfall Thursday,  June 13

Sunset Sunday, June 1-nightfall Tuesday, June 3

Juneteenth

District closed for state & federal holiday

Monday, June 19

Wednesday, June 19

Thursday, 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.