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 | 2023-2024 School Year Dates |
2024-2025 School Year Dates |
2025-2026 School Year Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rosh Hashanah |
Sunset Friday, September 15-nightfall Sunday, September 17 |
Sunset Wednesday, October 2- |
Sunset Monday, September 22-nightfall Wednesday, September 24 |
|
Yom Kippur |
Sunset Sunday, September 24-nightfall Monday, September 25 |
Sunset Friday, October 11- |
Sunset Wednesday, October 1-nightfall Thursday, October 2 |
|
Diwali |
Sunday, November 12 |
Friday, November 1 |
Monday, October 20 |
|
Christmas |
Monday, December 25 |
Wednesday, December 25 |
Thursday, December 25 |
|
Lunar New Year |
Saturday, February 10 |
Wednesday, January 29 |
Tuesday, February 17 |
|
Easter |
Sunday, March 31 |
Sunday, April 20 |
Sunday, April 5 |
|
Eid al-Fitr* |
Likely sunset Tuesday, April 9-Wednesday, April 10 |
Likely sunset Sunday, March 30-Monday, March 31 |
TBD: Likely sunset Thursday, March 19-Friday, March 20 |
|
Eid al-Adha* |
Likely sunset Sunday, June 16-Monday, June 17 |
Likely sunset Friday, June 6-Saturday, June 7 |
TBD: Likely sunset Tuesday, May 26-Wednesday, May 27 |
*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 |
2023-2024 School Year Dates |
2024-2025 School Year Dates |
2025-2026 School Year Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Al Hijra* |
Islamic New Year, cultural celebration |
Evening Tuesday, July 18-evening Wednesday, July 19 |
Evening Sunday, July 7-evening Monday, July 8 |
Evening Monday, June 15-Tuesday, July 14 |
|
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: 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- Tsukimi: Tuesday, September 17- Tết Trung Thu: Nightfall Monday, September 16-Tuesday, September 17 |
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 |
|
Durga Puja (especially days 3–5) |
Hindu festival |
Sunday, October 22- Tuesday, October 24 |
Friday, October 11- Sunday, October 13 |
Monday, September 29-Thursday, October 2 |
|
Dussehra |
Hindu festival |
Tuesday, October 24 |
Saturday, October 12 |
Thursday, October 2 |
|
Sukkot |
Jewish holiday |
Sunset Friday, September 29–nightfall Sunday, October 1 |
Sunset Wednesday, October 16–nightfall Friday, October 18 |
Sunset Monday, October 6-nightfall Monday, October 13 |
|
Shemini Atzeret |
Jewish holiday |
Sunset Friday, October 6-nightfall Saturday, October 7 |
Sunset Wednesday, October 23-nightfall Thursday, October 24 |
Sunset Monday, October 13-nightfall Wednesday, October 15 |
|
Simchat Torah |
Jewish holiday |
Sunset Saturday, October 7-nightfall Sunday, October 8 |
Sunset Thursday, October 24-nightfall Friday, October 25 |
Sunset Tuesday, October 14-nightfall Wednesday, October 15 |
|
Five Days of Diwali |
Hindu Festival of Lights |
Sunday, November 12-Thursday, November 16 |
Thursday, October 31-Monday, November 4 |
Monday, October 20-Friday, October 24 |
|
Día de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead |
Mexican cultural celebration |
Evening Wednesday, November 1-evening Thursday, November 2 |
Evening Friday, November 1-evening Saturday November 2 |
Evening Saturday, November 1-evening Sunday, November 2 |
|
Gurpurab |
Sikh festival |
Monday, November 27 |
Friday, November 15 |
Wednesday, November 5 |
|
Our Lady of Guadalupe |
Mexican Catholic celebration |
Tuesday, December 12 |
Thursday, December 12 |
Friday, December 12 |
|
Kwanzaa |
African-American cultural celebration |
Tuesday, December 26-Monday, January 1 |
Thursday, December 26- |
Thursday, December 26- |
|
Shōgatsu |
Japanese cultural holiday; January 1 is the official New Year holiday. Celebrations may continue through the week, particularly the first three days. |
Monday, January 1-Wednesday, January 3 |
Wednesday, January 1-Friday, January 3 |
Thursday, January 1-Saturday, January 3 |
|
Three Kings Day |
Christian holiday |
Saturday, January 6 |
Monday, January 6 |
Tuesday, January 6 |
|
Pongal |
Hindu harvest festival |
Monday, January 15-Thursday, January 18 |
Tuesday, January 14-Friday, January 17 |
Wednesday, January 14-Saturday, January 17 |
|
Saraswati Puja |
Hindu festival |
Wednesday, February 14 |
Sunday, February 2 |
Friday, January 23 |
|
Nowruz |
Persian New Year |
Thursday, March 21 |
Friday, March 21 |
Saturday, 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 Monday, April 22 & evening of Tuesday, April 23 |
Evening of Saturday, April 12 & evening of Sunday, April 13 |
Evening of Wednesday, April 1-evening of Thursday, April 2 |
|
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 Monday, April 22-nightfall Tuesday, April 30 |
Sunset Saturday, April 12-nightfall Sunday, April 20 |
Sunset Wednesday, April 1-nightfall Thursday, April 9 |
|
Holi |
Hindu festival |
Monday, March 25 |
Friday, March 14 |
Tuesday, March 4 |
|
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 Sunday, March 10-Tuesday, April 9 |
Likely evening of Friday, February 28-Sunday, March 30 |
Likely evening of Wednesday, February 18-Thursday, March 19 |
|
Holy Week, including |
Christian observance |
Sunday, March 24- |
Sunday, April 13-Saturday, April 19 |
Sunday, March 29-Saturday, April 4 |
|
Vesak |
Buddhist holiday |
Thursday, May 23 |
Monday, May 12 |
Friday, May 1 |
|
Vaisakhi |
Hindu & Sikh holiday |
Saturday, April 13 |
Monday, April 14 |
Tuesday, April 14 |
|
Mother’s Day (Mexico) |
Mexican cultural celebration |
Friday, May 10 |
Saturday, May 10 |
Sunday, May 10 |
|
Shavuot |
Jewish holiday |
Sunset Tuesday, June 11-nightfall Thursday, June 13 |
Sunset Sunday, June 1-nightfall Tuesday, June 3 |
Sunset Thursday, May 21-nightfall Saturday, May 23 |
|
Juneteenth |
District closed for state & federal holiday |
Wednesday, June 19 |
Thursday, June 19 |
Friday, 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.
