WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved a change to district policy that will add several holidays to the calendar, during which events will not be scheduled, whenever possible.
This includes exams, sporting events, assemblies, field trips and back-to-school nights.
The new rule was created as a show of respect for students of all backgrounds and belief systems, and includes holidays from the Islam and Baháʼí faiths.
“The Board honors the rich cultural diversity of our students and our community,” the District stated. “For many students in our schools, the observance of religious and cultural traditions is an important part of their personal, family and community life. These traditions help the students understand and preserve their own value systems, cultures, customs and history.”
Holidays included in the new policy:
- Rosh Hashanah
- Milad un Nabi
- Yom Kippur
- Diwali
- Good Friday
- Christmas
- Kwanzaa
- Ash Wednesday
- Naw Ruz
- Laylat AL Miraj
- Laylat AL Bara’ah
- Passover
- Easter
- Laylat AL Qadr
- Eid-al-Fitr
- Birth of Baha’u’llah
- Eid-al-Adha
- Waqf AL Arafa-Hajj
