FCPS schools hosting religious events?

[Anonymous]

Received the following email from our school:

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we are in the holy month of Ramadan, we invite you to join us for a special community Iftar dinner. This event is a celebration of unity, cultural respect, and the values that make us ethical global citizens. We aim to create an inclusive space where we can share food, fellowship, and learn from each other's diverse backgrounds. Please join us for an evening of warmth and connection as we break our fast together. This is a wonderful opportunity to build community, foster mutual understanding, and appreciate the rich tapestry of cultures within our school family.

Date: Thursday, March 27th

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Location: Frost Middle School – Lecture Hall

A location for Magrib prayer will be provided for those who want to participate.

To make our Iftar dinner a success, we are asking each family interested in joining to:

contribute a dish to share and indicate the exact dish on the form below. This will help us ensure we have a delicious variety of foods and avoid duplicates.
list the main ingredients of your dish to help with allergy awareness and to celebrate the different ingredients used in our cultures.

Please complete this form if you plan to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

I'm curious if such events are allowed and if any such events are hosted in other schools. I thought FCPS public schools are supposed to be secular no? They haven't hosted any such events for other faiths.

[Anonymous]

Two things;

I thought these type of potlucks were disallowed by the Fairfax County Health Department (relic of the past)

Why would happen if I were to host something similar at Christmas? Because if so, I know several churches that would love to help with programming and staffing.

Could my Jewish friend host a school wide Shabbat or present something on Jewish funeral traditions (something I’ve recently learned about and participated)?

[Anonymous]

Years ago at a talent show, our FCPS ES unwittingly allowed a religious dance that celebrated a deity, complete with a narrator explaining significance. I can only imagine the fallout had I sent my church’s lyrical dance troupe to perform to a Christian song. Or having a DC sing Ave Maria. Wouldn’t have even tried.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two things;

I thought these type of potlucks were disallowed by the Fairfax County Health Department (relic of the past)

Why would happen if I were to host something similar at Christmas? Because if so, I know several churches that would love to help with programming and staffing.

Could my Jewish friend host a school wide Shabbat or present something on Jewish funeral traditions (something I’ve recently learned about and participated)?

I think it would be okay if any and all faith traditions could do it or there was a night where you can make a presentation on your faith and anyone can participate, but this seems inappropriate to me.

But our school does do potlucks.

[Anonymous]

Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Bc it looks like fcps is promoting, advertising, and favoring a specific religious group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Years ago at a talent show, our FCPS ES unwittingly allowed a religious dance that celebrated a deity, complete with a narrator explaining significance. I can only imagine the fallout had I sent my church’s lyrical dance troupe to perform to a Christian song. Or having a DC sing Ave Maria. Wouldn’t have even tried.

Oh please. FCPS choruses regularly sing religious songs at concerts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Bc it looks like fcps is promoting, advertising, and favoring a specific religious group.

YOu're right. Let's cancel spring break and winter break that are both timed around Christian holidays. Wouldn't it make more sense to have those breaks timed around the end of the quarter?

[Anonymous]

MAGA, amirite? God forbid we celebrate any diversity. The war on Christmas, blah blah blah. Just shut it, privileged brats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Bc it looks like fcps is promoting, advertising, and favoring a specific religious group.

Nothing they wouldn’t do for any other religious group. Do you know how many churches use school buildings on Sunday mornings?

And let’s not get into a debate on whether this is constitutional or not. It is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Received the following email from our school:

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we are in the holy month of Ramadan, we invite you to join us for a special community Iftar dinner. This event is a celebration of unity, cultural respect, and the values that make us ethical global citizens. We aim to create an inclusive space where we can share food, fellowship, and learn from each other's diverse backgrounds. Please join us for an evening of warmth and connection as we break our fast together. This is a wonderful opportunity to build community, foster mutual understanding, and appreciate the rich tapestry of cultures within our school family.

Date: Thursday, March 27th

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Location: Frost Middle School – Lecture Hall

A location for Magrib prayer will be provided for those who want to participate.

To make our Iftar dinner a success, we are asking each family interested in joining to:

contribute a dish to share and indicate the exact dish on the form below. This will help us ensure we have a delicious variety of foods and avoid duplicates.
list the main ingredients of your dish to help with allergy awareness and to celebrate the different ingredients used in our cultures.

Please complete this form if you plan to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

I'm curious if such events are allowed and if any such events are hosted in other schools. I thought FCPS public schools are supposed to be secular no? They haven't hosted any such events for other faiths.

This sounds really cool - I think you should attend and learn more about Muslim culture. Sounds like a fantastic learning opportunity and I bet the food will be amazing!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Do you get emails for other communal activities that take place in FCPS?
I don't; not even school sanctioned ones (during or after school hours).

So what makes this group so "special" that FCPS is their PR rep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Bc it looks like fcps is promoting, advertising, and favoring a specific religious group.

It sounds more like they are fostering inclusivity and learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Bc it looks like fcps is promoting, advertising, and favoring a specific religious group.

Nothing they wouldn’t do for any other religious group. Do you know how many churches use school buildings on Sunday mornings?

And let’s not get into a debate on whether this is constitutional or not. It is.

Do the other religions get specialized emails sent out from the FCPS rolodex like the Muslims apparently do?
No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the event is voluntary and outside of normal school hours. What’s the problem?

Do you get emails for other communal activities that take place in FCPS?
I don't; not even school sanctioned ones (during or after school hours).

So what makes this group so "special" that FCPS is their PR rep?

We get it. You are anti-Islam. You think all Muslims are terrorists.