APS Holiday 6/6

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Response from School Board on June 6 holiday:

Thank you for contacting the School Board regarding the proposed calendar change for Friday, June 6, 2025. We have received your message and will share it with the appropriate staff members.

We understand that changes to the school calendar can significantly impact our community, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.



This proposed change is based on our calendar policy, which requires us to recognize certain holidays that fall during the school week—including Eid al Adha. The need for this revision arose due to a recent update in the timing of Eid al Adha, which is now expected to begin after sunset on Thursday, June 5. Because this updated timing was confirmed only earlier this week (on Monday), the proposal is being brought forward on short notice.



The School Board will review and vote on this proposed change at its meeting this evening, May 15, 2025. We will communicate the outcome once a decision has been made. If the Board approves making June 6 a holiday, the Superintendent’s Office will work closely with schools that have events scheduled on that date to ensure appropriate back-up plans are in place.

I feel so bad for all the kids who are having their activities cancelled. Eid begins at sundown. There is no reason to make this change. Other districts aren’t.

Eid actually now begins at sundown on the 5th.

Someone please identify where this is stated?

Do you have any Muslim friends? I guess not.

About 10% of the population of Arlington is Muslim. You think everyone should have a Muslim friend who tells them about every upcoming holiday?

If you are curious about why Eid al-Adha's date changed and the customs regarding when they start the celebrations, asking a diverse friend who has been celebrating these holidays all their life is a good place to start. I hope you consider them friend-worthy outside of advocating for eliminating their holidays from their kid's school calendar, otherwise it sure would be awkward.

My understanding is that it's a multi-day celebration. Should we take all the days just to be sure?

I'm okay with that.

Again, asking a trusted Muslim friend instead of promoting logical fallacies an anon board will spare you from looking stupid. But I know you don't care about them, so stay mad about other people's holidays inconveniencing your family.

I don't think people are as callous as your post suggests. The calendar is planned in advance for a reason. People don't have limitless days off to watch their kids. I think that's what most people are reacting to.

+1

It’s also the time of year where many people are taking off for field trips, promotions, field days, graduations etc. not everyone has a flexible job where they can tell their boss “oops, I need this day off instead”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear Williamsburg Families,


Yesterday, the Superintendent’s Weekly Newsletter announced a proposed calendar change to make Friday, June 6, 2025, an APS holiday to commemorate Eid al-Adha. On December 14, 2023, the School Board approved the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 School Year Calendars and added the holiday in the 2025-2026 year.

Understandably, many families have expressed their concern about the late change to this year’s school calendar. This change will affect:

- SOL testing and make-up dates

- Graduation for Eunice Kennedy Shriver families

- Students who rely on APS for meals due to food insecurity

- Child care programs that follow the APS calendar

- Non-refundable school related field trips and activities



Tonight, the School Board will vote to approve this change. The meeting is open to the public and those who wish to speak may register in person between 6:15-6:45 p.m. at the Syphax Education Center. Tonight’s agenda can be accessed here. More information about APS School Board meetings can also be found on their site.



You may also contact the School Board to express your concerns.



Dr. Francisco Duran, Superintendent

[e-mail]

703-228-8634 (option 7)



Brian Stockton, Chief of Staff

[e-mail]

703-228-8634



Mary Kadera, Chair (Term Expires 12/31/25)

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Bethany Zecher Sutton, Vice-Chair (Term Expires 12/31/26)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Miranda Turner, Member (Term Expires 12/31/2027)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Kathleen Clark, Member (Term Expires 12/31/2028)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, Member

[e-mail]

703-228-6015

Did the school or PTA send this out?

[Anonymous]

Reposting this for the phone numbers, it is not too late to call.

Absolute lunacy a large public school system would entertain moving a graduation, canceling all events, and burdening 30,000 students, their parents and teachers, literally last minute, for a religious holiday that many countries do observe on different days (and for several days) because that is how variable it is.

Anonymous wrote:Dear Williamsburg Families,


Yesterday, the Superintendent’s Weekly Newsletter announced a proposed calendar change to make Friday, June 6, 2025, an APS holiday to commemorate Eid al-Adha. On December 14, 2023, the School Board approved the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 School Year Calendars and added the holiday in the 2025-2026 year.

Understandably, many families have expressed their concern about the late change to this year’s school calendar. This change will affect:

- SOL testing and make-up dates

- Graduation for Eunice Kennedy Shriver families

- Students who rely on APS for meals due to food insecurity

- Child care programs that follow the APS calendar

- Non-refundable school related field trips and activities



Tonight, the School Board will vote to approve this change. The meeting is open to the public and those who wish to speak may register in person between 6:15-6:45 p.m. at the Syphax Education Center. Tonight’s agenda can be accessed here. More information about APS School Board meetings can also be found on their site.



You may also contact the School Board to express your concerns.



Dr. Francisco Duran, Superintendent

[e-mail]

703-228-8634 (option 7)



Brian Stockton, Chief of Staff

[e-mail]

703-228-8634



Mary Kadera, Chair (Term Expires 12/31/25)

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Bethany Zecher Sutton, Vice-Chair (Term Expires 12/31/26)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Miranda Turner, Member (Term Expires 12/31/2027)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Kathleen Clark, Member (Term Expires 12/31/2028)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, Member

[e-mail]

703-228-6015

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Williamsburg Families,


Yesterday, the Superintendent’s Weekly Newsletter announced a proposed calendar change to make Friday, June 6, 2025, an APS holiday to commemorate Eid al-Adha. On December 14, 2023, the School Board approved the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 School Year Calendars and added the holiday in the 2025-2026 year.

Understandably, many families have expressed their concern about the late change to this year’s school calendar. This change will affect:

- SOL testing and make-up dates

- Graduation for Eunice Kennedy Shriver families

- Students who rely on APS for meals due to food insecurity

- Child care programs that follow the APS calendar

- Non-refundable school related field trips and activities



Tonight, the School Board will vote to approve this change. The meeting is open to the public and those who wish to speak may register in person between 6:15-6:45 p.m. at the Syphax Education Center. Tonight’s agenda can be accessed here. More information about APS School Board meetings can also be found on their site.



You may also contact the School Board to express your concerns.



Dr. Francisco Duran, Superintendent

[e-mail]

703-228-8634 (option 7)



Brian Stockton, Chief of Staff

[e-mail]

703-228-8634



Mary Kadera, Chair (Term Expires 12/31/25)

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Bethany Zecher Sutton, Vice-Chair (Term Expires 12/31/26)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Miranda Turner, Member (Term Expires 12/31/2027)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Kathleen Clark, Member (Term Expires 12/31/2028)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, Member

[e-mail]

703-228-6015

Did the school or PTA send this out?

PTA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Williamsburg Families,


Yesterday, the Superintendent’s Weekly Newsletter announced a proposed calendar change to make Friday, June 6, 2025, an APS holiday to commemorate Eid al-Adha. On December 14, 2023, the School Board approved the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 School Year Calendars and added the holiday in the 2025-2026 year.

Understandably, many families have expressed their concern about the late change to this year’s school calendar. This change will affect:

- SOL testing and make-up dates

- Graduation for Eunice Kennedy Shriver families

- Students who rely on APS for meals due to food insecurity

- Child care programs that follow the APS calendar

- Non-refundable school related field trips and activities



Tonight, the School Board will vote to approve this change. The meeting is open to the public and those who wish to speak may register in person between 6:15-6:45 p.m. at the Syphax Education Center. Tonight’s agenda can be accessed here. More information about APS School Board meetings can also be found on their site.



You may also contact the School Board to express your concerns.



Dr. Francisco Duran, Superintendent

[e-mail]

703-228-8634 (option 7)



Brian Stockton, Chief of Staff

[e-mail]

703-228-8634



Mary Kadera, Chair (Term Expires 12/31/25)

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Bethany Zecher Sutton, Vice-Chair (Term Expires 12/31/26)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Miranda Turner, Member (Term Expires 12/31/2027)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Kathleen Clark, Member (Term Expires 12/31/2028)

[e-mail]

703-228-6015



Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, Member

[e-mail]

703-228-6015

Did the school or PTA send this out?

PTA

Good for them.

[Anonymous]

APS is such a dumpster fire now and clearly doesn’t care about education. They add all of these useless days to make up for the bs holidays they added in. I’m taking my kids out of school starting June 9. APS can feel free to send their stupid text messages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS is such a dumpster fire now and clearly doesn’t care about education. They add all of these useless days to make up for the bs holidays they added in. I’m taking my kids out of school starting June 9. APS can feel free to send their stupid text messages.

You must have a young student. HS students have finals that are a good percentage of their grade. I guess do this while you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is such a dumpster fire now and clearly doesn’t care about education. They add all of these useless days to make up for the bs holidays they added in. I’m taking my kids out of school starting June 9. APS can feel free to send their stupid text messages.

You must have a young student. HS students have finals that are a good percentage of their grade. I guess do this while you can.

I will! In HS they can ditch as soon as they take their last exam. Assuming they are still in public school then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is such a dumpster fire now and clearly doesn’t care about education. They add all of these useless days to make up for the bs holidays they added in. I’m taking my kids out of school starting June 9. APS can feel free to send their stupid text messages.

You must have a young student. HS students have finals that are a good percentage of their grade. I guess do this while you can.

I will! In HS they can ditch as soon as they take their last exam. Assuming they are still in public school then.

The last exam is on the last day, lady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is such a dumpster fire now and clearly doesn’t care about education. They add all of these useless days to make up for the bs holidays they added in. I’m taking my kids out of school starting June 9. APS can feel free to send their stupid text messages.

You must have a young student. HS students have finals that are a good percentage of their grade. I guess do this while you can.

I will! In HS they can ditch as soon as they take their last exam. Assuming they are still in public school then.

The last exam is on the last day, lady.

That’s too bad for the HS students. Too bad Arlington keeps electing incompetent school board members who do that to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS is such a dumpster fire now and clearly doesn’t care about education. They add all of these useless days to make up for the bs holidays they added in. I’m taking my kids out of school starting June 9. APS can feel free to send their stupid text messages.

I feel the same was as a staff member, My kid can miss school whenever he wants and I'm taking as much leave as they give me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Response from School Board on June 6 holiday:

Thank you for contacting the School Board regarding the proposed calendar change for Friday, June 6, 2025. We have received your message and will share it with the appropriate staff members.

We understand that changes to the school calendar can significantly impact our community, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.



This proposed change is based on our calendar policy, which requires us to recognize certain holidays that fall during the school week—including Eid al Adha. The need for this revision arose due to a recent update in the timing of Eid al Adha, which is now expected to begin after sunset on Thursday, June 5. Because this updated timing was confirmed only earlier this week (on Monday), the proposal is being brought forward on short notice.



The School Board will review and vote on this proposed change at its meeting this evening, May 15, 2025. We will communicate the outcome once a decision has been made. If the Board approves making June 6 a holiday, the Superintendent’s Office will work closely with schools that have events scheduled on that date to ensure appropriate back-up plans are in place.

I feel so bad for all the kids who are having their activities cancelled. Eid begins at sundown. There is no reason to make this change. Other districts aren’t.

Eid actually now begins at sundown on the 5th.

HB’s graduation is the evening of June 5, and Shriver’s is on June 6. So would those need to be rescheduled?
https://www.apsva.us/graduation/

Wow it is terrible that there is a graduation planned for this day and they would consider canceling and moving that. People plan travel around that, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS is such a dumpster fire now and clearly doesn’t care about education. They add all of these useless days to make up for the bs holidays they added in. I’m taking my kids out of school starting June 9. APS can feel free to send their stupid text messages.

The irony of this when they are peddling their new attendance report and telling us how important it is to attend school. Do they not connect the dots that this kind of thing and all the random days off and snow days when there is a flake on the ground somewhere contribute to the idea that nobody is serious about any of it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is such a dumpster fire now and clearly doesn’t care about education. They add all of these useless days to make up for the bs holidays they added in. I’m taking my kids out of school starting June 9. APS can feel free to send their stupid text messages.

The irony of this when they are peddling their new attendance report and telling us how important it is to attend school. Do they not connect the dots that this kind of thing and all the random days off and snow days when there is a flake on the ground somewhere contribute to the idea that nobody is serious about any of it?

I’ve sent emails explicitly connecting the dots for them. As a career DEI guy, that's all Durán sees. He will prioritize the surface level equity angle every time without seeing how all the pieces fit together, even if the end result harms the very students he thought he was helping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is such a dumpster fire now and clearly doesn’t care about education. They add all of these useless days to make up for the bs holidays they added in. I’m taking my kids out of school starting June 9. APS can feel free to send their stupid text messages.

The irony of this when they are peddling their new attendance report and telling us how important it is to attend school. Do they not connect the dots that this kind of thing and all the random days off and snow days when there is a flake on the ground somewhere contribute to the idea that nobody is serious about any of it?

I’ve sent emails explicitly connecting the dots for them. As a career DEI guy, that's all Durán sees. He will prioritize the surface level equity angle every time without seeing how all the pieces fit together, even if the end result harms the very students he thought he was helping.

Duran won't have to worry, incoming board member Monique Bryant already endorsed keeping him on.