Anonymous
08/27/2025 13:06
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Religious holiday closures are a failed experiment. Give all students and staff 2 personal holidays. If you want to ensure operational efficacy have them be payable if they don’t get used.
+1. The only winner of this experiment is Syphax. Syphax gets a paid holiday for every single one of these holidays. They want more holidays on the schedule.
Anonymous
08/27/2025 13:01
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why Arlington got the date wrong - FCPS and Loudoun have had the correct date this whole time. Someone messed up.
Because they don't really care and there aren't many people who celebrate Diwali in APS anyway. This is just for woke points. They should have the Orthodox Holidays off if they want to give days off that a sizable population of the school (students and staff) celebrate but they are just following the other districts.
I would like to see a coherent rationale from APS admin on why they have chosen to observe certain holidays and not observe other holidays. They added them in a few years ago, so they have data on attendance before the added holidays.
There is no coherent rationale, beyond “celebrating diversity” and “recognizing different religions.” Occasionally you hear that FCPS studied it and found higher absence rates those days, as if APS and FCPS were exactly the same and had the same populations and therefore same operational impacts. Which we know is untrue.
But no coherent, Constitutional rationale has been offered for APS to recognize, say Diwali, and not the orthodox holidays.
I suspect there are also far fewer people who observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur than the Orthodox Holidays and Lunar New Year. That's definitely true in our school population, if not APS as a whole.
Remember it's not just the kids it's the teachers.
Give them two paid days off and offer extra pay for subs if there is a real operational issue.
Anonymous
08/27/2025 11:24
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why Arlington got the date wrong - FCPS and Loudoun have had the correct date this whole time. Someone messed up.
Because they don't really care and there aren't many people who celebrate Diwali in APS anyway. This is just for woke points. They should have the Orthodox Holidays off if they want to give days off that a sizable population of the school (students and staff) celebrate but they are just following the other districts.
I would like to see a coherent rationale from APS admin on why they have chosen to observe certain holidays and not observe other holidays. They added them in a few years ago, so they have data on attendance before the added holidays.
There is no coherent rationale, beyond “celebrating diversity” and “recognizing different religions.” Occasionally you hear that FCPS studied it and found higher absence rates those days, as if APS and FCPS were exactly the same and had the same populations and therefore same operational impacts. Which we know is untrue.
But no coherent, Constitutional rationale has been offered for APS to recognize, say Diwali, and not the orthodox holidays.
I suspect there are also far fewer people who observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur than the Orthodox Holidays and Lunar New Year. That's definitely true in our school population, if not APS as a whole.
Remember it's not just the kids it's the teachers.
Anonymous
08/27/2025 10:49
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why Arlington got the date wrong - FCPS and Loudoun have had the correct date this whole time. Someone messed up.
Because they don't really care and there aren't many people who celebrate Diwali in APS anyway. This is just for woke points. They should have the Orthodox Holidays off if they want to give days off that a sizable population of the school (students and staff) celebrate but they are just following the other districts.
I would like to see a coherent rationale from APS admin on why they have chosen to observe certain holidays and not observe other holidays. They added them in a few years ago, so they have data on attendance before the added holidays.
There is no coherent rationale, beyond “celebrating diversity” and “recognizing different religions.” Occasionally you hear that FCPS studied it and found higher absence rates those days, as if APS and FCPS were exactly the same and had the same populations and therefore same operational impacts. Which we know is untrue.
But no coherent, Constitutional rationale has been offered for APS to recognize, say Diwali, and not the orthodox holidays.
I suspect there are also far fewer people who observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur than the Orthodox Holidays and Lunar New Year. That's definitely true in our school population, if not APS as a whole.
Anonymous
08/27/2025 10:46
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why Arlington got the date wrong - FCPS and Loudoun have had the correct date this whole time. Someone messed up.
+1 Because they're incompetent. The date of Diwali is known well in advance. APS just screwed up.
Anonymous
08/27/2025 10:42
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
I really wish they would just do away with the religious holidays altogether. Christmas is a federal holiday so that ship has sailed. But separate spring break from Easter and then get rid of all the rest of them. It’s not like all religions are represented anyway. Allow people excused absences and be done with it.
Anonymous
08/27/2025 09:03
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Some religions are being elevated over others without any evidence of operational efficiency. APS policy is unconstitutional and should be reported to the new Trump tip line.
Anonymous
08/25/2025 17:47
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
PP here who posted the email addresses. I got a reply from the APS chief of staff, brian.stockton@apsva.us
If you feel strongly about this issue, please email him and the school board!
If you feel strongly about this issue, please email him and the school board!
Anonymous
08/25/2025 15:39
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why Arlington got the date wrong - FCPS and Loudoun have had the correct date this whole time. Someone messed up.
Because they don't really care and there aren't many people who celebrate Diwali in APS anyway. This is just for woke points. They should have the Orthodox Holidays off if they want to give days off that a sizable population of the school (students and staff) celebrate but they are just following the other districts.
I would like to see a coherent rationale from APS admin on why they have chosen to observe certain holidays and not observe other holidays. They added them in a few years ago, so they have data on attendance before the added holidays.
There is no coherent rationale, beyond “celebrating diversity” and “recognizing different religions.” Occasionally you hear that FCPS studied it and found higher absence rates those days, as if APS and FCPS were exactly the same and had the same populations and therefore same operational impacts. Which we know is untrue.
But no coherent, Constitutional rationale has been offered for APS to recognize, say Diwali, and not the orthodox holidays.
Anonymous
08/25/2025 12:50
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why Arlington got the date wrong - FCPS and Loudoun have had the correct date this whole time. Someone messed up.
Because they don't really care and there aren't many people who celebrate Diwali in APS anyway. This is just for woke points. They should have the Orthodox Holidays off if they want to give days off that a sizable population of the school (students and staff) celebrate but they are just following the other districts.
I would like to see a coherent rationale from APS admin on why they have chosen to observe certain holidays and not observe other holidays. They added them in a few years ago, so they have data on attendance before the added holidays.
They elected to go down this slippery slope of recognizing some religions...which now opens the door to others who will seek the same day-off recognition. You either observe ALL religions or NONE. Considering that even some school administrators have remarked about the lack of convincing 5 day school weeks, it's time to recognize none.
Of course, now that they've opened this Pandora's box, eliminating one or many religious observations means hurt feelings, mass attendance at school board meetings, and religious-fueled pressure on the board. What a mess.
They can go ahead and schedule school on Christmas if that’s what it takes to fix this. No one will go, we will all use our holiday allotments, and everything will be fair.
I’m good with them dropping Christmas. We won’t show up on Christmas but it makes zero difference to us if it’s on some arbitrary school calendar.
Anonymous
08/25/2025 12:46
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why Arlington got the date wrong - FCPS and Loudoun have had the correct date this whole time. Someone messed up.
Because they don't really care and there aren't many people who celebrate Diwali in APS anyway. This is just for woke points. They should have the Orthodox Holidays off if they want to give days off that a sizable population of the school (students and staff) celebrate but they are just following the other districts.
I would like to see a coherent rationale from APS admin on why they have chosen to observe certain holidays and not observe other holidays. They added them in a few years ago, so they have data on attendance before the added holidays.
They elected to go down this slippery slope of recognizing some religions...which now opens the door to others who will seek the same day-off recognition. You either observe ALL religions or NONE. Considering that even some school administrators have remarked about the lack of convincing 5 day school weeks, it's time to recognize none.
Of course, now that they've opened this Pandora's box, eliminating one or many religious observations means hurt feelings, mass attendance at school board meetings, and religious-fueled pressure on the board. What a mess.
They can go ahead and schedule school on Christmas if that’s what it takes to fix this. No one will go, we will all use our holiday allotments, and everything will be fair.
Christmas is a Federal Holiday. There’s no school on any federal holiday.
Anonymous
08/25/2025 12:44
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why Arlington got the date wrong - FCPS and Loudoun have had the correct date this whole time. Someone messed up.
Because they don't really care and there aren't many people who celebrate Diwali in APS anyway. This is just for woke points. They should have the Orthodox Holidays off if they want to give days off that a sizable population of the school (students and staff) celebrate but they are just following the other districts.
I would like to see a coherent rationale from APS admin on why they have chosen to observe certain holidays and not observe other holidays. They added them in a few years ago, so they have data on attendance before the added holidays.
They elected to go down this slippery slope of recognizing some religions...which now opens the door to others who will seek the same day-off recognition. You either observe ALL religions or NONE. Considering that even some school administrators have remarked about the lack of convincing 5 day school weeks, it's time to recognize none.
Of course, now that they've opened this Pandora's box, eliminating one or many religious observations means hurt feelings, mass attendance at school board meetings, and religious-fueled pressure on the board. What a mess.
They can go ahead and schedule school on Christmas if that’s what it takes to fix this. No one will go, we will all use our holiday allotments, and everything will be fair.
Anonymous
08/25/2025 12:34
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why Arlington got the date wrong - FCPS and Loudoun have had the correct date this whole time. Someone messed up.
Because they don't really care and there aren't many people who celebrate Diwali in APS anyway. This is just for woke points. They should have the Orthodox Holidays off if they want to give days off that a sizable population of the school (students and staff) celebrate but they are just following the other districts.
I would like to see a coherent rationale from APS admin on why they have chosen to observe certain holidays and not observe other holidays. They added them in a few years ago, so they have data on attendance before the added holidays.
They elected to go down this slippery slope of recognizing some religions...which now opens the door to others who will seek the same day-off recognition. You either observe ALL religions or NONE. Considering that even some school administrators have remarked about the lack of convincing 5 day school weeks, it's time to recognize none.
Of course, now that they've opened this Pandora's box, eliminating one or many religious observations means hurt feelings, mass attendance at school board meetings, and religious-fueled pressure on the board. What a mess.
Yes I agree that it should be all or none. Since they have been trying to be inclusive of everyone, the schools also need to close on Nowruz, Persian New Year (typically March 20). It’s only fair.
Anonymous
08/25/2025 12:11
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Religious holiday closures are a failed experiment. Give all students and staff 2 personal holidays. If you want to ensure operational efficacy have them be payable if they don’t get used.
This x100
Anonymous
08/25/2025 12:10
Subject: PSA- Diwali day off date change
Anonymous wrote:Religious holiday closures are a failed experiment. Give all students and staff 2 personal holidays. If you want to ensure operational efficacy have them be payable if they don’t get used.
If you want operational efficiency, you also need to tell teachers and staff to NOT schedule tests or big events on the big holidays. Personally, I like the variety of holidays because it makes me more aware of other cultures. What I don't understand is why dates sometimes change, and if a date might change, why APS doesn't clearly note that on the calendar.