Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 07:11     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is completely ridiculous. Also it means they are going below required days to add a new last minute holiday. Fccps definitely got this one right when they removed all religious holidays from the calendar. Fccps also has the last day of school on June 7th rather than going until June 18th.


FFX last day is June 7?! Why are we going nearly 10 days longer? We need to revisit the calendar. I’m all for aligning with FFX if they have more common sense!


Not Fairfax. Falls Church City. FFX started & ends a week earlier than APS.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 07:10     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
I thought the celebration started Friday evening at sunset?
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 07:07     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’ll admit the only thing I know about Scientology is that Tom Cruise is a member of the religion.

But COME ON. APS should not cancel school because of what’s going on with the moon.

And people wonder why Trump won.

School is more important than any religious holiday. The only reason we MUST close for Christmas is because there is a significant enough drop in attendance during those days to warrant it.

Cut the religious holidays and go back to excusing absences. Let’s not be held hostage by those whose religious dates can be moved on a whim.

FFS.


I believe the concern is bus drivers and other stuff to be honest.

If that is the case they need to state that it is for operational efficiency. FWIW most of the bus drivers at the school I work at are Eastern Orthodox and attendance has never been a problem, worst case scenario when many people are out they do a double run (I've had bus duty for years)
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 07:03     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:I’ll admit the only thing I know about Scientology is that Tom Cruise is a member of the religion.

But COME ON. APS should not cancel school because of what’s going on with the moon.

And people wonder why Trump won.

School is more important than any religious holiday. The only reason we MUST close for Christmas is because there is a significant enough drop in attendance during those days to warrant it.

Cut the religious holidays and go back to excusing absences. Let’s not be held hostage by those whose religious dates can be moved on a whim.

FFS.


I believe the concern is bus drivers and other stuff to be honest.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 07:02     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
This is the only place I’ve seen this discussed. I encourage you to share to your school FB groups.
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 06:58     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
You need to write the school board members individually. The group alias does not go to individual members - they only receive a short summary. Emails are below:

miranda.turner@apsva.us,
kathleen.clark2@apsva.us,
mary.kadera@apsva.us,
bethany.zechersutton@apsva.us,
zuraya.tapiahadley@apsva.us
superintendent@apsva.us
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 06:07     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why couldn't they figure out the date of a holiday in advance? This is crazy


Eid dates shift because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning it is based on the cycles of the moon. It was supposed to be observed Saturday, but the date/sighting of the most recent new moon changed it to Friday. That being said- closing and cancelling all of these end of year activities for a small percentage of the school community is absurd.


The schedule for the moon is based upon orbital propagation and as well known ahead of time. There is no surprise here.


Sorry but you’re incorrect. While it is true that there is a published calendar of moon cycles, for these specific Islamic holidays, It requires verification by human eyesight at the beginning of the new moon cycle. If that is not seen until a day later than published originally, it would push Eid a day later.


NP. I still don’t understand how this isn’t known in advance. Was it not verified because of the cloudy weather?


That can be a factor, yes.



So they might cancel school because…it was CLOUDY that day?



Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 06:04     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:Any other events on June 6 that will need to be cancelled or rescheduled?

Multiple dances
Field trips
The SOL testing window is still open
Field days
Anonymous
Post 05/15/2025 05:50     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Any other events on June 6 that will need to be cancelled or rescheduled?
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2025 23:26     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:Please write to the school board instead of (or in addition to) posting here!!! At the end of the day, they are elected and if they feel enough pressure maybe they will stop making unpopular decisions.


Yes, will do!!
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2025 23:08     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Please write to the school board instead of (or in addition to) posting here!!! At the end of the day, they are elected and if they feel enough pressure maybe they will stop making unpopular decisions.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2025 23:07     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:This is completely ridiculous. Also it means they are going below required days to add a new last minute holiday. Fccps definitely got this one right when they removed all religious holidays from the calendar. Fccps also has the last day of school on June 7th rather than going until June 18th.


FFX last day is June 7?! Why are we going nearly 10 days longer? We need to revisit the calendar. I’m all for aligning with FFX if they have more common sense!
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2025 23:03     Subject: Re:APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:We need to revise the PIP that controls calendar creation to only allow for holidays where the date is known for certain at least a year in advance.


This. Enough with the religious holidays that have a minority of observers. They can be excused, but don’t cancel school and school events for multiple Islamic holidays that are not known unto 3 weeks ahead of time!
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2025 22:59     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why couldn't they figure out the date of a holiday in advance? This is crazy


Eid dates shift because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning it is based on the cycles of the moon. It was supposed to be observed Saturday, but the date/sighting of the most recent new moon changed it to Friday. That being said- closing and cancelling all of these end of year activities for a small percentage of the school community is absurd.


The schedule for the moon is based upon orbital propagation and as well known ahead of time. There is no surprise here.


Sorry but you’re incorrect. While it is true that there is a published calendar of moon cycles, for these specific Islamic holidays, It requires verification by human eyesight at the beginning of the new moon cycle. If that is not seen until a day later than published originally, it would push Eid a day later.


I’m sure the kids with cancelled field trips and school dances will understand.


I’m not saying that APS should change the date of when the school is observing it, just explaining why it changes. I think there should be a policy that it will not change no matter what date the moon is seen, etc. Completely absurd to cancel these end of year celebrations for a very Small population of student/teacher teachers.


It is absolutely ridiculous!
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2025 22:58     Subject: APS Holiday 6/6
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Don’t you mean for next year? Eid Was already observed this year 3/31.

No, check the weekly update, there's another one


Two Eids?

This is for Eid al Adha

I think this is a great time for APS to reconsider going back to excused absences for religious observations.


+100