	Site Index \| Site Options \| Contact Us
	Loading

District Calendars

Cultural dates of significance

ASD serves a diverse population and takes pride in our sensitivity to the various cultures that live in our community. As a public school system we are required by the U.S. Constitution to maintain religious neutrality. We should neither encourage nor discourage religious activity.

The following guidelines and resources are an attempt to more clearly articulate current policy and offer assistance to ASD employees in determining the appropriateness of school activities as they relate to important events and activities around religious holidays and cultural dates of significance.

Superintendent Comeau's "special days" memo (PDF), revised June 13, 2011; includes special days calendar for 2010-11. See below for list of dates on which activities cannot be scheduled.
ASD Memorandum # 2, 2007-08 (PDF) - School Board Policy Addition: Section 350.2 Scheduling Procedures for Cultural Dates of Significance (Second Reading)
School Board policy section 350 - Addressing Religious Beliefs and Customs

Guidelines for planning school activities during the holiday season
"Merry Christmas" has not been banned, by Superintendent Comeau
Sample scenarios (PDF) in school to determine if school is following policy, created by the Anti-Defamation League
Sample school newsletter (PDF) explaining policy and how it will affect the classroom
Lesson plans (PDF) - class lessons and activities for inclusive celebrations
Staff celebration ideas (PDF) – various ways to get the holiday spirit

Dates on which activities^± cannot be scheduled

In order to maximize student involvement in school activities and to accommodate the needs of students and families, no after-school activity shall be scheduled or hosted by the district on the dates listed below.

^±Activities include but are not limited to: sports team competitions, school open houses, academic competitions, dances, student performances, retreats and student government conferences. This prohibition does not include regular practices or regular club meetings.

The following are days on which activities shall not be scheduled. The board may add or subtract from this list at a single board meeting as long as the action is on the agenda and properly noticed in advance. [Anchorage School Board policy 350.2]

Printable version (PDF)

U.S. holidays	Observance	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16
	New Year's Day	Jan. 1, 2012	Jan. 1, 2013	Jan. 1, 2014	Jan. 1, 2015	Jan. 1, 2016
	Thanksgiving Day	Nov. 24, 2011	Nov. 22, 2012	Nov. 28, 2013	Nov. 27, 2014	Nov. 26, 2015
Religion	Observance	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16
Christianity	Christmas	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 25, 2012	Dec. 25, 2013	Dec. 25, 2014	Dec. 25, 2015
	Good Friday	April 6, 2012	March 29, 2013	April 18, 2014	April 3, 2015	March 25, 2016
	Easter	April 8, 2012	March 31, 2013	April 20, 2014	April 5, 2015	March 27, 2016
Christianity/ Orthodox	Christmas	Jan. 7, 2012	Jan. 7, 2013	Jan. 7, 2014	Jan. 7, 2015	Jan. 7, 2016
Christianity/ Orthodox	Easter/Pascha	April 15, 2012	May 5, 2013	April 20, 2014	April 12, 2015	May 1, 2016
Islam	Eid al Fitr (Breaking of Fast)	Aug. 31, 2011^	Aug. 19, 2012^	Aug. 8, 2013^	July 29, 2014^	July 18, 2015^
Islam	Eid al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)	Nov. 7, 2011^	Oct. 26, 2012^	Oct. 15, 2013^	Oct. 5, 2014^	Sept. 24, 2015^
Judaism	Rosh Hashana (New Year)	Sept. 29*-30, 2011	Sept. 17*-18, 2012	Sept. 5*-6, 2013	Sept. 24*-25, 2014	Sept. 14*-15, 2015
	Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)	Oct. 8, 2011*	Sept. 26, 2012*	Sept. 14, 2013*	Oct. 4, 2014*	Sept. 23, 2015*
	Pesach (Passover)	April 7*-8, 2012	March 26*-27, 2013	April 15*-16, 2014	April 4*-5, 2015	April 23*-24, 2016
These holidays begin at sundown the previous* day. Passover lasts seven days (while some observe eight), however our local Jewish community considers the first two days the most important for seders.
^These holidays begin at sundown the previous day. The Islamic calendar is based on lunar observation. Dates may vary based on local lunar sightings; visit www.alaskamasjid.com for more information.

Calendar

2011-12

Other calendars

District Calendars

Cultural dates of significance

Dates on which activities± cannot be scheduled

Dates on which activities^± cannot be scheduled