We, the undersigned, want to show support for keeping the holidays of Eid and Diwali on the school calendar for all future school calendar years, including the upcoming school year 2025-2026. In these fraught times, the things that bind a community together is showing respect and appreciation for all the constituents who are our neighbors. Respecting each other’s way of life, religiously and culturally, is one way to show how we value one another. The holidays of Diwali and Eid represent communities of a diverse and rich background who live in the Great Neck district. By acknowledging these holidays, we are able to open doors into each other’s lives and get a chance to learn about the multicultural community that we are all a part of. The best principles we are taught are about embracing one another, learning from and about each other. This gives way to understanding, tolerance, and respect. Diminishing the importance of holidays celebrated by our neighbors is sending a clear message of reducing their value in the community. This is not fostering an environment of inclusivity, but rather feels insensitive, and deliberately dismissive of our fellow community members. Despite the different holidays we celebrate, we are happy to actively advocate for everyone’s place in our school calendar because it is important and holds a place for the students in our schools and members of the community. If we stay silent on issues that are affecting the people around us, then how can we ever build a community that works and grows together? How can we stand with ourselves staying complacent as our fellow friends are feeling sidelined? We all know representation matters, and what is more representative to children at school than seeing their religious and cultural identity celebrated? Why would we want our children to grow up without anyone advocating for the importance of their place, letting them know that they matter? How can we face them after hosting a multicultural event or celebration, but then also tell them in the same breath that their holiday is no longer counted on the school calendar? Will it be reasonable then to tell them that your school board, the educators of this community, do not feel the holiday deserves to be celebrated? The plurality and the celebration of the diverse student body has allowed Lakeville Elementary to become a nationally recognized stand out school in the district as a National Blue Ribbon winner twice, most recently in 2024. We celebrate holidays to incorporate values such as kinship and community. Holidays are meant to unite us, not be the cause of divisions. It is as important to celebrate Diwali and Eid as it is Christmas and Lunar New Year because they bring families and communities together, where we all learn a little more about each other. Even our federal holidays, such as Memorial Day, are celebrated to honor those who sacrificed for our freedoms, regardless of race, religion or cultural differences. How are we poised to go backward instead of forward, where we can quash the rise of xenophobia? If today we start with Eid and Diwali, are we going to continue taking out all holidays until there is nothing left for our neighbors to celebrate?  We are parents, members of this community and district, advocating and representing our community of diverse individuals. We cannot allow ourselves to be the district that is inclusive for some, rather we need to be inclusive for all. Deeming a holiday important or unimportant enough to include in a school calendar where all of our children attend is a slippery slope because that leaves open the possibility of shutting out members of our community and cancelling holidays for any group of people. The question then is where do we stop? Let us not snub or reject holidays deemed important to the students and people of this multicultural district, and instead strive to be a welcoming community that respects and acknowledges its students and members. Let us stay true to our principles of celebrating the diversity of our multiracial, multiethnic society.