As residents of Hicksville School District we are proud of the diversity of religions and cultures that make us such a wonderful place to live and raise a family.  As the Muslim community has grown in our area, several neighboring districts, including NYC, East Meadow, Jericho, Syosset, Valley Stream, Herricks and several others have closed schools in observance of the Muslim Holidays of Eid-Al-Adha and Eid-Al-Fitr. 

Closing school allows Muslim children to celebrate their most sacred holidays without fear of falling behind in school or being at an academic disadvantage to their classmates.  In today’s highly competitive academic environment, this amounts to asking Muslim students to choose between their academics and their faith.

Adding the Eid Holidays would amount to closing school 1-2 days an academic year.  Given how the holidays fall on the school calendar in the next several years, the impact would generally be one day.  This day could easily be absorbed with little impact on our existing calendar. It is also important to note that since the largest district in the State, New York City, is closed in observance of Eid, this will ensure that closing on the day will not have an impact on testing or any other state mandated requirements of the district academically.

Please help show your support for adding the Eid Holidays to the school calendar in our Hicksville School District. Please show the Board of Education that we are a welcoming and inclusive community who supports and embraces diversity.