The Indian/South Asian/Hindu population accounts for a good percentage of the overall student body in the Herricks School District.  

With a population of at least 20%, we ask the district to embrace the diversity and recognize Diwali as a formal holiday as part of it's school calendar of days off.

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, held in the period October to November. It is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and marks the beginning of the fiscal year in India.

It is like Christmas and New Years combined.

Currently,  students have the option of taking the day off and making up missed work.  However, many parents, who stress education as top priority,  hesitate to keep their children at home to celebrate and will leave the revelry for the weekend.

Diwali is a well known holiday and we request that the Herricks Board take the lead in embracing and recognizing the culture of it's student body.