After starting an effort that consisted of an online petition with over 450 signatures from students, faculty, and the community, letters to the School Board from supporters, two presentations at Board meetings and another presentation at the Academic Standards Committee Meeting, and support voiced by fellow students at a Board meeting, the Board members unanimously agreed on February 15th, 2018 to pass the motion to approve the 2018-2019 school calendar with November 7th, 2018, Diwali day, recognized as a school holiday. I believe the Board itself should be recognized for being receptive to having this discussion and ultimately agreeing that having Diwali as a holiday is appropriate. I also thank everyone who was in support of this initiative and who dedicated time and effort into making a positive difference in our community. This is a huge step in the right direction and would not have been possible without the support of community members.