We are asking Virginia Beach School Board and Administration to create a school calendar that recognizes and honors the diversity of cultures and religions within our school system. 

We ask that a new category of day be added to school calendars that acknowledges different, important spiritual or cultural days to members of our community by noting them on the calendar and notating that no tests, field trips, school events, athletic, extra-curricular events or try-outs be held on these days.  

This would prevent situations such as occurred during the 2021-2022 school year when school tours and meet the teacher days were held on the Jewish Holy day of Rosh Hashanah at numerous schools. It would prevent a family from not being able to participate or see a school concert or play if it is scheduled on Eid al-Fitr or Ash Wednesday. Or a student from missing additional class time to make up a test scheduled on Diwali. Considering that many of our current calendar decisions often revolves around significant Christian religious holidays, we acknowledge that this is not unprecedented to do within our division.

As several other school divisions within Virginia have begun doing this successfully, we recognize that this would likely impact only 8-15 of the 180 school days that we have.  We suggest identification of these days or additional challenges be identified by religious or cultural community leaders. We additionally call for creation of a school board bylaw indicating same for all calendars going forward following this consultation.