To,
- David S. Joy, Chairman, South Windsor Board of Education
- Craig Zimmerman, Secretary, South Windsor Board of Education
- Kate Carter, Superintendent of Schools, South Windsor School District
Subject: Declaring Diwali has a school holiday
Dear Sirs/Madam,
As you may be aware, Diwali is one of the most commonly celebrated festivals among the Indians. This festival also known as Deepavali, (the "festival of lights") is an ancient Indian festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) every year. Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival in India. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness.
The main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Indian Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.
Diwali for Indians has always been something empowering: a time to reflect on all of the positives within our lives -- our loving friends and family, our good health, and prosperity -- and realize what it is truly important. As Diwali approaches, never lose faith in the fact that the narrative will continue to play itself out -- that the good and virtuous shall always triumph over the evil and spiteful. That within each ourselves, our best, virtuous self will defeat the impulses of ego and tyranny. And for each Diwali that passes by, that in the loud noises and flashy lights, that we never forget why we celebrate this festival in the first place.
We believe that given the number of Indian students in the school district, it will be a great gesture to allow them to have the most important festival declared as an official school holiday. A day where the family can come together and celebrate the victory of good over evil in continuation with our tradition.
Once again, by way of this petition, we the undersigned would put forward our formal request to consider Diwali as an official school holiday for the district.
Thanking you,
Updates
October 12, 2015
The school board has not yet responded to our initial request regarding the holiday calendar. Send an email to David Joy today to demand a formal answer on this proposal. We need to keep this pressure on them until they put us on the agenda.
October 12, 2015
We hit a tipping point today that proves this district is ready for a change. Flood the school board email addresses with your personal stories right now to keep this pressure building.
Reached 100 supporters
October 12, 2015
22 Comments
Growing community here in south windsor so this makes total sense.
Get rid of Columbus Day and celebrate a prominent culture that isn't based on an idiot.
I would like Diwali to be a holiday as it is an integral part of Indian culture and our kids should have an equal oppurtunity to celebrate their culture as well
my kids have to miss school every year for diwali and it really should be recognized by the district now.
PLEASE make this happen. Diwali is the biggest day of the year for my family and the kids shouldnt have to choose between school and celebrating.
I would like to see Sw schools giving diwali as a public holiday.
I don't know what this is, but a day off is a day off so...
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To,
- David S. Joy, Chairman, South Windsor Board of Education
- Craig Zimmerman, Secretary, South Windsor Board of Education
- Kate Carter, Superintendent of Schools, South Windsor School District
Subject: Declaring Diwali has a school holiday
Dear Sirs/Madam,
As you may be aware, Diwali is one of the most commonly celebrated festivals among the Indians. This festival also known as Deepavali, (the "festival of lights") is an ancient Indian festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) every year. Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival in India. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness.
The main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Indian Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.
Diwali for Indians has always been something empowering: a time to reflect on all of the positives within our lives -- our loving friends and family, our good health, and prosperity -- and realize what it is truly important. As Diwali approaches, never lose faith in the fact that the narrative will continue to play itself out -- that the good and virtuous shall always triumph over the evil and spiteful. That within each ourselves, our best, virtuous self will defeat the impulses of ego and tyranny. And for each Diwali that passes by, that in the loud noises and flashy lights, that we never forget why we celebrate this festival in the first place.
We believe that given the number of Indian students in the school district, it will be a great gesture to allow them to have the most important festival declared as an official school holiday. A day where the family can come together and celebrate the victory of good over evil in continuation with our tradition.
Once again, by way of this petition, we the undersigned would put forward our formal request to consider Diwali as an official school holiday for the district.
Thanking you,
Updates
October 12, 2015
The school board has not yet responded to our initial request regarding the holiday calendar. Send an email to David Joy today to demand a formal answer on this proposal. We need to keep this pressure on them until they put us on the agenda.
October 12, 2015
We hit a tipping point today that proves this district is ready for a change. Flood the school board email addresses with your personal stories right now to keep this pressure building.
Reached 100 supporters
October 12, 2015
22 Comments
Time to update the calendar to reflect the students we actually have in our schools.
Growing community here in south windsor so this makes total sense.
Get rid of Columbus Day and celebrate a prominent culture that isn't based on an idiot.
I would like Diwali to be a holiday as it is an integral part of Indian culture and our kids should have an equal oppurtunity to celebrate their culture as well
my kids have to miss school every year for diwali and it really should be recognized by the district now.
PLEASE make this happen. Diwali is the biggest day of the year for my family and the kids shouldnt have to choose between school and celebrating.
I would like to see Sw schools giving diwali as a public holiday.
I don't know what this is, but a day off is a day off so...
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Time to update the calendar to reflect the students we actually have in our schools.