The school board just confirmed that Diwali will be officially recognized on our academic calendar. I am honestly in shock that we reached this point so quickly and I know this is entirely because you chose to support this vision. Please keep an eye on the schedule for next year …
May 24, 2022
Recognize Diwali as an official holiday on school's academic calendar under Pennridge School District
Final supporters
To
The Superintendent and Entire School Board of Pennridge School District
We are residents of Pennridge School District and our children would like to represent the Indian & South Asian Community in Pennridge Elementary, Middle, and High School.
In this petition, we would like to request the Superintendent & Board members to recognize Diwali as an official holiday on the school's academic calendar for all schools under the Pennridge School District.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most popular festivals in India & South Asia and is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. It is very similar to other cultural, religious holidays, is a major part of Indian culture, and is celebrated by lighting lamps, making sweets, and exchanging gifts. The Indian & South Asian population in the community is consistently rising. Currently, students are forced to take the day off, sacrificing lessons and miss school, making them torn between school work and religious/cultural duties.
Recognizing the day as an official holiday means no student needs to compromise between their education and religion. Further, it also brings more awareness to the religion and will make students more aware and empathetic. CB along with few neighboring SD’s have recognized it as an official holiday on their academic school calendar.
Keeping in line with the true American spirit, which welcomes and honors diversity and inclusion from different parts of the world, we, on behalf of the Indian & South Asians from our community request you to kindly declare Diwali a school holiday so that all children can grow up recognizing, enjoying and participating in the celebrations of the festival.
Thanking you in advance for your support.
Updates
March 4, 2022
I have been reading through the notes many of you left about what this holiday means to your families and I am truly moved by your openness. Seeing so many people come together to support this simple act of inclusion makes me realize how much stronger we are than I ever imagined when I typed this up.
March 4, 2022
I am truly overwhelmed by the momentum behind this request. Seeing so many people care about this change shows how much heart our community holds. Please keep talking about why this matters because your energy is what keeps this moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
March 4, 2022
28 Comments
Thank you so much for considering this, it will be so exiting on Diwali, kids won’t have to miss school to celebrate with family.
I was pleased to hear that the Central Bucks School District recognized Diwali as a holiday. I want this to be recognized as a holiday in the Pennridge School District and should be recognized in all schools. It is important that all students and families are represented in the district.
This is a very important holiday to members of our community. I hope Pennridge will do the right thing and recognize it.
It is critical that Pennridge School District celebrate all cultures and traditions, particularly those of our resident children. Families should not be asked to choose between school and Diwali. It is important that Pennridge School District lift our children up through supportive celebration.
I am in Bucks County and we are so elated to see Central Bucks School District has recognized Diwali day as holiday. We highly recommend all School Districts in the PA State and across US should recognize Diwali as a holiday.
Inclusion is beneficial to all
I support these efforts to serve our community equally
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The school board just confirmed that Diwali will be officially recognized on our academic calendar. I am honestly in shock that we reached this point so quickly and I know this is entirely because you chose to support this vision. Please keep an eye on the schedule for next year …
May 24, 2022
Recognize Diwali as an official holiday on school's academic calendar under Pennridge School District
Final supporters
To
The Superintendent and Entire School Board of Pennridge School District
We are residents of Pennridge School District and our children would like to represent the Indian & South Asian Community in Pennridge Elementary, Middle, and High School.
In this petition, we would like to request the Superintendent & Board members to recognize Diwali as an official holiday on the school's academic calendar for all schools under the Pennridge School District.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most popular festivals in India & South Asia and is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. It is very similar to other cultural, religious holidays, is a major part of Indian culture, and is celebrated by lighting lamps, making sweets, and exchanging gifts. The Indian & South Asian population in the community is consistently rising. Currently, students are forced to take the day off, sacrificing lessons and miss school, making them torn between school work and religious/cultural duties.
Recognizing the day as an official holiday means no student needs to compromise between their education and religion. Further, it also brings more awareness to the religion and will make students more aware and empathetic. CB along with few neighboring SD’s have recognized it as an official holiday on their academic school calendar.
Keeping in line with the true American spirit, which welcomes and honors diversity and inclusion from different parts of the world, we, on behalf of the Indian & South Asians from our community request you to kindly declare Diwali a school holiday so that all children can grow up recognizing, enjoying and participating in the celebrations of the festival.
Thanking you in advance for your support.
Updates
March 4, 2022
I have been reading through the notes many of you left about what this holiday means to your families and I am truly moved by your openness. Seeing so many people come together to support this simple act of inclusion makes me realize how much stronger we are than I ever imagined when I typed this up.
March 4, 2022
I am truly overwhelmed by the momentum behind this request. Seeing so many people care about this change shows how much heart our community holds. Please keep talking about why this matters because your energy is what keeps this moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
March 4, 2022
28 Comments
I believe that families should be able to celebrate the holidays of their choice without having to have their child miss school.
Thank you so much for considering this, it will be so exiting on Diwali, kids won’t have to miss school to celebrate with family.
I was pleased to hear that the Central Bucks School District recognized Diwali as a holiday. I want this to be recognized as a holiday in the Pennridge School District and should be recognized in all schools. It is important that all students and families are represented in the district.
This is a very important holiday to members of our community. I hope Pennridge will do the right thing and recognize it.
It is critical that Pennridge School District celebrate all cultures and traditions, particularly those of our resident children. Families should not be asked to choose between school and Diwali. It is important that Pennridge School District lift our children up through supportive celebration.
I am in Bucks County and we are so elated to see Central Bucks School District has recognized Diwali day as holiday. We highly recommend all School Districts in the PA State and across US should recognize Diwali as a holiday.
Inclusion is beneficial to all
I support these efforts to serve our community equally
Share this petition
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Your share link
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I believe that families should be able to celebrate the holidays of their choice without having to have their child miss school.