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.