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The following information indicates an effort to provide clear guidelines for the observance of significant faith days by all schools and worksites in the York Region District School Board. The dates listed are not intended to be used in ascertaining the faith day entitlement of Board employees. For any questions on employee entitlement please refer to the Collective Agreement and/or contact Employee Services at Ext. 2293. The dates listed below are some faith holidays of particular significance to members of the major faith communities in our Board. We are committed to affirm and value equally the faith diversity in our schools, therefore, events such as field trips, school concerts, conferences, meetings, workshops, other professional events, co-curricular activities, and exams/tests will not be scheduled on these dates: | Baha’i | RIDVAN | April 21, 2009 | | Buddhist | LUNAR NEW YEAR | January 26, 2009 | | Christian | CHRISTMAS | December 25, 2008 | | (Western) | GOOD FRIDAY | April 10, 2009 | | (Eastern) | CHRISTMAS | January 7, 2009 | | | HOLY FRIDAY | April 17, 2009 | | Hindu | DIWALI | October 28, 2008 | | Jewish | ROSH HASHANAH** | Sept.30 - Oct. 1, 2008 | | | YOM KIPPUR** | October 9, 2008 | | | PASSOVER/PESAH** | April 9, 2009 | | Muslim | EID-UL-FITR* | October 1, 2008 | | | EID-UL-ADHA* | December 9, 2008 | | Sikh | BAISAKHI | April 14, 2009 |
* Tentative dates subject to the sighting of the moon each month.
** All Jewish Holy Days commence on the preceding evening at sunset
i.e. Yom Kippur starts on October 8, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (approximately)
Extended field trips which conflict with these dates will not be allowed unless approved by the Superintendent of Schools.
Please note that in addition to the above listed dates, all staff are encouraged to take reasonable steps to accommodate students and staff members of a faith group who state that the Board’s and the school’s operations or requirements create undue hardship and interfere with their ability to exercise their religious beliefs and practices.
These dates may include, but are not limited to the following:
| Baha’i | RIDVAN (the 9th and 12th day) | April 29, May 2, 2009 | | Buddhism | WESAK | May 9, 2009 | | Christian (Western) | ALL SAINTS’ DAY | November 1, 2008 | | | ASH WEDNESDAY | February 25, 2009 | | Hindu | HOLI | March 10, 2009 | | Jewish | PASSOVER | April 9 – April 16, 2009 | | | SUKKOT | October 14 - 20, 2008 | | | SHAVUOT | May 29 - 30, 2009 | | Muslim | ASHURA* | January 7, 2009 | | | RAMADAN* | September 2 - 30, 2009 | | Sikh | BIRTHDAY OF GURU NANAK DEV JI | November 13, 2008 | | | BIRTHDAY OF GURU GOBIND SINGH | January 5, 2009 | | Zoroastrianism | NAW RUZ (New Year’s Day) | March 21, 2009 |
This list does not represent all observances practicied by YRDSB diverse-faith community. Please refer to the “Accommodation of Religious Requirements, Practices and Observances: A Guideline”, for additional information, suggested guidelines and procedures for religious accommodation. The Board also advocates the recognition of “Days of Significance” as outlined in the Holidays and Observances Calendar, throughout the school year and recommends that individual schools, in consultation with their School Councils, develop appropriate ways of celebrating such significant days in keeping with inclusive curriculum. For additional information please contact José Fernandes, Administrator, Race Relations/Community and Cultural Services at 905-737-4353 Ext. 107.
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