Poway Unified School District Cultural Observances Calendar 2021 - 2022
The purpose of this calendar is to address and support the diversity of students, staff, and families in our schools. As we increase our understanding of diverse cultures and their traditions, values, and beliefs, we can create culturally responsive learning environments in which everyone feels valued and respected.
Due to the extensive number of cultural holidays, dates for this list were chosen based on the following criteria: • A student may be absent from school or an after school event as a result of this day. • A student may be disengaged on this day (e.g. because of fasting or sadness on a day of remembrance). • A student may be unable to participate in a school activity for cultural or religious reasons (e.g. Halloween activities, Valentine’s Day, Easter egg hunts, etc.) • The day may provide a teachable moment opportunity regarding cultural diversity that might not otherwise be discussed, especially dates associated with oppression, discrimination, or racism.
This is not a comprehensive list, but if you believe that an important date is missing and should be included, please contact Shawntanet Jara at [email protected].
*Holy days begin at sunset of the date listed and go to sunset of the following day. (Some observances are based on the actual sighting of the moon and therefore the date may vary.) ^ Observances may include fasting for a period of time.
September 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15) 6 Labor Day 6*- 8 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) (Starts the evening of the 6th and ends the evening of the 8th) 11 Day of Remembrance and Service (for 9/11) 15 Hispanic Heritage Month Begins 15*- 16 Yom Kippur (Jewish) (Starts the evening of the 15th and ends the evening of the 16th) 16 Mexican Independence Day 17 Constitution Day 21 Moon Festival - Chuseok (Korean)/O-Tsukimi (Japanese)/Zhongqiu Jie (Chinese) 24 Native American Day (Recognized in California and South Dakota)
October 2021 Filipino American Heritage Month German American Heritage Month Hispanic Heritage Month (ends 10/15) Italian American Heritage Month LGBTQ History Month National Disability Awareness Month 6 – 14 Navaratri (Hindu) 10 World Mental Health Day 11 Indigenous People Day (Recognized as a national holiday) 25 Dashahra (Hindu) 31 Halloween (Keep in mind that not all families regard Halloween in a positive light) 31 - 11/2 Dia de los Muertos (Mexican)
November 2021 Native American Indian and Alaskan Heritage Month 1 All Saints Day 2 Last day of Dia de los Muertos 4 Diwali (Hindu/Sikh/Jain) 11 Veteran’s Day Observed 20 World Children’s Day 25 Thanksgiving (Seek to ensure that depictions of the role of Native Americans are respectful and historically accurate.) 26 Native American Heritage Day 28 – 12/6*-18 Hanukkah (Starts the evening of the 28th and ends the evening of December 6th)
December 2021 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities and St. Nicholas’ Day 6 Last day of Hanukkah 10 Human Rights Day 16 - 24 Las Posadas (Mexican) 25 Christmas (Christian) 26 - 1/1 Kwanzaa (African American)
January 2022 Poverty Awareness Month 1 New Year’s Day and Last Day of Kwanzaa 7 Christmas (Eastern Orthodox) 10 Bodhi Day (Buddhist) 13 Korean American Day 17 Martin Luther King Day
February 2022 Black History Month 1 Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger (China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea and Singapore) 2 Groundhog Day 14 Valentine’s Day 20 World Day of School Justice 21 President’s Day Holiday
March 2022 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Irish American Heritage Month Women’s History Month 1^-19 Ala (Baha´i) 2^ Ash Wednesday (Christian) 2 - 4/14 Lent (Christian) 8 International Women’s Day 16 - 17 Purim (Jewish) (Starts the evening of the 16th and ends the evening of the 17th) 17 St. Patrick’s Day 19 Holi (Hindu/Sikh) 21*- 22 Nowruz (Persian New Year) 31 Cesar Chavez Day
April 2022 Arab American Heritage Month Autism Acceptance Month Month of the Military Child National Volunteer Month 2* - 5/1 Ramadan (Islamic) (Starts the evening of the 2nd and ends May 1st) 10 Palm Sunday (Christian) 10 - 16 Holy Week (Christian) 13 Songkran Festival / Thai New Year 14 Vaisakhi (Sikh) 14 Last day of Lent 15^ Good Friday (Christian) 16 Last day of Holy Week (Christian) 17 Easter (Christian) 15 - 23 Passover/Pesach (Jewish) (Starts the evening of the 15th and ends the evening of the 23rd) 21* First day of Ridvan (Baha’i) 22 Earth Day 23 Last day of Passover/Pesach (Jewish) 24 Eastern Orthodox Easter (Pascha) 27 Holocaust Memorial Day 29* Ninth day of Ridvan (Baha’i)
May 2022 Asian American and Pacific Islander Month Haitian Heritage Month Jewish American Heritage Month Speech and Hearing Awareness Month 1 Ramadan (Islamic) ends 1*12th Day of Ridvan (Baha’i) 2 Eid ul Fitr (Muslim) 5 Cinco de Mayo 6 Vesak Day (Buddhist) 8 Mother’s Day 21 World Day of Cultural Diversity 30 Memorial Day
June 2022 Caribbean American Heritage Month Pride Month 19 Juneteenth 19 Father’s Day 20 World Refugee Day
DATES TO CELEBRATE STAFF October 2 National Custodians Day October 15 Boss’s Appreciation Day February 7 - 11 Counselor Appreciation April 3 School Librarians Day April 26 School Bus Drivers Day April 27 Administrative Professionals Day May 2 - 6 School Nutrition Employee Week May 3 National Teachers Day May 11 School Nurses and Health Professionals Day May 16 - 22 Classified School Employee Week
8/17/21 - ND