WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — The Williamsville School District is adding four new holidays to this upcoming school year. These holidays will not be considered "school holidays" they will instead be marked as "superintendent's conference days."
The district is adding Diwali, Asian Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha. This change will start at the beginning of the 2024 school year.
Many families like the Chavan family wouldn't have to decide anymore. Sany and Maria's son, Shri, who attends a school that's a part of the Williamsville School District, wouldn't have to be away from family during the holiday.
"I've been in the U.S. for almost 15 years now, so I have not seen this way happening that Diwali has been turned into a holiday here. I have not seen it. So normally I go to the office then we come in the evening, we do a get-together and all. The next day, we are going to the office and he is going to school," Chavan said.
The WSD superintendent, Dr. Darren Brown-Hall also doesn't want his students to decide anymore either.
"I'm proud. I am really proud we are able to look at our calendar with a DEI lens, with a diverse lens. Making sure we are honoring all of our students and families and letting them know that they are seen," Dr. Brown-Hall said.
This year, Diwali will be celebrated on Friday, November 1st. It's important to note that, unlike Christmas, for 2024 these holidays fall on a different day every year.
Below you will find the proposed calendar for 2024 through 2029 school year.
