DEI

Upcoming Important Dates:

• April is Autism Acceptance Month
• April is Arab American Heritage Month
• 4/12-20 – Passover
• 4/20 – Easter
• 4/21 – Campus Culture Committee Meeting 6pm
• 4/23 – Holocaust Remembrance Day

The eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan, April 12 – 20, 2025. Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.
Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD, It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance.

We ask that families encourage their students to learn about the various holidays and celebrations so they can support their peers during times of fasting and/or dietary changes such as the absence of leavened breads during Passover or fasting in Lent.
Please join us on Monday, April 21, in the collaboration center to discuss our plans for next year and support of students as we come to the end of this school year.

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE t-shirts are for sale! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black tee that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Upcoming Important Dates:

• April is Autism Acceptance Month
• April is Arab American Heritage Month
• Apr 12 – Apr 20 Passover
• Apr 20 Easter
• Apr 21 Campus Culture Committee Meeting
• Apr 23 Holocaust Remembrance Day

Autism Acceptance Month celebrates and honors the experiences and identities of autistic individuals. It emphasizes understanding, inclusion, and support, moving beyond awareness towards meaningful acceptance.

National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) takes place in April. It celebrates the Arab American heritage and culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans.

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE t-shirts are for sale! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black tee that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Women’s History Month (March)
• Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (March)
• Gender Equality Month (March)
• Feb 28-Mar 29 Ramadan
• Mar 31 Trans Day of Visibility

International Transgender Day of Visibility (often referred to as TDOV or Trans Day of Visibility) is an annual event occurring on Mar 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE t-shirts are for sale! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black tee that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Women’s History Month (March)
• Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (March)
• Gender Equality Month (March)
• Feb 28-Mar 29 Ramadan
• Mar 20 Nowruz – Persian New Year
• Mar 31 Trans Day of Visibility

Nowruz (lit: “New Day”) is the Iranian New Year or Persian New Year. The roots of Nowruz lie in Zoroastrianism, and it has been celebrated by many peoples across West Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia for over 3,000 years. In the modern era, while it is observed as a secular holiday by most celebrants, Nowruz remains a holy day for Zoroastrians, Baháʼís, and Ismaʿili Shia Muslims. Customs for the festival include various fire and water rituals, celebratory dances, gift exchanges, and poetry recitations, among others; these observances differ between the cultures of the diverse communities that celebrate it.

Established in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month highlights the importance of fostering a society where people with disabilities are empowered to contribute to their communities. This month reminds us that individuals with developmental disabilities are valuable members of our communities and deserve full participation in all aspects of life, including education, employment, recreation, and civic engagement. While March provides an opportunity for heightened awareness, true awareness happens when we commit to creating accessible environments and productive opportunities year-round.

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE t-shirts are for sale! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black tee that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.
If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Women’s History Month (March)
• Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (March)
• Gender Equality Month (March)
• Feb 28 – Mar 29 Ramadan
• Mar 5 – Apr 17 Ash Wednesday and Lent
• Mar 9 Mongolian New Years Concert 5:30pm PAC
• Mar 14 Holi Celebrated
• Mar 16  Annual ACA Color Run/Holi Celebration! Go Dons! Register
• Mar 20 Nowruz- Persian New Year
• Mar 31 Trans Day of Visibility

Did you know Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California?? It began as a week surrounding International Women’s Day (Mar 8 this year) to “celebrate the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America” (President Jimmy Carter). Find out more here.

One special woman to highlight this week is Tammy Duckworth. She is a disabled female combat veteran who is now a Senator from Illinois. Duckworth is the first Thai American woman elected to Congress, the first person born in Thailand elected to Congress, the first woman with a disability elected to Congress, the first female double amputee in the Senate, and the first senator to give birth while in office. She is the second Asian American woman to serve in the Senate, after Mazie Hirono.

Holi has immense religious significance for Hindus and is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated with much enthusiasm and fanfare across India. Also known as The Festival of Color, in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura, it is also known as the ‘Dol jatra’ or ‘Basanta Utsav’. Traditionally celebrated in late February or early March in the Gregorian calendar, Holi marks the arrival of spring and the end of winter, coinciding with the full moon or Purnima on the evening of the Hindu month of Phalguna. It’s a time for people to come together, put aside their differences and celebrate life’s brighter moments.

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE t-shirts are for sale! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black tee that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Women’s History Month (March)
• Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (March)
• Gender Equality Month (March)
• Feb 28 – Mar 29 Ramadan
• Mar 5 – Apr 17 Ash Wednesday and Lent
• Mar 14 Holi Celebrated
• Mar 16  Annual ACA Color Run/Holi Celebration! Go Dons! Register
• Mar 20 Nowruz- Persian New Year
• Mar 31 Trans Day of Visibility

Please join us as we celebrate the many religious holidays and festivals in our world this month. Along with that, we will spotlight some amazing women and celebrate those with developmental disabilities. If you have someone or something you would like to highlight please let us know here.
 
Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter.
 
Do you use Facetime or Zoom? Thank prolific inventor Marian Croak, owner of 200+ U.S. patents. Croak was one of the first two Black women to be inducted to the Inventors Hall of Fame. She is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP), technology that converts your voice into a digital signal. Among her inventions is the text-to-donate function which has helped to raise millions of dollars for disaster-relief efforts.

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE t-shirts are for sale! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black tee that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Upcoming Important Dates

• February: Black Excellence Month
• Feb 24 Campus Culture Committee Meeting
• Feb 28-Mar 29: Ramadan

Black Excellence Month continues with BSU student meetings each Wednesday of February. Please support them by encouraging your students to attend the club’s events, especially the Quad City Dance this Friday night on 2/28. It is the only event for all ages and all schools in our district! Please visit the Sign Up Genius to help our students make this a successful event.

Monday, Feb 24 is our next Campus Culture Committee meeting at 6pm in the Collaboration Center. Parents and guardians of all current Acalanes students are invited to attend.

Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer (salah), reflection, and community. Occurring during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, it is a commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. Please let your students know that cafeteria staff will have lunch boxes for students to take home that are observing the fast during the day.

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE T-shirts have arrived! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black T that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Upcoming Important Dates

• February: Black Excellence Month
• Jan29 – Feb 16: Lunar New Year
• Feb 28 – Mar 29: Ramadan

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE T-shirts have arrived! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black t-shirt that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

Monday, Feb 24 is our next Campus Culture Committee meeting. Parents and guardians of all current Acalanes students are invited to attend.

Black Excellence Month continues with BSU student meetings each Wednesday of February. Please support them by encouraging your students to attend the club’s events, including the Movie Night with Potluck on Feb 21 and the Quad City Dance on Feb 28.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Upcoming Important Dates

• February: Black Excellence Month
• Jan29 – Feb 16: Lunar New Year
• Feb 28 – Mar 29: Ramadan

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE T-shirts have arrived! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black t-shirt that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

Black Excellence Month continues with BSU student meetings each Wednesday of February. Please show support by encouraging your students to attend the club’s events, including the Movie Night + Potluck on Feb 21 and the Quad City Dance on Feb 28.

The San Francisco Chinese New Year parade is the largest of its kind outside of Asia. Celebrated this year on Saturday, Feb 15, it is one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in North America.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Upcoming Important Dates

• February: Black Excellence Month
• Jan29 – Feb 16: Lunar New Year
• Feb 28 – Mar 29: Ramadan

Black History Month is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora, initially lasting a week before becoming a month-long observation in 1970. Our school district recognizes it as Black Excellence Month to celebrate not only the history, but the present excellence in the Black community. Students from the Black Student Union (BSU) will be holding events throughout the month. Please support them by encouraging your students to attend the club’s events, including the Quad City Dance at the end of the month.

Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, this festival takes place from Chinese New Year’s Eve (the evening preceding the first day of the year) to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions please contact the Campus Culture Committee here.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.