Dear CPS Families:
As you know, Cambridge schools will be closed on Wednesday, June 5th in honor of the Muslim holiday Eid Al Fitr. To all those who will be celebrating next week, I wish you
Eid Mubarak / Happy Eid!
Cambridge was the first public school system in the U.S. to officially recognize a Muslim holiday, and this is a source of great pride in our community. Unfortunately, many of you may realize that this year's school calendar has now fallen out of alignment with the Muslim calendar, due to the way that the dates for this holiday are set. The religious pluralism website
Beliefnet explains:
The exact date Eid is dependent on a combination of the sighting of the new moon and astronomical calculations. Furthermore, the time when Eid starts also depends on where you are in the world, and when the new moon is visible.
Those of you with paper calendars may see Eid listed on June 5th. As the holiday has grown near, Muslim religious authorities have determined that the holiday will likely begin one day earlier than had been predicted. Unfortunately, there is no way to change the date when schools will be closed due to the complex logistical arrangements that would need to be made with very short notice.
Please know that
students who will be celebrating the holiday on the 4th will not be penalized for missing school for religious reasons. Please call the school to notify them that the student will be absent due to the holiday, and they will be provided with an opportunity to make up any missed work or test that was scheduled for June 4th, and deadlines for longer-term assignments will be extended until Thursday, June 6th.
Whatever your personal beliefs or religious faith, I hope that we can all agree that our community is made stronger when we allow ample space for individuals and communities to follow their conscience. Religious and cultural diversity make our community stronger and more vibrant, and that is something to celebrate.
Sincerely,
Kenneth N. Salim