MEMORANDUM #FF3

Transcription

1 HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE OF FAITH FORMATION MEMORANDUM #FF3 ACTION To: From: Secondary Principals and Vice-Principals Lorrie Naar, Superintendent of Education, Faith Development Date: September 4, 2012 Re: Religious Accommodations As a reminder, please find attached information to support students and parents around requests for Religious Accommodations. As outlined in Equity and Inclusive Education Policy 11-45: THE BOARD WILL: Inform students and their parents/guardians and staff of their right to request accommodation for religious beliefs and practices. Prepare a religious accommodation guideline in keeping with the Code, and consistent with its denominational rights, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of creed, and other Code protected grounds, and provides a duty to accommodate. Provide in-service for all administrators on Religious Accommodation. Designate a Superintendent to receive and respond to requests for Religious Accommodation on an individual basis. OUR SCHOOLS WILL: Revise/implement their religious accommodation practices to align with the Board s religious accommodation guideline More information can be found in the Religious Accommodation Guideline (Appendix A Operating Policy supported by Procedure V1-54) Please click here to view policy II-45 Equity and Inclusive Education Attached you will find; A letter to parents with an attached form to be completed when requesting an accommodation A list of holy days for the year to assist in the planning of scheduled events and assessments. An insert for student agendas An insert for the newsletter. Please share this information with your school community. As well, included is the link to the letter and form for parental use in requesting Religious Accommodations. Please add this link to your school website. If you have any questions or concerns around Religious Accommodations, please contact Lorrie Naar at naarl@hcdsb.org /jn Page 1

2 HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD 802 Drury Lane, P.O. Box 5308, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4L3 Telephone (905) Fax (905) Parent/Guardian Religious Accommodation Request Letter Dear Parents/Guardians: The Halton Catholic District School Board (the Board) believes in the dignity of all people and their equality as children of God. The Board recognizes the importance of freedom of religion and strives to recognize value and honour the many customs, traditions and beliefs that make up the Catholic community. Freedom of religion is an individual right and a collective responsibility. The Board commits to work with the community it serves to foster an inclusive learning environment that promotes acceptance and protects individuals from discrimination and harassment on the basis of their religion. In accordance with the Catholic Church s teachings, it is the policy of the Board to provide, in all its operations, an educational environment which promotes and supports diversity within its Catholic community as well as the equal attainment of life opportunities for all students, staff, parents and other members of that community. The Halton Catholic District School Board is committed to the values of freedom of religion and freedom from discriminatory or harassing behaviours based on religion and will take all reasonable steps to provide religious accommodations within the legal rights afforded to the Catholic school system. Students requesting religious accommodations within these rights are asked to provide the form below completed by parents / guardians. It is recognized that the attached list of religious holy days is not exhaustive. On the form, please specify the accommodation needs relating to religious observances, including holy days on which they will be absent from school. Where possible this form should be handed in at the beginning of each school year to ensure that scheduling of major evaluations, such as tests, assignments or examinations, takes the religious observances into consideration. The Board is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and that is free of barriers based on creed (religion). Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the principles of dignity, individualization, and inclusion. The Board will work cooperatively, and in a spirit of respect, with all partners in the accommodation process. If further information is required regarding Religious Accommodation, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Principal Achieving...Believing...Belonging!

3 Parent/Guardian Religious Accommodation Request Letter SCHOOL NAME: STUDENT NAME: RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION REQUEST: DATE(S) IF APPLICABLE: PARENT/ GUARDIAN/ADULT STUDENT SIGNATURE: RECEIVED BY: DATE: RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION REQUEST HAS BEEN GRANTED: YES NO ADMINISTRATIVE SIGNATURE: *PLEASE FILE IN OSR Attachment: Religious Holy Days Calendar Achieving...Believing...Belonging!

4 Religious Holy Days Calendar The dates listed below are the faith days of particular significance to members of the faith communities in our District as identified through consultation with local community organizations and the Ontario Multifaith Council. Every effort should be made to ensure that school and board examinations/tests are not scheduled on these dates. The Board will refrain from holding events involving parents on religious holy days. Student absences on days of religious observance will be marked as G (grant) days, regardless of whether or not the day(s) of observance is noted in the procedure. Faith Holy Day(s) Baha i Ridvan April 21, 2013 Buddhist Lunar New Year January 27, 2013 Christian (Eastern- Julian calendar) Christian (Western-Gregorian calendar) Christmas Feast of the Nativity Holy Friday(Orthodox) Good Friday (Ukrainian) Easter Sunday Christmas The Solemnity of Mary Mother of God Good Friday Easter Sunday January 7, 2013 May 3, 2013 May 3, 2013 May 5, 2013 December 25, 2012 January 1, 2013 March 29, 2013 March 31, 2013 Hindu Diwali Festival October 13, 2012 Islam ** All Islamic holy days commence on the preceding evening at sunset. Jewish All Jewish holy days commence on the preceding evening at sunset. Sikh Eid-al-Fitr* Eid-al-Adha* Rosh Hashanah (2days)* Yom Kippur * Pesach (Passover) * Baisakhi August 19, 2012 October 25, 2012 September 16 and 17, 2012 September 26, 2012 March 26, 2013 April 14, 2013 Christian (Eastern- Julian calendar) Christmas Feast of the Nativity Holy Friday(Orthodox) Good Friday (Ukrainian) Easter Sunday January 7, 2012 April 13, 2012 April 13, 2012 April 15, 2012 Religious Holy Days * Means that Holy days begin at sundown the day before this date ** Regional customs, group preference or moon sightings may cause a variation of this date *** This is not an exhaustive list of all religious faiths. The Board accepts that other religious faiths can also be accommodated and is willing to do so based on the provisions outlined in the Religious Accommodation Guideline. For consideration of additional religious accommodations please contact the school principal or the Superintendent of Education, Lorrie Naar at ext Achieving...Believing...Belonging!

5 AGENDA INSERT Religious Accommodation The Halton Catholic District School Board is committed to the values of freedom of religion and freedom from discriminatory or harassing behaviours based on religion and will take all reasonable steps to provide religious accommodations within the legal rights afforded to the Catholic school system. Students requesting religious accommodations must present a written notice to the principal from their parents/guardians specifying their accommodation needs relating to religious observances, including holy days on which they will be absent from school. This notice should be made in advance, where possible, at the beginning of each school year to ensure that scheduling of major evaluations, such as tests, assignments or examinations, takes the religious observances into consideration. A Religious Accommodation Letter can be obtained from the school or at

6 NEWSLETTER INSERT Religious Accommodation Requests The Halton Catholic District School Board is committed to the values of freedom of religion and freedom from discriminatory or harassing behaviours based on religion and will take all reasonable steps to provide religious accommodations within the legal rights afforded to the Catholic school system. Students requesting religious accommodations must present written notice from their parents/guardians specifying their accommodation needs relating to religious observances, including holy days on which they will be absent from school. This notice should be made in advance (preferably at the beginning of each school year) to ensure that scheduling of major evaluations, such as tests, assignments or examinations, takes the religious observances into consideration. For further information regarding Religious Accommodations, please do not hesitate to contact the Principal of the school, or refer to Religious Accommodation Requests on our board website: