Faith Accommodation - Halton District School Board

Eid-ul-Adha
Sikh
Vaisakhi
(HDSB multi-faith and days of significance calendar will be provided on a yearly basis to help
schools make appropriate accommodations.)
Guidelines for Principals, Managers, Supervisors
In accordance with their rights, all staff and students who request to observe a faith holy day
should be allowed this right without having to undergo any unnecessary hardship.
Staff requesting a leave should advise their Principal, Manager or Supervisor at, or as close as
possible to, the beginning of the school year and leave should be granted in accordance with the
terms of the appropriate collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment.
Students requesting a leave should give verbal or written notice from their parent/guardian to the
school at, or as close as possible to, the beginning of the school year. It is the expectation that
schoolwork be accommodated for students absent due to faith days. Such procedures should be
easy to understand and follow. Student absenteeism for faith observances will be marked as a
“G” day for attendance purposes. Should a student or staff member come from a multi-faith
family, they can observe days from more than one faith.
Schools are strongly recommended to recognize the days of significance that reflect Canada’s
diverse population. These can include, but are not limited to: announcements, a display, a
bulletin board, a poster, student work, assembly, and school events.
Student agendas, school newsletters and announcements should include information about the
procedures for requesting leaves.
All staff members acting on behalf of/representing the Board on other organizations, which in
partnership with the Board are planning events or activities that involve students and/or staff of
Board schools, have the responsibility to bring this procedure to the attention of these
organizations.
For consultation or further clarification of questions, administrators and managers should contact
the HDSB Equity and Inclusive Education Coordinator.
Unresolved Requests
a. Employee
In the event that, after an employee’s consultation with the school administration and the
Superintendent of Education, unresolved issues remain related to Holy Days abscences, then
the matter will be referred to the Executive Officer of Human Resources.
b. Students
In the event that a student maintains that his or her rights under the Board’s faith
accommodation policy have been compromised, then the matter will be referred to the
appropriate Superintendent of Education.