Bay Shore Schools remained open during Eid Al-Fitr on March 31, 2025. Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for Muslims around the world. It is a day of joy, family gatherings, and communal prayers. Muslim families in Bay Shore decided between attending school or celebrating this day with their families and faith communities. For many, it was not an easy decision.
“It’s always a tough choice,” said senior Hareen Ghaffar, who missed the school day to attend morning Eid prayers with her family. “New York recently gave us a day off for Lunar New Year, which I completely believe was a great addition. However, if New York was able to give a day off for Lunar New Year, then why not also give everyone a day off for Eid?”
Ghaffar raises a valid question. However the reason for the newly added day off for Lunar New Year was because Governor Hochul recently declared Lunar New Year an official public school holiday. The inclusion of Lunar New Year was not a choice for individual school districts, but a mandate from the state of New York itself. Whereas schools are required by state law to be closed for Lunar New Year, the same is not true for Eid Al-Fitr.
State observance of holidays
The addition of Lunar New Year to the academic calendar was promoted by signed legislation because of the value Hochul believes the holiday holds.
“It is not just a day off from school – it is an opportunity for our children to learn about and celebrate their own or different cultures and traditions,” Governor Kathy Hochul said on her official website.
Just as Ghaffar mentioned, Hochul agrees that it’s important to recognize the different cultures represented in our student bodies and the celebration of Eid exemplifies that.
Besides the inclusion of Lunar New Year recently becoming a federal holiday, Juneteenth, or June 19th, also recently became one under former President Joe Biden’s legislation. This too, was a holiday not observed by Bay Shore School District until federal legislation allowed it to be.
NPR’s Joe Hernandez commented on how this year marked the first time students in New York had the day off for Lunar New Year, a cultural and religious holiday for those who celebrate. This change is significant, given that schools are required to be in session for a minimum of 180 days and must also account for holidays and cultural observances throughout the academic year.
School calendar constraints
According to Robert Pashkin, Bay Shore’s Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Curriculum and Instruction, several key factors shape the academic calendar. The Bay Shore School District requires 182 instructional days, as well as two Superintendent Conference days for professional development.
“The minimum state requirement for public school districts is 180 instructional days,” said Mr. Pashkin.
When deciding to add any new holidays, especially if they’re not mandated by the state, this requires the district to adjust the calendar by removing days off from holidays such as spring break or the start of the school year. Mr. Pashkin also noted that this decision isn’t made lightly.
“Districts like Brentwood may have more flexibility based on how they structure their calendars and their contractual and instructional agreements with staff,” said Mr. Pashkin. “For Bay Shore, we do take input from our community and authority, but we’re still bound by state law and scheduling logistics. It’s also necessary to understand that adding a holiday to the annual calendar is more complicated than it might seem, which is why we haven’t added any that we are not required to by New York State.”
Though the holiday is not formally recognized with a day off, Bay Shore administrators say they are working to support students in other ways.
Students faced with a choice
“We’ve had students come forward over the last few years to advocate for Eid,” said Principal Stephen Gordon, who has been the principal of Bay Shore High School since 2021. “We’ve made sure that students celebrating are given excused absences, and we’ve tried to communicate that to teachers so they’re understanding and accommodating.”
For many students, excused absences alone aren’t always enough.
“Allowing students to take the day off for Eid al-Fitr without penalty is not a solution,” said sophomore Saba Aziz. “For many, taking the day off means falling behind on assignments, missing tests, or being excluded from activities. That’s not fair when students from other faiths don’t face the same consequences on their holidays.”
According to Mr. Gordon, the school has made strides in recognizing cultural diversity.
“We use platforms like Instagram and ParentSquare to highlight various holidays and appreciation weeks,” said Mr. Gordon. “Our Multicultural Club is another way we celebrate different backgrounds. But yes, there’s always more we can do.”
Community desire for change
Mr. Pashkin shared that the district has been approached by members of the Muslim community. He has acknowledged their request to have Eid al-Fitr formally included on the calendar.
“This year was the first year we had the Eid holidays listed on the calendar,” Mr. Pashkin said. “We hear the feedback and it is understandable. But adding a day off comes with other obstacles and challenges. The only holidays that have been added to the calendar during my 25+ year career in Bay Shore are Lunar New Year and Juneteenth, and both of these holidays are required by New York State.”
The importance of student voice and demographic awareness was emphasized in making such decisions.
“It’s important that we recognize the diversity within our schools. We need to educate ourselves and be responsive,” Mr. Gordon said.
This mindset is already apparent among students who don’t practice Islam, but are expressing solidarity. Sophomore Matthew Peña reflected on the issue from his perspective as a Christian.
“If it were my holiday and I had to choose between celebrating with my family or keeping up with school, it would definitely make me feel overlooked or maybe even ignored. Everyone deserves to have their traditions respected, no matter what religion they follow,” said Peña. “If it were a Christian holiday that wasn’t recognized, I’d feel like my faith didn’t matter as much. It’s not just about having a day off, it’s about feeling seen and valued for who you are and where you come from.”
Looking forward, Bay Shore’s administrators expressed openness to change, especially if the state law evolves or if calendar structures allow for more flexibility.
Until then, Bay Shore’s Muslim students continue to balance religious observance with academic responsibility, often feeling the weight of that decision more than their peers. The district’s 2025–2026 academic calendar reflects that schools will continue to remain open during Eid Al-Fitr at this time.
