Cultural Calendar
September 2025
September 1 — Labor Day: Federal holiday
September 3 — Marcus Whitman Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
September 15 to October 15 – National Hispanic Heritage Month: This month honors Hispanic and Latino Americans for their contributions to U.S. culture.
September 17 — Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: This day commemorates the September 17, 1787, signing of the United States Constitution.
Fourth Saturday of September (September 27) — Public Lands Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
September 30 — Orange Shirt Day: A day to commemorate the children who were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools. It honors the resiliency Indigenous people have that supported them through the painful traumas and losses.
October 2025
Principals Month: Honoring principals across the nation for their dedication and thank them for all they do to support our schools.
Global Diversity Awareness Month: An awareness month with the goal of promoting respect toward various cultures.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month: This awareness month aims to advocate for individuals with disabilities and their inclusion in the workforce.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women; this month seeks to boost awareness of the disease.
National Polish American Heritage Month: A month selected to honor those with Polish heritage.
October 5 – World Teachers' Day
October 6-12 – Mental Illness Awareness Week
October 9-13 – National School Lunch Week
October 10 – World Mental Health Day: A day that advocates for mental health awareness and education; on this day, you can support the efforts by reflecting on your own biases regarding mental health and advocating against social stigma related to it.
Second Sunday in October (October 12) — Washington State Children’s Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
October 13 – Indigenous People’s Day: This day honors the indigenous people of North America; the holiday was formerly called Columbus Day.
November 2025
National American Indian Heritage Month: This month celebrates the contributions — cultures, traditions, histories — of Native people to the United States.
Movember: A monthlong fundraiser that seeks to raise awareness for men’s issues like suicide as well as prostate and testicular cancer.
November 1 – All Saints’ Day, All Souls Day, Día de Los Muertos: These days are dedicated to all those who have passed away in the Christian faith as well as the Mexican and Aztec communities.
November 12 – Diwali: An important celebration in the Hindu faith in which a variety of deities are praised.
November 18-22 – American Education Week
November 20 – National Education Support Professionals Day
November 28 – Native American Heritage Day: As of 2025, there are 574 federally recognized Tribes in the United States. However, numerous others are still advocating for recognition.
December 2025
December 2 – Special Education Day
December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities: This United Nations holiday raises awareness for the rights of individuals with disabilities.
December 7 — Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
December 10 – International Human Rights Day: A holiday adopted by the UN in 1948 following the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
December 16 to December 24 – Las Posadas: A religious festival celebrated in Mexico and parts of the U.S. during the Christmas season.
December 18 — Blood Donor Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
December 21 – Winter Solstice/Yule: A festival celebrated by Pagan and Wiccan faiths.
December 25 – Christmas: A Christian holiday marking the birth of their lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
December 14 to December 22 – Hanukkah: A Jewish holiday celebrating Jews rising up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
December 26 to January 1 – Kwanzaa: An 8-day holiday often celebrated by Black Americans that was inspired by African harvest celebrations.
January 2026
School Board Recognition Month
January 11 — Human Trafficking Awareness Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
January 13 — Korean-American Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
January 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Celebrates one of the best-known civil rights activists, MLK Jr.
January 26 — Washington Army and Air National Guard Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
January 27 – International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims of the Holocaust: A United Nations holiday that remembers the approximately 6 million Jews murdered during World War II.
January 29 — Lunar New Year: Recognized by the Washington state Legislature; the date corresponds with the second new moon following the winter solstice.
February 2026
Black History Month: February was chosen to celebrate African American History because it holds the birthdays of two men who helped eliminate slavery: Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln.
February 1 – National Freedom Day: Celebrates the signing of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865.
February 3-7 – National School Counseling Week
February 14 – Frederick Douglass’ Birthday (Observed): This day celebrates the birth of abolitionist and social reformer.
February 15 – Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday: A leader of the women’s suffrage movement. She advocated for abolition, temperance, labor rights, and equal pay for equal work.
February 17 – Lunar New Year: This festival marks the start of the new year in the lunar calendar used in East Asia, Southeast Asia and elsewhere.
February 17 to March 19 — Ramadan: The start of Islam’s sacred month — during this time Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk.
February 19 — Civil Liberties Day of Remembrance: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
February 23 – Lantern Festival: Marks the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.
March 2026
Women’s History Month: Honors the role of women in American history.
March 2 – Read Across America Day
March 2-8 – National School Social Work Week
March 3-7 – National School Breakfast Week
March 3 – Holi: Hindu holiday that celebrates the winter harvest and onset of spring.
March 8 – International Women’s Day: A day highlighting the political, social, cultural, and economic achievements of women.
March 9 — Billy Frank Jr. Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
March 10-14 – Education Support Professionals Week: Recognizing the vital contributions of school support staff, including custodians, bus drivers, nutrition services, paraeducators, and office staff. The week-long observance acknowledges that these professionals are essential for keeping schools running smoothly and creating a safe, welcoming environment for students.
March 10 – Harriet Tubman’s Birthday (Observed): American abolitionist who is well-known for her key role in the Underground Railroad.
March 13 — Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day: Feast day of a Catholic saint who inspires cultural and religious celebrations around the world.
March 21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
March 23 to March 24 – Purim: A Jewish holiday celebrated by reading the Book of Esther, exchanging gifts and partaking in a celebratory meal.
March 29 – Palm Sunday: A Christian celebration that originates from the palm branches waved by the crowd to greet and honor Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before Easter.
March 31 — Cesar Chavez Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
April 2026
Celebrate Diversity Month: Highlights unique backgrounds, cultures, and traditions.
Autism Acceptance Month
Month of the Military Child
National Volunteer Month
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day: Raises awareness for those with autism, seeking to improve their lives and acceptance in society.
April 2 to April 10 – Passover: A major Jewish festival that celebrates the freeing of Israeli slaves.
April 3 – Good Friday: A Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.
April 5 – Easter: Also called Resurrection Sunday, it marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion.
April 6-12 – National Library Week
April 9 — Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
April 10 — Dolores Huerta Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
April 16 — Mother Joseph Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
April 22 – Earth Day: Holiday that applauds the planet we live on and all it does for us; Earth Day is observed by more than 192 nations.
April 23 – Administrative Professionals Day
April 28 – School Bus Driver Appreciation Day: Recognizing bus drivers for transporting students safely to and from school, sporting events, field trips, and more! School bus drivers play an important role in the education of children and ensure their safety every time a student steps on the bus.
May 2026
Mental Health Awareness Month: Raises awareness for those living with mental and behavioral issues. This month also seeks to support families or communities who are impacted by mental illness.
Older Americans Month: Celebrates how older Americans contribute to the United States.
Jewish American Heritage Month: Honors American Jews and their contributions to the United States throughout history.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Commemorates people with Asian and Pacific Island ancestry and their contribution to the United States.
Better Hearing and Speech Month
May 4-8 – Teacher Appreciation Week: Each day, they spark curiosity, kindle creativity and brighten the future for every student in their care. Join us in celebrating these remarkable educators all week.
May 5 – Cinco de Mayo: Mexican-American holiday that celebrates Mexico’s defeat of the French Army.
May 6 – National Teacher Day
May 6-12 – National Nurse Week
May 7 – National School Nurse's Day
May 15 — Water Safety Day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia: This event seeks to raise awareness for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.
May 26 – Vesak Day: One of the most important Buddhist festivals, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha.
May 25 – Memorial Day: A national holiday established to honor those who have died in American wars. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day.
June 2026
LGBT Pride Month: Pride Month recognizes LGBT people and the effect they’ve had on the world.
Caribbean American Heritage Month: This month recognizes those of Caribbean descent and the impact their accomplishments have had throughout American history.
June 2 – Indian Citizenship Act of 1924: This act granted Native Americans born in the U.S. citizenship. However, they were not given the right to vote until 1957.
June 12 – Loving Day: This day is the anniversary of the court decision that legalized interracial marriage.
June 14 – Flag Day.
June 19 – Juneteenth: This day commemorates when the last African Americans learned of the Emancipation Proclamation (over two years after it was originally issued).
June 27 – Helen Keller’s Birthday: This day celebrates the birth of Helen Keller, an individual who was both blind and deaf and a leading humanitarian in the 20th century.