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Working for an inclusive school year for all

BY DEBORAH MOON Rachel adds, “We wanted to put together a
For parents with school-aged children, the Interfaith Partners policy to address this globally.”
High Holidays always present a challenge. The following cultural and religious A group of more than a dozen cultural/
When the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls organizations have joined the Jewish faith groups have collaborated in recent
the day after Labor Day (traditionally the Federation of Greater Portland’s months to develop a policy to present
first day of school), it is especially stressful Community Relations Committee to to school districts around the state. The
– and even more so when many children develop a draft policy on religious proposed policy is based on the compre-
haven’t been in school physically for 1½ accommodation for school districts: hensive policy Eugene School District 4J
years. Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon developed: “Accommodation for Religious
Fortunately, the Jewish Community Rela- Cool Islam Instruction and Observance.”
tions Committee of the Jewish Federation Islamic Society of Greater Portland Drawing on that policy and input from the
of Greater Portland has been sending Jewish interfaith partners, attorney Hank Kaplan
holiday dates to area school districts twice Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter- (vice chair of the JCRC and co-chair of the
a year for more than 20 years. This year, Day Saints-Portland Area JCRC’s legislative advocacy committee)
most districts in Multnomah, Washington, NAYA (Native American Youth and created a proposed school policy. All inter-
Clackamas and Clark counties scheduled Family Center) faith partners have approved the proposal
school to start either the week before Rosh The Hindu Community and now are considering how it should be
Hashanah or the day after so Jewish students Oregon Chinese Coalition presented to individual school boards for
wouldn’t miss the first day back. adoption.
The JCRC now sends holiday calendars APANO (Asian Pacific American STRONGER TOGETHER
to superintendents and principals at public Network of Oregon) “It’s time for us to pull together and
and private schools in the four counties as strengthen our relationships,” says Mi-
well as to universities. The letter suggests EXPANDING INTERFAITH EFFORTS chelle.
addressing and incorporating religious and The JCRC also recognizes that conflicts be- Although the new proposal has not been
cultural observances when planning annual tween school and religious holidays extend distributed yet, Michelle says the partner-
school calendars and schedules for major beyond the Jewish community. This year, ship has already borne fruit for the Jewish
events such as school start dates, exams the JCRC built on the multicultural collab- community.
and other important educational occa- oration that presented history of discrimina- Despite outreach from the JCRC, the
sions. In addition, nonacademic activities tion webinars and the “Community Call to West Linn-Wilsonville School District had
such as back-to-school nights, concerts, Confront Hate” summit (jewishportland.org/ initially scheduled the first day of school
photo days, school dances, etc. are import- summit). The partners from that collab- on Sept. 7, the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
ant to students, parents and teachers. oration plus many more other communi- Several interfaith partners sent letters to the
A link to the letter to educators was in- ties have united to explore an interfaith school board supporting changing the start
cluded in an August PJ Library e-news- approach to issues that may arise in the date.
letter and has been posted on Jewish par- school arena (see box above). Recently, the school board voted to add
enting Facebook groups. The e-newsletter “Every community that is not part of a ma- a staff professional development day on
and Facebook posts also direct parents to jority religion experiences isolation around Sept. 7, moving the first day of school to
resources at the bottom of the JFGP Com- its holidays and cultural observances,” says Sept. 8. The focus of the day will be on
munity Relations page, jewishportland.org/ Rachel. “We don’t want any community to Care, Connection and Community to help
ourcommunity/jewish-community- feel isolated.” educators prepare to welcome students
relations-council. Included are links to JCRC Chair Michelle Bombet Minch back to in-person learning this fall.
holiday dates and descriptions, as well as agrees. A letter to WLWSD parents noted, “Es-
resources parents can use to navigate in- “I wouldn’t want this just to be a Jewish tablishing care and connection, especially
compatibilities between school events and issue,” says Michelle. “I feel like inclusiv- early on in the school year, will be critical
important holidays. ity is something we understand well – we to the success of our students. … We con-
“We want families to feel comfortable be- understand being ‘other,’ we understand tinue to hear how the impact of isolation
ing advocates for themselves, and we are not being seen.” during Comprehensive Distance Learning
here as a resource to help them if they feel Rachel and Michelle both say this is an ideal affected many students’ social-emotional
it is more than they can handle,” says Ra- time for groups to come together, because the well-being, peer relationships and overall
chel Nelson, Director of Educational Initia- Oregon Department of Education and many mental health.”
tives & Associate Director of Community school boards across the state are talking This year, thanks to the efforts of the
Relations. about inclusivity, diversity and equality. JCRC and the interfaith collaboration, Jew-
Parents needing additional information or “We are coming together and asking them ish students across the metro area will have
help can contact Rachel at 503-892-7415, to walk the walk and talk the talk,” says the opportunity to join their classmates on
or rachel@jewishportland.org. Michelle. the first day of school.

“Parenting Unvaccinated Kids-Back to School” recording now online
In August, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and PJ Li- tives and Associate Director of Community Relations.
brary hosted a facilitated conversation, “Parenting Unvaccinated Forty parents viewed the live presentation. The Back to School
Kids in a Post-Vaccinated World – Back to School.” session was recorded and can be viewed at jewishportland.org/
“This program was a great opportunity to hear from a medical unvaccinatedkids.
expert on the best ways to keep our kids safe in an ever-changing For more information, contact Rachel at 503-892-7415 or
time,” says Rachel Nelson, JFGP Director of Educational Initia- rachel@jewishportland.org.
8 Jewish Review Sept. 1, 2021