Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

@dei-aps.bsky.social

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Equity is not a choice, but our responsibility in creating and sustaining the academic and operational excellence that is Arlington Public Schools.

APS Schools and Offices are closed today in observance of Independence Day tomorrow. July 4 commemorates the Declaration of Independence being approved by the Continental Congress in 1776 - 250 years ago- which established the United States of America.
In July we Honor Disability Pride Month, a time to recognize history, experiences, contributions, and challenges of people with disabilities. This month commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, a significant civil rights law that prevents discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
APS Schools and Offices are closed today to honor Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War, and an opportunity to celebrate African-American freedom and resiliency.
Congratulations to all of the Arlington students who are graduating from high school this and next week! We wish you the best of luck in your next steps after graduation!
In June we recognize National Immigrant Heritage Month, a time for us to learn more about our own heritage and celebrate the many ways that immigrants have and continue to help develop and enrich our nation.
In June we recognize National Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich history and culture of Caribbean American people and their contribution to our nation.
In June we recognize LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, a celebration of the many contributions made by the LGBTQIA+ community to our history and culture. We support our students, staff, families and community members who are part of and allies to the LGBTQIA+ community.
APS school and offices are closed today in observance of Eid al-Adha, the “Festival of Sacrifice", which is observed by Muslims around the world. Eid Mubarak to our students, families and staff who are celebrating this weekend.
APS schools and offices are closed today in observance of Memorial Day, a time to honor and remember the military members who have died while serving our country.
May 7th is recognized as National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, part of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a time to raise awareness about mental health issues, reduce stigma, and promote mental well-being.
May is National Foster Care Month, a time to raise awareness of the foster care system, and recognize the strength of the foster care students and families in our community as well as the staff supporting them.
In May we recognize National Military Appreciation Month, a time to honor and recognize the contributions, sacrifices and service of the members of the armed forces, past and present, in our community and across the country.
May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, an opportunity to raise awareness and learn more about communication disorders and hearing health.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you teachers for your kindness, generosity and dedication. You make a difference every single day!
In May we recognize Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and learn about the rich history, achievements and cultural contributions of members of the Jewish community to our country.
In May we recognize Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to honor the contributions, accomplishments, and the histories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout our nation's history.
Thank you for all you do! Happy Administrative Professionals' Day!
April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to honor the APS military families and children for their resilience and strength as they support their service member(s).
April is Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month, a time to recognize Sikhism, one of the world’s major religions, and honor the many ways that Sikh Americans have positively impacted our history and culture.
In April we honor National Arab American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the important achievements and contributions that Arab Americans have made to our nation.
Today is Easter Sunday, the holiest day in Christianity. We wish a Happy Easter to our students, staff and families who are celebrating this weekend.
Today is Good Friday, a day of reflection and mourning for Christians as they prepare for Easter Sunday. We wish a peaceful good Friday to our students, families and staff who are observing.
Today is World Autism Awareness Day, part of Autism Awareness Month in April. This important recognition helps to raise awareness and promote inclusion for the Autism community.
This evening begins the Jewish holiday of Passover, an eight-day festival that continues through April 9. We wish a Happy Passover to our students, staff and families who are celebrating this week.
March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility, an international observance to raise awareness about the transgender community, and highlight the lives and contributions of transgender people around the world.
This evening into tomorrow is Eid al-Fitr, the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”, observed by Muslims at the conclusion of Ramadan. Eid Mubarak to our students, families and staff who are celebrating this weekend! APS Schools and Offices are closed on Friday March 20 for this observance. Happy Eid al-Fitr
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate and honor the important contributions that women have made throughout history. March 8 is International Women’s Day, which is recognized around the world. Celebrate Women's History Month
March is National World Languages Month, a time to celebrate the rich diversity of languages and cultures in Arlington, and highlight our students and families who speak or are learning to speak multiple languages.
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a chance to highlight the unique experiences of individuals with developmental disabilities, and a time to celebrate their achievements and promote inclusivity.
The 2nd Annual HBCU Experience Event at Wakefield celebrates the rich history, culture & academic excellence of HBCUs. Students can explore college opportunities, engage with alumni, and learn about the impactful legacy HBCUs continue to build. It’s inspiring and designed to empower future students.
Ramadan begins this evening, a holy month for the Muslim community. During this time, many Muslims will fast and engage in self-reflection. Ramadan Mubarak to our students, staff and families who are observing this month.
Today marks the first day of Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, with celebrations that continue through March 3. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese Zodiac.
In February we honor Black History Month, a time to celebrate the history, achievements, and contributions of African Americans in our community and nationally. 2026 marks 100 years of formally celebrating Black History in the U.S.
Today we observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We honor the memory of the 6 million Jewish victims and the millions of other victims of the Holocaust. We also pay tribute to the incredible resilience and strength of the survivors.
Schools and offices are closed today in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. This is a time to recognize his life and legacy, and a time to engage in service in his honor.
In January we honor Muslim American Heritage Month, a time to recognize the history, culture, and countless contributions of Muslim Americans who enrich our communities and strengthen our nation.
We wish a very Happy New Year to our entire APS community! Schools and offices will reopen on Monday, January 5.
Today begins Kwanzaa, a week-long African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates history, values, family, community, and culture. We wish a joyful Kwanzaa to our students, families and staff who will be celebrating this week!
We wish a Merry Christmas to our students, families, and staff who are celebrating today! Christmas is celebrated each year on the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth.
Tonight is the start of Hanukkah, an eight-day holiday known as the Festival of Lights. We wish our students, families, and staff who will be celebrating over the next week a Happy Hanukkah!
Today, we wish our students, staff, and families a very Happy Thanksgiving! Schools and offices will reopen on Monday, December 1.
November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost due to anti-transgender violence.
Group touring the outside of Howard University
Happy World Kindness Day
Group of high school students and chaperones posing for a picture during the MSAN Student Conference.
Today APS Schools and Offices are closed in observance of Veteran’s Day. We honor and appreciate our military families, as well as our parents/guardians and staff members who have served.
Happy National School Psychology Week
November is Native American Heritage Month, where we recognize the important history, traditions and languages of Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities both in present-day Arlington and across the country.
Today is Unity Day, part of Bullying Prevention Month. Today we wear orange to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion!
APS Schools and Offices are closed today in observance of Diwali. We wish a joyful celebration to all students, families and staff members who are observing Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, today and tomorrow.
Happy National Boss’s Day! We are thankful for the impactful leaders we have in the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Student Support.
Today we recognize Indigenous People’s Day, which celebrates and highlights the important history and contributions of Native Americans.
World Mental Health Day – Today we recognize World Mental Health Day, a day to raise awareness on mental health issues and support mental health care worldwide.
October is Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month. APS is committed to fostering inclusive schools and communities for our neurodivergent students, staff and family members.
October is Augmentative and Alternative Communications Month. We stand together to raise awareness on the diverse ways in which our students, staff, families and community connect with each other using various communication devices. Everyone deserves a voice!