To: All

Parents and Guardians

From: Dr. Shonny Bria, Superintendent, and Thomas W. Rowland, Principal

Date: August 9, 2017

Re: Honoring our cultural diversity

 It is an honor to announce that the Grand Canyon Unified School District faculty and staff have elected to join other school districts across the state in naming August 21 a “snow day.”  As you know, August 21, 2017, offers each of us the opportunity to view a once in a lifetime solar eclipse.  While this event affords many of us the rare chance to see this phenomenon in our skies, many of our Native American students and staff observe it as a day of prayer, solitude and reflection.

We, the faculty and staff of the Grand Canyon Schools, feel privileged to honor our Native American students’ and co-workers’ customs and religious rites during this event.  In order to do so, we voted to name August 21st the first “snow day” of the 2017-18 school year.  Our 2017-18 calendar had an extra day built in it, so this will not require a make-up day.  School resumes normally on August 22nd.

We encourage you to plan the day for your children.  Needless to say, for those of you who wish for your children to view the eclipse, we encourage you to use caution.  Please go to the internet and read about the proper safety procedures necessary to ensure a pleasant viewing of the eclipse phenomenon.

Thank you for your understanding and your support of the Grand Canyon Unified School District.  Together, we can continue on our journey to make the Grand Canyon schools an exemplary educational facility that honors and serves our true multi-cultural population.  

Stay warm on our first “snow day” of the current school year.