A Note on Rosh Hashanah & Religious Holidays from Jon Bartlett

I am aware that some of our families have noted that the school is not closing in recognition of Rosh Hashanah this year. This decision was made last year as we looked at all holidays with an eye to maximizing the teaching and learning opportunities for our students. Traditionally, Brookwood had not closed for Rosh Hashanah in the past, but had closed for the holiday in 2019 for the first time; and last year it fell over a weekend. Of course, the School will continue to close for Yom Kippur, but I acknowledge that for some of our families that observe the holiday, this change may have come as a surprise. We should have been more clear in explaining this decision and I sincerely apologize for any distress this may have caused.

Brookwood serves families from a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds. As always, the school fully supports any family who chooses to keep their children home to participate in important religious or cultural festivals, and as a school, we are committed to supporting the children with their learning on these occasions. To that end, homework will not be assigned on Tuesday and Wednesday in recognition of the holiday. Once I arrive on campus, I will be very happy to meet with families to listen, and to share how we maintain this important balance in our academic calendar.