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Lodi Unified School District

Policy 6115 - Ceremonies & Observances

Series: 6000 - Instruction

Policy: 6115 - Ceremonies & Observances

Adopted: 05/11/1967

Last Revised: 10/21/2025

Last Reviewed: N/A

Download Policy 6115 - Ceremonies and Observances PDF (English)

Download Rule 6115 - Ceremonies and Observances PDF (English)

Ceremonies & Observances

The Board of Education recognizes the importance of having students observe holidays, join together to celebrate events of cultural or historical significance or present-day significance, and to acknowledge the contributions of outstanding individuals in society. On days designated by the Board, staff shall provide students with appropriate commemorative exercises so that they may acquire the knowledge, skills, and principles essential for informed, responsible citizenship in a democratic society.
 
District schools shall be closed on the holidays specified in Education Code 37220 and on any other day designated as a holiday by the Board. The Board may, by adoption of a resolution, revise the date upon which schools close in observance of any holiday except for V eterans Day and Juneteenth.
 
Education Code 37220 specifies that:
 
  • If Veterans Day or Juneteenth falls on a Saturday: The holiday is observed on the preceding Friday.
     
  • If Veterans Day or Juneteenth falls on a Sunday: The holiday is observed on the following Monday.
 

Rule 6115

Holidays

District schools shall be closed in observance of the following holidays:

Holiday Date
New Year's Day

January 1
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Third Monday in January or the Monday or Friday of the week which January 15 occurs
Lincoln Day The Monday or Friday of the week in which February 12 occurs
Washington Day/President's Day Third Monday in February
Memorial Day last Monday in May
Independence Day July 4
Labor Day First Monday in September
Thanksgiving Day That Thursday in November designated by the President
Christmas Day December 25

 

Commemorative Exercises

District schools shall hold exercises to commemorate the following special days:

Special Day Date
U.S. Constitution and Citizenship Day, including exercises and instruction in the purpose, meaning, and importance, of the constitution and bill of rights On or near September 17
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day The Friday before the day schools are closed for this holiday
Lincoln's Birthday The school day before the day schools are closed for this holiday
Susan B. Anthony Day February 15
Black American Day March 5
Conservation, Bird, and Arbor Day March 7
Classified Employee Week Third Week in May

 

Patriotic Exercises

The Board of Education requires activities that instill pride in our country and requires the following daily patriotic exercises:

  1. At elementary schools, either the Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited or other appropriate patriotic exercises conducted at the beginning of each school day.
  2. At middle and secondary schools, either the Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited or other appropriate patriotic exercises conducted each day.

The district respects the legal right of individuals not to participate in the salute to the flag for personal reasons.


Display of Flag

The flag of the United States and the flag of California shall be displayed during school days at the entrance or on the grounds of every school. At all times, the national flag shall be placed in the position of first honor.

Upon order of the President, the national flag shall be flown at half-mast upon the death of principal figures of the United States government and the Governor of the state, as a mark of respect to their memory. When so flown, the flag shall be hoisted to the top of the staff for an instant before being lowered to half-mast. It should be hoisted to the peak again before being lowered for the night.

The national flag shall fly at half mast:

  1. For 30 days from the death of the President or former President. 
  2. For 10 days from the death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  3. From the day of death until burial of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a former Vice President, a member of the Cabinet, a Secretary of the Army, Navy or Air Force, and the Governor of the state.
  4. On the day of death and the following day for a member of Congress.
  5. On Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), unless that day is also Armed Forces Day

Legal Reference

Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the Board to enact this policy.  Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
 
STATE
EDUCATION CODE
37220-37222.21 Holidays and commemorative events
44015.1 Week of the School Administrator
45203 Paid holidays
45460 Classified School Employee Week
49110.5 Workplace Readiness Week
52720-52730 Patriotic exercises and instruction
GOVERNMENT CODE
3540-3549.3 Public education employer-employee relations
430-439 Display of flags
 
FEDERAL
UNITED STATES CODE
36 USC 106 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
4 USC 6 Time and occasion for display of flag
4 USC 7 Position and manner of display of flag
 
MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
COURT DECISIONS
Newdow v. Rio Linda Union School District (9th Cir. 2010) 597 F.3d 1007
West Virginia State Board of Education et al. v. Barnette et al. (1943) 319 U.S. 624
WEBSITE
CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services https://legalservices.csba.org/

California Department of Education, History/Social Science Instructional Materials http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/hs/im
CSBA http://www.csba.org/