Return to School 2022

 This week, if you noticed bright yellow school buses, crowded morning sidewalks, scrubbed bright faces and children with backpacks, then you might know that Fairfax County observed the start of the 2022 school year on Monday, Aug. 22. Some glad and eager to start, some bemoaning summer’s end, parents, teachers, and students will have only a short two weeks in session before observing a long weekend for Labor Day.  

But for the needed breaks all will look forward to, this year’s school calendar includes traditional holidays, such as Labor Day and other special days, and student breaks for Spring and Winter. The school system also is recognizing religious and cultural observances, as it did in 2021, but not by closing schools for these days. They include All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos, Bodhi Day, Three Kings Day/Epiphany, Orthodox Epiphany, and First Full Day of Ramadan. While these days are not holidays for all students, those observing the holidays and taking excused absences need not worry about missing tests or other assessments, field trips, guest speakers, or assemblies, sporting events or special activities, auditions or tryouts, safety drills, or conferences, which are not scheduled on those days.