Ramadan Mubarak! Updated guide teaches how to be supportive of peers who are fasting
Today marks the start of Ramadan, and as Muslim students and staff recognize the Month of Compassion, the district continues to promote a better understanding of how to support students and staff in their faith and fasting over the next 30 days.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims pray, reflect, give to community, and fast between sunrise and sunset. Muslims partake in suhur, a breakfast before dawn, and iftar, a meal to break their fast at sunset, but otherwise abstain from food or drink throughout the day. Children, nursing and pregnant women, the elderly, people who are ill and travellers are exempt from fasting.
Several years ago, Enver Creek Secondary student teacher Zahraa Dean created an informative PowerPoint slideshow in an effort to further the understanding of the religious observance. Now she’s provided an (also ), as well as information on religious attire, the importance of prayer and what not to say to someone who is fasting.
“Not too long ago, I was a student too,” said Dean. “I remember being in a P.E. class and I had peers who would fast but the teachers weren’t knowledgeable on what Ramadan was and how it affects us in the classroom.
“I feel it’s really important for both students and educators, any staff in the school building, to know about Ramadan just like how we learn about other traditions in school settings.”
Ramadan begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon, with this year’s celebration being observed from Feb. 28 to March 29.
Dean emphasizes empathy and understanding for students and staff who may be fasting, noting schools can accommodate them by assigning less strenuous tasks for physical education. Similar to last year, many schools are acknowledging Ramadan by creating spaces for Muslim students to come together at lunch that is separate from peers who are eating.
“It’s really important to have a specific space available in elementary and secondary schools to accommodate students who are fasting,” she said. “It supports their faith and acknowledges that fasting can be a tough time for them.”
Dean has received a lot of positive feedback for her efforts to improve the understanding of Ramadan, and said she hopes her work will keep the dialogue going so schools will continue to be mindful for other religious observances that may impact students and staff.
“I really want to be as accommodating as I can and spread the word for those students to feel they’re being supported and they’ll remember it and they’ll talk about it,” she said. “I feel it can go a really long way.”
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