Yom Kippur, or the “Day of Atonement”, is the holiest day on the Jewish Calendar. For devout Jews in Canada and around the world, Yom Kippur is the most important Holiday, beyond Hanukkah or even the Passover. Many Jews will spend the entire day in fasting, praying and other observances.
In 2016 Yom Kippur begins at sundown on October 11, (This is according to the Gregorian Calendar, while the Jewish Calendar is at year 5777.)
For more on Yom Kippur, click here.
October 11 is the International Day of the Girl, observed annually around the globe to raise awareness about issues surrounding the “empowerment, protection and participation of girls in all levels of society.” (dayofthegirlsummit.org)
From UN Women: There are 1.1 billion girls today, a powerful constituency for shaping a sustainable world that’s better for everyone. They are brimming with talent and creativity. But their dreams and potential are often thwarted by discrimination, violence and lack of equal opportunities. There are glaring gaps in data and knowledge about the specific needs and challenges that girls face.
What gets counted, gets done. The theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, on 11 October, “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement”, is a call for action for increased investment in collecting and analyzing girl-focused, girl-relevant and sex-disaggregated data. One year into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, improving data on girls and addressing the issues that are holding them back is critical for fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals
One such issue that is standing in the way of girls’ progress is child marriage. The data is daunting—one in three girls in developing countries (except China) get married before they turn 18. Girls who are child brides miss out on education, are more vulnerable to physical and sexual violence, and bear children before they are physically or emotionally prepared. The cycle of violence that begins in girlhood, carries over into womanhood and across generations. The 2030 Agenda must address their needs and unlock their potential.
UN Women works around the world to empower women and girls and raise awareness on their rights, advocate for the adoption and implementation of laws and policies that prohibit and prevent child marriage, and mobilize communities against the practice.
On the International Day of the Girl Child, we stand with the global community to support girls’ progress everywhere. Let girls be girls.
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Each year on the 10th of October people all over the globe observe World Mental Health Day. This is an opportunity to acknowledge the serious issues related to our Mental Health.
Find out more:
10 novels, read by students all over the district.
Read. Discuss. Vote.
surreyteensread.weebly.com
Happy World Teachers’ Day! In 1994, the United Nations (UNESCO) established October 5th as World Teachers’ Day, a day to recognize and celebrate the vital role that teachers play in the lives of all people, especially children and youth.
From UNESCO: Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status– This year World Teachers’ Day marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
Read more…
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year feast and celebration.
The Jewish Calendar is a lunar calendar, therefor the dates of Rosh Hashanah and other Jewish holidays will vary according to the Gregorian Calendar (the standard calendar used in most of the world for politics, business and daily life.) In 2016 Rosh Hashanah begins at Sundown on October 3 and ends at nightfall of October 4.
Mohandas Gandhi was born on in this day in India in 1869. Gandhi led India to independence from the British Empire, primarily through non-violent protest and peaceful resistance. His ideas would inspire future movements from such people as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
For more on the life of Gandhi, click here.
October is International School Library Month. All over the world, people are recognizing and celebrating the powerful role that school libraries play in education. Come on in to the School Library at LTS, and continue to check back online, for more on our local celebration of International School Library Month!
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 