Supporting Colleagues, Families and Students During Ramadan
By Hawa Juma
Behavior Specialist, Utica City School District System of Care
Each year, our colleague Hawa Juma compiles an all-staff email to go out to all of ICAN’s locations and programs to share information on Ramadan and give tips on how we can support our team members who are celebrating. Her email is much appreciated and we wanted to turn it into more of a permanent resource for our staff and teams everywhere.
________________
I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all our Muslim colleagues. “Ramadan Mubarak!” May this time be filled with blessings, reflection, and spiritual growth for you and your families.
Ramadan is a very special month in the Islamic calendar, celebrated by Muslims around the world. It is a time for inner reflection, contemplation, discipline and performing generous good deeds. During these 30 days, Muslims observe a daily fast from dawn until sunset. Fasting teaches self-control, patience, and mindfulness of God and His blessings, while also serving as a reminder of those who do not have food, water and shelter. It softens the heart and fosters gratitude.
The spirit of Ramadan is about self-reflection and striving to become better individuals, and I would love to share this month with you!
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the month of fasting, and practicing Muslim students, families, and staff will be fasting from dawn until dusk (approximately 5:21 am to 5:51am). Please note that Daylight Savings adjusts these hours to approximately 6:00am to 7:00 am.
Ramadan 2025 will last from approximately March 1 through March 31. Be sure to check dates each year - the date is predicted, and subject to change, because the Islamic calendar is lunar and follows the phases of the moon.
Habit takes time to change, and it is said that whatever habits you are practicing over the 30 days, you should continue for the next 365 days!
What is fasting?
Fasting means abstaining from both food and water and is considered a spiritual cleansing where the mind is calmed and the soul is fed.
What do people do during Ramadan?
Aside from fasting, Ramadan celebrations often involve prayers and being with community late into the night. It is not unusual for individuals to be up past midnight for prayers and then rise at around 3:30 - 4:00am to eat before dawn and pray.
Support your Muslim colleagues and families during this time:
Muslim colleagues, families and students may feel tired, hungry and dehydrated, especially in the late afternoon. Give time during the work day to provide space and time to pray.
Be considerate of their energy levels - be understanding if their enthusiasm is a bit less than normal.
Be as inclusive as possible when scheduling meetings, opting for earlier starts and finishes, forgoing lunch meetings and having meetings occur generally during more core working hours.
Be accommodating with leave requests so they can carve out time as needed for prayer or celebration. Also, be aware that requests for time off may be made at more of a short notice than usual, as Muslims will not know the exact date upon which Eid will fall (this is the festival that marks the end of Ramadan).
Each individual or family may have a different relationship and approach their faith - the Muslim population is incredibly diverse, made up of different cultural heritages, ethnicities and experiences. Not everyone observes Ramadan the same. Maintain open communication and try to be supportive, and check in to see how your coworkers are doing. Cultivate meaningful connections and make yourself open and available for them to safely discuss their needs with you.
Also - this is a great time to educate yourself and your team about Ramadan. Ask questions and listen and maybe even learn some Ramadan greetings to show respect and appreciation!
Special support for students
ICAN has school-based teams that are in each of the City of Utica’s 13 elementary, middle and high schools, where a large population of the student body is Muslim. We remember that many of our students are practicing fasting (some for the very first time!) and may need additional support. I encourage you to speak with your school principal to accommodate prayer space for your students for 10-15 minutes over the 30 days of Ramadan. Be a liaison to assist the schools in supporting our students and families during this time.
Wishing you all a blessed Ramadan!
For those of you who would like to know more about Ramdan, here are some helpful and fun resources that you can check out!
Resources
Check out kids explaining Ramadan here!
Here is the book “RAMADAN” by Hannah Eliot read out loud
Reference articles - Adults
Reference articles - Kids
Globe Trottin’ Kids put together some great resources and activities