April Holidays & Recognition

Recognizing special days and awareness months is an opportunity to build community, highlight values, and celebrate the individuals and events that shape our school environments. These observances support a culture of belonging, appreciation, and learning. By honoring diverse contributions and causes, schools model empathy, curiosity, and respect—qualities that help shape students into thoughtful, engaged citizens.

Here is a list of April recognitions and holidays, along with suggestions on how they can be observed and celebrated in schools:

April Recognitions and Holidays

World Autism Month

• About: Raises awareness and promotes understanding and acceptance of people with autism.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Awareness Campaigns: Share facts and stories about autism across the school.

  • Inclusion Projects: Create opportunities for students to learn how to support peers with autism.

  • Wear Blue Day: Encourage the school to wear blue as a sign of support.

National Occupational Therapy Month

• About: Honors the role of occupational therapists in helping students participate fully in school activities.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Appreciation Notes: Recognize school occupational therapists with thank-you cards from students and staff.

  • Educational Displays: Highlight how OT supports student learning and development.

National Poetry Month

• About: Celebrates poetry’s important place in culture and education.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Poetry Readings: Host open mic sessions for students to share their favorite poems or original work.

  • Poem-a-Day: Share a new poem with students daily via announcements or classroom reading.

  • Poetry Contests: Invite students to enter school-wide poetry competitions.

National School Library Month

• About: Recognizes the essential role school libraries and librarians play in supporting student learning.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Library Events: Host book clubs, author visits, or reading challenges.

  • Librarian Appreciation: Celebrate your school librarian with a small event or thank-you messages.

April 1: April Fools' Day

• About: A day known for playful pranks and humor.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Positive Pranks: Share fun, lighthearted jokes or activities that promote laughter.

  • Creativity Challenge: Host a contest for the most creative, kind classroom prank or joke.

April 2: International Children’s Book Day

• About: Promotes a love of reading and children’s literature.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Reading Sessions: Have older students read favorite books to younger peers.

  • Author Spotlights: Highlight the work of diverse children’s authors throughout the day.

April 2: Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day

• About: Celebrates the vital contributions of paraeducators in supporting student success.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Thank-You Wall: Invite students to write messages of appreciation.

  • Recognition Ceremony: Host a small celebration for your school’s paraprofessionals.

April 7-11: National Assistant Principals Week

• About: Recognizes assistant principals for their hard work and commitment to school leadership.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Daily Shoutouts: Share thank-you messages on morning announcements.

  • Staff and Student Notes: Create a “Wall of Gratitude” for APs with messages from students and staff.

April 7: World Health Day

• About: Promotes awareness of global health issues and the importance of well-being.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Wellness Activities: Organize a walk-a-thon or a wellness fair.

  • Healthy Habits Lessons: Teach students about healthy routines and hygiene.

April 12–13 & April 19–20: Passover

• Note: A significant Jewish holiday commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

April 14: Baisakhi

• Note: A Sikh holiday celebrating the harvest and the Sikh New Year.

April 18: Good Friday

• Note: A Christian holiday observing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

April 20–26: Administrative Professionals Week & Day (April 23)

• About: Honors administrative staff for their essential contributions to schools.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Recognition Gifts: Present a token of appreciation, such as flowers or handwritten notes.

  • Staff Spotlight: Feature their work in school communications and announcements.

April 20–26: National Volunteer Week & April 21–25: Public School Volunteer Week

• About: Celebrates those who give their time to support public schools.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Volunteer Appreciation: Host a coffee or lunch for school volunteers.

  • Student-Led Recognition: Have students create thank-you cards or videos.

April 20: Easter

• Note: A major Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

April 22: Earth Day

• About: Promotes environmental awareness and action.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Campus Clean-Up: Organize a school-wide environmental stewardship project.

  • Sustainability Lessons: Focus on topics like recycling, climate change, or conservation.

April 23–24: Holocaust Remembrance Day

• About: Honors the memory of the six million Jews and millions of others who perished during the Holocaust.

• How to Recognize:

  • Moment of Silence: Observe a school-wide moment of reflection.

  • Educational Opportunities: Provide age-appropriate lessons or resources on historical remembrance.

April 24–30: National Student Leadership Week

• About: Celebrates students who take initiative to lead in their schools and communities.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Leadership Recognition: Highlight student leaders in daily announcements.

  • Leadership Panels: Host discussions or workshops led by student leaders.

April 24: Commemoration of Armenian Genocide

• About: Recognizes the atrocities committed against the Armenian people in 1915.

• How to Recognize:

  • Awareness Campaigns: Share historical facts and stories in social studies classes.

  • Reflective Discussions: Facilitate age-appropriate conversations about human rights and history.

April 24: Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

• About: Provides students with insights into various careers through hands-on experience.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Career Panels: Host career-focused events for students not participating off-campus.

  • Reflection Assignments: Have students reflect on what they learned if they participated.

April 25: National Arbor Day

• About: Encourages tree planting and appreciation of the environment.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Tree Planting Events: Plant trees on or near campus.

  • Environmental Education: Teach about the role of trees in ecosystems.

April 29: International Dance Day

• About: Celebrates dance as an art form and its cultural significance.

• How to Celebrate:

  • Dance Showcase: Host a performance featuring student or community dance groups.

  • Movement Breaks: Incorporate short dance breaks into the school day.

Celebrate and Inspire

April is packed with opportunities to recognize the people, values, and traditions that enrich our school communities. Whether you’re honoring staff, empowering student leaders, or encouraging environmental stewardship, each observance supports a more connected, respectful, and inspired learning environment.