For the first time in 10 years, Ramadan will fall within the academic school year and will continue to do so for the next 2 decades! 

Ramadan will begin on Sunday, May 5th, when many universities have yet to finish for the summer. It can be a difficult month for many to get through, especially students who have to go through a normal school day without eating or drinking. For schools, it's important to provide an environment for students where they feel safe to practice their religion, but maybe more importantly, one that ensures their well-being during the school day. 

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad according to Islamic belief. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. 

During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. It is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline — of deep contemplation of one's relationship with God, extra prayer, increased charity and generosity, and intense study of the Qur'an. 

The practice of fasting serves several spiritual and social purposes: to remind you of your human frailty and your dependence on God for sustenance, to show you what it feels like to be hungry and thirsty so you feel compassion for (and a duty to help) the poor and needy, and to reduce the distractions in life so you can more clearly focus on your relationship with God.