Correct me if I'm wrong here, Don Cardi, as I do not have a NYC Public School Calendar, but......

What we, in our public school days used to call "Christmas Vacation" would very often vary in length, depending upon the days of the week on which Christmas Day and New Year's day fell.

In other words, if both fell on a Sunday, we would only be off from school the Monday through Friday in between.

But if both fell on a Thursday, we would be off Wednesday Dec 24th (Christmas Eve) through the following Friday (Jan 2).

If my recollection is correct, we were always off the day of Christmas Eve.

So here's my question:

Since Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, are the schools closed on Friday December 24th?

Because if they are, although it's being called "Winter Break" or whatever, closing the schools for the extra day on Friday is, in effect, for a "religious holiday", since if Christmas fell on Sunday, the schools would not be closed on Friday.

As I say, this is how I remember it and I could be wrong. But since you have a copy of the public school schedule, I'd be curious to know.

I also seem to also remember that school was closed for "Easter Vacation" on Good Friday, which, if that policy is still in effect, is closing schools on that day for religious reasons as well.

SC is correct about the economic realities. I believe that the city gets money from the state based on attendance, and it makes more economic sense to close the schools on a day when there would be many absentees, and, in turn, extend the school year by a day or two, or start a day or two earlier.

Finally, in the interest of "Political Correctness", and to be assured in the future that no one will be offended, I suggest changing the name of the reason for closing the schools from "Observance of Rosh Hashanah" and "Observance of Yom Kippur" to "Early Fall Holiday Number 1", and "Early Fall Holiday Number 2".