Fun Holidays and Appreciation Days to Celebrate This Year
From Teacher Appreciation Week 2026 to School Custodian Appreciation Day and National Rice Krispie Treat Day, celebrate all the special days during the 2025-2026 school year with our free planning calendar!
Planning for the upcoming school year? We've got you covered with our free 2025-2026 school year calendar that includes national holidays, school staff appreciation days and fun national holidays to celebrate, like National Pretzel Day, National High Five Day, National Rubber Ducky Day, and Pi Day.
This 2025-2026 school year planning calendar is a great resource to share with anyone who helps plan fun things for the school community, from the PTO to the principal. Download your free printable calendar below!
(Looking for our 2024-2025 planning calendar? You can download it here.)
School Appreciation Days
April 7-11, 2025 National Assistant Principals Week
April 2, 2025 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
April 4, 2025 School Librarian Appreciation Day
April 20-26, 2025 Administrative Professionals Week
April 21-25, 2025 National Public School Volunteer Week
April 23, 2025 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day (varies by state; get free "We “wheelie” appreciate you!" gift tags)
April 23, 2025 Administrative Professionals Day
May 1, 2025 School Principal’s Day
May 2, 2025 School Lunch Hero Day
May 5-9, 2025 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6, 2025 Teacher Appreciation Day
May 7, 2025 School Nurse Day
May 18, 2025 Speech Pathologist Day
Get our free mega bundle of staff appreciation gift tags and signs
Sept. 26, 2025 National School Parent Group Appreciation Day
October: National Principals Month
Oct. 2, 2025 School Custodial Workers Recognition Day (get free “Thanks for making our school sparkle. We’d be a mess without you!” treat tags)
Oct. 5, 2025 World Teachers Day
Nov. 3-7, 2025 School Psychologist Week
Nov. 19, 2025 Education Support Professionals Day
Nov. 21, 2025 Substitute Educators Day
January: School Board Recognition Month
Jan. 9, 2026 Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Feb. 2-6, 2026 School Counselor Appreciation Week
Feb. 6, 2026 School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day (varies by state)
Feb. 15, 2026 School Resource Officer Appreciation Day (note: some schools will celebrate their resource officers on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which is held annually on January 9.)
Feb. 22, 2026 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day (varies by state; get free "We “wheelie” appreciate you!" gift tags)
March 2-6, 2026 National School Social Work Week
April 1, 2026 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
April 4, 2026 School Librarian Appreciation Day
April 6-10, 2026 National Assistant Principals Week
April 20-24, 2026 National Public School Volunteer Week
April 22, 2026 Administrative Professionals Day
April 28, 2026 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day (varies by state; get free "We “wheelie” appreciate you!" gift tags)
May 1, 2026 School Principal’s Day
May 1, 2026 School Lunch Hero Day
May 4-8, 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6, 2026 School Nurse Day
May 18, 2026 Speech Pathologist Day
Fun National Holidays
Celebrating quirky national holidays, like National Pretzel Day and National Oreo Day, is a great way to boost morale at school by doing something fun (and unexpected) for teachers and students.
April 16, 2025 National Banana Day (celebrated annually on the third Wednesday in April)
April 18, 2025 National High Five Day
April 26, 2025 National Pretzel Day
April 27, 2025 National Gummy Bear Day
May 4, 2025 Star Wars Day ("May the fourth be with you")...May 4 is also is the start of Teacher Appreciation Week 2025!)
May 5, 2025 Cinco de May
May 13, 2025 National Apple Pie Day
June 4, 2025 National Cheese Day
June 6, 2025 National Donut Day
Aug. 4, 2025 National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
Aug. 6, 2025 National Root Beer Float Day
Aug. 10, 2025 National S’mores Day
Aug. 24, 2025 National Waffle Day
Aug. 31, 2025 National Trail Mix Day (get free teacher appreciation trail mix bar sign and more)
Sept. 16, 2025 National Play-Doh Day
Sept. 18, 2025 National Rice Krispie Treat Day
Sept. 20, 2025 National Queso Day
Sept. 29, 2025 National Coffee Day
Oct. 7, 2025 National Chocolate Covered Pretzel Day
Oct. 21, 2025 National Apple Day
Nov. 8, 2025 STEM Day
Nov. 13, 2025 World Kindness Day
Dec. 4, 2025 National Cookie Day
Dec. 15, 2025 National Ugly Sweater Day
Jan. 13, 2026 National Rubber Ducky Day
Jan. 15, 2026 National Bagel Day
Jan. 19, 2026 National Popcorn Day (get free teacher appreciation popcorn bar sign and more)
Jan. 21, 2026 National Granola Bar Day
Jan. 23, 2026 National Handwriting Day
Jan. 23, 2026 National Pie Day
Jan. 27, 2026 National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day (teacher appreciation idea: gift strips of "stress reliever" bubble wrap to teachers)
Jan. 29, 2026 National Puzzle Day
Jan. 31, 2026 National Hot Chocolate Day
Feb. 9, 2026 National Pizza Day (set up a pizza-themed teacher treat trolley)
Feb. 14, 2026 Valentine's Day ("Stressed spelled backwards is desserts!")
Feb. 15-20, 2026 Random Acts of Kindness Week
Feb. 17, 2026 Random Acts of Kindness Day
Feb. 17, 2026 Mardi Gras
Feb. 20, 2026 National Muffin Day
March 2, 2026 Read Across America Day
March 2-6, 2026 Read Across America Week
March 4, 2026 National Snack Day
March 6, 2026 National Oreo Day
March 7, 2026 National Cereal Day
March 14, 2026 National Potato Chip Day
March 17, 2026 St. Patrick’s Day
March 19, 2026 National Let's Laugh Day
March 20, 2026 First Day of Spring
March 23, 2026 National Chip and Dip Day
March 30, 2026 National Pencil Day
April 1, 2026 April Fool's Day
April 12, 2026 National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
April 12, 2026 National Licorice Day
April 15, 2026 National Banana Day
April 16, 2026 National High Five Day
April 21, 2026 National Tea Day
April 22, 2026 National Jelly Bean Day
April 22, 2026 Earth Day
April 26, 2026 National Pretzel Day
April 27, 2026 National Gummy Bear Day
April 30, 2026 National Oatmeal Cookie Day
May 5, 2026 Cinco de May
May 13, 2026 National Apple Pie Day
June 4, 2026 National Cheese Day
June 5, 2026 National Donut Day
June 23, 2026 National Hydration Day Day
The Ultimate PTO and PTA Planning Calendar for 2025-2026
Download our free 2025-2026 school year planning calendar - it includes all the national holidays and school appreciation days during the 2025-2026 school year, along with all the fun national holidays and treat days that are just plain fun to celebrate at school!
August 2025
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Immunization Awareness Month
August 3, 2025 Friendship Day
August 4, 2025 National Chocolate Chip Day
August 6, 2025 National Root Beer Float Day
August 10, 2025 National S'mores Day
August 12, 2025 International Youth Day
August 19, 2025 Aviation Day
August 24, 2025 National Waffle Day
August 26, 2025 Women’s Equality Day
August 31, 2025 National Trail Mix Day (get free teacher appreciation trail mix bar sign and more)
September 2025
Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Library Card Sign-up Month
Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15)
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Deaf Awareness Month
September 1, 2025 Labor Day
September 7, 2025 Grandparents Day
September 8, 2025 International Literacy Day
September 15-19, 2025 Arts in Education Week
September 11, 2025 9/11 Remembrance Day
September 17, 2025 Constitution Day
September 18, 2025 School Backpack Awareness Day
September 20, 2025 National Queso Day
September 21, 2025 International Day of Peace
September 22, 2025 First Day of Autumn
September 22-24, 2025 First night of Rosh Hashanah
September 26, 2025 National School Parent Group Appreciation Day
September 26, 2025 Johnny Appleseed Day
September 29, 2025 National Coffee Day
October 2025
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
National Principals Month
ADHD Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Halloween Safety Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
National Book Month
TeenTober
October 1, 2025 First Night of Yom Kippur (through 10/2)
October 2, 2025 School Custodian Appreciation Day (get free “Thanks for making our school sparkle. We’d be a mess without you!” treat tags)
October 5, 2025 World Teachers Day
October 6, 2025 Child Health Day
October 8, 2025 Walk & Roll to School Day
October 13, 2025 Indigenous Peoples Day (Columbus Day)
October 13-17, 2025 Digital Citizenship Week (check out our free Internet safety event for schools)
October 15, 2025 Global Handwashing Day
October 20-24, 2025 America’s Safe Schools Week
October 20-24, 2025 School Bus Safety Week
October 21, 2025 National Apple Day
October 21, 2025 Diwali
October 23-31, 2025 Red Ribbon Week (this year's theme is "Life Is A Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free"
October 31, 2025 Halloween
November 2025
Aviation History Month
Family Literacy Month
Native American Heritage Month (American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month)
International Games Month
Military Family Appreciation Month
November 1, 2025 All Saints’ Day
November 2, 2025 Día de los Muertos
November 2, 2025 Daylight Saving Time Ends
November 3-7, 2025 School Psychologist Week
November 3-9, 2025 Children’s Book Week
November 5, 2025 Election Day
November 8, 2025 National STEM/STEAM Day
Featured idea! Plan a science assembly to nurture an interest in STEM at your school. As seen on America’s Got Talent and at NASA, Emmy-nominated performer David Hagerman’s Extreme Science assembly is widely praised by educators as “the best assembly in the nation”. Featuring two dynamic performers and a unique blend of spectacular demonstrations and side-splitting humor, students and teachers will laugh, be surprised, and enjoy a show so amazing they won't even realize they're learning! Mention PTO Today to get a $100 discount on available dates in 2024-2025.
November 11, 2025 Veterans Day
November 13, 2025 World Kindness Day
November 15, 2025 America Recycles Day
November 15, 2025 I Love To Write Day
November 16-22, 2025 Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
November 17-21, 2025 American Education Week
November 19, 2025 Education Support Professionals Day
November 20, 2025 Parent Involvement Day
November 21, 2025 Substitute Educators Day
November 27, 2025 Thanksgiving Day
December 2025
Learn a Foreign Language Month
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
December 1, 2025 World AIDS Day
December 1-7, 2025 Handwashing Awareness Week
December 2, 2025 Special Education Day
December 7, 2025 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 8-14, 2025 Computer Science Education Week
December 10, 2025 Human Rights Day
December 14, 2025 First Night of Hanukkah (through December 22, 2025)
December 15, 2025 National Ugly Sweater Day
December 15, 2025 Bill of Rights Day
December 17, 2025 Wright Brothers Day
December 21, 2025 First Day of Winter
December 25, 2025 Christmas Day
December 26, 2025 First Day of Kwanzaa (through January 1, 2026)
December 31, 2025 New Year’s Eve
January 2026
100th Day of School (varies by district)
Get Organized Month
National Mentoring Month
Poverty In America Awareness Month
School Board Recognition Month
January 1, 2026 New Year’s Day
January 9, 2026 Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
January 13, 2026 National Rubber Ducky Day
January 15, 2026 National Bagel Day
January 17, 2026 Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday
January 19, 2026 National Popcorn Day
January 20, 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 20, 2026 National Cheese Lovers Day
January 21, 2026 National Granola Bar Day
January 21, 2026 National Hugging Day
January 23, 2026 National Handwriting Day
January 23, 2026 National Pie Day
January 25-January 31, 2026 Catholic Schools Week
January 27, 2026 National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
January 28, 2026 Christa McAuliffe Day
January 31, 2026 National Hot Chocolate Day
February 2026
100th Day of School (varies by district)
Love the Bus Month
Black History Month
American Heart Month
Children’s Dental Health Month
February 1, 2026 Freedom Day
February 2, 2026 Groundhog Day
February 2-6, 2026 School Counselor Appreciation Week
February 5, 2026 World Nutella Day
February 6, 2026 School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day (varies by state and district)
February 8, 2026 Super Bowl Sunday
February 9, 2026 National Pizza Day (set up a pizza-themed teacher treat trolley)
February 10, 2026 Safer Internet Day
February 12, 2026 Lincoln’s Birthday
February 14, 2026 Valentine’s Day
February 15, 2026 School Resource Officer Appreciation Day
February 15, 2026 Susan B. Anthony Day
February 15-20, 2026 Random Acts of Kindness Week
February 16, 2026 Presidents’ Day (Washington’s Birthday)
February 17, 2026 Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 17, 2026 Chinese Lunar New Year
February 17, 2026 Mardi Gras
February 17, 2026 First night of Ramadan (ends March 18, 2026)
February 20, 2026 National Muffin Day
February 20, 2026 Love Your Pet Day
February 22, 2026 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day (varies by state)
March 2026
March is full of days that are fun to celebrate at school! Check out what PTO and PTA groups are planning in March
National Reading Month
American Red Cross Month
Music in Our Schools Month
Nutrition Month
Women’s History Month
March 2, 2026 Read Across America Day
March 2-6, 2026 Read Across America Week
March 2-6, 2026 National School Social Worker Week
March 4, 2026 National Snack Day
March 6, 2026 National Oreo Day
March 7, 2026 National Cereal Day
March 8, 2026 Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 11, 2026 Johnny Appleseed Day
March 14, 2026 National Potato Chip Day
March 17, 2026 St. Patrick’s Day
March 19, 2026 National Let's Laugh Day
March 20, 2026 First Day of Spring
March 21, 2026 World Down Syndrome Day
March 23, 2026 World Water Day
March 23, 2026 National Chip and Dip Day
March 30, 2026 National Pencil Day
April 2026
Autism Acceptance Month
Financial Literacy Month
Month of the Military Child
Poetry Month
School Library Month
Youth Sports Safety Month
Arab American Heritage Month
Deaf History Month
National Grilled Cheese Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
Garden Month
Kite Month
April 1, 2026 April Fool’s Day
April 1, 2026 First Night of Passover (through April 9, 2026)
April 1, 2026 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
April 4, 2026 School Librarian Appreciation Day
April 5, 2026 Easter
April 6-10, 2026 National Assistant Principals Week
April 7, 2025 World Health Day
April 6-12, 2025 Library Week
April 12, 2025 First Night of Passover (through April 20, 2025)
April 12, 2026 Drop Everything and Read Day
April 12, 2026 National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
April 12, 2026 National Licorice Day
April 15, 2026 National Banana Day
April 16, 2026 National High Five Day
April 19-25, 2026 National Library Week
April 20-24, 2026 National Public School Volunteer Week
April 21, 2026 National Tea Day
April 22, 2026 National Jelly Bean Day
April 22, 2026 Administrative Professionals Day
April 22, 2026 Earth Day
April 23, 2026 Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
April 24, 2026 Arbor Day
April 26, 2026 National Pretzel Day
April 27, 2026 National Gummy Bear Day
April 28, 2026 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day (varies by state and district)
April 28, 2026 Pay It Forward Day
April 30, 2026 Día de los ninos (Children’s Day/Book Day)
April 30, 2026 National Oatmeal Cookie Day
May 2025
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month
Military Appreciation Month
Healthy Vision Month
Inventors Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Physical Fitness and Sports Month
May 1, 2026 May Day
May 1, 2026 School Principal’s Day
May 1, 2026 School Lunch Hero Day
May 4-8, 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4, 2026 Horace Mann’s Birthday
May 4, 2026 Star Wars Day ("May the fourth be with you")
May 5, 2026 Cinco de Mayo (Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla)
May 6, 2025 Teacher Appreciation Day
May 6, 2026 Bike & Roll to School Day
May 6, 2026 School Nurse Appreciation Day
May 10, 2026 Mother’s Day
May 11, 2026 National Apple Pie Day
May 16, 2026 Armed Forces Day
May 18, 2026 Speech Pathologist Day
May 26, 2026 Memorial Day
June 2026
Great Outdoors Month
Pride Month
National Hunger Awareness Month
June 1, 2026 Say Something Nice Day
June 4, 2026 National Cheese Day
June 5, 2026 World Environment Day
June 5, 2026 National Donut Day
June 8, 2026 World Ocean Day
June 14, 2026 Flag Day
June 21, 2026 Father’s Day
June 19, 2026 Juneteenth
June 21, 2026 First Day of Summer (get our “We know you’re pooped. Only a few more weeks of school!” sign; just add poop emoji cupcakes!)
June 23, 2026 National Hydration Day
The entire 2025-2026 school year planning calendar is available to download as a handy printable (.pdf). Download yours below!
Get even more ideas for the coming school year
