Holiday Option Lottery

When to Request

An employee who wishes to take a personal leave day before or after a holiday and does not wish to either pay the cost of the long-term substitute (Licensed) or lose 40 percent of a day’s pay (ESP), must make the request through the Human Resource Department during the Holiday Request window. Prior notification must be given to the principal or supervisor at least one day in advance of the request for leave.

** 196 or 206 contract licensed employees are not required to apply to the lottery to use a personal day before or after a holiday (Policy 410.04-5)

How to Request

To make a request, find your desired holiday on the list below. When the request window opens click on the green button and follow the prompts. If the Request Window falls on a weekend or holiday, it will open on the next business day by 9:00 a.m. An email with a copy of your request will be sent to you five minutes after you submit your request. Within two business days after the window closes, Human Resources will email the respondents whether or not they were chosen for the lottery (all names are chosen at random).

Contact Paulette Takata at paulette.takata@canyonsdistrict.org for assistance.

Windows for holiday requests for the 2025-26 School Year:

Labor Day – Sept. 1, 2025
- Days to Request: Aug. 29 or Sept. 2
- Request Window: July 22 – July 29, 2025
Fall Recess – Oct. 23-24, 2025
- Day to Request: Oct. 22
- Request Window: Sept. 8 – Sept. 17, 2025

Thanksgiving Recess – Nov. 26-28, 2025
- Days to Request: Nov. 25 or Dec. 1
- Request Window: Oct. 11-20, 2025

Winter Recess – Dec. 22, 2025 – Jan. 2, 2026
- Days to Request: Dec. 19 or Jan. 5
- Request Window: Nov. 4-13, 2025
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Jan. 19, 2025
- Day to Request: Jan. 20
- Request Window: Dec. 7-16, 2024
President’s Day – Feb. 19, 2026
- Day to Request: Feb. 17
- Request Window: Dec. 30- Jan 8, 2026
Spring Recess – April 6-10, 2026
- Days to Request: Apr. 3 or Apr. 13
- Request Window: Feb. 17- Feb. 26, 2026

Personal Leave may not be used during contract days when students are not present at the school.

September 29, 2025 – Teacher Professional Day
October 27, 2025 – Teacher Professional Day
February 13, 2026 – Grading Day
March 23, 2026 – Teacher Professional Day

Personal Leave may be taken the day before or after a school holiday, without pay deduction, for the following specific reasons:

Observance of religious holidays which fall on a regularly scheduled school calendar work day.
To attend the following types of events:
1. Wedding of a near relative including child, father, mother, brother, sister, grandchild, grandparent or the same to one’s spouse or any other person who is a member of the same household as the employee.
2. Graduations of near relatives as defined in “3.2” above.
3. Required court appearances,
4. Deaths not covered by Bereavement Policy.
5. Circumstances beyond an employee’s control and approved by Human Resources.