School Starts on August 24, 2025

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Gurbani Kirtan Classes

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Welcome to Guru Nanak Khalsa School

Guru Nanak Khalsa School is a program for the children at Sikh Gurdwara, San Jose CA. The mission is to give to students knowledge and appreciation of the Sikh way of life and their rich Sikh heritage and to promote excellence in the community

Young Sikh children attending the school are instilled with love for Sikh religion, its beliefs, values and customs. This is accomplishes through the teaching of the punjabi language and Gurmukhi script so that they are able to read and understand the Sikh scriptures and Sri Guru Granth Sahib. In addition to this they also learn about the Sikh history and Keertan, the Sikh devotional music.

Teaching Resources
We have created unique books to teach Punjabi as a Second Language. Stepping Stones Punjabi as a Second Language Instructional Resources are designed with the guidelines based on the US education system for teaching English as a second language. These books are easy to use even by the volunteer teachers who may not have any teaching experience. 

Teacher Recruitment and Training
At GNKS, currently, we have more than 100 teachers. We believe that our teachers are the strongest resource that contributes to the success of our school.

We have an annual teacher training about the curriculum and teaching strategies. The goal is to use the limited time in school effectively to maximize student learning.

Awards and Honors
All children have many opportunities to excel and earn rewards at Guru Nanak Khalsa School San Jose. Here are some of the certificates s/he can earn at the end of the year.

  • Ambassador of Sikhi Award: given to those boys and girls who do not cut their hair and have a jooda and guttaan.
  • Perfect Attendance Award: Given to the student who came to school all year, was absent not more than once.
  • Excellence in Gurbani: those who memorized Japuji Sahib
  • Academic Excellence Award: given for demonstrating Excellence in learning to read and write Punjabi and scoring 90% or above on tests.
  • Student of the Year Award: given to the student who has done the best work in class and home all year.
  • Best Reader Award: given to the student who can read Punjabi fluently at his/her level.
  • Best Writer Award: given to the student who can write Punjabi fluently at his/her level.
  • $100 cash prize: Given to those children who can memorize complete Japji Sahib before they turn 10 years old.

School Hours: (Every Sunday)

12 nooon to 1:30 pm Sikh Heritage Symphony
02:00 pm to 4:30 pm   Office Hours
02:00 pm to 02:25 pm Diwan & Assembly (Main Hall)
02:25 pm to 04:10 pm Punjabi, Gurmat and Gurbani Class
04:10 pm to 04:30 pm Snacks (South Hall)
04:30 pm to 06:30 pm Keertan/Tabla Class
04:30 pm to 05:30 pm Sikh Heritage Symphony

 

38th Year · 2026–27 School Calendar

Guru Nanak Khalsa School San Jose

Our mission is to “Promote Excellence in the Community through Sikh Values and Teachings, Emphasizing Spirituality, Truthfulness, Hard Work, Charity and Wisdom as the Keys to a Fulfilling Life.”

Regular School Schedule (Sundays)
12:00–1:30 Sikh Heritage Symphony Classes
1:00–1:45 Jap Ji Sahib Memorization Class (Aug–Jan)
2:00–2:25 Assembly in Main Darbar Hall for all students, parents, and teachers
2:25–4:00 Punjabi & Gurmat Classes
4:00–4:30 Snacks in Langar Hall
4:30–5:30 Keertan (Harmonium, Tabla & Tanti) classes
5:30–6:30 Senior Keertan (Harmonium, Tabla & Tanti) classes
Hemkunt Speech Schedule
Same as the Regular School Schedule, except Assembly runs 2:00–2:30pm and students then go to their assigned Hemkunt Speech Group:
Group 1 Main Darbar Hall
Group 2 Library
Group 3 Bhai Mardana Room
Group 4 Class TBD
Teacher Meetings: in-person/Zoom, announced in the WhatsApp GNKS Staff Community Channel.

Key: Tests, meetings & changes  |  Events & contests  |  Celebrations & special classes  |  No school

August 2026

Sun
16
Aug
Teacher Training
10:30–2:30 Mandatory training for all teachers in Library
Sun
23
Aug
1st Teaching Day
12:30–1:30 Book distribution in school area
12:30–1:30 Punjabi & Gurmat Retests
Regular School Schedule
Sun
30
Aug
2nd Teaching Day
12:00–12:40 Book distribution for those who missed picking them up
Regular School Schedule

September 2026

Sun
6
Sep
3rd Teaching Day
12:00–12:40 Book distribution for those who missed picking them up
Regular School Schedule
Sun
13
Sep
No School
31 Raag Kirtan Darbar in San Jose Gurdwara. Enjoy the blissful Kirtan program.
School not in session
Sun
20
Sep
4th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
Sun
27
Sep
5th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
No assembly – classes begin at 2:30pm after Nagar Kirtan at Gurdwara Sahib

October 2026

Sun
4
Oct
6th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
1:30–2:20pm Teacher Child Abuse Handling Training by Pushpinder Pen Ji
Sun
11
Oct
7th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
1:30–2:20 Levels 4 to 8 Parent-Teacher meeting in classrooms
Sun
18
Oct
8th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
Sun
25
Oct
9th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
1:30–2:20 Levels 1 to 3 Parent-Teacher meeting in classrooms
Sikh Identity Posters presentation in Punjabi & Gurmat class

November 2026

Sun
1
Nov
No School
Yuba City Nagar Keertan
School not in session
Sun
8
Nov
No School
Bandhi Chhorh Divas in Gurdwara Sahib
School not in session
Sun
15
Nov
10th Teaching Day
1:00–1:45 Gurbani Contest Preparation class
Regular School Schedule
Guru Nanak celebration in Punjabi & Gurmat class
Sun
22
Nov
11th Teaching Day
1:00–1:45 Gurbani Contest Preparation class
Regular School Schedule
Punjabi & Gurmat Mid-Term Test #1
Sun
29
Nov
No School
Thanksgiving Holiday
School not in session

December 2026

Sun
6
Dec
12th Teaching Day
1:00–1:45 Gurbani Contest Preparation class
Regular School Schedule
Sun
13
Dec
13th Teaching Day
1:00–1:45 Gurbani Contest Preparation class
Regular School Schedule
Sun
20
Dec
14th Teaching Day
1:00–1:45 Gurbani Contest Preparation class
Regular School Schedule
Sun
27
Dec
No School
Winter Break
School not in session

January 2027

Sun
3
Jan
No School
Winter Break
School not in session
Sat
9
Jan
Contest
Khalsa School (Local) Level Gurbani Contest
Sun
10
Jan
15th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
Sat
16
Jan
Contest
Bay Area (Zonal) Level Gurbani Contest
Sun
17
Jan
16th Teaching Day
Hemkunt Speech Schedule
Sun
24
Jan
17th Teaching Day
Hemkunt Speech Schedule
Sun
31
Jan
18th Teaching Day
Hemkunt Speech Schedule
Keertan Mid-Term Test

February 2027

Sun
7
Feb
19th Teaching Day
Hemkunt Speech Schedule
Sun
14
Feb
20th Teaching Day
Hemkunt Speech Schedule
Sun
21
Feb
21st Teaching Day
Hemkunt Speech Schedule
Sun
28
Feb
22nd Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
Punjabi & Gurmat Mid-Term Test #2

March 2027

Sun
7
Mar
23rd Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
In-Class Hemkunt Speech Competition
Sun
14
Mar
24th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
In-Class Hemkunt Speech Competition (if needed)
Sun
21
Mar
25th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
Sun
28
Mar
No School
Hola Mohalla at Gurdwara Sahib
School not in session

April 2027

Sun
4
Apr
26th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
Sun
11
Apr
27th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
Visakhi activities in class
Sat
17
Apr
Competition
Center Level Hemkunt Speech Competition
Sun
18
Apr
No School
Visakhi at Gurdwara Sahib
School not in session
12:00–2:00 Art Day for kids in school quad
Sun
25
Apr
28th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
3:00–4:00 Charni Lagna Class for Level 7 & 8

May 2027

Sat
1
May
Program
Hemkunt Regional Keertan Darbar
Sun
2
May
29th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
Final Test for Level 7 students
3:00–4:00 Charni Lagna Class for Level 7 & 8
Sun
9
May
30th Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
3:00–4:00 Charni Lagna Class for Level 7 & 8
Sun
16
May
31st Teaching Day
Regular School Schedule
Last day for Baalvardi & Nickay Baal
3:00–4:00 Charni Lagna Class for Level 7 & 8
Keertan Final Test
Sun
23
May
No School
Memorial Day Holiday
School not in session
Sat
29
May
Competition
Zonal Level Hemkunt Speech Competition
Sun
30
May
Last School Day
2:00–2:25 Assembly in Main Darbar Hall
2:25–4:00 Punjabi & Gurmat Classes
Final Test for Levels 1 to 6 students
3:00–4:00 Charni Lagna Class for Level 7 & 8
4:00–4:30 Snacks in Langar Hall
4:30–5:30 Keertan Awards/Certificates distribution in class

June 2027

Sun
6
Jun
Awards & Graduation
2:00–2:30 Punjabi & Gurmat Awards/Certificates distribution in class
2:30–4:00 Graduation in Main Darbar Hall

Classes meet Sundays; Saturday dates are contest and program days only.