To the Montville Board of Education,

We, the undersigned members of the Montville community, hereby submit a formal petition urging the Board to create Diwali as a holiday on the school calendar.

Diwali is the festival of lights, signifying the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. It is one of the most important religious and cultural celebrations for Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. It is a time of joy, renewal, and reflection, during which families and friends gather to celebrate together, and decorate their homes, On this day, millions of people from all over the world light lamps called diyas inside and around their homes reminding themselves to be that ‘light’ unto the world - to continue to spread positivity and cheer to everyone around them. 

This is a day to be together and our children should be given a chance to do so and celebrate. So, a holiday for Diwali would be an important way to honor the heritage of many Montville residents from many diverse backgrounds. 

We note that several school districts in the state of New Jersey [https://nj1015.com/new-school-holiday-23-nj-districts-have-diwali-off-in-2022/ have already recognized Diwali as a holiday on their school calendars.  NYC schools will also give a day off this year. ( https://rb.gy/53uj ).By doing so, they have sent a strong message of inclusion and respect to their Hindu, Sikh, and Jain students and families.

Despite the growing diversity of our community, Diwali is not currently recognized as a holiday on the Montville school calendar. In Montville, currently, students have to either go to school on Diwali or be marked absent. With other religious holidays being declared a holiday, students celebrating Diwali should also have an opportunity to celebrate with a holiday. 

By declaring Diwali as a holiday on the school calendar, the Montville Board of Education would demonstrate its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and affirm its support for all members of our community. It would also allow Hindu, Sikh, and Jain students to fully participate in their religious and cultural celebrations without having to choose between their academic responsibilities and their family traditions.

We therefore respectfully request that the Montville Board of Education take immediate action to create Diwali as a holiday on the school calendar, starting with the upcoming academic year. We thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Please sign this petition to support our request to Montville Board of Education and Superintendent to make this change.