Dear Members of the Montville Township Community and School Board,

I am writing to respectfully advocate for the addition of Lunar New Year as an official school holiday in the Montville Township school calendar. This request reflects the growing diversity of our community, the cultural and educational significance of the holiday, and the opportunity to foster greater inclusivity among all students.

Montville Township is home to a vibrant and expanding Asian American population, comprising over 20% of our residents. For many families, Lunar New Year is one of the most important cultural and religious holidays of the year. By adding it to the school calendar, we would take a meaningful step toward recognizing and honoring the traditions of a significant portion of our community. This change would affirm Montville Township’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring all students feel seen and valued.

Cultural and Statewide Recognition
Lunar New Year is celebrated by over 2 billion people worldwide—about 25% of the global population—and by millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States. Recently, Governor Phil Murphy signed joint resolution AJR201/SJR111, officially designating the first new moon of the lunar calendar as Lunar New Year in New Jersey. This recognition highlights the holiday’s deep cultural significance and honors the traditions of New Jersey’s AAPI community, which is the third-largest per capita in the nation.

Ensuring Fair and Equitable Recognition
Currently, the Montville school calendar includes holidays recognizing Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu traditions, demonstrating the district’s strong commitment to inclusivity. Adding Lunar New Year would extend this recognition to the Asian community, ensuring equal acknowledgment of diverse cultural traditions.

Additionally, several New Jersey school districts—including Ridgewood, Hillsborough, Holmdel, Paramus, Hopewell Valley Regional, Leonia, Jersey City, Livingston, Millburn, Short Hills, and Tenafly—have already recognized Lunar New Year as a school holiday. Montville Township has the opportunity to join these forward-thinking districts in supporting cultural diversity and representation.

Educational and Practical Benefits
Beyond cultural recognition, establishing Lunar New Year as a school holiday would offer practical benefits:
✅ Reducing Absenteeism: Many families currently keep their children home on this holiday, impacting attendance and learning. A designated school holiday would support student engagement and minimize disruptions.
✅ Fostering Cultural Awareness: Officially recognizing Lunar New Year would provide valuable educational opportunities for all students, allowing them to learn about Asian cultures, traditions, and histories. This aligns with Montville Township’s mission to promote cultural understanding and diversity.
✅ Addressing Community Concerns: Given recent discussions about the removal of Mandarin from the school curriculum, this initiative would demonstrate a renewed commitment to Asian cultural representation and engagement.

A Step Toward Greater Inclusion
As Assemblywoman Ellen Park, a primary sponsor of New Jersey’s Lunar New Year resolution, stated:

“Officially recognizing Lunar New Year as a state holiday is more than just celebrating a holiday; it’s embracing a culture. It tells our AAPI neighbors that they are not only accepted, but welcomed and celebrated.”
This sentiment reflects the values of inclusivity, respect, and diversity that Montville Township strives to uphold. By incorporating Lunar New Year into the school calendar, we can ensure that all students and families feel represented and valued.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I welcome the opportunity to further discuss this proposal and provide any additional information or support needed.