Quincy Public Schools DOES NOT officially observe Lunar New Year, yet the City of Quincy’s population is reported as 30% Asian, and 2022-2023 Quincy Public Schools enrollment data cites 39.3% Asian!
Tell the Quincy Public Schools Committee this needs to change!
1) SEND AN EMAIL RIGHT NOW –
Here is a template you can use (including emails and text)
https://bit.ly/QPS_LunarNY_Ltr
2) SHOW UP/SPEAK UP – Wednesday, May 3
Quincy Public Schools – Quincy School Committee Meeting
LOCATION: Historic City Hall, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy
* 6pm Rally [show support, feel free to bring a sign!]
* 6:30pm School Committee Open Forum [share your thoughts with the school committee!]
PLEASE COPY, PASTE and CUSTOMIZE the email below and send to your elected officials!
Mayor Thomas P. Koch, Chair
mayorkoch@quincyma.gov
Paul L. Bregoli
paulbregoli@quincypublicschools.com
Tina M. Cahill
tinacahill@quincypublicschools.com
Douglas S. Gutro
douglasgutro@quincypublicschools.com
Kathryn E. Hubley
kathrynhubley@quincypublicschools.com
Emily A. Lebo
emilylebo@quincypublicschools.com
Frank C. Santoro, Vice Chair
franksantoro@quincypublicschools.com
*** MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING EMAIL TEMPLATE TO SEND TO QPS SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS ***
TO: mayorkoch@quincyma.gov, paulbregoli@quincypublicschools.com, tinacahill@quincypublicschools.com, douglasgutro@quincypublicschools.com, kathrynhubley@quincypublicschools.com, emilylebo@quincypublicschools.com, franksantoro@quincypublicschools.com
CC: QuincyAAPI@gmail.com, lauraowens@quincypublicschools.com, kevinmulvey@quincypublicschools.com
SUBJ: Put Lunar New Year in the QPS School Calendar!
Dear Chair Mayor Koch, Vice Chair Santoro, and fellow QPS School Committee Members,
I am a Quincy [student/parent/resident/business owner] at [Street, Quincy Zip Code] and am deeply concerned about Quincy Public School Committee’s efforts to align the School Calendar with the interests of QPS students and families, by including Lunar New Year as a school holiday for students and families to respectfully observe one of the most important annual celebrations in many East and Southeast Asian cultures. The students are clearly asking for it and are making their voices heard!
I’m concerned about Quincy’s reputation as a city that welcomes and respects residents of all backgrounds. I urge the School Committee Council to evaluate the full calendar to find a resolution that does not marginalize the largest population of Quincy and QPS students. (City of Quincy’s population is reported as 30% Asian, and 2022-2023 QPS enrollment data cites 39.3% Asian)
Including Lunar New Year in the QPS calendar would also keep current with other city state and even federal initiatives to support and respect cultural and religious observances of significant Asian populations:
CITY/TOWN DESIGNATIONS
New York City: Former Mayor Bill de Blasio designated Lunar New Year a public school holiday in 2015
Boston: February 2023–City of Boston passed Lunar New Year as as a Citywide Holiday (https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/02/22/lunar-new-year-boston-designated-holiday)
Additional Municipalities in MA that include Lunar New Year in the school calendar: Brookline, Hopkinton, and Wayland
STATEWIDE RECOGNITION
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill last year declaring Lunar New Year, which typically falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, to be a state holiday — a way to “acknowledge the diversity and cultural significance Asian Americans bring to California,” he said in his signing message. (The New York Times Jan 19, 2023)
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
Federal efforts are being led by Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), advocating for the Lunar New Year Day Act (H.R. 430) which would make the Lunar New Year a federal holiday in the United States.
I support including Lunar New Year in the QPS School Calendar as a designated day off, and urge you to VOTE YES to do the same. Thank you for your commitment to serving and representing your community.
Respectfully,
[Name]
[Street Address, Quincy, MA zip code]