EL MONTE – The El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to recognize Lunar New Year across campuses during a Feb. 2 Board meeting, an initiative that honors the diversity of the EMUHSD community and celebrates the history and traditions of Asian communities around the world.

El Monte Union students, faculty and staff celebrated the 2022 Lunar New Year, known as Year of the Tiger, with special festivities held at El Monte High School and Rosemead High School that were organized by Associated Student Body (ASB) members.

“I admire our fellow students for representing their culture so proudly,” El Monte High School ASB vice president Eliana Ynequez said. “It was also amazing to see so many students come together to support the Asian community by wearing red and yellow.”

At El Monte High School, ASB members encouraged students to wear traditional Lunar New Year attire, known as “qipao/ao dai,” decorated the campus in red and yellow and distributed new year grams. Rosemead High School’s ASB set up four activity stations on campus – a photobooth, wishing tree, kite-making and goodie bags with a red envelope containing a new year greeting for students to enjoy. Rosemead High students also enjoyed a lion dance performance by alumni and competed in an outfit competition by submitting photos of their traditional attire.

The District will also host a Lunar New Year drive-thru celebration from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11 at the District office, featuring refreshments, gifts, desserts, a lion dance performance, and festive decorations such as lights, red lanterns and a money tree.

“At El Monte Union our population is extremely diverse, with 20 percent of our students being of Asian descent,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “By recognizing Lunar New Year, we are providing our students and community with an opportunity to celebrate cultural inclusivity and honor historical customs and traditions.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

EMUHSD_LUNAR NEW YEAR_1: El Monte High School’s ASB members dress in traditional Lunar New Year attire during the school’s Lunar New Year event on Feb. 1.

EMUHSD_LUNAR NEW YEAR_2: Students participate in Rosemead High School’s Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 2, writing down their wishes for the new year and hanging them on the wishing tree.

EMUHSD_LUNAR NEW YEAR_3: Rosemead High School’s Chinese Club students display their traditional clothing during the Lunar New Year event on Feb. 2.