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West Orange students mark AAPI Heritage Month and urge curriculum changes
Summary
High‑school Asian Culture Club leaders and United Asian Voices representatives presented at the May 5 board meeting, urging the district to integrate Asian‑American and Pacific Islander histories and maintain world‑language offerings, and announced a student‑led West Orange AAPI Festival on May 30.
Student leaders and community partners addressed the West Orange Board of Education during the district’s May 5 meeting to mark Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Fanny (United Asian Voices), World Language Supervisor Felix Plata and five student officers from the West Orange High School Asian Culture Club described the importance of integrating AAPI histories into classroom curricula and of sustaining language classes and inclusive instruction. Students gave personal reflections on family history, classroom experiences and how culturally reflective curricula and language offerings have influenced their sense of belonging.
Student speakers — including Kamia Jay Wallala, Bran Chen, Russell Kataroha, Nicole Ing and Matthew Emanuel — asked the board to move beyond token acknowledgments and to weave AAPI contributions and histories into year‑round instruction. They also invited the community to the West Orange AAPI Festival on May 30, a student‑led event showcasing art, music, food and cultural programming.
Superintendent Moore and board members thanked the students and noted the district’s ongoing work on curriculum review and world‑language programming. The presentation drew praise during the meeting’s remarks and in public comment.
The students’ remarks and the district’s response were presented near the start of the board’s public meeting and were followed by the evening’s budget hearing.
