January Events & Holidays in RTMSD

Happy New Year! Here is the January newsletter.

In 2023, a dedicated group of parents, teachers, students, and administrators met monthly to review and discuss the many cultural holidays and other events that occur throughout the school year. This group collaborated to create a list of holidays and events that we will recognize, instruct, or celebrate in our schools. Our community chose the holidays and events you will see each month in this newsletter. Please email Ralph Harrison if you have any suggestions or ideas about our monthly events and holidays. We honor DIGNITY by taking the time to learn about the cultures of all of our community members. The events/holidays are listed in the order they occur during January. For more details, please click on the "Resources" link.

What It Is
Muslim American Heritage Month recognizes the history, culture, and contributions of Muslim Americans to the United States.

Brief History
Muslims have been part of American history since the country’s earliest days, including enslaved Africans who were Muslim and later waves of immigrants from around the world. In 2015, several states and school districts began formally recognizing January as Muslim American Heritage Month to promote awareness, inclusion, and understanding.

How It Is Celebrated

The month is observed through educational activities, cultural presentations, storytelling, and learning about the achievements of Muslim Americans in fields such as science, education, public service, arts, and sports.

What It Is

Three Kings Day is a Christian holiday that celebrates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus. It marks the end of the Christmas season in many cultures.

A Brief History

The tradition comes from the biblical Gospel of Matthew, where the Wise Men (or Magi) follow a star to Bethlehem and bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Over centuries, this story became a holiday celebrated especially in Spain, Latin America, and parts of Europe.

How It’s Celebrated

• Children often receive gifts on January 6, symbolizing the gifts from the Wise Men

• Families share a special sweet bread called Rosca de Reyes with a hidden figurine inside

• Some communities have parades or reenactments of the Three Kings

2026 Theme: "Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way".

What It Is

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) is a federal holiday in the United States that honors the life and legacy of the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Observed on the third Monday of January, it falls near King's actual birthday of January 15.

Brief History

The journey to making MLK Day a national holiday spanned 15 years and faced significant opposition.

• Initial Proposal (1968): Just four days after Dr. King's assassination on April 4, 1968, U.S. Representative John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) introduced the first bill for a federal holiday.
• Grassroots Campaign (1970s–1980s): During the 1970s, the King Center and labor unions mobilized public support. In 1980, musician Stevie Wonder released the song "Happy Birthday" as a rallying cry, and a petition in the early 1980s gathered 6 million signatures—the largest in U.S. history at the time.
• Federal Legislation (1983): After years of stalling, Representative Katie Hall (D-IN) introduced H.R. 3706. Despite a contentious Senate debate and a filibuster led by Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), the bill passed both houses.
• Signed Into Law: On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill making MLK Day a federal holiday.
• First Observance (1986): The first official federal observance took place on January 20, 1986.
• State Recognition (2000): While it was a federal holiday, states were not required to observe it. It was not until 2000 that all 50 states officially recognized it as a paid state holiday, with South Carolina being the last to do so.

How it's Celebrated

The National Day of Service. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed the King Holiday and Service Act, transforming the day into a "National Day of Service".

• A Day On, Not a Day Off: This designation encourages Americans to spend the holiday volunteering in their communities rather than just taking a day of rest.
• Purpose: It remains the only federal holiday designated as a national day of action, intended to empower individuals and bridge barriers to build Dr. King’s vision of a "Beloved Community".
• Schools across the Rose Tree Media School district participate in a variety of service events to honor the legacy of Dr. King and support our community.

What It Is
International Holocaust Remembrance Day honors the six million Jewish people and millions of others who were murdered during the Holocaust and pays tribute to survivors.

Brief History
January 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945. In 2005, the United Nations designated this day to remember the victims of the Holocaust and to reaffirm a commitment to combating antisemitism, racism, and hatred.

How It Is Observed
The day is observed through moments of remembrance, educational lessons, survivor testimonies, memorial ceremonies, and discussions that emphasize the importance of human rights, tolerance, and standing up against injustice.