City of Newark

14 Newark Students Are Selected to Participate in the Global Peace Ambassador Program

Students from Eagle Academy, Central and American History High Schools to Travel to Belfast, Ireland

[Newark, New Jersey, November 21, 2019] Students from three Newark high schools will travel to Belfast, Ireland to participate in the Global Peace Ambassador Program next month. Twelve students from Eagle Academy, in addition to a student from Central High School and American History High School (AHHS) will leave Newark for Belfast on December 8 and return on December 16. The two students from Central and AHHS are youth representatives for the City of Newark Youth & College Affairs Program.

“This is an extraordinary learning opportunity for Newark students,” said Superintendent of Newark Schools Roger León, “Our students must be exposed to global experiences – the mission to Belfast will give them a great life experience and a strong global foundation for the future.”

Students from Eagle Academy qualified for the program through a methodology that required students to read the article, “Foreign Yet Familiar: Program Brings Irish, African American Teens Together,” by Peter Smith, write an essay and participate in a personal interview.  In addition, all Newark scholars had to complete a required course that covers, “The Newark Rebellion,” “The Belfast Rebellion,” “The History of Newark and the History of Belfast,” four collaborative online classes with contemporaries from Belfast and a class on photography and vlogging. All participating scholars are required to create and manage a video blog of this experience.  The mission includes trips, tours, discussions and other activities.

“We are very excited that our students have this amazing opportunity to travel abroad to Ireland where they will gain invaluable knowledge while experiencing a new culture,” said Newark Board of Education Chairwoman Josephine C. Garcia. “We are proud of them, we congratulate them, we wish them continued success and encourage them to enjoy the experience. As a mother, whose children traveled outside the country, I know that it will be an experience that they will always remember.”

The theme of the project “Same Melody, Different Key,” was taken from Black playwright Loraine Hansberry.  This project is a unique opportunity for scholars from Eagle Academy and Central and American History High Schools and youth in Belfast to explore the similarities and differences in their cities and their cultures.

“In order for our students to lead this world, they must travel around the world,” added Superintendent of Newark Schools Roger León.

The students serving as Global Ambassadors are:

Mayor’s Youth Council/American History and Central High School Scholars

  • Isa Perkins
  • Jhaques Jones

Eagle Academy Scholars

  • Tylin Battles
  • Ajani Carter
  • Samuel Colon
  • Christopher Cuyun
  • Zachary Halley
  • Kenneth Haynes
  • Jusanic Henry
  • Peter Iyayi
  • Munir Mohammed
  • Sjade Nedd
  • Quadir Sauls
  • Jamar Williams
  • Amani Wilson

The Newark Board of Education will host a special dinner to inform people throughout the city about this unique opportunity for school scholars.

Newark City of Learning Collaborative Announces Launch of Public Conversations to Strengthen Newark’s College-Going Culture

Learning Collaborative - 1[Newark, NJ – Sept. 19, 2018] Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León, Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC) Executive Director Reginald Lewis, Essex County Schools of Technology Superintendent Dr. James Pedersen, KIPP New Jersey Chief External Officer Ben Cope, and St. Benedict’s Prep Dean of Seniors and College Placement Didier Jean-Baptiste announced at a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 19, the launch of public conversations throughout the city of Newark to increase the number of Newark residents with college and other post-secondary certificates by 25 percent by 2025.

NCLC is an initiative created to help build Newark’s college-going culture by ensuring that all Newarkers have the tools and resources needed to matriculate at and graduate from college. Accordingly, the citywide public conversations will address topics and issues derived from Post-Secondary Outcomes of Newark High School Graduates, a report produced by NCLC in collaboration with the Rutgers University-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration that examines what college-going looks like for nearly 13,500 of Newark’s recent graduates. Covering approximately 85 percent of all Newark high school students who graduated between 2011 and 2016, the report examines college enrollment, persistence, and completion rates.

“The good news is that we know more Newark students are enrolling in college, but we also know that far too few are persisting to degree completion,” says NCLC Executive Director Reginald Lewis. “We hope that this report will serve as a resource to better understand the experiences of recent high school graduates.”

“As both a 22-year Newark Public Schools educator and mayor, one of my life’s greatest priorities has been to provide our youth with opportunities to advance their education after graduating from high school. The City is advancing this priority by collaborating with major partners to increase the number of Newark residents with college degrees and post-secondary certificates by 25 percent by 2025. To do so, we will talk to and listen to our residents and get their input, ideas, and concerns, in making this goal a reality. It will be attained, and our residents will be both the power behind it and the ultimate beneficiaries,” Mayor Baraka said.

At the press conference, representatives from all sectors of the K-12 spectrum (e.g., traditional public, charter, vocational technical, and private schools) also reaffirmed their unprecedented partnership and manifested their continued commitment to strengthen the high-school-to-college transition for all Newark students by signing a Statement of Commitment.

“The NCLC, City of Newark and Newark Board of Education are taking a monumental step in charting a new course for our beloved city,” said Superintendent León. “Through these community conversations, we are giving voice to the people who will help determine how soon we will become a national leader in the number of residents who are college graduates. León continued, “I am a proponent of engaging the community on all issues pertaining to them – that is why this exercise is integral to the success of our students and city. We will significantly shift the trajectory upward and provide a roadmap that will profoundly impact Newark and change it forever.”

“The cross-sector collaboration was one of the highlights of the project and enabled us to examine college-going for a wide range of Newark high school graduates. One of our goals was really to put schools in conversation – not competition – with one another to learn and share best practices throughout the community,” remarked the report’s co-author Dr. Kristi Donaldson.

The first two rounds of public discussions will take place in October as follows:

East Ward Roundtable
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
East Side High School
238 Van Buren Street
Newark, NJ 07105		 West Ward Roundtable
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Jehovah-Jireh Praise & Worship Church Center
505 South 15th Street
Newark, NJ 07103

Click here to download a pdf of Post-Secondary Outcomes of Newark High School Graduates.
Click here for more information about NCLC.

Students 2 Science Opens at NPS Central Office! Eagle Academy Student, Maurice Minott, is Named First Intern

U.S. Senator Cory Booker And Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Unveil Students 2 Science’s New State-Of-The-Art STEM Education Laboratory In The Heart Of Newark

S2S, Newark Public Schools and the City of Newark Partner to Bring 21st Century STEM Education to Newark’s 5-12 Students

[Newark, NJ | May 7, 2018 | PRNewswire] New Jersey’s and Newark’s top elected officials gathered today with representatives from Students 2 Science (S2S), Newark Public Schools and the City of Newark to celebrate the opening of the new S2S Newark Technology Center in downtown Newark at 765 Broad Street.

S2S Newark Technology Center marks the newest chapter of Newark’s revitalization and its commitment to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. Joining S2S co-founder and president Paul Winslowwere U.S. Senator, the Honorable Cory Booker; Mayor of Newark, the Honorable Ras Baraka; and, Newark Public Schools Interim Superintendent Robert Gregory.

During the opening ceremony, Tom Gebhardt, Chairman and CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America, awarded a $1.5 million grant to support the S2S Newark Technology Center.

“Today, we are thrilled to announce with our partners – Newark Public Schools and the City of Newark – that with the new S2S Newark Technology Center, we are bringing comprehensive, 21st century STEM education to students in the district with our program aimed at inspiring, motivating, and educating them to pursue global careers in STEM,” said Winslow, retired Ph.D. chemist and co-founder of Students 2 Science, including its first lab in East Hanover and the Newark center.

“We are also enormously grateful to Panasonic for the generous support, as well as to our other longtime supporters that have helped us reach our goals including PSEG and Thermo Fisher Scientific.”

The S2S Newark Technology Center is a 10,000 square foot, authentic, commercial-grade laboratory which will be outfitted with $4 million of state-of-the-art instrumentation. It features six working analytical laboratories and two virtual laboratory (V-Lab) studios each equipped with a hybrid communications platform. S2S Newark seeks to close the gap in STEM education by offering experiential STEM learning to all Newark 5-12 students through its three signature programs – ISAAC, V-Labs and teacher professional development.

ISAAC, which stands for Improving Students Affinity and Aptitude for Careers in STEM, provides middle and high school students with on-site, real-world STEM instruction led by volunteer professional scientists. The S2S program is expected to reach more than 32,000 Newark students and their parents beginning as early as 2019.

At S2S Newark, students work side-by-side with volunteer professional scientists using modern instrumentation to investigate critical world issues, such as the impact of global overpopulation on food scarcity, water pollution, pandemics, and more. These real-world investigations are grounded in Newark’s curriculum and the “Next Generation Science Standards” — rigorous science standards adopted by the state — and represent some of the most vital issues facing today’s youth.

“As a longtime resident of Newark, I welcome Students 2 Science with open arms,” said Senator Booker. “Through its exemplary curriculum, instructors, and mentors, Students 2 Science is preparing all Newark students with the skills and workforce experiences they need in order to fully participate in cutting-edge STEM careers. From biotechnology and life sciences to engineering and information technology, this program is helping prepare our students for jobs of the 21st Century.”

In addition to the ISAAC program’s on-site instruction, S2S Newark also offers its V-labs, where students do hands-on, project-based learning with professional scientists right at their desks. This remote, virtual instruction broadens S2S’s reach by eliminating geographic barriers and language constraints through Connectivity, a sophisticated proprietary communications platform available in 200 spoken languages with interpreters on demand, bringing S2S’s offerings to global capacity.

“Newark is on the rise and S2S stands at the forefront of its renewal when it comes to nurturing its future STEM education success,” said Mayor Ras Baraka. “S2S Newark is an innovative, collaborative project that shows just what can be accomplished when the public and private sectors come together for the sake of our students.”

Teachers are also a focus of the S2S Newark Technology center. It will provide professional development and technical assistance for teachers in STEM. Both in-lab and in-class instruction include mentoring, teacher support, and rigorous science education compatible with the Next Generation Science Standards and career pathways for 21st century jobs.

“At Newark Public Schools, our partnership with S2S and the City of Newark on the S2S Newark Technology Center underscores the high priority we place on STEM education for our students,” said Robert Gregory, NPS Superintendent. “It is vital that we educate our students with high-quality instruction that promotes critical and complex thinking, while also providing our teachers with the innovative and meaningful professional development they need to deliver this critical STEM content.”

Corporate Sponsors on Students 2 Science
S2S success lies in its close collaboration with the corporate partners, many of whom provide volunteer scientists and mentors to S2S programming and ongoing support. Here is what some have to say:

David Daly, President and Chief Operating Officer, PSEG
“PSEG believes mentors are essential to student success as role models who inspire, motivate and educate them on their path to a 21st century STEM career. Our investment in the S2S Newark Technology Center is an investment in the future of students and the community, at large.”

Tom Gebhardt, Chairman and CEO, Panasonic Corporation of North America
“Panasonic sees today’s STEM students as our future innovators. We applaud the goals and work of the S2S Newark Technology Center teaching and inspiring the students in our community, by providing game-changing technology and all the tools they need to succeed.”

Dan Shine, Senior Vice President, Analytical Instruments, Thermo Fisher Scientific
“Our philanthropic focus is to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers by introducing them to STEM subjects in a way that is engaging and fun. S2S Newark Technology Center and Thermo Fisher share the same commitment to STEM and our donation of laboratory instrumentation underscores that commitment by making math and science education more accessible to students.”

About Students 2 Science
As a model program with demonstrated success meeting the needs of the public and private sectors, Students 2 Science (S2S) aims to inspire, motivate, and educate our nation’s future STEM leaders by closing education, access, and opportunity gaps. S2S’s success is rooted in exemplary, hands-on science instruction at its commercial-grade laboratories that fosters workforce readiness. S2S achieve this through cross-sector collaborations between district leadership, corporate partners and institutions of higher education. The goal of S2S is to close the gap between education and New Jersey’s and the nation’s projected economic growth and global leadership. To learn more about Students 2 Science visit http://www.students2science.org/ or check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Students2Science/.

About Newark Public Schools
The Newark Public Schools, serving more than 36,000 students, is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. The racial and ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students.

Shabazz & Weequahic High Schools Open Newark Museum Celebration

[NEWARK, NJ – February 23, 2018] The Malcolm X Shabazz and Weequahic High School marching bands performed as the opening act at the official reopening of the Front Doors at the historic Newark Museum on Wednesday. The opening ceremony and ribbon cutting celebrated the opening of the front doors of the museum for the first time in 20 years. The renovation of the new grand entrance includes a welcome reception area and art designed by an African artist, entitled, “Gateway.”

Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert Gregory said, “Art and culture play an important role in Newark and in any city. Bringing youth together around the arts is essential. Today is a special day because our bands performing together marks a new era of focusing on the arts in Newark Public Schools. I want to thank Margaret El, Special Assistant for the Arts, for creating a bridge from Malcolm X Shabazz and Weequahic High Schools to the Newark Museum. We have a longstanding relationship with the Museum and we look forward to furthering it even more.”

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said, “Today is a special day, not just because of the opening of the front doors of this beautiful edifice, but also because this is the first time I have seen the Shabazz and Weequahic marching bands perform together. Thank you to all of the students.”

Various Newark Public School marching bands will also perform at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16 from 1 – 3 p.m.

Mayor Baraka Honors Roberto Clemente Pupils for Mural Creation at Ceremony

Students collaborated with Halls That Inspire Inc. to beautify the building’s hallways

[Newark, NJ – June 23, 2016] – Mayor Ras J. Baraka, along with other dignitaries, honored students at Roberto Clemente Elementary School this week for inspirational murals they created throughout the elementary school building. Students, in collaboration with Halls That Inspire, Inc., produced a variety of inspiring images and motivational quotes on the hallway walls of Roberto Clemente Elementary School.

“The impressive artwork that the Roberto Clemente school community has created to beautify their school is inspirational to anyone who has the privilege to walk through the hallways of Roberto Clemente Elementary School,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “It’s exciting to know that the students’ murals will continue to inspire their school community and its visitors into the future.”

The Roberto Clemente mural, which is displayed on the exterior of the school overlooking the school playground, was unveiled at the awards ceremony. The mural consists of the face of Roberto Clemente, who was the first Latin American player to be inducted in to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The beautification project was sponsored by Mayor Baraka and the Investors Foundation.

Newark Public Schools Officially Opens Oliver Street School

[Newark, NJ – June 13, 2016] – This Tuesday, Newark Public Schools (NPS) will be participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony officially welcoming students, parents and teachers to the grand opening of the new Oliver Street School in the East Ward of Newark. Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf, and state and local officials will be attending the event.

The Schools Development Authority (SDA) invested $73.6 million dollars to build the state-of-the-art school, which is the second newly constructed facility in the school district after Elliott Street School since 2010.

Media planning to attend should RSVP to Dreena Whitfield at DWhitfield@nullNPS.K12.NJ.US.

Oliver Street School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Who:

  • Mayor Ras J. Baraka (City of Newark)
  • Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf (Newark Public Schools)
  • Councilman Augusto Amador (East Ward, City of Newark)
  • Chairperson Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson (Board of Education, City of Newark)
  • Douglas J. Petty (Principal, Elliott Street School)
  • Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (State Senator, District 29)
  • County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (Essex County)
  • Charles McKenna (CEO, New Jersey Schools Development Authority)
  • Assistant Superintendent Roger León (Newark Public Schools)

When:

  • Tuesday, June 14, 2016
    11:00am

Where:

  • Oliver Street School
    86 Oliver Street
    Newark, NJ 07105