Program organized by Akbar Cook, vice principal at the West Side High School looks to keep youths off the street and safe at night.
Community Activities
Hundreds of Children and Parents Attend Family Preschool Night at The Newark Museum
It was an evening of excitement and wonder as 885 children and adults gathered for this year’s Newark Public Schools Family Preschool Night at The Newark Museum. Preschoolers, their siblings and parents streamed into the museum on the evening of June 13 for the second annual family night.
Public television’s Thomas the Tank Engine characters and friends were there to greet the children, as they participated in activities at the Museum’s interactive exhibits and other hands-on family fun. To add to the excitement, there were free books, free raffles and prizes.
Hosted by the Newark Public Schools Office of Early Childhood Education, the event’s collaborative partners included The Newark Museum, United Way of Essex and West Hudson, the Nicholson Foundation, WNET Thirteen, HIT Entertainment and Jumpstart. Representatives from these and various other organizations that support early childhood education joined NPS staff in volunteering for the evening.As well as promoting educational and fun summer programs, the event was designed to provide families with information on community based resources available to them, in addition to advice on preventing their children from experiencing summer learning loss.
Thanks to Early Childhood staff who worked hard to promote the Night at the Newark Museum event, along with parent liaisons at schools and family workers at the child daycare centers, hundreds of Newark children and families spent a memorable evening discovering that learning can be fun.
Press
Streetinsider.com: Nicholson Foundation Grant Brings Creative Play to Newark Museum, Community
By: The StreetInsider
July 19, 2014
A grant from the Nicholson Foundation will enable the Newark Museum to offer new educational programs to young learners (ages 3-5) and their families in Newark and the surrounding communities. The Museum is the only institution in Newark that provides access to works of art, a natural science collection, and cultural and historic artifacts that stimulate curiosity and learning.
Fathers and Daughters Celebrate Together
More than 150 dads and their daughters attended the Newark Public Schools first Father/Daughter dance on June 13th at the Robert Treat Hotel. The event was sponsored by the Office of Family and Community Engagement in conjunction with the Concerned Fathers of Newark Public Schools. The dance was the culminating event for the fathers following months of events focusing on engaging dads. In addition to dinner and dancing, each father/father figure recited a pledge to their daughter stating they will remain a central figure in their daughters lives. Many dads stated that the event was more meaningful than they would have ever imagined and it truly was a night the young ladies will never forget.The Concerned Fathers of Newark Public Schools hosted events district-wide including Thursdays are Father’s Days, an initiative that allowed fathers to collectively explore new ideas and address issues of concern regarding their children’s education. Recognizing every Thursday as Father’s Day in the schools sends and important message to the community – especially the children—that Newark’s dads are concerned about their children. Numerous activities are currently being planned for both fathers and families for the next school year.
Underground Railroad Reenactment Returns to Newark’s Harriet Tubman Blue Ribbon School
For ninth consecutive year, interactive performance takes students on journey to freedom, alongside school’s iconic namesake
Newark, NJ, March 4, 2014 – On Friday, March 7, the Harriet Tubman Blue Ribbon School – part of the Newark Public School system – will host an historic reenactment of the antislavery icon’s life story and the journey along the Underground Railroad that led thousands of escaped slaves to freedom, as a way to convey the legacy of the school’s namesake to its students. There will be two hour-long performances, beginning at 9:30AM and 1:30PM. Last Friday, the school did a first session of the reenactment, drawing parents and community members to participate in the program (photos attached below, high resolution available).
“Each year, through this annual reenactment, we draw our students’ attention not only to a powerful chapter of our nation’s history, but also to the outstanding bravery and compassion of Harriet Tubman and her fellow abolitionists,” said Assistant Superintendent Mitchell Center. “By literally walking alongside these ‘real-life characters’ as they perform heroic acts and put themselves at personal risk for the betterment of humanity, our children learn lessons that go well beyond American history. In the Newark Public Schools, we believe that this type of hands-on character education program empowers our children and instills pride and good citizenship in them, as they journey through their own lives.”
Since its launch in 2006, the annual event has progressively grown and expanded in scope to an elaborate “living exhibit,” engaging the students and their families through an interactive performance. Beginning in the principal’s office and ending in the cafeteria, the production travels across the school building, involving the students and allowing them to be a part of the journey to freedom, together with Harriet Tubman and her fellow slavery abolitionists.
Constructed just after the end of the Civil War in 1875, the award-winning Harriet Tubman School has the mission of teaching their Pre-K through 6th grade students to be caring, productive and responsible citizens in addition to providing academic excellence and inspiring students to become lifelong learners.
WHO: Assistant Superintendent Mitch Center, Principal Frederick Chatman, students, parents, and school administrators
WHAT: Since 2006, as a way to convey the legacy of the school’s namesake to its students, the Harriet Tubman Blue Ribbon School has created an annual historic reenactment of the antislavery icon’s life story and the journey along the Underground Railroad that led thousands of escaped slaves to freedom. Now in its 9th year, the reenactment has progressively grown into an elaborate “living exhibit,” engaging the students through an interactive performance. Beginning in the Principal’s office with a film screening about Harriet Tubman and ending with a play in the cafeteria, featuring a range of historically significant African Americans, the production journeys through the school building, engaging the students along the way.
WHERE: Harriet Tubman Elementary School, 504 South 10th Street, Newark, NJ 07103
WHEN: Friday, March 7, 2014 at 9:30AM and 1:30PM. Each production lasts approximately 1 hour.
Students to Participate in Voyages on the Black Atlantic Music Adventure
Chad School Foundation Joins Newark Public Schools to Support Event Featuring Famous Musicians
Newark, NJ, January 6, 2014 – Newark Public Schools and the Chad School Foundation will join together on Monday, January 13 from 12:45 p.m.- 2:15 p.m. for a special event, titled Voyages on the Black Atlantic, which will take place at Science Park High School, 260Norfolk Street, Newark, NJ 07102.
More than 500 students from American History High School, Arts High School and Science Park High School will participate in a music history lesson that will take them from Africa to Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans and Havana. They will follow the trail of the Tresillo, a three-note West African rhythm that can be found in modern music and at Mardi Gras events. Demonstrating the musical journey will be Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient,Rock Hall of Fame inductee and Allman Brothers band co-founder Jaimoe, along with his Jasssz Band,which includes two Blues Hall of Fame members, and musicians and singers from Brazil and New Orleans. Student musicians will participate in the grand finale of the event, which is curated by musician Paul Lieberman.
Chad School Foundation Executive Director Reginald Lewis said of sponsoring the event, “Voyages onthe Black Atlantic is a rare cultural and music education opportunity for Newark students. So many of our young people are unaware of the enormous influence of African rhythms found in music genres around the world.We are very pleased to sponsor this program.”
WHO: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient,Rock Hall of Fame inductee and Allman Brothers band co-founder Jaimoe, his Jasssz Band, musicians and singers from Brazil and New Orleans
WHAT: Voyages on the Black Atlantic
WHEN: Monday, January 13,12:45 p.m. -2:15 p.m.
WHERE: Science Park High School, 260 Norfolk Street, Newark, NJ 07102