News

Acting NJDOE Commissioner Dr. Allen-McMillan visits Barringer High School CTE Programs

Acting Commissioner Dr. Allen-McMillan visits the Music Technology program at Barringer High School.
Acting Commissioner Dr. Allen-McMillan visits the Music Technology program at Barringer High School.

On Friday, December 15, 2023, New Jersey's Commissioner of Education, Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, and her executive staff were invited to tour Barringer High School's Career & Technical Education (CTE) Programs. Upon Dr. Allen-McMillan's arrival, she was greeted by Superintendent Roger Leon of the Newark Board of Education and saluted by Barringer's JROTC. The tour included visits to 3 of the 10 CTE programs at Barringer: Music Technology, Law Studies, and Carpentry.

Barringer High School has the most Career & Technical Education programs in Newark Public Schools. There are seven onsite: Carpentry, Cybersecurity, JROTC, Law Studies, Music Technology, Public Safety, and Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG). Aviation in Motion (AIM), Lincoln Tech for automotive training, and Solar One for solar panel installation training are the three offsite programs.

Dr. Annette Jones, School to College and Career Coordinator, works with students, staff, and parents in making important career decisions and directly supports the development of career pathways, alignment of the curricula to industry standards, and promotes CTE student national competitions in SkillsUSA. Mrs. Lucinda Eason, Vice Principal of the CTE programs, ensures that all of the CTE programs meet NJDOE standards, engage students in work-based learning opportunities, participate in onsite and offsite internships, job shadowing with industry partners, and that each CTE 3-year program of study offers the CTE students national industry certifications in their CTE major before graduation. Mrs. Natasha Pared, the Principal, was excited to host the visit of the State Commissioner and her executive team.

Newark Enhances the Student Athlete Experience: Gymnasium Renovation at Bard Early College

Bard Early College Gymnasium
Bard Early College Gymnasium

Bard Early College High School, constructed in 1970, currently serves as a magnet school where students can earn both an Associate’s Degree and a High School Diploma simultaneously. Recently, this high school underwent a gymnasium renovation. The renovation involved the installation of a new hardwood floor, wall pads, backboards, scoreboards, and a fresh coat of paint. As a result, the Raptors, the school's sports team, can now host basketball and volleyball games on a brand new NJSIAA regulation court. The Facilities department takes great pride and excitement in providing student athletes with a much-needed and improved support space.

Supporting Families Affected by Displacement

McKinney-Vento Family Resource Day
McKinney-Vento Family Resource Day

The 4th Family Resource Day, organized by the Office of Student Life (OSL) and McKinney-Vento Services, took place on Saturday, December 9, 2023. In partnership with the Family Assistance Resource Center, OSL provided a tailored and cost-free shopping experience to fifty-two families who have been displaced, benefiting a total of over two hundred and twenty-five individuals. This event not only offered winter clothing for all family members, but also included essential household items such as linens, towels, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and more. Additionally, each family received shopping carts to facilitate their shopping experience. As a gesture of support, every family was given a $50 ShopRite gift card and a welcome bag filled with hygiene essentials like laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other items. This Resource Day served as a valuable opportunity for parents to acquire additional necessities during the holiday season, alleviating financial burdens and expenses as they transition into the new year.

NBOE-McKinney-Vento Multi-Language Informational Flier 

Celebrating Parent Engagement Week: A Recap of Activities

Parents engaged in school activities across the District
Parents engaged in school activities across the District

Parents and families continue to make the difference! Schools celebrated Parent Engagement Week by providing opportunities for parent workshops. This annual celebration provides an opportunity to highlight the powerful partnerships families and schools share. Parent Liaisons led activities that helped parents to remain focused on true collaboration in order to promote student success. The District strives to empower families and increase parent engagement in all schools. Schools engaged families by participating in positive mindset activities by building Kindness Trees, celebrating culture and diversity, while sharing family recipes and learning together during academic workshops.

The Office of Federal Programs & Grants continues to support Home School Community  Partnerships with Parent University which includes on-demand sessions and a calendar of sessions for the Spring semester.  By partnering with Prudential, the Spring semester will kick off in January with a new Financial Wellness series.  Registration is required.  

Ann Street School Hosts ESL Literacy Family Night with a Wild Wild West Twist: “Lasso a Good Book”

Teachers, parents and students capture the spirit of the Wild Wild West at ESL Literacy Family Night
Teachers, parents and students capture the spirit of the Wild Wild West at ESL Literacy Family Night

The ESL Literacy Family Night at Ann Street School brought together families for an exciting Wild Wild West adventure themed event called "Lasso a Good Book." Throughout the evening, students and parents had the opportunity to participate in four interactive literacy stations, including writing, reading, sight words, and technology. This immersive experience left each student feeling inspired and excited about literacy, as they departed with a collection of books, a ring of sight words, and headphones to support their ongoing learning journey.

One of the highlights of the night was a raffle, where families had the chance to win a basket filled with books. Additionally, parents received informative handouts that provided valuable guidance on how they can continue to support their children's literacy development at home. The ESL Literacy Family Night at Ann Street School successfully combined educational enrichment with family-oriented enjoyment, creating a vibrant and inclusive environment that emphasized the importance of literacy.

Glowing in the Visual Arts

Parents, students, and staff delight walking through the Art Glow exhibit at Michelle Obama Elementary School where the art classroom was transformed into a gallery. Above, grade 2 artwork shown in regular light and flashlight
Parents, students, and staff delight walking through the Art Glow exhibit at Michelle Obama Elementary School where the art classroom was transformed into a gallery. Above, grade 2 artwork shown in regular light and flashlight

On November 22, 2023, a remarkable event unfolded at Michelle Obama Elementary School, spearheaded by Ms. Parris, a new NBOE Visual Arts Educator. The event, Art Glow, situated in the school's art room, utilized flashlights to accentuate the vibrant glow-in-the-dark Pre-Kindergarten to Fourth-Grade student artwork. This initiative celebrated creativity and collaboration among students and the school community, emphasizing the students' artistic talents and Ms. Parris's commitment to creating a sense of community through art. She invested significant effort into transforming her classroom to host art tours for classes and parents.

Thoughtful interactive elements allowed students, peers, teachers, and families to connect with the creations, further fostering a profound sense of pride and accomplishment for the student artists. Ms. Parris's effort and Principal Gilliam's support to cultivate a school culture of creativity and innovation is notable. Art Glow stands as a practical demonstration of the transformative power of art education, guided by a committed teacher and supportive building administration. Dedication to displaying students' successes was evident in every detail and culminated in a delightful exhibition that celebrated each child's artistic potential.