News

Newark Students Perform at the News 12 New Jersey’s Sounds of the Seasons Competition

Middle school students from Hawkins Street School perform Jingle Bells
Middle school students from Hawkins Street School perform Jingle Bells

The triumphant melodies of Jingle Bells resonated proudly on the Hawkins Street School Stage, where 51 middle school students from grades 6-8 showcased their musical talents in News 12 New Jersey's Sounds of the Seasons competition. Against stiff competition from 10 other ensembles across the state, the Hawkins Street School Band, consisting of 9 flutes, 15 clarinets, eight saxophones, eight trumpets, six trombones, and five percussionists, enchanted the audience. Their dedication and hard work were apparent as they secured not only a coveted spot on the morning news but also an impressive 5th place among competing ensembles.

This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the growth and transformation of the school's band program. The Hawkins Street School band has blossomed to well over 150 instrumental students. This remarkable expansion is attributed to strong partnerships with community sponsors like the Ironbound Community Corporation and The Music Shop in Boonton, New Jersey. As a testament to the dedication of these budding musicians, many of whom are Tri-M Music Honors Society inductees, this achievement reflects not only their performance on the stage, but also their commitment to musical excellence beyond the school walls.

Newark Hosts Largest Elementary Robotics Competition in History

Lafayette Street School secures three-year robotics competition victory
Lafayette Street School secures three-year robotics competition victory

In a groundbreaking event, the Newark Board of Education recently organized its largest Elementary Robotic Competition, attracting students from various schools to showcase their technological prowess. FIRST LEGO League, a nationwide educational program, set the theme for this year's competition as "Master Piece," challenging students to integrate arts and technology seamlessly. Participants enthusiastically embraced the challenge, employing creativity to design and code robots constructed entirely from LEGO.

Lafayette Street School clinched first place for the third consecutive year. As a result, Lafayette Street School and six other schools are set to advance to the state championship, marking a significant achievement for these young innovators and affirming the growing importance of STEM education in elementary schools.

The District Celebrates 5 Years of the Special Education Teacher Academy

Special Education Teachers engage in hands-on learning with peers across the district
Special Education Teachers engage in hands-on learning with peers across the district

The Newark Board of Education “Special Education Teacher Academy” (S.E.T.A.) is celebrating its 5th year!  The S.E.T.A. monthly workshops are hosted by the Office of Special Education with themes meant to coach and support new Special Education Teachers with less than 4 years of experience in the District. These S.E.T.A. workshops were originally created by Assistant Superintendent Ms. Carolyn Granato and Special Education Director Ms. Marilyn Mitchell to assist in increasing the retention rate of special education teachers and to influence a change of practice from compliance to student outcomes. Agenda topics are influenced by teacher feedback surveys and patterns of needs identified by principals and staff from the Office of Special Education. The S.E.T.A. meetings are a safe place for new Special Education Teachers to network and get classroom knowledge and experience through modeling of small group instruction and hands-on activities. Teachers representing various programs learn how to adapt and/or differentiate curriculum and create visuals and hands-on materials for their students.  Teachers experience classroom management and behavior management strategies to discuss, create, and implement for student success.

Monthly attendance continues to grow with an average of 5 new participants a month and this workshop currently supports over 50 members with in-person meetings or via online support.  Teachers who may not make a session continue to stay connected via a S.E.T.A. Google Classroom. In addition, the monthly workshop topics are aligned to a book study from “The Survival Guide for New Special Education Teachers” produced by The Council for Exceptional Children. Various workshop topics include, but are not limited to “Getting to Know Special Education Programs, Accessing EdPlan, Writing Data Driven PLAAFPs, Writing SMART IEP Goals & Objectives, Providing Accommodations or Modifications, and Specially Designed Instruction.”

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

  • January 23, 2024
  • February 20, 2024
  • April 9, 2024
  • May 21, 2024

Over 2,000 Attendees Participate in the Newark Enrolls All Schools Fair

2023 Newark Enrolls All Schools Fair 
2023 Newark Enrolls All Schools Fair 

The Newark Enrolls All Schools Fair held on Saturday, November 4th proved to be a resounding accomplishment with a turnout of over 2,000 parents and students at Newark Vocational High School (NVHS). The school teams displayed remarkable dedication, as both staff and students eagerly participated in recruitment efforts. The event successfully combined celebratory elements and informative resources, including visually appealing school booths, live music, interactive sessions with high schools, and delectable refreshments provided by the talented NVHS culinary staff and students. It served as an exceptional start to the new enrollment cycle.

The annual All Schools Fair remains a critical aspect of the overall Newark Enrolls recruitment strategy. For example, while public school enrollment across the nation has experienced a downward trend since the pandemic, Newark Public Schools is distinguished by having the 5th largest increase in enrollment among the nation’s largest public school systems.

A sincere thank you to the Enrollment Team for the execution of this event, school staff who provided superb displays for students and families, and to the charter schools and Pre-K Providers who participated in this year’s fair. The success of this event was made possible by the unwavering commitment of the participants and the selfless contributions of staff members from across the District who volunteered their time and effort.

Since the launch of the enrollment window at 3:00pm on November 4th, a total of 10,057 applications have been submitted for the SY 24/25 enrollment cycle. To attend an Open House and learn more about High Schools’ Programs & Enrollment Process, click on the following link https://newark.apppresser.com/open-houses/.

2024-2025 Enrollment Calendar
November 4th, 2023 School Fair and Application Window Opened at 3:00 PM
February 2nd, 2024 Application Window Closes at 11:59 PM
February 9th, 2024 NBOE 8th Graders Admissions Test - Additional Date 2/16
February 10th, 2024 Non-NBOE 8th Graders Admissions Test - Additional Date 2/17
April 18th, 2024 Match Letter Release (Tentative)

Visit www.newarkenrolls.org to learn more!

Empowering Teenagers to Make Healthy Decisions: A Look at Newark’s Teen Prevention Education Program (Teen PEP)

Students from Arts and Weequahic High Schools attend leadership retreats at Camps Ockanickon in Medford, NJ and Fairview Lake YMCA in Newton, NJ
Students from Arts and Weequahic High Schools attend leadership retreats at Camps Ockanickon in Medford, NJ and Fairview Lake YMCA in Newton, NJ

The District is excited to support the return of the Teen Prevention Education Program (Teen PEP) at nine NBOE high schools. Teen PEP is a comprehensive sexual health program that utilizes peer-to-peer education to enhance students' knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors associated with making healthy decisions. This program is implemented as a daily course with carefully selected junior and/or senior students. These peer educators are provided with educational training on various sexual health topics. In turn, they conduct a series of structured workshops with groups of younger peers at their schools.

The program model aims to equip faculty advisors with enhanced knowledge and abilities to effectively teach sexual health in a respectful atmosphere. It also empowers peer educators with the necessary information, communication skills, and confidence to advocate for sexual health and become leaders among their peers. Additionally, it aims to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to prevent STIs, HIV, and unintended pregnancy. The program also seeks to equip parents/guardians with the knowledge and skills to have appropriate discussions about sex and sexuality with their children.

Peer leaders had an opportunity to go on a 3-day overnight retreat. The purpose of the retreat was to foster teamwork among Teen PEP members and establish a bond that would enable them to effectively conduct future workshops and execute lessons. Undoubtedly, this experience left a lasting impression on the students.

Empowering Parents and Enhancing Engagement at the 37th Annual Title I Parent Conference

Over 450 people attend the Annual Title I Parent Conference
Over 450 people attend the Annual Title I Parent Conference

The 37th Annual Title I Parent Conference, hosted by the Newark Board of Education, took place on Wednesday, November 8th at the Robert Treat Hotel. Commencing the day were warm greetings from Board President Hasani Council and Superintendent Roger León. Serving as the keynote speaker, Mr. Robert Jackson delivered an empowering message to parents, urging them to invest quality time in their children. He encouraged parents to adopt efficient and effective parenting techniques, emphasizing the importance of deviating from traditional methods if necessary. Additionally, he reminded parents to prioritize self-care for personal rejuvenation. As a token of appreciation, each parent received a copy of Mr. Jackson's latest book, "For Mothers Raising Sons."

The conference catered to a diverse range of parents within the District. It offered sessions in various languages, covering a wide range of topics including Love of Learning – District Math Curriculum: What are the curriculum shifts to support math acceleration and recovery?, From Reluctant Reader to Bookworm: Nurturing a Lifelong Passion for Reading, Safely Navigating Technology, Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Young Children, Achieving Academic Success, Estate Planning, and Achieving in the United States. Parents had the opportunity to attend workshops and the general session in their native language. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the 450+ families, district staff, and community organizations who attended this year's conference, demonstrating their commitment to supporting and enhancing parent engagement.