News

NBOE Art Students Recognized for Excellence ar 2023 Congressional Art Competition

Left to Right: Arts High School student Jaret Perez’s Award Winning artwork titled “Golden Boy”; Jaret and Congressman Donald Payne during the awards ceremony at The Newark Museum of Art, Monday, May 8th, 2023; Group shot of other winners presented with medals and certificates during the ceremony
Left to Right: Arts High School student Jaret Perez’s Award Winning artwork titled “Golden Boy”; Jaret and Congressman Donald Payne during the awards ceremony at The Newark Museum of Art, Monday, May 8th, 2023; Group shot of other winners presented with medals and certificates during the ceremony

May has been an exciting month for the Visual & Performing Arts department. High School students from Arts, American History, and Malcolm X Shabazz dominated the 2023 Tenth District Congressional Art Competition. Overall First Place winner from Arts High School, Jaret Perez’s artwork, “Golden Boy,” will be displayed in the Nation’s Capital for one year. Among all the talented young artists showcased, NBOE brought home the most medals, with five 1st place winners, three 2nd place winners, and three 3rd place winners. All artwork is currently on view at the Newark Museum. Congratulations to these exceptional visual artists on their achievements!

NBOE’s Student Assistance Coordinators Make an I.M.P.A.C.T.

SACs facilitate a training to principals on Substance and the Law
SACs facilitate a training to principals on Substance and the Law

Implement, Monitor, Provide, Assist, Collaborate, Tailor

The Office of Student Life is working diligently to provide current guidance to school-wide support teams across the District to address the rise in substance misuse amid the student population. With the support of Assistant Superintendent Samantha Lott-Velez, the South/West Leadership Team principals were among the first to receive the “Substance and the Law” presentation disseminated by the District’s Student Assistance Coordinators (SACs). The SACs packed a full agenda, from the establishment of a comprehensive program, confidentiality, NBOE policy, and the law. Moreover, the SACs reviewed the appropriate steps and process of reporting suspected substance abuse.

East Ward Elementary School Celebrates Multilingual Literacy Day

A graduate of East Side High School and the author of the popular children's book, Ellie Fairy Meets Cordelia, Claudia Gouveia, and Founding Principal of East Ward Elementary School, Rosa Monteiro-Inacio
A graduate of East Side High School and the author of the popular children's book, Ellie Fairy Meets Cordelia, Claudia Gouveia, and Founding Principal of East Ward Elementary School, Rosa Monteiro-Inacio

For the first time ever, East Ward Elementary School, in collaboration with United Way of Greater Newark's My Very Own Library (MVOL), celebrated Multilingual Literacy Day! Founding Principal Rosa Monteiro-Inacio was honored to have guest author Claudia Gouveia, a graduate of the bilingual program at East Side High School and the author of the popular children's book Ellie Fairy Meets Cordelia, join the celebration. Claudia's book explores themes of friendship and diversity, which are essential to promoting multilingual literacy. 

Students, staff and parents celebrated Multilingualism through various dance performances and poetry recitations showcasing the beauty of different cultures and languages spoken at East Ward Elementary School. Guest readers visited classrooms to share their favorite multilingual books with students.

Events like Multilingual Literacy Day are crucial in promoting understanding and appreciation for the diverse cultures and languages that make up the world. This event further solidifies the commitment of the Newark Board of Education in alignment with fostering a community that celebrates diversity and promotes Multilingualism. Due to the event's success, Multilingual Literacy Day will continue to occur annually!

A Day in the Life of a NBOE’s Educational Audiologist

Celebrating Better Speech and Hearing Month: Tools of the Trade
Celebrating Better Speech and Hearing Month: Tools of the Trade

Educational Audiologists deliver a full spectrum of hearing services to all children, particularly those in educational settings.  Audiologists are trained to diagnose, manage, and treat hearing and balance problems. This school year, NBOE welcomed a new Educational Audiologist, Ralph Moscarella, who is a member of both Bruce Street and Technology High Schools’ multidisciplinary teams, and also serves as the educational audiologist district-wide. He facilitates listening, learning, and communication access via specialized assessments; monitors personal hearing instruments; recommends, fits and manages hearing assistance technology; provides and recommends support services and resources; and advocates on behalf of students and their families.

As an Educational Audiologist, Mr. Moscarella provides evidence for needed services and technology, emphasizes access skills and supports, counsels children to promote personal responsibility and self-advocacy, maintains student performance levels, collaborates with private sector Audiologists, helps students transition, and teams up with other school professionals to work most effectively to facilitate student learning. In support of May’s Better Speech and Hearing Month, Mr. Moscarella will facilitate training to the District’s Speech Language Specialists this month.

Unlocking the Potential of NBOE Families Through STEM Learning

Students at University High School actively engaged in STEM activities
Students at University High School actively engaged in STEM activities

The Newark Board of Education is taking the leading role in raising awareness on student achievement in STEM by creating programs and activities that engage families and students. NBOE family participation thrives in STEM through empowering and equipping families to  partner for success. Families are engaged throughout the district with STEM initiatives, STEM nights, and STEM projects. This allows families to obtain resources needed to make the school-to-home learning connection.

During the District’s STEM nights and STEM projects, families explored STEM and STEM careers by utilizing manipulatives to represent both math and science ideas and concepts. Families received manipulations to continue developing the conceptual understanding at home. The District will continue to cultivate spaces for families where a passion for science, technology, math and engineering are explored and families are encouraged, empowered and educated surrounding the STEM possibilities. 

Unlocking the Potential of Thinking Classrooms Residencies

Students explaining their thinking tasks to teachers during the BTC Administrator Residency
Students explaining their thinking tasks to teachers during the BTC Administrator Residency

Throughout the spring, 100 teachers and 12 school administrators participated in the Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics residencies. Each week participants worked through a low-floor high-ceiling task as they constructed their own mathematical ideas. One participant noted, “The residency forced me to think outside the box. It was fun to be a ‘student’ working on challenging tasks with peers and experiencing this framework. It is easy to see why this works to improve engagement and increase perseverance.” Another stated, “The way we learned and struggled together was the best part.”

Participants have integrated the practices they learned during the residency into their own teaching practice. One participant commented, “I noticed that students have more fun, more stamina, and are more persistent using this method.” Another participant explained, “The response from my students has been overwhelmingly positive. At fourth grade, many students are eager for challenges and the opportunity to show what they know. By using these tasks, the students had a chance to think about math, but in a different way. They enjoyed the random groups and standing at the vertical non-permanent surface. I cannot wait to begin next year with all these new tools to utilize in class and watch the growth of my students.”