News

 Let’s go to Work Video Receives Top Honors! 

During the 66th Annual Council of the Great City Schools Fall conference, it was announced the Newark Public School’s “Let’s go to Work” film received first place in the New Jersey School Public Relations Association (NJSPRA) competition. Conference attendees loved the video and could not say enough great things about it! The district’s “Let’s go to Work” video highlights the joy and diversity of Newark students, whose passions include the fine arts, athletics, the humanities, and the wide range of sciences that are explored in their curricula. The film also celebrates the educators dedicated to Newark students. With approximately 40,000 views, "Let’s go to Work" has helped the Newark Board of Education in its initiative to attract passionate educators to help with the nationwide teacher shortage. "Let’s go to Work" Film Please Watch, Like, and Share!

NJSPRA 1st Place Award
NJSPRA 1st Place Award

Calling All Pre-K and 8th Grade Families

All-Schools-Fair-Flyer-Pre-K
All-Schools-Fair-Flyer-8thGrade

It is with great excitement that the Newark Board of Education (NBOE) announces its annual school fair is back in-person! The All-Schools Fair will take place on Saturday, November 5th at Newark Vocational High School (301 West Kinney Street, Newark, NJ) 10am-2pm.

Families will have an opportunity to explore Pre-K, Kindergarten and High School options for the 2023-2024 school year, interact with school representatives, and obtain resources prior to submitting a Newark Enrolls application. Additional attractions will include a photo booth for families to capture memorable images, a DJ for an upbeat vibe, and refreshments provided by NBOE’s very own culinary students at Newark Vocational High School! The Newark Enrolls application window will open on Saturday, November 5th at 3pm and closes on Friday, February 3rd at 11:59pm.

Please visit www.newarkenrolls.org for additional information!

Transition Opportunities and Diverse Abilities

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Recognizing the skills and talents of all individuals, students at East Side High School, in conjunction with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS), spent 9 weeks over the summer participating in a paid internship with ENABLE FedCap.

During the first two weeks, students participated in orientation to assist with learning about job readiness skills. Participants had the opportunity to spend six weeks at a job site of their interest and linked to a job coach to assist with on-the-job training. Students enjoyed the summer work experience while earning a paycheck for their work.

As a result, part-time employment was offered to students upon completion of the internship. Sincere thanks to East Side High School’s Child Study Team members who coordinated with The Office of Special Education’s Transition Coordinator, to support post-secondary options for students.

Students at East Side High School gain on-the-job experience
Students at East Side High School gain on-the-job experience

Does Anyone Need a Doctor?

South-West Schools are extremely proud to have classrooms filled with “prospective medical detectives” in grades 6-8. Project Lead the Way’s (PLTW) Medical Detectives Program provides students with rigorous hands-on labs that allow them to collect and analyze medical data to diagnose diseases. PLTW is an extension of Assistant Superintendent Samantha Lott-Velez’s vision to ensure that “...our schools will continue to put programs in place that give our students opportunity to engage in experiences that nurture their interests and expose them to career paths.”

All PLTW schools are looking forward to continuing their White Coat Ceremonies, which serve as a rites of passage initiative designed to inspire middle school students to seek out STEM fields. Last year, there were 143 participants in six PLTW schools. This year there are nine PLTW schools - Avon Avenue, Belmont Runyon, Chancellor Avenue, Ivy Hill, Lincoln, Mount Vernon, Peshine Avenue, South Seventeenth Street, and Speedway Avenue– that offer PLTW during the school day or after school. These schools will also offer another PLTW course, Green Architecture, in the spring to middle school students.

Future medical detectives in action at Speedway Elementary School
Future medical detectives in action at Speedway Elementary School

Schools Throughout the District Celebrate Week of Respect

McKinley Elementary School students learn about kindness during the <em>Week of Respect;</em> Data Science & Information Technology students create an interactive kindness bulletin board
McKinley Elementary School students learn about kindness during the Week of Respect; Data Science & Information Technology students create an interactive kindness bulletin board

The Newark Board of Education (NBOE) kicked off the first week of October in full support of the Week of Respect! NBOE schools across the district enhanced their educational programs by incorporating lessons, activities, and events that focused on the importance of bullying prevention and awareness. Many elementary schools tailored lessons to teach students how to be upstanders- a person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause. Through SEL activities, students are taught to be one who intervenes on behalf of a person being attacked or bullied.

At McKinley Elementary School, students wore blue during Week of Respect activities to signify unity in standing up to bullying. At the high school level, students and staff from Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology created an interactive bulletin board where school community members could take words of kindness and share words of encouragement. All of the lessons and activities encouraged students and staff to work together as a community to create a positive and nurturing culture and climate within their building.

Student Field Trips are Back

First grade students at Peshine Avenue School showcase their hand picked pumpkins; Arts High School students visit the Grammy Museum
First grade students at Peshine Avenue School showcase their hand picked pumpkins; Arts High School students visit the Grammy Museum

It is the Superintendent’s vision that all Newark Board of Education students participate in Extended Learning Experiences. The district plans to provide every student with three field trip experiences beyond the classroom. First graders have had the opportunity to visit Alstede Farms in Chester, NJ. Students enjoyed a hay wagon ride through the fields and hand-picked pumpkins of their own. Through this farm experience, students were able to connect to the first grade science module and explore light energy and shadows.

Ninth graders had the opportunity to visit the Grammy Museum at the Prudential Center right here in Newark, NJ. Students experienced cutting edge and interactive exhibits through a host of musical genres. Time frames included Ray Charles to Bruce Springsteen to Newark’s very own Whitney Houston. Students also had the chance to visit the new Hip Hop Exhibit. The Grammy Experience tied in nicely to the Grade 9 English Language Arts (ELA) novel study, On the Come Up. Click here to view additional photos!