Celebrations are part of the district’s “Spring into Reading” literacy initiative

[Newark, NJ – March 7, 2017] Newark Public Schools (NPS) celebrated National Education Association’s (NEA) Read Across America Day last week at elementary schools across the city. Read Across America Day is part of a broader district-wide literacy initiative currently underway called “Spring into Reading” to promote literacy and encourage more children to read.

“Increased reading is a significant contributing factor to higher student achievement, which is why it is so important that we cultivate strong literacy skills in all of our students at a young age,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “Helping students develop a love for reading through enriching activities and initiatives will ultimately set them up for long-term academic and career success.”

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the NEA’s Read Across America, a day that engages educators, parents, and communities across the United States to encourage and inspire children to read. The celebration has been held every year since 1998 on March 2, the birthday of renowned children’s author Dr. Seuss

In addition to Read Across America Day, NPS has offered students a number of positive reading and literacy activities through the “Spring into Reading” initiative including:

• World Read Aloud Day on Thursday, February 16: World Read Aloud Day is an international celebration in its eighth year that assembles individuals, schools, and organizations across all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, as well as from over 100 countries worldwide, to bring awareness to children, teens, and adults about the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories with children.  NPS celebrated World Read Aloud Day on Thursday, February 16.
• Kickoff of “Spring into Reading” on Wednesday, February 22: At Chancellor Avenue School, students participated in a read aloud assembly, reading along with local officials and children’s authors to kick off the district’s “Spring Into Reading” initiative, celebrate World Read Aloud Day and Read Across America Day
• All 16,500 students participating in the My Very Own Library (MVOL) program were able to choose three, free books which they will be able to add to their home libraries and read over spring break this April. MVOL is made possible through United Way of Essex and West Hudson (UWEWH), the program’s administrator, and Scholastic Book Fairs, a division of Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and the exclusive book supplier of MVOL

Earlier this year, United Way of Essex and West Hudson received a $4.4 million private donation to support literacy for Newark Public School students, funding the continuation of the MVOL program. Over the course of the 2016-2017 academic year, the MVOL initiative will reach 26 schools and 16,500 students, placing 165,000 more books into the home libraries of Newark students.

Partnership creates a national model for STEM career pathways by bridging the needs of the public and private sectors

[Newark, NJ – February 23, 2017] Newark Public Schools (NPS) announced that the district is partnering with Students 2 Science (S2S), a model program that delivers rigorous problem and project-based science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education learning opportunities to students. The partnership is a part of Newark Public Schools’ larger vision to make Newark a model for urban science education, and is designed to promote skills that Newark students need in order to compete in a 21st century global economy, such as critical thinking, reasoning, and research skills, among others.

S2S brings strong corporate relationships to the partnership that provide Newark students with the opportunity to collaborate with scientists and STEM professionals on a wide-variety of real world experiments that are connected to New Jersey’s Next Generation Science standards. The program aims to inspire and motivate students while helping them prepare for high demand STEM careers.

“This partnership opens up opportunities to our students and community we could not have imagined,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “S2S is not only inspiring our students to pursue the jobs of the future by exposing them to STEM role models and real world problems, but is also giving Newark students the necessary skills to become college and career ready. Through our partnership with S2S, Newark is developing an innovative national model that will help educate our future workforce and have a profound impact in communities across New Jersey and the entire country.”

This fall, 25 schools are participating in a pilot program where NPS students work on rigorous project-based learning activities with volunteer scientists from top scientific companies across the region. This year, 10 middle and high schools are traveling to the East Hanover Technology Center for 30 sessions total, with 250 virtual lab sessions being conducted across all 25 schools. Over the next four years, all Newark students from 5th to 12th grade will have the opportunity to engage with these programs at an anticipated new site located in Newark.

“We take our students out of the classroom and into an authentic commercial laboratory, where they work side by side with professional scientists to solve real life problems. The experience strips away the intimidation often associated with STEM subjects, instills confidence, and inspires and motivates the students,” said Paul Winslow, President and Co-Founder of Students 2 Science, Inc. “The virtual lab component is an extraordinary opportunity to bring science and content experts directly into the classroom where our students interact across a multimedia platform, provided by Connectivity, Inc. We teach students 21st century skills with advanced technologies and they respond with enthusiasm and a greater desire to pursue STEM careers. We believe the programs are a win for both the public and private sectors, but most importantly for our students and their future.”

The partnership is an important component of NPS’s larger vision to make Newark a model for urban science education. At the core of this vision is a focus on providing students with opportunities for hands-on experimentation and exposing them to real-world applications of science, while emphasizing problem-solving. In addition to S2S, NPS is making investments in new science curricula, establishing robotics programs in all schools, and has supported numerous initiatives at specific school sites where strong science programs already exist.

At the heart of NPS’s partnership with S2S will be the opening of a 10,000-square-foot Newark S2S Technology Center, which will be outfitted with approximately $4 million of state-of-the-art commercial equipment. The Newark S2S Technology Center will be an important resource for NPS’s science education programs, enabling students to work side-by-side with STEM professionals and corporate mentors in the heart of Newark. To date, over $2 million worth of scientific equipment, laboratory furniture and consumables have been secured from companies such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Merck, Johnson and Johnson, and Airgas, among others.

“Through our partnership with S2S and Newark Public Schools, we will make a meaningful impact on students in underserved communities,” said Stan Nelson, Director of Food and Agriculture Markets at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Our goal is to ensure that Newark students have a state-of-the-art laboratory with innovative equipment to explore career paths they may never have imagined.”

In addition to the Newark S2S Technology Center, students will participate in virtual laboratories (V-Labs), utilizing a fully interactive multi-media communications platform. This platform allows students to interact with scientists through live video lessons and conduct experiments at their desks and is available in 200 spoken languages with interpreters on demand. The platform is also a valuable resource for teachers, providing instructors with lesson plans, along with video tutorials and supply kits to conduct any given experiment with three separate classes. Additionally, the platform allows NPS and S2S to provide professional development for teachers, deliver “train the trainer” opportunities, and empower high school students to develop the necessary skills to do peer-to-peer mentoring and teaching with younger students.

Newark’s lead STEM funder, the PSEG Foundation, has committed $500,000 and hopes their gift encourages others to join them in building Newark into a model for science education.

“Newark Public Schools and Students 2 Science are helping establish a pipeline of curious and prepared elementary, middle and high school students, ready to pursue high demand STEM fields of study,” said Ellen Lambert, President of the PSEG Foundation. “We are excited to champion this project and support the district’s goals to bring STEM education to more of Newark’s students.”

The global demand for highly skilled workers in STEM fields is growing rapidly, and New Jersey in particular employs more STEM workers per capita than any other state. The National Science Foundation estimates that 80 percent of U.S. jobs created in the next decade will require math and science skills. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, 60 percent of U.S. businesses report difficulty in filling technical positions. Through their project, NPS and S2S aim to engage students in STEM education and careers throughout elementary, middle and high school, in order to prepare students to compete in a global economy upon entering the workforce.

A powerful list of advocates have also joined hands to support the Newark S2S Technology Center project, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Rutgers University-Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor, Councilman-At-Large Luis A. Quintana, and New Jersey State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz.

To date, over $1 million has been raised, with another $2 million pledged to the project. The remaining philanthropic dollars needed are $7 million in order to reach district wide goals by 2021.

“Our success means not only better careers for our students, but also putting Newark on the map as a place people look to for great science education,” added Superintendent Cerf.

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About Students 2 Science
S2S is a 501(c)(3) model program in New Jersey that addresses the STEM needs of the public and private sectors. The S2S mission is to inspire, motivate, and educate elementary, middle, and high school students to pursue careers in STEM subjects. This is accomplished by providing an authentic, state-of- the-art laboratory experience, complete with modern instrumentation and professional scientists. The S2S Technology Center in East Hanover, NJ, houses approximately 5,000 sq. feet of commercial laboratory space equipped with over $4 million of laboratory instrumentation, allowing the performance of experiments in a multitude of STEM fields. Additionally, S2S offers remote, web-based, virtual STEM experiences through its Virtual Laboratory (V-Lab) program. Teams of students, working collaboratively with scientific professionals who serve as role models, solve real-life problems while being introduced to a wide variety of 21st century STEM career opportunities such as those in the pharmaceutical industry, the scientific equipment arena, and the gamut of engineering fields. It is these proven and successful programs that S2S will embed in the Newark Public School system and where we have demonstrated seven years of success.

About the Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $18 billion and more than 55,000 employees globally. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands ­Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services ­ we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

About the PSEG Foundation
The PSEG Foundation (501c3) is the philanthropic arm of Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE:PEG). The Foundation generally supports and invests in programs in three areas: community and the environment, education and safety. The Foundation provides grants to organizations in communities served by PSEG and its subsidiaries.

On average, over 17,000 students in need start their day with a healthy school breakfast

[Newark, NJ – February 14, 2017] Newark Public Schools (NPS) ranked fifth out of 73 large school districts scored on the annual School Breakfast: Making it Work in Large School Districts report released today by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), a national anti-hunger advocacy group. In the 2015-2016 school year, approximately 17,055 NPS students participated in the district’s daily School Breakfast Program.

“Every student needs and deserves access to a healthy breakfast in order to prepare their mind and body for the rigorous work they set out to complete each day,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “The district understands the important role breakfast plays in our students’ diets and academic achievement, and we are committed to continuing to improve upon our School Breakfast Program to assure that all students are prepared every morning for a successful school day.”

The national School Breakfast Program makes it possible for all school children in the U.S. to receive a nutritious breakfast every school day. The FRAC report examines School Breakfast Program participation rates and trends in 73 of America’s largest school districts. These districts saw a net increase of 101,548 students eating school breakfast in school year 2015–2016, compared to the prior school year.

School breakfast participation nationally has been growing, and several strategies exist to increase it further, including the use of “breakfast after the bell” models such as breakfast in the classroom, “grab and go”, and second chance breakfast. NPS has implemented breakfast in the classroom in all of its schools, and also offers breakfast in the cafeteria and at centralized kiosks in specific schools across the district. Breakfast is offered at no cost to all students who attend NPS. These strategies have been key drivers in the district’s high school breakfast participation rate.

“Our goal is to support student achievement and improve educational outcomes across the district by ensuring that students are receiving proper nutrition at the start of each school day,” said Dr. Tonya McGill, Food Service Director for Newark Public Schools. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and by providing students with access to a healthy breakfast, we are confident that students are starting their day off ready to learn.”

FRAC has set an ambitious but achievable goal of reaching 70 low-income children with school breakfast for every 100 receiving school lunch. The report finds that approximately 92 low-income children in NPS ate school breakfast for every 100 students that received free or reduced-price school lunch during the 2015 – 2016 school year. This is well above the national average of 56 low-income children eating school breakfast for every 100 students who received school lunch in the 2015–2016 school year.

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About School Breakfast: Making it Work in Large School Districts
This report examines School Breakfast Program participation rates and trends in 73 of America’s largest school districts. Two-thirds of the districts expanded their school breakfast participation from the previous school year. Read School Breakfast: Making it Work in Large School Districts in full.

Three schools participated in Disney Musicals for the second year thanks to $100,000 Disney grant awarded to NJPAC

[Newark NJ – February 14, 2017] Newark Public Schools’ (NPS) elementary students performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) yesterday on the prestigious Prudential Hall stage. Newark students performed selections from The Lion King and The Jungle Book. The student performance was part of “Disney Musicals in Schools”, a national initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Group to create ongoing theater programs in under-resourced public elementary schools.

“It is incredible to watch so many talented young children from Newark Public Schools perform on a world-class stage,” said NPS Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf. “We are grateful to Disney Musicals in Schools and NJPAC for bringing the magic of musical theater into our community and classrooms. This program has inspired our children in new and exciting ways, empowering them to be more confident both inside and outside the classroom.”

In 2015, Disney awarded NJPAC with a $100,000 grant to bring two years of programming to Newark area public elementary schools. This is NJPAC’s second year participating in Disney Musicals in Schools, and the second year that NPS students have been selected to be part of the theater program. NJPAC chose three NPS elementary schools to participate in this year’s program: Rafael Hernandez School of Performing Arts, Oliver Street School and B.R.I.C.K. Peshine Academy.

Each school takes part in a 17-week musical theater residency that concludes with students performing a 30-minute “Disney KIDS” musical based on a classic Disney film at each school. Teachers at the schools collaborate with teaching artists to learn how to produce, direct, choreograph and conduct music for the shows at no cost to the participating schools. During the residency, students work collaboratively, developing self-confidence and strengthening communication skills, all while learning and discovering the joy of creating a musical theater production.

• Oliver Street Performance on Facebook
• Greater Essex and Hudson County Elementary School Students Present Disney Musicals in Schools by BBW
• Greater Essex and Hudson County Elementary School Students Present Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share Celebration by The Paramus Post

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About Disney Musicals in Schools
Disney Musicals in Schools is a free outreach program offered to a limited number of public elementary schools each year. Through the program schools receive free performance rights and ShowKit materials to a 30-minute Disney musical written for elementary school performers. Over the course of a semester, professional Teaching Artists guide school teachers through the process of mounting a musical with student performers. Our goal is to provide the training necessary for teachers to continue a tradition of theater education for years to come. For more information visit http://disneymusicalsinschools.com/

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About New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States and is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 10 million visitors (including over 1.5 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.

NPS joins with City, local universities and others to offer support to undocumented students and their families

[Newark, NJ – February 10, 2017] On Saturday, February 4th, Newark Public Schools (NPS) hosted an event at Science Park High School to help connect undocumented students and families with resources and services to help them navigate their higher education options and other aspects of their lives after high school. The event was kicked off by Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Newark Public Schools Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf who spoke about the importance of making sure that all of Newark’s students and families have the tools they need to succeed.

“This event is an essential part of our effort to give every student and family, regardless of their status, an opportunity for success,” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf of Newark Schools. “The students and families attending this event contribute immeasurably to our community and we must do everything in our power to ensure that we are giving them the tools to achieve college, career and lifelong success.”

UndocuNewark is a unique event developed by the NPS Office of College and Career Access, in collaboration with Essex County College, Rutgers Law School, and UndocuJersey. At the conference, students learned about educational resources such as scholarship opportunities and other important facts about college programs and finances specific to undocumented students. In addition, Rutgers conducted legal screenings for immigration relief.

Superintendent Cerf also previewed content from a letter assuring all undocumented families that their right to education in Newark would not be affected by recent political events. The letter will be distributed to all NPS families. A few of the topics the letter addresses include:

• Undocumented immigrant status does not affect a child’s ability to access education in Newark. Children have a constitutional right to have equal access to education regardless of their immigration status or their parents’ status.
• Newark Public Schools, like all districts in NJ, does not ask for a child’s immigration status when he or she enrolls. The school district would never share a student’s immigration status with federal immigration officials, even if it became aware of that status through some other means.

“Every child and family deserves a chance at success, regardless of how they arrived in Newark,” said Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “We are committed to not only protecting the well-being of all our residents, but also to providing them with a roadmap for success to navigate any barriers they may confront along the way.”

In addition to the letter Superintendent Cerf is sharing with families, the UNDOCU-NEWARK program comes at a time when the Newark city government and school district are taking a number of measures to support undocumented immigrant populations. Recently, Mayor Baraka announced his commitment for the City of Newark to remain a sanctuary city to protect the rights of all citizens. In addition, Superintendent Christopher Cerf recently signed a petition to express his support for the continuation of the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs.

“The Office of Student Supports developed the UndocuNewark conference to address the needs of our community so students can learn more about next steps for academic success and eventually meaningful careers,” added Dr. Kelly Williams, Newark Public School Special Assistant/College and Career Access and organizer of the event. “We are very grateful for all of those families who came to take advantage of these resources and for the leaders and staff who came to express their support for our families today.”

While school districts in New Jersey do not collect data on the documented status of students or families, Newark is a diverse community where approximately one out of every three Newark residents is born in another country, and a similar ratio of students speak a language other than English as a primary language at home. Last year, the city launched a municipal identification program issuing ID cards that allow undocumented immigrants to access state, city, financial, and cultural services. As of this September, the city had issued nearly 10,000 of the IDs.

In addition to partnering with the organizations at the UndocuNewark event, Newark Public Schools staff are meeting with other community based organizations and community leaders to ensure that NPS schools are safe places for learning and dialogue for all students.

“This is just the first step in a series of conversations and opportunities to support our undocumented students and immigrant families,” added Margarita Muniz, Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement at NPS. “We want our families to know that we stand with them, we are here for them, and we will do whatever we can to create safe spaces for them to learn and grow.”

No Media was permitted at the event. The information collected and distributed at the conference is confidential and will not be shared with any other government agencies.