Press Releases

Newark Public Schools Celebrates Newark’s 350th Anniversary

Newark, NJ – October 20, 2015 – Newark Public Schools proudly joins the City of Newark, the Newark Municipal Council and the Newark 350 Board of Trustees to celebrate the 350th Anniversary of the city.

This past weekend, the Newark 350 Board of Trustees hosted the Family Fun Festival at Military Park, where families from all five wards throughout the city came together to kick off a yearlong celebration of the city’s 350-year history. Hundreds of Newark Public School students participated in the opening festivities and the marching bands from Malcolm X Shabazz High School and Wilson Avenue School performed for attendees.

“We look forward to all of the Newark 350th Anniversary celebrations this coming year, and congratulate the City of Newark, and the Newark 350 Board of Trustees for hosting a great kickoff event,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “Newark is a city with a proud, and dynamic history, and the Newark Public Schools is committed to working with community members to celebrate its rich history. Our classroom teachers and school leaders look forward to incorporating the story of the City of Newark into their lessons, and sharing with students how much they can learn about themselves and their community by examining the past.”

As a part of the yearlong celebration, Newark Public Schools will provide opportunities for students to participate in specific Newark 350 events during the winter, spring and summer breaks. In addition, Newark Public Schools is working with local historians, the Newark 350 program committee, and a cohort of teachers to develop a curriculum that will allow students to engage with the city’s history in a new and more focused way.

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NPS Gives Students Access to Virtual Reality Field Trips with Google Expeditions

District Continues to Invest in Technology to Accelerate Learning

October 14, 2015 – Newark, New Jersey – Newark Public Schools (NPS) announced today that it is participating in Google’s Expeditions Pioneer Program, a new pilot program that allows teachers to take students on virtual reality field trips around the world. Throughout the week, Newark teachers will learn how to lead Expeditions and effectively use the technology to bring unique learning experiences into their classrooms. Google Expeditions is just the latest example of how NPS is integrating technology to accelerate learning.

“Technology has become a critical tool to enhance instruction and learning,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools.  “Over the past four years, the district has made extensive investments in education technology and associated professional development citywide to ensure our students have the tools and knowledge they need to be college and career ready. With Google Expeditions, our teachers will be able to make their lesson plans come alive and enable their students to experience places they never dreamed of visiting.”

Google recently launched their Expeditions Pioneer Program in various countries including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Brazil and the United States. Google collaborated with teachers throughout the world to provide students with over 100 possible virtual reality field trips.  Schools were chosen based upon their level of interest in the program.

“Expeditions is a powerful learning tool – it provides a unique opportunity for supplemental learning by giving students new ways of exploring the concepts and places they are studying,” said Jen Holland, Program Manager, Google for Education. “We’ve been thrilled to see teachers use Expeditions to bring abstract concepts to life and provide students with a deeper understanding of the world beyond the classroom, infusing learning with excitement and fun.”

NPS’ participation in the Expeditions Pioneer Program is the latest example of how the district is investing in technology to create a more engaging educational experience for students and to ensure they are college and career ready. The district has focused its efforts on using technology to help gauge students’ understanding of lessons, provide better feedback in real-time, and create more stimulating lessons by integrating digital learning experiences into the curriculum.

“We are excited to have access to this innovative new technology,” said Ginamarie Mignone, principal of Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School, which Google visited today to deliver Expeditions kits and train teachers in the technology.  “Google Expeditions will equip classrooms with a unique digital experience, further enhancing our instruction methods and the way our students learn through technology.”

Google Expeditions teams will be visiting Newark Public Schools throughout the week to provide training sessions for students and teachers with a specific focus on those participating in NPS’ Digital Transformation pilot program. Schools that Google Expeditions teams will be visiting include: Franklin Elementary; Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School; McKinley Elementary School; John F. Kennedy High School; Marin Elementary School; Technology High School; East Side High School; Chancellor Avenue School; and Quitman Street Community School.

In addition to Google Expeditions, NPS has implemented three strategic initiatives focused on the effective use of technology in district schools and classrooms: monthly Digital Learning Institute (DLI) workshops with teacher leaders from NPS schools responsible for supporting instructional technology through ongoing and embedded coaching, a purposeful integration of technology into the district’s core curriculum, and an expanded partnership with a subset of schools participating in a Digital Transformation Pilot initiative.

“Technological devices like Google Expeditions are a natural extension of our work to infuse technology in our curriculum to help enhance learning,” said Joshua Koen, Special Assistant for Technology at Newark Public Schools. “We are committed to using this technology successfully to ensure it is helping our young people receive a well-rounded, 21st Century education.”

Since May 2011, NPS has deployed 3,700 new wireless access points in all of the district’s schools, upgraded the district’s wide area network (WAN) connecting all NPS schools from 10MB to 1GB fiber optic circuits, and most recently purchased over 11,000 student Google Chromebook laptops with the goal of facilitating 21st learning environments.

To learn more about Google Expeditions visit: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/.

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Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf today issued the following statement regarding Carl Sharif

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2015

NEWARK – Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf today issued the following statement regarding Carl Sharif:

 “I am saddened to hear of Carl Sharif’s passing.  Sharif was a force to be reckoned with here in Newark, serving as a mentor to so many of the city’s political leaders over the years. From his important work on the school board to his work on citywide races, Sharif was dedicated to standing up for the best interest of Newark’s families. He has made a significant impact on this community and his leadership will be greatly missed.”

Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf Praises the Life and Work of Robert Curvin

NEWARK – Newark Public Schools (NPS) Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf today issued the following statement regarding Robert Curvin:

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Robert Curvin, a true leader and visionary for the City of Newark. An early leader in the civil rights movement, Bob dedicated his life to improving racial equality and achieving social justice for the disenfranchised. He was a brilliant historian with a deep understanding of the critical role education has on the revitalization and long-term success of Newark. On a personal note, I have deeply appreciated Bob’s generosity of spirit, wisdom and counsel. He was a vital partner to the district in supporting educational opportunities to help transform the lives of our school children. Bob left an indelible mark on this community and we will be forever grateful for the remarkable contribution he made to this great city.”

Newark Public Schools’ Teacher & Students to Present Film at 2015 Newark Comic Con Saturday


Newark, NJ – September 11, 2015 – Newark Public Schools congratulated East Side High School film teacher Andrew Teheran along with current and former East Side students on the official premier of their fantasy adventure film at the 2015 Newark Comic Con this Saturday, September 12. Mr. Teheran and East Side High School’s New Media Studies Magnet Program students and alumni have worked on the film, The Flight of the Arrowhead, for over five years.

The film was created in the summer of 2009 by a group of East Side film students. The Flight of the Arrowhead was written and directed by current and former students of East Side High School’s New Media Studies Magnet Program, an award winning and internationally recognized program that provides students the opportunity to participate in a state-of-the-art course curriculum. Students also lent their acting talents to the film, and created all of the music, costumes, and miniature sets featured in the film, which was shot in front of a green screen.

“I continue to be amazed by the talented teachers and students who are doing such impressive work in our classrooms,” said Superintendent Chris Cerf. “All of Newark’s parents, students, and teachers should be proud of the East Side High School students who have dedicated their time and energy to see this innovative project through to completion. These young men and women are pursuing their dreams, and have created a true work of art that will hopefully inspire other young people to do the same.”

Mr. Teheran, who has taught at East Side High School for nearly 18 years and founded the celebrated New Media Studies Magnet Program, said that the project involved more than one hundred students over the years. “This film is the culmination of years of creative work from truly gifted young adults that have come through our New Media Studies Magnet Program at East Side High School. This program continues to motivate young adults to a pursue careers in film and new media technology.”

East Side High School is known for its diverse student population, and according to Mr. Teheran, students who worked on the film often referred to themselves as a cast and crew from five different continents.

“The funny thing is that I learned just as much as the students learned in this process,” recalled Mr. Teheran.

One student in particular, Joao Tarouco, returned to his alma mater as a graduate mentor to direct the film and train other students about 3D animation and composition. Tarouco is now studying Media Technology at Essex County Community College and continues to pursue his interest in film and new media.

“This has been a great learning experience. It has been wonderful still being involved in this film even after graduation. I get to go back and work with current and former students to finish this film. We have learned so much together over the years,” said graduate mentor Joao Tarouco.

Andre Marques, a student animator on the film, was one of the students Tarouco mentored. “With the help of Mr. Teheran, Joao, and all of the other students involved in this film, I was able to learn so much about 3D animation and the filmmaking process,” said Marques. “Collaborating with my classmates and learning by doing is what made this fun and so successful, and helped us see this through to the end.”

A preview of the film can be found here, as well as a breakdown of some of the work that went into creating a scene from the film here. In addition, the East Side High School New Media Studies Magnet Program has created a promotional video that can be found here outlining some of the innovative work that is being done in the program.

About East Side High School’s New Media Studies Magnet Program
The New Media Studies magnet program is one of the premier offerings of East Side High School. The award winning and internationally recognized program provides the opportunity for students to participate in a state-of-the-art course curriculum that prepares them for the twenty-first century communications work place. Completely computer based, the graphic design, video production, and animation program that has been developed for over 12 years by teachers, students, and administrators committed to its success. Each year the students produce original, creative, and engaging films, animations, and graphic materials. These projects frequently win awards in state and national film festivals. The program has gained international recognition being featured in the French periodical “Le Nuveau Observator” and by participating in European film festivals that feature student films from around the world.

The New Media Studies magnet program leads with its focus on cross-curricular and interdisciplinary structure. Instructors from various departments and subjects, including: English, History, Journalism, Foreign Language, Speech, Music, and Law join with the Graphic Arts and Video teachers to develop connections and create strategies to illustrate the relationships between these areas of study to students and design curriculum that coordinates projects between the subject areas.

Attracting and recruiting students from across Newark, the New Media Studies magnet program has the full support of the faculty and staff at all levels. It provides the youth of Newark with a rigorous, relevant, and visionary course of study that will be the model of education in the coming decades.

Superintendent Cerf Issues Statement Following City’s Enrollment Assistance Sites Announcement

NEWARK – Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf today issued the following statement after Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced the opening of Enrollment Assistance Sites to support families in the school enrollment process:

“I appreciate and share the Mayor’s commitment to providing a high-quality public education for all of Newark’s children. I support any initiative that provides parents with information and resources to help them choose a school that works best for their child. Our teams have been in communication about this effort and we believe it will complement the work already underway at the District’s Family Support Center. NPS stands ready and eager to collaborate with the Mayor’s office.”

The District’s Family Support Center plays a key role in supporting families’ enrollment decisions and providing equitable access to quality public schools. Over the last month, the center has helped over 1500 families find the right school for their children, and will continue to provide support for our families as we prepare for the new school year.

“As families continue to register their children for school, I thank the Mayor and other elected officials here in Newark for their continued commitment and partnership.”

All students who wish to remain in their current schools are free to do so (Students who have completed the last year offered in their building and students who are new to the district all participate in the choice/enrollment process.).  Additionally, any student who wishes to move from his or her current school is welcome to apply for a transfer, a process that many students have successfully completed already through the Center.

For more information regarding the District’s Family Support Center, please click here.