Press Releases

Newark’s Oliver Street School Wins Big in National Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest

School to receive $140K in technology equipment to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program

Newark NJ, March 25, 2014 – Oliver Street Elementary School (pre-K to 8th grade), part of the Newark Public School District, has been named one of five winners in the nationwide Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest, which challenges students to apply STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) solutions to problems facing their local communities. The Oliver Street students’ project, Guarding the Water Supply, focuses on cleaning the polluted Passaic River, which runs through their city. The school has won $140,000 in technology for the school, which will be used to further develop their river project as well as to enhance and expand the school’s existing STEM program.
“Oliver Street School’s outstanding response to Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow contest reflects the hard work, ingenuity and creative thought that STEM education is all about,” said Newark Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Mitchell Center. “When challenged to relate their classroom learning and knowledge of 21st century technology directly to their own neighborhood, these bright and engaged students saw a grassroots opportunity to step up as environmental stewards of the Passaic River. The combination of civic action and academic rigor on behalf of the students, exemplary teaching by James Intrabartolo and visionary leadership by Principal Doug Petty is a prime example of the kind of excellence we cultivate here at Newark Public Schools. The entire district is cheering for Oliver Street School’s great accomplishment.”
The Oliver Street School STEM team has been working on Guarding the Water Supply since the fall, when they began designing a system to reduce the amount of street garbage flowing into the Passaic River after a heavy rain. The students researched, developed and created several models of sewer grates to catch the waste. They tested the grates during a storm, assessed and innovated based on how well the designs worked. The successful prototype became Oliver Street’s contest entry, which they then presented to a panel of judges at the South By Southwest Education (SXSWedu) conference in Austin, Texas earlier this month. Along with enthusiastic support from the officials, the team got thousands of “clicks” from their home state and across the nation as the contest was crowd-sourced through online voting. The students are hoping that their winning design can be put into actual use, both in their own community and beyond, as the grate they have designed can be modified to fit any sewer system.
Oliver Street, along with the other top five contest winners, will be able to choose their prize equipment from a list of Samsung products, which includes items like laptops printers, touchscreen displays and monitors, as well as Adobe Premier Elements licenses and cash grants from both DIRECTV and Forbes. Additionally, the winners will be invited to Washington, D.C. for a celebratory luncheon and arranged meetings with their respective senators and House representatives.
Watch the Oliver Street team explain and demonstrate their Guarding the Water Supply project in their contest video here.

Newark Sussex Avenue Renew School’s Career Day a Great Success

Newark, NJ, March 24, 2014 – Sussex Avenue Renew School Career Day, which was organized in collaboration with My Block, My Family, Our Village Neighborhood Association and Jehovah Jireh Outreach, Inc., provided students with a great opportunity to learn about a variety of potential career paths. The Career Day, which took place on Friday, March 21, for students in grades four through eight, included a job-finding workshop attended by 25 parents.

“On Career Day our students heard about career paths from scientists, police officers, researchers, lawyers, nurses, professors, doctors, construction workers, bank employees, authors, actors, business people, green teams, choreographers, and acupuncturists,” said Sussex Avenue School Principal Darleen Gearhart. “We were very fortunate to have such a variety of professions represented to inspire and motivate all of our students. In addition, we are very fortunate to have such supportive community groups who put a great deal of time into making this event successful.”

Sussex Avenue School is located at 307 Sussex Avenue, Newark, NJ 07107

Newark Public Schools Hosts Spring Into Health Community Health Fair, Strengthening the Home-School-Community Connection

Newark, NJ, March 24, 2014 – Newark Public Schools’ Office of Early Childhood is organizing a district-wide health fair to encourage parents, extended family members and the community to learn about caring for their own and their children’s health. The aim is to inform parents of the importance of families living healthy lifestyles so young children can learn by example. As healthy children, they have a better chance of succeeding academically.

Newark Public Schools Early Childhood Executive Director Sandra Rodriguez stated, “We are so excited to offer children and families the opportunity to engage in one-stop shopping for all things health-related. The Early Childhood Nurses have organized a day of holistic and comprehensive offerings to ensure that the youngest learners have the healthiest beginnings. Our aim is to engage parents in the blueprints for healthy living and have them be the conduit for future learning at home. Healthy practices, as with all things, begin at home.”

Local hospitals will conduct health screenings, while other organizations will demonstrate and promote preventative programs, such as pediatric care. In addition, staff members who speak Spanish, Portuguese and French Creole will attend and materials in different languages will be available.
WHO: Newark Beth Israel, St. Michael’s, Clara Maass Hospital representatives, Newark Department of Child and Family Well Being, a variety of healthcare and community organizations, NPS Early Childhood nurses and staff, parents, young children and community members.

WHAT: Spring Into Health Community Health Fair – Strengthening the Home-School-Community Connection

WHEN: Wednesday, March 26, 2014, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
WHERE: Dr. Marion A. Bolden Student Center, 230 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104

Newark’s Sussex Avenue Renew School Will Host a Career Day for Students and Parents

Collaboration with Community Groups Promises Inspiring, Motivational Event

Newark, NJ, March 18, 2014 – School career days provide opportunities for students to learn about potential career paths.  At Sussex Avenue Renew School in Newark, the school community has taken the idea one step further, by also providing a job-finding workshop for parents.
In collaboration with My Block, My Family, Our Village Neighborhood Association, the school will host a Career Day on Friday, March 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in which students in grades four through eight will hear about a variety of careers. At the same time, in collaboration with Jehovah Jireh Outreach, Inc. and the Urban League of Essex County, the school will present a workshop for parents, in which representatives from Essex County College, Essex County Wise Women’s Center, City of Newark, Express Employment Professionals, Newark One Stop, and PNC Bank will provide information on job opportunities, career advice, and resumes.
“On Career Day our students will hear about career paths from scientists, police officers, researchers, lawyers, nurses, professors, doctors, construction workers, bank employees, authors, actors, business people, green teams, choreographers, and acupuncturists,” said Sussex Avenue School Principal Darleen Gearhart. “We are very fortunate to have such a variety of professions represented so all our students are inspired and motivated. In addition, we are very fortunate to have such supportive community groups who put a great deal of time into aiming to make events like this successful.”
WHO: Rutgers Medical School Assistant Professor Dr. Torian Easterling, NJ Law Journal Publisher Robert Steinbaum, Esq., NJDOT Engineer Meredith Hammond, City of Newark Public Health Officer Marsha McGowan, Actor/Author Cheryl Hulteen, students, parents, representatives from a variety of community organizations.

WHAT: Sussex Avenue School, in collaboration with community organization My Block, My Family, Our Village Neighborhood Association, Jehovah Jireh Outreach, Inc., and the Urban League of Essex County, will host a Career Day for students, and in addition, a career workshop for parents.

WHEN: Friday, March 21, 2014, 9 a.m.- 1p.m.

WHERE: Sussex Avenue School, 307 Sussex Avenue, Newark, NJ 07107

Newark East Side High Student’s Cyber Bullying Video Finalist in Panasonic “New Vision Awards”

Video confronting life-threatening impact of digital harassment ranked in top ten U.S. entries for Social Issues category

Newark, NJ, March 13, 2014 – The national finalists for Panasonic’s annual New Vision Awards will be announced on March 25, 2014. Highlighting excellence in student videography, the international contest features entries from across the world. This year, Newark Public School’s East Side High student Eric Arce has made it to the United States finals in the “Social Issues” category, and is a contender to win a spot in the international competition for his powerful short piece Cyber Bullying. The video takes a hard look at this national epidemic and confronts the dire, life threatening impact that online bullying and digital harassment can have.

“In less than 2 1/2 minutes, Eric’s video conveys the enormous pain and desperation experienced by the victims of cyber bullying, which affects approximately 43% of our youth,” said Newark Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Brad Haggerty. “Offering a peek into the potentially destructive power of online interactions, the hard-hitting message is clearly expressed, urging young viewers to ‘think twice before sending that message.’ This piece has shone the spotlight on Eric and the East Side High School team, not just for their videography skills, but for their outstanding peer leadership as well.”

The New Vision Awards contest is a part of Panasonic’s Kid Witness News — a hands-on international video education program for grades 4-12 that encourages students to develop valuable cognitive, communication and organizational skills through the use of state-of-the-art video technology. Panasonic provides students with equipment so that they can communicate stories that are important to them and their communities. 

Currently, Eric’s video is in the top ten for his category, and being judged by a panel selecting the top four submissions from American schools. If he progresses to the next stage, the East Side team will receive a trophy and banner to display in their school and the team will be invited to the annual “Winners Weekend” in Newark on May 9, 2014, where the “Best Video of the Year” video will be announced. The winning team will then represent the U.S. in the KWN Global Competition.

WHO: Assistant Superintendent Brad Haggerty, Principal Dr. Mario Santos, Eric Arce, Thomas R. Wolverton (New Media Studies teacher), students, parents

WHAT: The national finalists for Panasonic’s annual New Vision Awards will be announced on March 25, 2014. Newark East Side High School student Eric Arce has made it to the United States finals in the “Social Issues” category, and is a contender to win a spot in the international competition for his powerful short piece Cyber Bullying. The video takes a hard look at this destructive national epidemic and confronts the dire, life threatening impact that online bullying and digital harassment can have.

WHEN: Finalists announced on Tuesday, March 25, 2014

LINK TO VIDEO:  http://youtu.be/v1qiB2fOtfE

Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark Student to Speak at HELP USA Honors HELP Heroes Annual Tribute Dinner in New York City

Newark, NJ, March 12, 2014 – Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark sixth grade Eagle Scholar Jahari Mitchell will be the only youth speaker at the HELP USA Honors HELP Heroes Annual Tribute Dinner. The event will take place today at the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Mitchell was chosen for this honor due to his participation in the Mentoring USA male mentoring program at Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark and his exemplary academic performance during the first two marking periods.
“They said I will fail; they said I couldn’t make it. But little did they know I said I will be successful and great,” part of Mitchell’s remarks for tonight. “Eagle Academy is not only a great school for young men but it also provides excellent opportunities like the mentoring program for all students in the 6th and 7th grade. Our mentors show us the right path to greatness and help us to connect to our core values… Confidence, Leadership, Effort, Academic Excellence, and Resilience.”
“This opportunity provides all students, including the young men of Eagle Academy, and even educators with a powerful example of why schools need the collaborative efforts of both community and corporate partners to make a dramatic impact in their lives,” noted Vaughn Thompson, Principal of Eagle Academy Newark. “Mentoring is an important factor in male youth development and Jahari serves as a wonderful example of its impact.”

Help USA is the parent company to Mentoring USA. Mentoring USA has been a major supporter of Eagle Academy’s mentoring work with the male students. The Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark supporters has played a role in leading the work for securing male mentors for the students. Their mentoring programs along with the Eagle school model have spearheaded the movement and mission of achieving success for males of color in Newark. The work and mission of President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative is directly aligned with the efforts that have supported the students at Eagle Academy Newark.

HELP USA is the leading national developer of housing and provider of jobs and services for homeless and at risk populations in the country, including families, veterans and victims of domestic violence. Today HELP USA serves more than 20,000 each year at 35 residences across the country. To date, HELP USA has developed more than 2,500 units of housing including transitional and permanent supportive service programs located in New York City, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Newark, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Suffolk and Westchester counties. Additional services offered by HELP USA include: after-school youth program; day care; mentoring programs; employment training; and domestic violence counseling.

WHAT: HELP USA, a leading provider of homes, jobs, and services to homeless families, veterans, and victims of domestic violence, announces the recipients of their Annual HELP Heroes Awards. Last year alone, HELP USA provided secure homes for over 20,000 people, including almost 6,000 children through their 35 nationwide residences.
WHO: HELP USA, along with special guests Tony Bennett, Steve Buscemi, Bridget Moynahan, Michael Strahan, Sade Baderinwa, Nile Rodgers and others, honor the 2014 “HELP Heroes.” This year’s recipients include: Lauran and Justin Tuck, for the Humanitarian Award; Randall L. Stephenson, Chairman & CEO of AT&T, for the Mentoring Award; and The Home Depot Foundation who will be receiving the Veterans Award.

WHEN: Wednesday March 12th, 2014. Cocktail reception starts at 6pm, followed by dinner and program at 7pm.