Arts High School

Arts High School – 2019 Thanksgiving Turkey Basket Brigade

arts-hs-turkeygiveaway-2019-5
From Left to Right (Top Row) - Coach Christopher Palma, Gabriela Rodriguez, Daissy Alvarez-Calle, Sarah Costa, Nayellie Collazo, Euda Dongo, & Alissandra Agosto
From Left to Right (Bottom Row) - Dayarit Taveras, Kourtney Giles, Jayliene Agosto, & Coach Frank Adragna

The Arts High School softball team participated in a community service project at Nanina's in the Park in Belleville, NJ. The project was called the "Thanksgiving Turkey Basket Brigade", sponsored by the Cheer Me Up Foundation.

The Thanksgiving Turkey Basket Brigade is an event where volunteers prepare baskets for Thanksgiving to families in need. This year, the Arts High School softball team had the opportunity to assist with this great cause. The team put together 625 baskets for families in need. Each basket included everything needed for an entire meal from a fresh turkey to all the trimmings and sides.

Kaelan Roberts, Arts High School Student

Kaelan Robert

Congratulations to Kaelan Roberts who has been cast as a lead in the Two River Theater production of “A Little Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night”. Kaelan aims to move on to AMDA with a major in Musical Theater upon his graduation in 2021.

Kaelan is a junior drama major at Arts High School. He has had a passion for theater since the early age of 14 when he saw the Broadway production of “Hamilton”. It was at that moment that he decided to pursue a career in the Performing Arts. He began training with acting coach Adam Roebuck and vocal coach Joanne Robertozzi in 2017. Throughout his time at Arts High School, he has developed his acting technique under the guidance of Carl Gonzalez and Elena Dones, Arts High School’s two drama instructors. His passion for the stage is not confined within the walls of Arts High School. Instead, he is consistently auditioning and working on performances independently. Some of his credits include:

  • Tanisha Fordham’s “Go Black Boy Fly” (Feature Film)
  • Adam Roebucks’ “After School Special” (Off Broadway)
  • A Little Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” (Two River Theater)
  • Mary Zimmerman’s “The Arabian Nights” (Arts High School)
  • Qui Nguyen’s “She Kills Monsters” (Arts High School)
  • “My Shot” (Newark Census 2020 Kickoff)
  • “Immigrants” (Newark Census 2020 Hispanic Heritage Celebration)

Arts High School Student Receives Exclusive Invitation to Play at the Kennedy Center Along with Jazz Greats

Arts HS - Jalin Shiver
[NEWARK, NJ – November 28, 2018] The Thelonious Monk Institute has selected Arts High School senior Jalin Shiver for the 2018 National Peer-to-Peer All Star Jazz performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The performance will be held on Monday, December 3. Jalin is an Instrumental Music major at Arts H.S.

Jalin, along with students from around the country, will be on the same performance bill as jazz greats; Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ambrose Akinmusire, Melissa Aldana, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Dee Bridgewater, and Danilo Perez, to name a few.

“The Arts High School Jazz Band continues to be an exemplary group of student scholars and musicians,” said Superintendent of Newark Schools Roger León. “I continue to be extraordinarily proud of our students and Arts High School leadership who continue to make the Jazz and Latin Bands an exciting, engaging and educational opportunity for our students.

According to Arts High School Band Director Lawrence Liggins, “Jalin is a humble, yet extraordinarily talented senior instrumental music major. He added, “Jalin’s passion for music serves as a model for other students. While he plays alto and tenor saxophones, (and also beginning to learn the flute and clarinet), his favorite and special talents lie in the alto saxophone.

Jazz band students from Arts High School have been selected to participate in special events hosted by the Thelonious Monk Institute on several occasions. In 2011, the jazz band was invited to perform at United Nations by Dr. J.B. Dyas, Vice President, Education and Curriculum Development, from the Thelonious Monk Institute for the 1st Inaugural International Jazz Day celebration. In 2014, drummer Derek Fykes was selected to perform with an All-Star High School Sextet at The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competiton and an All-Star Gala in Hollywood. The jazz band has also performed several times in Washington, D.C. at the Department of Education, for A Jazz Informance, hosted by the Monk Institute. The Monk Institute has played an integral role in developing and sustaining jazz education at Arts High School for several years.

Jalin’s early introduction to jazz can be attributed to his elementary school music teacher at Maple Ave. School, Thaddeus Expose, a jazz bassist of note. In addition to Arts High School, Jalin has supplemented his education in jazz through participation in jazz programs at NJPAC Jazz for Teens, Jazz House Kids and Berklee School of Music Summer Program.

Jalin will be joined by his family for the performance at The Kennedy Center on Dec. 3rd.

Road Map to College Success

Does Your College Bound Senior Need Financial Aid?

[Newark, NJ – November 28, 2018]  Newark Public School’s Office of Family and Community Engagement will be hosting ROAD MAP TO COLLEGE SUCCESS for parents and students to learn more about college admissions, particularly financial aid. 

The Financial Aid Workshop will be held on Thursday, November 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Central High School.  Dinner is served from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and the workshop is from 6 to 8 p.m.  Central High School is located at 246 18th Avenue, Newark, NJ  07108. 

According to program organizers, families will receive critical information on how to navigate the college experience through various presentations on financial aid, college scholarships, and more.  There will be a student panel, admission officers, and high school counselors who can speak on graduation requirements. 

Students and families can register online at: newark.apppresser.com/events/road-map-to-college-success.

Arts High School Students Participate in the Nashville, TN. Berklee Music Summit

Students from Arts High School’s music department recently attended Berklee’s City Music Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. City Music is a network of music schools around the country that partner with Berklee College of Music to provide students in their community with high quality contemporary music education. Students from the Jazz Band, Latin Band, and the vocal department were invited by City Music to observe and participate in masterclasses with world class musicians, engage in meaningful discussions with professional songwriters and performers in the field, and to connect with other students from City Music through improvised musical jam sessions. Arts High School students were given the opportunity to perform on the final day of the summit as a culminating farewell performance.

Arts High School Girls Volleyball: SEC Freedom Division Champions – Runner-up in NPS City Tournament

Arts Volleyball 2018Arts High School Volleyball Team finished with a 17-7 overall record and a 15-1 record in our division. The team won the Freedom Division championship and finished second place in the Newark Public Schools city tournament. We also had three student-athletes (Syasia Bryant, Euda Dongo, and Yasmille Ubiera) receive all-tournament team honors.

At the end of season meeting on November 5th, not only did we receive our team championship plaque (which is being displayed in the main office), we also had eight student-athletes receive all-conference honors. Syasia Bryant, Euda Dongo, Keyleen Ubiera, and Yasmille Ubiera received first team all-conference, Valerie Valle and Jacyah Jones received second team all-conference, and Vylette McKnight and Princess Yeboah received honorable mention.