Arts High School

The Intent to Succeed; Newark Arts High School Student Signs to Join Caldwell University New Football Program

PHOTO: (left to right) Lashana Thomas (Mother), Principal Ricardo Pedro, Lamont Rouse, Akeem Bowman (Uncle)

A letter of intent to join the newly formed Caldwell University ‘sprint football’ program has a Newark Arts High School student anxious for the opportunity that he’s been waiting for a long time.

Wednesday afternoon’s signing ceremony was held in the school’s atrium where an emotional 18-year-old Lamont Rouse signed the letter of intent in front of several dozen of his fellow students, staff members, and his parents.

The 5’5″ tall 145 pound running back and linebacker who played several years for Central High School in Newark gave credit to the school’s football coach Mr. Julius Mumford who Rouse called a role model and father figure.

“Coach Mumford is a great man and has always pushed me to perform my best,” Rouse said.

Rouse was faced with one of his most difficult challenges when he received notification that his father was gunned down on a Newark street in the early morning hours of July 4, 2016.

“I was devastated and emotionally destroyed on that day because it took me by surprise believing that someone would want to harm the man that I looked up to the most,” Rouse said.

Rouse blamed the same sadness and uncertainty on why he made the decision to leave the Central High School program at the end of his junior year and suit up to play football at Barringer High School in the city’s North Ward for his final season.

“I let my feelings get the best of me but have learned from my supportive Arts High School family that they will always be here to support me, assistant,” Rouse said.

Arts High School Principal Mr. Ricardo Pedro attended the signing in ceremony and shared his continued support for Rouse and all his endeavors.

“Lamont has been in this building since 6th grade and has made us proud”, Principal Pedro said during the ceremony.

“This is what our entire Arts High School staff work so hard for daily to see our kids succeed in life. As with all of our students, I am extremely proud of Lamont and his chance at a college education while he pursues his dream of playing football” Principal Pedro said.

Caldwell University is a private, Catholic coed four-year university with a strong liberal arts core curriculum that enhances critical thinking and analytical reasoning. Caldwell offers 25 undergraduate and 30 graduate programs, including doctoral, master’s, certificate and certification programs, as well as online and distance learning options that prepare students for today’s global marketplace.

According to Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Mark A. Corino, the university is very pleased and excited to have hired Daryle Weiss as their first head coach to lead our sprint football program.

“Weiss brings over 20 years of teaching and coaching experience on the collegiate and high school levels. His experience ranges from Montclair Immaculate Conception as the freshman head coach to offensive/defensive line coordinator at Pope John XXIII” Carino said.

Sprint football is a full-contact, intercollegiate, varsity sport and has the same rules as regular college football, except that all players must weigh 172 pounds or less. The league has existed since before World War II.

Rouse credits his successful journey to his mother Lashana Thomas, uncle Akeem Bowman, aunt Haiesha Senior, Principal Pedro and the entire Arts High School family and his friends who have supported him.

“I want to come back to Newark someday and open a business. I want to give back to Newark because God has blessed me to to get to this point in my life. I did what a lot of people didn’t think I could do” Rouse concluded.

Congratulations from all of us here at RLS Metro Breaking News morning crew.

View the story on rlsmedia.com.

Lucia Couto Receives Full Scholarship to Harvard University

Lucia Couto says academic excellence was stressed every day in her home growing up in Newark and attending First Avenue School. Lucia is the Valedictorian of her at Arts High School and will attend Harvard University in the fall on a full scholarship where she will study Medical Physics.

Lucia Couto says academic excellence was stressed every day in her home growing up in Newark and attending First Avenue School. Neither Lucia’s mother nor father had an opportunity to attend college and wanted to make sure their children attended college, and had an opportunity to excel, in a way that escaped them. Lucia’s sisters, a teacher at Hawkins Street School and a registered nurse, are putting their support behind her as she begins to plan for her college years at Harvard University, where she has received a full scholarship. Lucia is the Valedictorian of her class at Arts High School. She is a leader and a standout in her focus area of dance. In addition, she is an athlete, a peer leader, and a member of the National Honor Society and Pathways to College. According to her principal, Mr. Pedro, you will find Lucia at the head of almost any activity or organization.

Lucia’s focus at Arts High School is dance. She loves singing and dancing; primarily Modern, West African, Afro Cuban, Ballroom and some Ballet. She said attending Arts has provided an extraordinary opportunity for access to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which she loves!

Lucia said, “I don’t believe in excuses, which is why I take advantage of opportunities afforded to me.” She continued “one of my greatest passions is to reach back and not be afraid to dream and to follow my dreams, regardless of where they come from. Don’t let what people’s opinions about where you come from make you think in a certain way. I love Newark and I am proud to say I live here. I will prove to anyone that I deserve to be at Harvard as much as anyone else. A lot of good things and people come from Newark,” Lucia added.

Lucia has always been fascinated by Albert Einstein and will major in Medical Physics at Harvard.

Newark Students Participate in Glassroots’ 13th Annual Business Plan Competition and Trade Fair

Thirteen Newark students participated in year-long entrepreneurship programs focused on planning, preparing, marketing and managing a business

 

Students showcased a wide variety of personalized items, including vases, dishes, coasters, jewelry, and paperweights, which were created throughout the school year and available for purchase at the trade fair.

[Newark, NJ — May 24, 2017] — Thirteen high school students across the city of Newark participated in GlassRoots’ 13th Annual Business Plan Competition and Trade Fair on Tuesday, May 23 at the Hahne & Co. building in downtown Newark. Each student presented their custom-made glass artwork as well as an accompanying business plan for marketing and selling their product to a panel of judges and community members.

“Congratulations to our scholars on the growth and success they have displayed throughout this year’s GlassRoots’ entrepreneurship programs,” said NPS Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf. “Each year, the GlassRoots program continues to have a profound impact on Newark high school students, providing them with a special opportunity to explore the field of business and gain the foundational skills that are necessary to develop and run a successful business in today’s competitive economy.”

Over the course of the 2016-2017 academic year, Newark students participated in the GlassRoots Business & Entrepreneurship Program or the GlassRoots FLAME (Focus, Leadership, Arts, Mentoring, Entrepreneurship) Program. The Business and Entrepreneurship Program is dedicated to nurturing and guiding the entrepreneurial spirit, and is modeled after the curriculum from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, an international non-profit organization that introduces youth to the world of entrepreneurship. Throughout the year, students participating in this program received 65 hours of instruction, first concentrated on understanding how to plan, prepare, market and manage a business and then focused on learning glassmaking techniques inside a GlassRoots art studio. Students participating in the Business and Entrepreneurship Program then created personalized products in one of GlassRoots’ glass art studios. Students participating in the GlassRoots FLAME Program were part of a real-world work experience through GlassRoots every Wednesday for five hours throughout the school year, where their weekly work was focused around glassworking and creating glass products.

The GlassRoots Business Plan Competition and Trade Fair marked the culmination of both programs, where each student’s products were available for purchase by the public.

“Education in entrepreneurship benefits students across all socioeconomic backgrounds, teaching children to think outside the box while nurturing unconventional talents and skills,” said Barbara Heisler, Executive Director of GlassRoots. “Through our entrepreneurship programs, our students develop critical leadership, organization, and interpersonal skills that will prepare them for success in higher education and provide them with highly transferable skills sought by today’s employers.”

The following students from across the city of Newark participated in this year’s GlassRoots Business and Entrepreneurship Program:

  • Yaneline Maldonado of Science Park High School
  • Tyshea Johnson-Brandon of Science Park High School
  • Natavia Williams of Arts High School
  • Nadirah Rivers of Newark Tech High School

Nine NPS students from East Side High School were participants in this year’s GlassRoots FLAME Program, including:

  • Deyvi Colon
  • Christopher Cordova
  • Oscar Fernandez
  • Stephanie Gregorio
  • David Martinez
  • Katherine Martinez
  • Stephanie Martins
  • Desteny Noel

Sudden Passing of Newark Little League Coach Motivates Teen to Excel; Signs to Play Baseball in Vermont

Newark Arts High School is celebrating the recent signing of student Justin Velez, 17, to play collegiate baseball for Southern Vermont College.

Joined by parents, sister, Arts High School Principal Ricardo Pedro, Athletic Director Freeland, Coach Silvestri and nearly 50 students who observed him sign to the college that he plans to play the next four year of his college career.

“Even with his dad and I showing a significant amount of support, it still took a village and an entire community to assist in keeping Justin focused and dedicated” Justin’s mother Milly said. “This is a great day for me watching my son continue to do well academically and athletically. I have the opportunity to appreciate what every parent living in Newark wants to experience while raising a son”.

In a statement by Arts High School’s Principal Ricardo Pedro, he acknowledged Justin’s character as being nothing more than a leader.

“I want to thank Justin for being a real gentleman and displaying quality leadership not only on the field but, most importantly around our school building. It has been a pleasure having Justin in our school” Principal Pedro said.

For 5’7″ tall, 160 pound Justin, the emotional signing moment was finally the day he could officially pay respect for a man who he said stays close to his heart.

Born in the Bronx, Velez moved to Newark’s North Ward at a young age when his parent purchased a house then called New Jersey home.

Velez began playing baseball at the age of 7 and fell in love with his extended North Newark Little League baseball family, particularly his coach, Joe.

“Not only did Coach Joe teach me the game but, he also taught all of his players to respect ourselves and have pride in where we live. His words have stayed with me for a long time, and I can’t thank Coach Joe enough for what he has instilled in me”.

Coach Joe Devincintis and his twin brother Coach Vinny managed the North Newark Baseball League (NNBL) in which they were involved in the community for nearly 30 years according to Velez.

In 2016, after a bout with Cancer, Coach Joe transitioned, leaving his legacy in the hearts of hundreds of Newark children including Justin’s.

“I miss coach a lot. There wasn’t a moment this past year while playing that I didn’t think of Coach Joe and all he meant to me” Justin said.

A ceremony is planned for later this month to rename a street located in the area of North 5th Street and 3rd Avenue after Coach Joe according to reports.

Justin is prepared to attend Southern Vermont University after playing in approximately 500 baseball games since the age of 7. He has attended nearly 1,000 practices and about 1000 at bats – not to mention all of the private lessons and his individual time in the cages and on the field.

Located on a mountainside campus overlooking the Green Mountains, Southern Vermont College aspires to be a model of an enlightened educational community: diverse, supportive, environmentally respectful and socially responsible according to the college’s website. Its athletic program is a member of the NCAA Division III and the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC). These affiliations have enabled Southern Vermont College to compete against many of the best teams in New England and New York State the college’s website said.

Justin will receive a $14,000 a year academic scholarship.

“I chose Vermont because it reminded me a lot of the small community that I am used to at Arts High School. The campus is beautiful and has rigorous academics” Justin said.

“Arts High School, under coach Silvestri, has tweaked my purpose for playing in the game and prepared me to play in college. I am thankful for the experience Coach Silvestri has given and taught me”.

Justin has batted .571 in 2014, .462 in 2015, and .500 in 2016 according to school records. A Television Production Major at Arts, Justin will major in Criminal Justice in the fall.

He wants to thank his parents, coaches (Joe, Vinny, Silvestri), The entire Arts High School community, and his baseball family at Arts.

View the story on rlsmedia.com.

At Arts High School, a good day starts with breakfast

Christina Giannantonio | The Star-Ledger | Email the author | Follow on Twitter

Arts High School students Sarah Goncalves and Yeimy Castillo grab breakfast in the school’s newly restyled cafeteria. (Photo courtesy of Star-Ledger)

NEWARK — Students at Arts High School now have an opportunity to start each school day with a healthy meal in the school’s newly restyled cafeteria.

The district was able to expand the school’s breakfast service to include grab-and-go breakfast kiosks and a “breakfast in the classroom” program thanks to a grant from the School Superintendents Association.

The food service improvements at the school include a redesign of the old cafeteria with a grant from the American Dairy Association and the New York Jets’ Fuel Up to 60 Play Program. The cafeteria received a new color scheme along with new furniture, merchandising equipment and new signage that gives information on nutritious food choices.

The new cafeteria was officially opened Sept. 30 during a ribbon cutting ceremony held at the school.