Arts High School

NPS Gets District-wide Arts Grant, Teachers Get Creative

Newark Public Schools has the distinction of being the first district-wide arts education applicant to be funded by the New Jersey Arts in Education grant cycle for 2014-15.  This state-wide competitive process included applications on behalf of 4 NPS school sites, 3 of which were approved for funding, and the 4th remains in the pool of professional development opportunities. The sites are Brick Peshine and Sussex Avenue Schools for full residency support, Camden School for professional development support, and Arts High School for full residency support.  This is exciting news for the District as it moves forward on its Arts Education plan to serve all schools in the visual and performing arts.

Last week, NPS teachers Nelson Alvarez (Visual Arts Teacher, Sussex Avenue), Claudia Cano (Kindergarten Teacher, Sussex Avenue), Davis Hannah (Visual Arts Teacher, Brick Peshine) and Joseph Itkor (Band Director, Arts High) joined dozens of their colleagues from across the state for a workshop at William Patterson University’s Artist/Teacher Institute. The program is one of many summer workshops and seminars offered to encourage teachers to acquire new skills, expand their lesson plans and explore their own talents and creativity. These high caliber experiences elevate the skills, exposure and professionalism of arts and classroom teachers, and directly impact the quality of arts instruction for students at NPS.

Additionally, NPS teachers Nikkia Neal (Dance Teacher, Brick Peshine), Michele Narov  (3rd Grade Teacher, Camden Street), Vanessa Graves Foster (Kindergarten Teacher, Brick Peshine) and Amanda Orzechowski, (6th Grade Math Teacher, Brick Peshine) are scheduled to attend another aTi session at Stockton College from 7/27-8/2.

Star-Ledger: N.J. teachers become students in summer to improve next year’s classes

Photos Credit: Ed Murray of the Star-Ledger

Arts High Jazz Musicians Perform in Washington, D.C. and NJPAC for Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Events

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Hitting the high notes at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C. earlier this year, the Newark Public Schools Arts High School Jazz Combo represented their school and the district in a Jazz Informance hosted by Dr. J.B. Dyas, Director of Education at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Joined by Terell Stafford, one of today’s top jazz trumpeters, the students performed six pieces for an audience comprised of Thelonious Monk Institute staff members, U.S. Department of Education personnel, and faculty and students from local schools. Following the performance, the students shared their personal experiences as musicians and how they developed an appreciation for Jazz. One of the Arts High School students, drummer Derek Fykes, has just been awarded a full scholarship to attend the internationally renowned Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop, at the University of Louisville (KY) on July 6-11.

Derek’s message from Dr. J. B. Dyas read: “On behalf of our chairman Herbie Hancock and everyone at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, it is my pleasure to inform you that out of all the students attending the 11 performing arts high schools around the nation that we support, YOU have been awarded our full scholarship to attend the internationally renowned Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop. Congratulations!”

Additionally, the Arts High School Jazz Sextet will perform a FREE public concert on Friday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. (Chase Room) – along with internationally acclaimed jazz saxophonist and recording artist Bobby Watson, as well as students from NPS’ Barringer, Arts, East Side and Science Park High Schools – at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (1 Center St., Newark). The concert is presented by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, in conjunction with Newark Public Schools and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Under the direction of teacher/flutist Lawrence Liggins and saxophonist Anthony Ware, the sextet is comprised of trumpeter Carlos Juncal; trombonist Craig Jacobs; guitarist Rahsaan Pickett; pianist Galo Inga; bassist Joseph Quiles; and drummer Derek Fykes.

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The concert is made possible by The Prudential Foundation, which provides year-round music programs at Arts High and other Newark public schools through the Monk Institute. Watson will serve as artist-in-residence during the three days leading up to the concert. The event marks the culmination of the Institute’s 2013-2014 National Performing Arts High School Jazz Program, which helps prepares students in Newark and eight other cities across the nation to become jazz’s next generation.

Science Park High School Teams Win Calculus and Statistics Contests in 2014 NPS Math Olympics

ScienceParkMathOlympicsApril2014Newark Public Schools high school math students again pitted their skills against each other in this year’s Calculus and Statistics competitions, which are the first events of the district’s annual Math Olympics. Science Park High School students scored highest in both contests, taking home the trophy as well as medals and electronic calculators.In the Calculus event, East Side was second and University third. Bard came in second in the Statistics event. Other participating schools were American History, Arts, Central and Technology.

The aim of the district’s Math Olympics is to inspire students to improve their math knowledge and skills while competing against their peers. The Math Olympics, which is organized by the Newark Association of Math Educators (NAME) in collaboration with other teachers, continues in the next few weeks with students in younger grades competing.

NY Yankee Legend & Latin Grammy-Nominated Bernie Williams Onstage with NPS Jazz House Kids Music Club Students


As part of the annual Jazz House Kids Music Club and Vocal Summit Student Showcase, students from eight Newark Public Schools participated in a special workshop and concert with celebrated former Yankee All-Star and Latin GRAMMY nominee jazz guitarist Bernie Williams on Wednesday, April 23 at Science Park High School. Participating schools included: John F. Kennedy, Oliver Street, Science Park High, Abington Avenue, Maple Avenue, Rafael Hernandez and Arts High School.

As audience to an on-stage interview conducted by Melissa Walker, president and founder of Jazz House Kids, students had a chance to hear about Williams’ work and how he balanced his musical passions with his sports career. He credits his passion for music as a key to opening up his personal potential in both pursuits. A native of Puerto Rico, Williams discovered baseball and music at roughly the same time, when at the age of eight he fell in love with the sounds of a flamenco guitar, and also felt exhilaration when he first picked up a baseball bat. The young student-athlete quickly excelled in both pursuits, going on to attend the special performance arts school Escuela Libre de Musica at age 13 and becoming one of the most noted young athletes on the island, both as a track and field standout and one of Puerto Rico’s most sought after young baseball prospects. When Williams signed a contract with the New York Yankees at age 17, he brought his love of music with him – first to Albany for his development in double-A ball and then on to the Bronx and the most famous field in sports when called up to join the Yankees in 1991.

Williams’ story clearly resonated with NPS students, who had the opportunity to ask him questions after Walker finished her chat. After photos and a meet and greet, the ball player/musician joined students and teachers on the stage for a moving and memorable performance.

“We are thrilled that Bernie Williams, a man whose accomplishments bridge the world of sports and music, donated his time to speak with and connect to young music students in our Newark Public Schools music programs” Walker said. “Mr. Williams is an inspiration to young people, and his support of Jazz House Kids’ mission is so encouraging – his personal dedication to obtaining a college education tells two key stories: no award or sum of money can take the place of one’s education and we are never too old to learn. We at Jazz House Kids salute that message and work toward that end each and everyday through the medium of jazz – it is incredibly exciting that Mr. Williams stood on stage with over 100 music students from Newark Public Schools.”

For more than 13 years, Jazz House Kids has provided programming in the Newark Public School District, working with more than 12,000 young people K-12 and hundreds of teachers and administrators to offer music, mentorship and apprenticeship. The 2013-2014 Jazz House Music Club and Vocal Summit Jazz Residency programs currently serve more than 300 students in nine Newark Schools with year-long instrumental and vocal programming. These programs are provided free of charge to all of the participating students and are funded by the Iverson Family Foundation, Don Katz and Leslie Larson, The Prudential Foundation, Rivendell Foundation, The Silver Family Foundation, Turrell Fund, Victoria Foundation and support from our partnering schools.