New Jersey Regional Day

New Jersey Regional Day Welcomes Students to In-Person Instruction

March 10, 2021 [Newark, New Jersey] – On March 8, 2021, New Jersey Regional Day School welcomed students back to in-person instruction. The district and school are excited to have their students reporting to the building and participating in a hybrid program.

New Jersey Regional Day does an outstanding job partnering with families to provide great instruction and to address the emotional and mental health needs of students. Superintendent León said, “While we are facing the adverse effects of this pandemic, for families who love and care for children with extraordinary abilities, the effects are magnified.”

On Monday, students arrived to school. With the world looking different now than it did in years prior, students followed the district’s protocols and ingress and egress procedures. Once they entered the building, students were greeted by marked hallways indicating where to stand and which way to walk. As soon as students got to their classrooms they enjoyed seeing teachers and friends and being socially distanced together. In just a few days, families have reported emotional improvements with many students reporting better sleep than they have had in weeks.

Principal Jennifer Mitchell said, “My teachers and staff reviewed and rehearsed our detailed hybrid plan. After putting that plan into action, the staff reported feeling confident and happy to see students in person.”

The district looks forward to beginning in-person instruction in all schools on April 12, 2021.

For more information, please contact:
Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265

NJ Regional Day Unifies Newark!


For 50 years, Special Olympics has been building a movement to break down barriers – both on and off the field in health and education – all through the power of sport. Through the power of their athletes and sports, Special Olympics is ushering in a new world of unity, tolerance, and respect. Just like the Special Olympics New Jersey Regional Day School, JFK, West Side, American History High School, University High School, and North Star who unfortunately could not be here today are unifying Newark. Today marks the day that we unite people of different backgrounds from different schools to inspire action and ultimately end discrimination for people with Intellectual Disabilities. We are the ambassadors of an uprising-peaceful protest in a rebellion against anyone who has a fear of difference.

Our demands are equality, dignity and the recognition of our shared humanity. People of all ages, races, genders, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities continue to face discrimination, ignorance, and disparagement. It is our responsibility to be the leaders that are needed in our community and educate others to take a stance in creating a world of inclusion. We are fighting for a more inclusive world. The Revolution Is Inclusion. I want to take a moment and thank Susan, Kathy and the Special Olympics. Without them our event would not be as big as it is. Also, to Mrs. Mitchell my principal of New Jersey Regional Day School for giving Mr. Garrett and I the freedom and having the confidence in us to create this event. I also want to give a shout out to everyone from NJPAC especially Tom for building confidence in our students’ self-esteem through dance. Shout out to the Montclair Rugby team for taking the time to come and show us what Rugby is all about!

Thank you, Mr. Ellis for allowing us to have our event at your field! Finally, a big thank you and shout out to all of our community partners for working with us to make this amazing event happen. Inclusion is about our ‘abilities’ – our gifts and how to share them. It is our expectation that every community partner teams up with a student from New Jersey Regional Day School to collaborate, help, and learn more about each other’s positive qualities and gifts that you all have to share because remember this event is about inclusion!

Now let’s see what your all about on the field! Let’s have some fun!

Newark Public Schools Partners with Newark Yoga Movement to Host Staff Development Focused on Wellness


[Newark, NJ – August 31, 2017] This week, Newark Public Schools (NPS), in partnership with the Newark Yoga Movement (NYM), hosted a staff development (SD) for teachers and administrators at 8 schools in Newark. The SD was focused on wellness of the mind, body and spirit and provided tools for school staff (administrators and teachers) to learn and apply breathing and calming techniques in school and in their daily lives. The SD took place at 8 different Newark district schools; West Side High School, Camden, Cleveland, 14th Avenue, George Washington Carver, Hawkins Street, NJ Regional Day and Rafael Hernandez schools and included administrators and staff. According to the Newark Yoga Movement (NYM), over 400 staff members were trained over the course of the week, including students and staff at George Washington Carver School.

The SD provided staff members with tools to self-soothe and self-regulate themselves to get them ready to better serve their students. Christopher N. Cerf, NPS Superintendent of Schools said, “The benefits of offering yoga to both administration and staff are many, which is why NPS has worked with NYM since 2009 and is now extending the NYM program to more schools in the district and to the administrative arm of teaching and learning.”

Debbie Kaminsky, founder of Newark Yoga Movement said she is honored to be the recipient of these unique micro grants from NPS to provide yoga to students and administrators. She stated, “Teaching students to breathe and relax as they learn is a great step forward in education and in social and emotional learning.”

The Newark Yoga Movement will be teaching yoga and its related properties and benefits to 9 schools this year. More than 500 students at Sussex Avenue Renew School learned yoga as a way to reduce stress, help them concentrate and remain calm in different situations according to school administrators.

Newark Yoga Movement team has been meeting with school leaders and tailoring yoga programs that fills their school needs. According to Ms. Kaminsky, many of the schools are looking to yoga to help give children dealing with behavioral issues a leg up through gaining additional tools. She said one school has added the important parent component and children with special needs will also be receiving yoga in several schools especially for the self-soothing/self-regulating benefits and beginning in September at one school, Newark Yoga Movement will be teaching yoga to both children who are deaf or blind.

NPS Teachers Awarded for Excellence

Governor’s Recognition Award

These eight individuals stand out as top staff members in their schools based on their ability to inspire students of all backgrounds; foster a strong student learning environment, demonstrate leadership in educational activities; and are dedicated to the school and community. These are not just teachers but also our education service professionals who work closely with our children.

  • Jessica Allen a teacher from Quitman Elementary
  • Glenda Capers a teacher from BRICK Avon
  • Josephine Cooper – a Social Worker from Quitman
  • Lucinda Lopez – a teacher from First Avenue
  • Melissa Milara (Ramirez) a teacher from Miller Street
  • Alberta Shiavo a teacher from John F. Kennedy school
  • Deborah Sims a Behavioral Specialist from John F. Kennedy school
  • Hilda Soto-Yao a teacher from New Jersey Regional Day

School Teacher of the Year Award

These teachers were nominated as the top teacher in their school based on their individual accomplishments and contributions in the classroom as well as for their leadership. Not only do these teachers consistently exhibit preparedness and instructional excellence, but they also take on formal and informal mentoring and leadership roles to broadly improve the quality of education at their school.

  • Marisa Alves, from Lafayette Street School
  • Andrea Arguello from South Street
  • Tammy Chavez from Ann Street
  • Nicole Coppola from Park Elementary
  • Deirdre Corley from Hawthorne Avenue
  • Whitney Farrand from Mount Vernon
  • Lisa Fischman from Harriet Tubman
  • Angelisa Guilford from Lincoln Elementary
  • Michelle Gutierrez from Abington Avenue
  • Stacy Guzman from McKinley
  • Stephanie Hairston from Chancellor
  • Nicole Harris from Hawkins Street
  • Sadiqua Harvard from George Washington Carver
  • Natasha Javed from Camden Street School
  • Celia Laricchia from East Side High
  • Cristano Liborio from Science Park High
  • Matthew Lichten from Ridge Street
  • Susan Lopes Oliveira from Wilson Avenue
  • Melissa McSweeney from Elliott Street
  • Jessica Morais from Oliver Street
  • Kariema Muhammad from Belmont Runyon
  • Sean Nally from Barringer Arts and Humanities
  • Teresa Oliveira from BRICK Avon
  • Marcela Palma from Miller Street
  • Anany Rodriguez from Luis Munoz Marin
  • Kimberly Rubenstein from Rafael Hernandez

Special congratulations to District Teacher of the Year recipient, Edith Battle. She is a teacher who exemplifies the highest level of excellence and is a true example for all other teachers in the district.