Camden Street School – Day of Hope
Schools
Superintendent León visits with Superintendent Krasnisky and her incredible students and staff at Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Ewing, NJ
Superintendent León visits with Superintendent Krasnisky and her incredible students and staff at Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Ewing, New Jersey.
Joining him was Executive Director Carolyn Granato, Principal Kyle Thomas, and the awesome staff from the Office of Special Education, Bruce Street School for the Deaf, and Technology High School.
East Side Students Excel Receive Full Four-Year Scholarships and QuestBridge Honors
[Newark, New Jersey, December 21, 2018] Gabriel Margaca, an academic leader of the Class of 2019 has just been matched by the QuestBridge Foundation to attend Dartmouth College, an Ivy League School, on a full scholarship. The QuestBridge National College Match is a college and scholarship application process that helps outstanding low-income high school seniors gain admission and full four-year scholarships to the nation’s most selective colleges. His academic excellence includes all Honors and AP classes with a Cumulative GPA of over 4.5. In fact, this year, Gabriel took advantage of our IB program and took an IB class as well. Gabriel had visited Dartmouth through East Side’s Student Council two years ago and was very impressed by this very prestigious college. Once he became a QuestBridge finalist, Dartmouth was on the top of his list. Gabriel is one of 25 students who has been matched through QuestBridge to Dartmouth. This is quite an accomplishment and his East Side family could not be happier for him.
Gabriel is a graduate of Oliver Street School and East Side was his first pick to attend. According to Principal Michael West, Gabriel is not only defined by his academic excellence but also his commitment to our school and community. Gabriel is so proud to be an East Sider and it shows.” Gabriel is President of the Student Council, Vice President of the Honor Society and a host of other activities where he shows his leadership in promoting and helping anyone in need. Gabriel is also a scholar athletic by being the Co-Captain of our Golf Team. His brilliant, leadership and compassion will serve him well. Congratulations to Gabriel Margaca for your QuestBridge Match and good luck at Dartmouth College next year.
Natalie Fernandez, our salutatorian for the Class of 2019 has also been matched by the QuestBridge Foundation to attend University of Notre Dame on a full four-year scholarship. Last year, Natalie went on a Student Council trip to visit Notre Dame and this opened the possibility of attending the most beautiful campus that she had ever visited. So, once she became a QuestBridge finalist she put Notre Dame at the top of her list. Notre Dame only accepts 42 QuestBridge matches a year. This is a dream come true for any student. QuestBridge will pay the total tuition for four years. Natalie’s academic achievement includes all Honors and AP classes with a cumulative GPA of 4.5 along with highs scores on her AP placement tests.
Natalie is a graduate of Hawkins Street School. Natalie has a host of extra-curricular activities and community service projects. She is a member of our National Honor Society where she was elected treasurer this year. She is the Secretary to the Student Council, a member of UN, the Anatomy Club, and Public Speaking. She joined the Robotics Club in her sophomore year and is now the driver and Co-Captain of the Club. Natalie has a generous spirit and has always given back to her school and community. She has raised money for breast cancer, was active in fundraising for Hurricane Harvey and Maria worked at a Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity and countless other initiatives. The one that stands out is what she did over one summer. She returned to the DR to help out victims from the hurricane. She went into the mountains where her family is from to give medical aid to the elderly and helped bring supplies to them. According to Principal West, “Natalie is a brilliant student and community servant and we are so excited for her to attend the University of Notre Dame on a full scholarship.”
Hockey Scholar at East Side H.S. Selects Washington University for College
Matthew Atehortua, a scholar and hockey player at East Side High School, will attend Washington University of St. Louis in the Fall of 2019. Washington University’s ranking in the 2019 edition of US News Best Colleges is 19 for National Universities.
Matthew is a hardworking student-athlete at East Side High School. His work ethic allows him to balance his duties as captain of the ice hockey team and vice president of the student council while maintaining a 4.4 GPA. In addition to being an active student at East Side High School, Matthew gives back to the community by volunteering as a mentor and coach in Newark for Hockey In New Jersey.
In the near future Matthew will play hockey for the Bears and major in Biology at Washington University. Matthew plans to study Pre-med, attend, medical school and ultimately become a surgeon.
Luis Muñoz Marin Inclusive Schools Week Celebration
Inclusive Schools Week is an annual celebration held each December to promote student diversity and advocate achievement for all learners. This year’s theme, “Kaleidoscope of Friends” is symbolic of collective, beautiful shapes that represent a culture of togetherness and inclusive education. Our school community is comprised of a diverse student body: 17% are recipients of special education services, 17% are bilingual students, 4% participate in the Gifted & Talented program, 5% are in the Honor Society, 55% are male and 45% are female.
On Tuesday, November 13th in preparation of Inclusive Schools Week, CST Social Worker Ms. Howard kicked off the special celebration with teachers, Ms. Abraham and Ms. Arce called Secret Second Graders-Getting to Know the Staff. Each student selected a name of a staff member at Marin and prepared interview questions for them. They also baked cupcakes and delivered them to each staff member. These interviewees were asked to take a picture with their Secret Second Grade Student and participate in an interview that included questions about their job title, responsibilities, office and classroom location.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Student Darrin Frederick shared an inspiring quote written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
School wide activity: 100 Things That Make Our School Inclusive - Students contributed to a list of 100 Things that Make Luis Muñoz Marin inclusive. A bulletin board displaying their responses is located near the auditorium.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
8th grade student Zechariah Hopkins shared an inspiring quote written by civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, “We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthen this community and this nation.”
School wide activity - Inclusive Clips: A collection of digital videos and pictures on various aspects of inclusion were shared during lunch in each cafeteria.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
3rd grade student Xavier Davis shared an inspiring quote from motivational speaker and author, Catherine Pulsifer “We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity life would be very boring.”
School wide activity-Inclusion Campaign: Students school-wide responded to the following writing prompt, “I feel included when…” The writing prompt inspired class discussions about inclusivity.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
7th grade student Mariya Carlo shared an inspiring quote from American businessman and writer Max de Pree, “We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”
School wide activity: Better Together Poster Contest - Classes worked together to create posters to celebrate inclusion and diversity along with a rubric for scoring. Mrs. Paz, Mrs. Odiase and Mrs. De La Rosa’s pre-k class won the poster contest themed “Great Things Happen in Inclusive Schools!”
Friday, December 7, 2018
2nd grade student Azjah Irby shared an inspiring quote from an unknown author who said, “Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.”
School wide activity - All Means All T-Shirt Day: Staff rocked their ‘All Means All, Better Together’ T-shirt. LMM Scholars wore ‘Celebrating You’ stickers to promote inclusion. Students and Ms. Howard decorated cupcakes and delivered them throughout the building. Photo opportunities to highlight our day were made possible by Eighth Grade Student Photographer, Leeroy Randolph.
The Inclusive Schools Week at LMM was a resounding success! The week long activities genuinely promoted inclusion and extended outside of our school community as central office members: Assistant Superintendent Jose Fuentes, Special Assistant Erica Paich and Special Assistant Francesca Finazzo returned to our site on Friday to support closing events. This event would not have been possible without the continued support of Principal Maria Ortiz, Vice Principal Adjoa Denchi-Smith, Academic Interventionist Ashley Jiles, School Operations Manager Courtney Johnson and Social Worker Kimberly Howard. Collectively, the LMM school community will maintain the implementation of effective frameworks that promote inclusive education.
Arts High School Student Receives Exclusive Invitation to Play at the Kennedy Center Along with Jazz Greats
[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.