On Thursday, February 22, Technology High School hosted its first annual Humanities Night titled, “1920s Escape Rooms.” Over 200 students, staff, and parents enjoyed the evening. Langdon Wagner, THS history teacher, and Shagun Kukreja, THS English teacher, both Humanities Club coordinators, created and coordinated this event. With the help of other THS English and history teachers (all clothes in 1920s fashion), they created three escape rooms for participants: The Dance Hall, which featured jazz music by the THS jazz band and lessons for the Charleston; the Bootlegger’s Birthday Room, and the Renaissance Poetry Room which emphasized riddles and poetry. The night was a huge success, and at the end of the evening participants enjoyed a meal together while escape room teams received their winning prizes.
Schools
Barringer STEAM Think Tank
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Big Picture and PSE&G sponsored Barringer S.T.E.A.M.’s first STEAM Think Tank on February 15th. There were over 40 guests in attendance. We had representation from Rutgers, Clara Maass Hospital, Mars-Wrigley, Greater Newark Conservancy, The Newark STEAM Coalition, our Alumni Association and more. We also had leadership representation from Central Office. Deputy Executive Director from the Office of Bilingual Education Rebecca Odessey, Special Assistants Margaret El (Arts Department), Chamiris Mantrana (C.T.E.) and Ivory Williams (Science) were in attendance. Honestly, we did not know what to expect. However, they say “If you build it, they will come.” Our community stakeholders definitely showed up and more importantly, they genuinely want to help be a part of the change that we are trying to effect. In fact, as a result of our newly formed collaboration with Rutgers, RU has agreed to host the next event at the college on Thursday, May 17th.
Big Picture and PSE&G sponsored Barringer S.T.E.A.M.’s first STEAM Think Tank on February 15th. There were over 40 guests in attendance. We had representation from Rutgers, Clara Maass Hospital, Mars-Wrigley, Greater Newark Conservancy, The Newark STEAM Coalition, our Alumni Association and more. We also had leadership representation from Central Office. Deputy Executive Director from the Office of Bilingual Education Rebecca Odessey, Special Assistants Margaret El (Arts Department), Chamiris Mantrana (C.T.E.) and Ivory Williams (Science) were in attendance. Honestly, we did not know what to expect. However, they say “If you build it, they will come.” Our community stakeholders definitely showed up and more importantly, they genuinely want to help be a part of the change that we are trying to effect. In fact, as a result of our newly formed collaboration with Rutgers, RU has agreed to host the next event at the college on Thursday, May 17th.
Full Roster of Attendees:
- Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation
- Barringer High School Alumni Association
- Bloomfield College
- BRICKS for Kidz
- BSD Coding
- Center for Excellence for Latino Health Clara Maass Medical Center
- Generation Ready
- Greater Newark Conservancy
- MARS Wrigley
- Mubadala Investment Company
- New Jersey Innovation Institute
- Newark Public Schools Art Department
- Newark Public Schools C.T.E. Department
- Newark STEAM Coalition
- Newark Public Schools Math Department
- Newark Public Schools Science Department
- Newark Museum
- NYC Department of Education
- Rutgers Medical School
- RWJ Hospital
- Schools that Can Newark
- Solar One
Newark Public Schools Recognize Black History Month with Programming, Lessons, Arts and Culture and Events
[NEWARK, NJ – February 23, 2018] Newark Public Schools students, teachers and principals are recognizing Black History Month with a number of programs, events, and arts and culture initiatives throughout the month to recognize the many contributions of African Americans. The month long recognition included special guest speakers and lectures at Weequahic High, Hawthorne Elementary School, First Avenue School, Chancellor Avenue, Mt. Vernon, Carver Bruce Street School and East Side High School, to name a few. In addition, a number of schools conducted Celebrity Read Program and tributes to African Americans who have contributed to the American experience in this country and the office of Family and Community Engagement hosted a health fair focusing on wellness in the community.
“Thank you to every principal, vice principal, teacher, aide, student and parent, who this month paused to remember the many contributions of African Americans,” said Robert Gregory, Interim Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “It is our responsibility to remember African American history, not just in February, but to remember it at all times and to and teach African American history year round, in and outside the classroom.”
Below is a partial list of programs and events that recognizing African American history month.
- First Avenue- Students Protest Parade-Hallways
- First Avenue- Motown Theme
- Chancellor-“Celebrity Read” (Black History Theme & a Partnership w/ United Way)
- Chancellor- MVOL Family FUN Night
- Chancellor- Black History Showcase Performances: Songs, Dance, Poetry, Monologues, Video Clips, etc…)
- Newark Evening- Know the past, shape the future
- Carver/Bruce- Carver Black History Month (A School-wide Celebration of History & Culture)
- Early Childhood North- Celebrating in the Auditorium history through
Song, dramatization, chants and affirmations
- North 10th Street- Celebrating Famous African American Woman
- East Side High- Black History Month Wall (Display)
- Abington- Brief history of Jamaica, Musical, Dance, Singing
Celebrity Read Program at Chancellor Avenue School Yields 15 Readers
[Newark, NJ – February 22, 2018] More than 15 Celebrity Readers participated in the Chancellor Avenue program this month, bringing the joy of reading to students of all ages. Readers were welcomed to Chancellor by the Chancellor Avenue Ambassadors – 8th grade students who serve as community and guest ambassadors for the school.
Interim Superintendent Gregory said, “The Celebrity Read Program allows us to share the joy of reading with our students and our community. Thank you to the United Way and to all participating NPS and to the United Way for continuing to bring this important program to our schools during the month of February. I want to send a special thank you to the Newark Police and Fire Departments for reading to our students and all others who have donated their valuable time.”
Chancellor Avenue School Principal Sakina Pitts said, “It brings me great joy to welcome guests to Chancellor. Thank you to the United Way and to all of the volunteers, particularly our student ambassadors, who represented the entire student body well.” Principal Pitts was joined by Assistant Superintendent Kathy Duke Jackson, who read to a number of classes throughout the morning.
Celebrity Read was established by the United Way of Essex and West Hudson in 1991 as a community-building initiative to diversify the United Way volunteer base while inspiring elementary school children to read, dream, and set and accomplish goals. Recruited from all walks of life, Celebrity Readers travel to local schools where they read a brief passage about the accomplishments of model people of color who have played an important role in American or world history. The Readers also share their own life experiences to instill in the students a sense of pride and hope for the future, emphasizing the importance of education and reading in particular. Originally conceived as a way to celebrate African American History Month, the program was subsequently expanded to include people of other minority descent.
Shabazz & Weequahic High Schools Open Newark Museum Celebration
Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert Gregory said, “Art and culture play an important role in Newark and in any city. Bringing youth together around the arts is essential. Today is a special day because our bands performing together marks a new era of focusing on the arts in Newark Public Schools. I want to thank Margaret El, Special Assistant for the Arts, for creating a bridge from Malcolm X Shabazz and Weequahic High Schools to the Newark Museum. We have a longstanding relationship with the Museum and we look forward to furthering it even more.”
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said, “Today is a special day, not just because of the opening of the front doors of this beautiful edifice, but also because this is the first time I have seen the Shabazz and Weequahic marching bands perform together. Thank you to all of the students.”
Various Newark Public School marching bands will also perform at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16 from 1 – 3 p.m.
100 Days Smarter at Luis Muñoz Marin!
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The 100th day of school is such an exciting time of the academic year for the young scholars of Luis Munoz Marin. Our pre-kindergarten to second grade students engaged in various activities: 100 Word Challenge, Designing to 100, What can I do in 100 seconds?, and Race to 100 to honor this special day. Participants marched in a parade throughout the school community showcasing projects and modeling senior outfits prepared collaboratively with their parents, peers and teachers. Observing students demonstrate a strong command for counting, cardinality, number sense and operations in base ten affirms the growth each learner has achieved. Some of the extended lessons were cross curricular as students participated in health and fitness routines and responded to writing prompts highlighting the number one hundred. Traditionally, February 14th is reserved for Valentine’s Day; a day filled with love and laughter. On this day, we laughed and loved that our students are truly 100 days smarter.
Happy 100th Day of School![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1518703882180-09b5bdb7-f32a-2″ include=”31244,31245,31246,31247,31248,31249″][/vc_column][/vc_row]