West Side High School

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.

West Side High School Expands Nighttime Summer Recreation Program with Goal to Keep Young People Engaged in Positive Activities at Night

Nearly 300 students turn out for The “Lights On” program with Expanded Programs for Girls

[Newark, NJ — July 25, 2017] – Nearly 300 Newark youth turned out for the “Lights On” program, a free nighttime recreational program open to children across Newark, this past Friday. In its second year, the program offers more recreational activities for girls and teens. “Lights On” kicked off its summer schedule on Friday, June 30 at West Side High School (WSHS) in Newark and this past Friday featured a disc jockey and ice cream truck, in addition to the regular “Lights On” programming. The program provides Newark youth with access to a wide-range of engaging activities such as basketball, table tennis, cooking, dancing, and more.

WSHS Vice Principal and program director Akbar Cook, with the support of the West Side Alumni Group and the MCJ Amelior Foundation, started the “Lights On” program in 2016, serving approximately 80 students per night throughout the summer. On the final night of last summer’s program, Mr. Cook lost another female student to gun violence. The student’s death inspired Mr. Cook to give more students access to positive afterschool activities like “Lights On.” Mr. Cook decided to broaden the appeal of the program to young women across the city by offering more recreational activities such as jewelry making and makeup classes.

“Thanks to the continued investment of Vice Principal Cook, the West Side Alumni Group, and the MCJ Amelior Foundation, students and families across our city are able to come together throughout the summer and enjoy a multitude of fun-filled activities at the ‘Lights On’ program,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools (NPS). “Programs like ‘Lights On’ create a strong future for Newark by serving the needs of all students and families, as well as ensuring all children have access to positive opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.”

“‘Lights On’ is thrilled to open up new and exciting opportunities for more young women across our city this year,” said Mr. Cook. “We want to do more for our young women across Newark to ensure they have a variety of engaging activities and are able to enjoy their summer vacation in a nurturing, fun and safe environment.”

“Lights On” is open at West Side High School throughout the school year every Friday evening for both children and adults. Throughout the summer, the program runs from 6:00pm-11:00pm, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night. The program also provides participants with free food and beverages every night.

A student of the program said, “The ‘Lights On’ program helps me build confidence and it’s a safe and welcoming place for me to go. I hope more kids will come and a part of something positive.”

Mr. Cook, who manages school operations related to disciplinary procedures, school climate and culture, and security at WSHS, is leading a number of initiatives at WSHS and across the district. He is the head coach of the WSHS varsity boys’ basketball team, which won the 2017 Group 2 NJSIAA championships. Mr. Cook also partnered with the Community Food Bank of NJ to provide food packs every Friday night to students and families in need on weekends. Mr. Cook is also working to build a laundromat and study hall at WSHS to increase student attendance and support student achievement because many students do not attend school regularly because they do not have clean clothes. Earlier this year, Cook was selected as a finalist for Prudential’s “Newark’s Cornerstones” competition, a contest which showcases leaders across Newark for their dedication in making a positive impact on Newark’s future.

For additional information about “Lights On,” watch the program’s commercials from 2016 and 2017.

Jasmine Thomas, East Side High School

Jasmine Thomas, East Side Hockey
Born and raised in Newark, Jasmine is a 2017 graduate of Newark Vocational High School at West Side Campus. Prior to attending Newark Vocational, Jasmine attended Speedway Avenue School, now Speedway Academies, for elementary school. When Jasmine reached high school, she was initially interested in playing soccer; however, when she was approached by the East Side High School athletic director to play hockey, she immediately jumped on the unique and historic opportunity in front of her. The only African American on her team, Jasmine played hockey for East Side High School for four years as a goalie. She is also a member of Hockey In New Jersey (HNJ), an organization that inspires youth to develop life skills, succeed academically and create positive relationships through the sport of hockey. In addition to playing on the HNJ’s girls hockey team, she also serves as a mentor and volunteer for younger participants in the program across Newark, Englewood, and Jersey City. Moving forward, Jasmine hopes to continue to provide assistance in recruiting more girls to join both hockey programs.

This year, Jasmine is one of four recipients of the 2017 New Jersey Devils Alumni Association Academic Scholarship, receiving $1,000 that she plans to utilize to pay for her college expenses. She will be attending Essex County College in the fall, with plans to transfer to Montclair State University where she will major in education and play college ice hockey, hoping to ultimately become a Child Life Specialist and work with children who are hospitalized. As Jasmine embarks on the next chapter of her educational journey, she has left short but powerful advice for her fellow classmates, which embodies her own story both on and off the ice: “Don’t be afraid to be different. Leave your mark.”

NPS District-Wide Mathematics Conference – June 16, 2017

NPS Math Conference Thank You 2017
On June 16, 2017, eight teacher-leaders developed and delivered Professional Development sessions on the district’s big investments at the NPS District-Wide High School Math Conference.

The sessions and session leaders:

“Habits of Discussion”

  • Andrew Paulsen – East Side High School
  • Honorae Hodgson – East Side High School

“Balanced Mathematics Instruction”

  • Maria Morales – East Side High School
  • Teresa Palasits – American History High School

“Active Monitoring”

  • Hoda Abdelwahab – Technology High School
  • Rita Della Valle – Technology High School

“Why Not? And My Favorite NO” – Responding to your Active Monitoring”

  • Priyank Bhatt – West Side High School
  • Jerome Hancock – West Side High School

Four West Side Seniors Win Full-Ride Basketball Scholarships

West Side’s 6-foot-4 senior guard, Yasim Hooker, has decided to attend NCAA Division 2 Benedict College on a full basketball scholarship. Yasim is a 4 year varsity player who won 2 NPS elementary championships and back to back NJSIAA State Championships.   He will play for Head Coach Fred Watson in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

West Side’s 6-foot-3 senior guard, Quayon Williams-King, has decided to attend NJCAA DI Georgia Highlands College on a full basketball scholarship. Georgia Highlands is ranked #5 in the nation. Quayon is a 4 year starter who finished with 1,253 Career points. He will play for Head Coach Phil Gaffney in Region 17.

West Side’s 6-foot-6 senior forward, Quaion Taylor, has decided to attend NJCAA DI Georgia Highlands College on a full basketball scholarship. Georgia Highlands is ranked #5 in the nation. Quaion is a 4 year varsity player who finished his career as one of the best rebounders in the State. He will play for Head Coach Phil Gaffney in Region 17.

West Side’s 5-foot-9 senior guard, Tyrese Henryel, has decided to attend NCAA Division 3 Rutgers Newark on a full ACADEMIC scholarship. Tyrese will be majoring in Journalism and Media Arts.