Kudos for NTU Teachers, Aides & Clerks

ku·dos (n) Acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement

Let’s Recognize the NTU’s Teachers, Aides and Clerks
The NTU wants to recognize members’ accomplishments, awards and special projects in and out of the classroom.  Send us your photos and stories, we will gladly “sing your praises” on the NTU Web Site.  For more information, you can email the NTU at webmaster@ntuaft.com

Newark students win big in Army cyber contest
Four ninth-graders from West Side 9th Grade Academy received a criteria award in this year's national eCYBERMISSION competition. With this award, each team member will receive a $2,000 savings bond.
Read full Star-Ledger article here

(Click photo to enlarge. From left to right.  Shirley Watson, Chief Scientist Dr.Arthur Ballato, Junior Meme, Nieer Newman, Shaneequah Thomas Sahkeelah Mcneilt, Director of CERDEC-Communication-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, Fort Monmouth Mr. Gary Blohm.

“2008 Into the Cool” NPS art exhibition in the Victoria Lobby at NJPAC.

Reception: Sunday, June 15, 2008 11:00am-12:00pm
“Into the Cool” Victoria Theater Lobby New Jersey Performing Arts Center Light refreshments will be served

Everyone is encouraged to attend the reception to meet the student artists. Visual arts teachers please share this information with your students and their parents/guardians. The art work will be on display until the end of August 2008.

Download the student participants

Teen actress wins Star-Ledger Scholarship for the Performing Arts

Sarah Simonis/For The Star-LedgerFrom left, Ashley Retamar, Naja Selby, and Khadijjah Mote pose before the awards ceremony.

A young actress who is ranked third in her class at Newark's Arts High School -- and hopes to make it on Broadway someday -- is the 2008 winner of The Star-Ledger Scholarship for the Performing Arts.

Naja Selby, 17, was named the winner at an awards reception tonight at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. She will receive $10,000 a year over the next four years, a total of $40,000.

"I am so appreciative and so happy," an emotional Selby said as she wiped tears from her eyes last night.

Sarah Simonis/For The Star-LedgerNaja Selby gets a hug from her mom, Dorothy Croner, left, after learning she won the $40,000 scholarship.

Selby also was the 2007 New Jersey Poetry Out Loud Winner, and is vice president of her senior class and president of the speech and debate team. She has studied theater at NJPAC and plans to study theater at New York University in the fall. Selby also volunteers her time at nursing homes and teenage homeless shelters.

"I will definitely make you proud if you give me this scholarship," Selby told the judges during her interview last week.

Two runner-up scholars will receive $5,000 a year for a total of $20,000. They are actress Khadijjah Mote, 18, and musical theater vocalist Ashley Retamar, 18. Both are seniors at Arts High School.

The three winners were among 26 Newark high school seniors who were in initial auditions on April 5. They received letters informing them they were victorious last week, but the three students did not know who received the top prize until last night.

A few minutes before the reception, the three winners went to the ladies room to get rid of their nervous energy -- screaming twice.

Runner-up Mote said she would like to study theater in college. She is a member of the first place Arts High team that won the "We the People" competition, in which students debated Constitutional issues.

"It's so beautiful. The Star-Ledger Scholarship for the Performing Arts is a wonderful program, and sharing this with my friends makes it even better," Mote said.

Runner-up Retamar hopes to become a Broadway actress and said she promised her disabled mother that she would graduate from college. She has studied theater at NJPAC and hopes to attend Montclair State University.

"This is beyond excitement and beyond being grateful. I am so, so blessed," she said last night.

The winner and runners-up were selected from six finalists, following interviews on April 9. The three other finalists, also seniors at Arts High, were dancer Whitney Giles and singers Adriana Allgood and RoCynda Brantley.

This is the 10th anniversary of The Star-Ledger Scholarship for the Performing Arts, which is open to Newark high school seniors. The three winners, as well as winners from previous years, will perform at a scholarship recital at 7 p.m. June 11 at NJPAC's Victoria Theater. Tickets are $13; $12 for seniors and students.

This year, there also will be a special 10th anniversary Alumni Showcase featuring performances by alumni of the scholarship program, as well as other NJPAC arts training programs at 7 p.m. June 25 at the Victoria Theater. Tickets are $6. For reservations, call (888) 466-5722.

The Benedetto Croce Educational Society has awarded Joseph Fonseca, the NTU Director of Technology, the 2008 Distinguished Leadership Award. An awards dinner-dance is to be held May 16th at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, NJ beginning at 6:30pm.
Read more here

Harriet Tubman School Receives Two National Awards and several Star Ledger write-ups.

1.  U.S. Department of Education, 2007 No Child Left Behind National Blue
Ribbon Schoolshttp://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2007/2007-schools.html#nj

2.  National Center for Urban School Transformation http://www.ncust.org/dnn/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx
Note Harriet Tubman as a 2008 Awardees

3.  February 2008, the Star Ledger visits our Underground RailRoad

Rafael Hernandez School Debate Team Winners

RHS is proud to announce that at the final debate at First Avenue School on April 5, 2008. Out of 100 debaters, our debaters placed 2nd in the Individual Speaker category and 3rd in the Team category!

Congratulations to:
Ms. Charles, Debate Coach
Amire Carter, grade 8
Miguel Duran, grade
Lizbett Mendoza, grade 8
Brian Pirapakaran, grade 6
Rochelle Twom-Ampofo, grade 7

We are extremely proud of our team and congratulate all the debaters district wide.

Luanne Macri
Vice Principal
Rafael Hernandez School
lmacri@nps.k12.nj.us
X 5575

Congratulations Malcolm X. Shabazz and NPS Robotics Teams

On Saturday March 1st Malcolm X. Shabazz ended two days of competition and walked away with the FIRST Robotics Competition “Judges Award”

This award was presented for outstanding mentorship, the driving force behind developing the teamwork necessary not only for fostering “gracious professionalism” but for bringing together engineering design, electrical and mechanical skills necessary for a successful build season.

Judges commented on the many reports received from students, mentors and coaches praising the leadership of Charles Ries, Thomas and Eloise McGimpsey.

We commend all our coaches for their dedication, competence and spirit. You have our gratitude, respect and admiration.

ARTS HIGH SCHOOL & Slam Global NJ Youth SLAM proceed to 2008 NY Knicks Teen Poetry Slam Finals

Newark, New Jersey, January 14, 2008:

Over forty New Jersey youth poets participated in the 2008 Annual New York Knicks Teen Poetry Slam Open Call in the fall month of 07’ held in the historic Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan where they competed against over 2000 students throughout the Tri-State Area, ages 13-19. From these 2000 contestants, 150 youth poets were selected as semifinalists of which all forty from New Jersey were selected.

This past Saturday (1/12/08) and Sunday (1/13/08), these semi-finalists competed at The Nuyorican Poets Cafe in NYC. The New Jersey youth poets took 6 of the top 15 positions which will allow them to advance to the NY Knicks Teen Poetry Slam Finalists Round.

Collaborative efforts on the part of James Manno, Department Chairperson of the Performing Arts and Television at Newark’s Arts High School and Divad Sanders, President of SLAM Global Enterprises, Inc.- NJ Youth SLAM Poets the following New Jersey student poets will compete as FINALISTS in the 2008 New York Knicks Poetry SLAM Competiton: Justin Allen (Morgan State / University High Graduate), Shamsuddin Abdul-Hamid (Newark, Arts High), Samara Henry (Newark, Rutgers New Brunswick), Shakia Mayer (Newark, Rutgers New Brunswick), Basheer Shareef (Newark, Arts High) and Elysee Thomas (Newark, Essex County College).

NY Knicks Teen Poetry Competition prizes are as follows:

1st place winner- $10,000 educational grant, laptop and printer
2nd place winner- $7,500 educational grant, laptop and printer
3rd place winner- $5,000 educational grant, laptop and printer
4th place winner- $3,500 educational grant, laptop and printer
5th place winner- $1,500 educational grant, laptop and printer
 

Slam Global Enterprises, Inc. James A Manno
Contact: Divad Sanders President/CEO Department Chair, Performing Arts & TV
35 James Street Arts High School
Newark, NJ 07102 (973) 733-7102
Phone (973) 975 -4105 jmanno@nps.k12.nj.us
Email: slamglobalinc@gmail.com <mailto:slamglobalinc@gmail.com>
Website: www.njslam.org

Mark Williams - Teacher of the Year - Steve Harvey Hoodie Award

http://steveharvey.com/shms_daily_news/ - and scroll down to today's date (1/16)

Mr. Williams is being interviewed by Mr. Harvey and the morning show crew, following his award and feature article in the NJ Star Ledger.

Please show your support for one of NPS's own and tune in to hear Mr. Williams!

Rafael Hernandez School  Community Trademark Winner

View pictures from the event:
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3