InOurSchools Page 4 Featured In The Star-Ledger Arts High String Ensemble Performs at NJPAC Congratulations NPS State Champions

“Well done” to the Malcolm X Shabazz High School Girls Basketball Team and Coach Vanessa Watson Cami Anderson, Superintendent on winning the 2013 State Tournament of Champions Special Student Achievement title. The team beat Rancocas Issue 2013 Valley at the Sun Bank NJ Devils Honors National Center in Trenton 66- Male Students Gain the 54, following a season in Program: A Lesson in Essentials on Career Development which they ranked no. 1 in the Motivation Star-Ledger Top 20. Approximately 400 male students representing the district’s high schools Since 2009, the Devils organ- Congratulations also to the met at , on Friday, May 31, for the Young Men String Ensemble performed at New ization has given away free tickets that Employment Network (YMEN) Student Conference. The event brought East Side High School Boys reward students for good grades. The Jersey Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 16 for the students together in grades 10 and 11, who have committed themselves to Basketball Team, who won NJ Devils Honors Program, a joint initia- New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) audience and the state Group 3 title, and tive between the Devils and the Newark academic success, are contributing to their communities and have career patrons before the main concert. The invitation to play is part went on to be one of the Public Schools, provides an incentive for interests that match those featured as part of the conference. Workshops of the NJSO Community Outreach Initiative that spotlights final six teams in the 2013 students to perform well in school. At selected were based on projected employment opportunities in the City of outstanding Newark students and talent. State Tournament of the same time, they see inside the Newark. Each student had the opportunity to meet with career profession- famous Prudential Center, also known Champions. als, discuss job and career opportunities for the summer and learn about as The Rock. the importance of image in a professional environment. A panel of student Male Students Career Development leaders in various endeavors spoke to the participants about their personal (cont’d. from cover) By the end of the first marking period experiences. for the 2012-2013 school year, a total of 18,797 students had received Devils tick- During his speech Dr. Ellis Assistant Superintendent Roger Leon noted 400 male high school students ets through the program. Students in District Softball Champs were called to this conference. “You were chosen because you did some- drove home the point that grades 3-12 are eligible, and tickets are image is power. Students given to those who either place in the thing good, and we applaud you,” he added. shouldn’t dress for where Honor Roll (A or B in all subjects) or the they are, but for where Super Honor Roll (A in all subjects) in a Dr. Alex Ellis, president of the Tied to Greatness they’re going. marking period. Each student gets two Company, based in Union, New Jersey, was the tickets to an individual game. special guest who spoke to the students about self- The one-hour workshop ses- Kudos to the Devils for motivating dis- esteem, proper attire and business settings. Dr. sions included technology, trict students to do better and for being Ellis’ company provided manufacturing, health care, transportation, business and entre- a great partner! free ties for all of the preneurship, education, social work, retail, entertainment and attendees who were Adopt-A-Preschool Literacy Initiative construction. assisted in a tie tying demonstration by teach- Following the workshops attendees had lunch and heard from ers, counselors and young male panelists such as Malachi Samedy, a fourth grade Congratulations to Arts High Softball Coach Healy and coaches who served as student and musical prodigy who has performed for President the 2013 Newark City Champs Girls Softball team! chaperones. (cont’d on page 4) Obama; Jordan Coleman, a 12th grader who has performed on Nickelodeon and is a current award-winning movie producer; Mahishan Gnanaseharan, a ninth grader who represented Cami Anderson, Superintendent National Theatre Visits Bruce Street School Newark students at the City of Newark’s Peace Summit with the Dalai Lama; Angel Plaza, a 12th grader who serves on the Bruce Street School recently Newark Public Schools’ Advisory Board and has been accepted hosted hearing–impaired students The launch of the Adopt-A-Preschool Initiative, from across the state for a stirring at NJIT to major in engineering; and Kevin Morrison, a 12th is a community partnership between the grader who has faced adversity and is overcoming personal Newark Public Schools, the Newark Fire performance by the National obstacles to focus on college and career readiness. InOurSchools is produced by Department and the Newark Preschool Theatre of the Deaf. The group’s The Newark Public Schools Council. The partnership is designed to Little Theatre performers present- The Conference was hosted and sponsored by the Newark Communications Department strengthen early literacy and provide positive ed “The W-5, stories behind role-models for young learners. Book-drives Who, What, Where, When, and Public Schools along with the City of Newark, Newark Works 2 Cedar Street, Newark , NJ 07102 are being carried out at fire houses and fire- and Rutgers University, Office of University Community www.nps.k12.nj.us fighters plan to visit, read, and engage students Why.” (photo: A young student Partnerships—Newark Campus. Young Men Employment in conversations around literacy, thereby takes part in the interactive per- assisting them to develop oral language. Network is the coordinating agency. 6/13/10,000 formance). InOurSchools Page 2 InOurSchools Page 3 Congratulations and Best Wishes to the Class of 2013!

American History High School Arts High School Bard Early College High School Newark Bridges High School Newark Innovation Academy Newark Leadership Academy Humberto Gomes, Valedictorian Ana Sousa, Valedictorian Marvin Pinkrah, Valedictorian Oumar Ouattara, Valedictorian A'Crissa Grayson, Valedictorian Brianna Winbush, Valedictorian Shante Larry, Salutatorian Amber Pistone, Salutatorian Katrina Anderson, Salutatorian Jevon Jeffrey, Salutatorian Vinicius An, Salutatorian Jadzia Cribb, Salutatorian

Barringer High School East Side High School Newark Vocational High School Science Park High School Technology High School Jean Carlos Rocha, Valedictorian Dominique Almendariz, Co-Valedictorian Ashley Jarrett, Valedictorian Jennifer Herrera, Valedictorian Jocelyn De La Rosa, Valedictorian Kelly Djine, Salutatorian Deliris Diaz, Co-Valedictorian Cindy Beaubrun, Salutatorian Stephanie Reinoso, Salutatorian Idaliss Rivera, Salutatorian Maria Badilla, Salutatorian

Central High School John F. Kennedy School Malcolm X Shabazz High School University High School West Side High School Sharoya Lavon Simmons, Valedictorian Joe Davila, Valedictorian Saskia Anderson, Valedictorian Surafel Taddesse, Valedictorian Shauntel Lucius, Valedictorian Elisa Morel, Valedictorian Tah’asia Stevens, Salutatorian Rico Belen, Salutatorian Ma-Lisa Winbourn, Salutatorian Ebonee Burwell, Salutatorian Shellasia Leitch, Salutatorian Khandi Garraway, Salutatorian

Note: Due to space restrictions, the alpha order layout is somewhat skewed for the Central and East Side honorees.