OBOE-Mail Blast April 27, 2018 Volume 7, Number 30

In This Issue:

Heywood Avenue

School “My

School Color

Run”

OHS Student Wins

National

Scholarship

The 7th Annual

Orange Dance

Festival

Walking School

Bus at Heywood

Avenue School

Forest Street

School Africa Art

Exhibit

Bridge Base

Online

Park Avenue

School Math Club

Celebrates Pi

Day

Cleveland’s Girls

are Coding

FYI

May Day Deadline

for Orange Page

Turners Challenge

A Memo from the

NJDOE

Contact Information: Orange Board of Education 451 Lincoln Avenue Orange, NJ 07050 Send Us An Email

Saturday, April 28, Heywood Avenue School’s “My School Color Run,” 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Orange Park

Saturday, April 28, Disney’s Cinderella Kids, 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Forest Street School

Wednesday, May 2, Board Lobby Art Show, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., Board of Education, 451 Lincoln Avenue

Thursday, May 3, Heywood Got Talent, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Heywood Avenue School

Friday, May 4, Special Board of Education Meeting – District 2018-2019 Budget Review, 6:00 p.m., Lincoln Avenue School

Heywood Avenue School “My School Color Run”

My School Color Run is an untimed fun run event.

Throughout the course, participants will

experience splash zones where they are doused

in color. There will also be a final color toss

celebration.

Check in is at 9:00 a.m. and the race starts at 10:00

a.m.

For more information, access the following web address in to your browser:

https://events.myschoolcolorrun.com/event/2018---Heywood-Avenue-School---Orange-

NJ

Orange High School Student Wins National Scholarship

In a special ceremony at Orange High School, Jenny Rodriguez was surprised with the

announcement that she is the National Honor Society Scholarship National Winner. Making

the announcement was Ms. Nara Lee, Director of the National Honor Societies. Ms. JoAnn

Bartoletti, Executive Director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals

(NASSP), the organization that administers the National Honor Society, presented Jenny with a

certificate that states, “This selection is made in recognition of outstanding achievement in

the pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.”

Addressing the gathering was Deputy Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paula Howard, Principal

Jason Belton and the advisor for Orange High School’s National Honor Society, Ms. Marcey

Thomas.

From thousands of applications, the organization awards scholarships to 475 national

semifinalists ($2,850 scholarship), twenty-four national finalists ($5,150 scholarship) and one

national winner ($22,650 scholarship) Jenny Rodriguez.

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Pictured: NASSP official, OHS staff, and National Honor Society members celebrate the National Honor

Society Scholarship National Winner.

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation’s premier organization established to

recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to

recognize those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship,

service, leadership, and character. These characteristics have been associated with

membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921. https://www.nhs.us/about/

The 7th Annual Orange Dance Festival

Phil Wright was the headliner this year for the 7th Annual Orange Dance Festival on April 22.

The festival welcomed the renowned hip-hop choreographer and dancer who has danced

with artists including Cardi B, Ellen, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell, GEazy, MC Hammer, Aloe Blacc,

and Pitbull. Phil is also a teacher at the Millennium Dance Complex, Debbie Reynolds Dance

Studio, IDA Dance Academy, and on staff for numerous regional and national dance

conventions. He taught a master class for ages 12+ and a parent-jam for ages 7+.

This year’s festival drew the largest crowd to date, attracting dance students, parents, dance

teachers, dance studios and pre-professional companies. Phil underscored a day of dance

classes taught by many other distinguished dance professionals that included master classes

in the genres of ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, and world styles. Some of

the festival’s dance instructors were Maleek Washington, who recently performed in the live

production of Jesus Christ Superstar, Dorit Koppel, April Cook, Yvonne Gutierrez, Sayrah,

Miles Keeney, Iquail Shaeed, Charles Smith, Bo Belza, Mr. Alexander and Ms. Leslie. Their

credits include Fifth Harmony, FoxTV, the Oscars, Beyoncé, Alvin Ailey American Dance

Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Grammys, Lip Sync Battle, Black Iris Project,

Philadanco, and the Hamilton tour.

Dancers also had the opportunity to participate in scholarship auditions, panel discussions,

and industry networking.

Under the guidance of Ronald C. Lee, Interim Superintendent of Schools, the Orange Dance

Festival is an annual event hosted by the Orange Public School District and the Orange Dance

Conservatory. Ms. Deborah Rembert, organizer of the festivals states, “The aim of the festival

is to provide dance classes with master guest artists from around the country for students in

the tri-state area.”

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Pictured: Scenes from the 7th Annual Orange Dance Festival.

Walking School Bus at Heywood Avenue School Submitted by Barry Devone, Community Engagement Officer

The Heywood Avenue School "Walking

School Bus" was held on Thursday, April 26,

2018. The event is a component of the "Safe

Routes to School" initiative. Several schools in

the district are participants.

Students were assigned to teams lead by

district staff, Orange Police Officers and the

Heywood Avenue School PTO Vice President.

The teams were assigned to follow one of

two designated routes that included the areas

where students live. During the event students were informed on traffic safety and reminded

how walking is a form of exercise.

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The event was a collaboration between the

school district, the Heywood Avenue

School PTO and the Orange Police

Department. The team members who

worked together to ensure the success of

the event were: Ms. Alcantara, Principal,

Heywood Avenue School; Barry Devone,

Community Engagement Officer; Natasha

Sweet, Project Director, 21st Century

Afterschool Program; Amber Montgomery,

Vice President, Heywood Avenue School

PTO; Officer Juliano, and Officer Franklin.

Pictured (above and right): Scenes from

Heywood Avenue School’s “Walking School

Bus” event.

Forest Street School Africa Art Exhibit

Forest Street School had student artwork on display

during the April Board of Education Lobby Art Exhibit.

On the opening of the display, April 11, visitors were

treated to African art, from past to present day work,

building on the rich culture of Africa, including

representations of Senufo cloth art from the Ivory

Coast, line paintings, mask reliefs, Akau’ba dolls by

the Ashanti people, and additional colorful and cultural

pieces.

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Pictured: Scenes from the Forest Street School Board Lobby Art Opening.

Students, family and friends mingled, enjoying the display and refreshments. Assistant

Superintendent Dr. Paula Howard and the Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts Donna

Sinisgalli welcomed the group. Principal Dr. Yansisca Cooke offered congratulations to the

students for their creativity and Ms. Avril Bogle, art teacher, joined her in applauding the

students, before presenting them with a certificate of achievement.

Pictured: Scenes from the Forest Street School Board Lobby Art Opening.

Bridge Base Online Submitted by Dr. Denise Harlem, Technology Coordinator and Bridge Club Advisor, Park

Avenue School

The Park Avenue Bridge Club students are polishing their skills

through online contests! On a Saturday afternoon in March, 17

students from Park Avenue School’s Bridge Club participated in

an online bridge tournament using Bridge Base Online. Park

students competed against their Canadian, New York, and New

England peers, in a tournament organized by Barbara Clark and

Bridge Base Online. In all, 33 students participated, playing eight

hands. Students had a choice of playing regular bridge or just

declaring. Some students entered in both competitions. Two of Park’s students, Tamyra

Rumble and Aryssa Black, came in second and third, respectively!

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Students had all day to complete the eight hands with bot partners and bot opponents. This

was the first time the students participated in an online Beta trial tournament. Students will

participate again and plan to have a Google Hangout with challengers, enjoying lunch

together via videoconference.

If you would like to learn more about the online world of bridge, just visit:

http://www.bridgebase.com or http://www.bridgebasecom/mobile/

Pictured: Park Avenue Student participates in Bridge Base Online.

Park Avenue School Math Club Celebrates Pi Day Submitted by Shannon Keogh, Math teacher, Park Avenue School

On Pi Day (March 14) Park Avenue School held

a fundraiser where students and staff had the

opportunity to answer a mental math question

and throw a pie at Principal Dr. Myron Hackett

and Assistant Principal Devonii Reid for $1.

Additionally, there was an added challenge for

students to memorize as many digits of pi as

possible. Students that were able to recite at

least 15 digits (3.141592653589793. . .)

received a special prize from Dr. Hackett and

Ms. Reid.

The initiative for this pi day fundraiser was

entirely student driven. Representatives from

the Math Club drafted a proposal for their

activity and met with building administrators to

get permission. Math Club students were

responsible for creating posters for their

fundraiser, daily reminder announcements,

activity set up, money collection and clean up.

Overall, it was a mathematically stimulating

day, with lots of laughs all around. The

fundraiser was a huge success, thanks to many

participants and the support of Dr. Hackett and

Ms. Reid. The Math Club plans to use the

money raised to build a memorial garden for

the victims of the Parkland shooting in Florida.

Pictured: Pi Day Fundraiser at Park Avenue

School.

The Math Club consists of members

Nazeerah Campbell, Martha Jackson-

Johnson, Ethan Jean, Kelly Miller, Caleb

Osorio, Joshua Pink, Destiny Rodney,

Tamyra Rumble, Autumn Tarver; and

advisor, Mrs. Shannon Keogh.

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Cleveland’s Girls are Coding Submitted by Miriam Martin, Technology Coordinator, Cleveland Street School

The girls at Cleveland Rock! They are exceptional

young ladies who may very well become leaders

of the future digital world. These members of

Cleveland’s “Girls Who Code” (GWC) afterschool

club are diving into the exclusive field of computer

programming via the Art of Creative Coding.

Coding is the language used to create

applications, aka “apps.” The girls are learning

Blockly code visual blocks that make writing code

easier.

The club started last January when Cleveland’s

principal, Dr. Cayce Cummins, opened it for

enrollment. The club meets on Fridays after

school. Miriam Martin, Cleveland’s technology

coordinator, and club facilitator, received a grant

from Girls Who Code, a non-profit organization

whose mission is to close the gender gap in

technology.

On April 20, the

GWC members

from Forest Street

School, led by

Technology

Coordinator and

club facilitator Naheela Irving, joined Cleveland

Street School for a field trip to the Microsoft store in

Willowbrook Mall for a Minecraft coding

workshop. The workshop was an opportunity for

them to play with a different programming script,

increase confidence in their coding skills, and

spark creative thinking.

During the last club meeting, the girls will

hightlight their projects, share their design of an

app that could impact our lives, and receive a

GWC T-shirt and certificate. Cleveland’s GWC

are: Atiya Edwards, Coralie Oxine, Maziyah May-

White, Anahi Tapia, Jessie Carchi, Nevaeh Harris,

Khyealah Watts, Iyanna Bostwick, Daniella Retana,

Lizbeth Caloderon, Zyanna Bostwick.

Pictured (above and right): GWC during field trip to the

Microsoft store and at club meetings.

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Pictured: GWC during field trip to the Microsoft store and at club meetings.

FYI

May Day Deadline for the Orange Page Turners Reading Challenge

The district is approaching the final days of the 2017-2018 Orange Page Turners Reading

Challenge and needs staff, students and members of the community to pitch in and record

their reading by May Day, as the challenge ends. Remember, all reading counts towards the

goal of two million pages read.

Log reading via the Reading Tracker or use the orange page-turners app in Google play.

Teachers are asked to remind students to input their reading in Reading Rewards and

Reading Counts and to keep going in Reading Plus.

Also, help raise funds to celebrate winning readers through a GoFundMe page, established

for the Orange Page Turners Reading Challenge. Please use the following link to make a

contribution: https://www.gofundme.com/orange-page-turners-challenge

Click here to register for the Orange Page Turners 2017-2018 Reading Challenge.

Visit www.orange.k12.nj.us for more information.

A Memo from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE)

The NJDOE is seeking public input to inform New Jersey’s Next Generation of Statewide

Assessments. Please see the memo below for details or visit:

http://www.nj.gov/education/news/2018/0426assess.htm.

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SEE IMPORTANT FLYERS BELOW C H E C K T H E D I S T R I C T W E B S I T E C A L E N D A R F O R C O N C E R T S A N D A C T I V I T I E S .

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The Orange School District’s Parent Academy Presents

Family Fun Night Hosted by the Scholars Academy

Gifted and Talented Staff Hands on experiences include

“You Can Do the Cube” with Rubik’s Cube

3D Doodler Designs Circuit Building with Light Up Name Tags

Ages 6-13* May 9, 2018

Scholars Academy 268 Capuchin Way Orange, NJ 07050

6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. *Children must be accompanied by an adult*