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Volume 9, Issue 1

January 2013

The Thirteenth

Avenue School PTA

objectives are:

1) To enhance the learn-

ing opportunities for our

children.

2) To ensure that our

children have access to

learning.

3) To eradicate any

challenges that impede

our children’s academic

progress.

PTA Meetings

2012-2013

January 17, 2013

February 21, 2013

March 21, 2013

April 18, 2013

May 16, 2013

June 13, 2013

Our 13th Avenue

School PTA

Highlights air on

Newark’s Cablevision

Channel 19, Mondays,

8-9 p.m.

Congratulations to the 13th Avenue School PTA who are 2013

recipients of the National PTA’s Hurricane Sandy Grant in the

amount of $4,000 to assist with family involvement programs.

The National PTA is encouraging

teachers to enhance their professional

development by taking the

E-Learning Cultural Competency

Course at PTA.org parents and ad-

ministrators are also urged to take

advantage of this awesome opportu-

nity. After completing the course

please download your completion

certificate and forward your name to

our PTA President.

FYI

As the School year progresses,

it is imperative that parents are

aware of their parental rights

and responsibilities. In addition

parents should also be aware of

Newark Public School policies

and federal government

mandates in regards to Title I.

Under Title I regulations

parents should be notified after

20 days if their child is being

taught by a teacher who is not

highly qualified teacher. 13th

Avenue has had numerous

classes taught by substitute

teachers since the first day of

school and parents haven’t

received any written notifica-

tion. Students should have at

least nine quizzes/ tests for the

Cycle in order to receive a

grade. Homework is 10% of

your child’s grade and should

be given five (5) days per week.

Report Cards will be issued on

February 15th.

Dear Parents,

Please be advised

that Ms. Kimberly

Mackey has been

replaced as Princi-

pal at 13th Avenue

Renew School

effective January

11th. Ms. Viveca

Williams will serve

as Interim Principal.

Congratulations to our 2012-2014 PTA Officers:

President-Lyndon Brown

1st Vice-President-Ms. Jenise Reedus

2nd Vice-President-Sameerah Mosley

Recording Secretary-Ms. Viveca Williams

Corresponding Secretary-Ms. Wilhelmina Holder

Treasurer-Mr. Samad Harvell

Our 13th Avenue

PTA Meeting will be

held on January 24th

from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

We will be discussing

various issues: Staff

vacancies, Bullying,

Academic Instruction

and Renewed Schools

Updates. Dr. Peter

Turnamian, Asst.

Supt. will be on hand

to address parent

concerns

13th Avenue Families attended a

holiday Skating Party on December

17th at the Branch Brook Skating

Rink where they enjoyed a fun-filled

evening and received Christmas

Gifts and holiday treats!!

Thirteenth Avenue School PTA Membership Drive

2012-2013

President Barack Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama

Senator Ronald Rice

Councilwoman Mildred Crump

Assemblywoman Grace Spencer

Laura Baker

Annie Brown

Lyndon Brown

Donald Chester

Denise Crawford

Carol Dunnell

Angela Davis

Renata Ford

Maliq Foxworth

Marion Hardy

As-Samad Harvell

Willie Harvey

Doris Holloway

Wilhelmina Holder

Cheryl Howard

Dannevan Jones

Doreen Jones

Joan Lowther

Shawn Malbon

DeNiqua Matias

Tamar Mitchell

Omayra Molina

Sameerah Mosley

Barbara Norman

Madeline Orengo

Jenise Reedus

Kim Rivers

Kyle Rivers

Simone Rose

Willie Rowe

Keith Sadler

Kevin Small

Florence Swann

Barbara Waddell

Angela Watson

Viveca Williams

Sean Williamson

PTA Membership is $5.00. Cash or checks made out to the

13th Avenue School PTA are accepted.

Parent/Teacher Conference Day was held on

November 29th. Parents had the opportunity to

conference with teachers and obtain Report Cards and

NJASK Scores. Several parents shared concerns

about the lack of highly qualified teachers in many

classrooms, poor teacher attendance, a lack of

homework and disruptive classrooms that resulted in

failing grades for their children. Several parents who

didn’t speak English shared frustrations about their

inability to communicate with teachers. Incomplete

report cards and the small font size was also a con-

cern. Some parents stated they were pleased with

their child’s progress and others were dismayed that

report cards were not ready for parents

Page 3

Building a Community Playground: October 27, 2012

T HIRT E E NT H A VE NUE S C HOOL PTA NE WSLE TT ER

Our 2012 Parent Volunteer Project was held on October 27th. We built a community playground on the corner

of South 9th Street and 12th Avenue. 13th Avenue families, community residents and other volunteers participated

in this event. Kaboom Inc, Urban League, Fairmount Heights Neighborhood Association, local merchants spent

several months preparing for the event. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the end of the day.

Hurricane Sandy devastates New Jersey

Upcoming Events

Newark Public Schools’

Advisory Board Meeting will be

held on Tuesday, January 22,

2013 at 6 p.m. at University

High School. Come out and see

what decisions are being made

about your child’s education.

Family Engagement

Committee Meeting

January 31, 2012

5:00-6:00 p.m.

Thirteenth Avenue School PTA’s

Executive Board Meeting will be

held on Thursday, January 17th

from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in Room

321. All Executive Board Mem-

bers are asked to attend!!

Special Needs Parents Workshops

1/23rd-Bullying Prevention

2/6th-PBS: Addressing Challenging Behaviors

2/20th-Section 504 and the ADA

3/6th-Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

3/20th-IEP: Individualized Education Plan

To register call: 1-800-654-7726 ext. 116

City-Wide Parents Conference

February 7, 2013

at the Robert Treat Hotel

For further information please

contact our

Parent Liaison, Ms. Marion Hardy

Hurricane Relief Updates

Donors Choose.org is working directly with teachers to help replenish supplies for

their students, both in the classroom and at home. Examples of supplies include such

items as school materials, snacks and clothing for students, safety equipment and

furniture. To request supplies for your students or families. Teachers are encouraged

to apply at www.donorschoose.org/teachers.

Anyone who lost wages during Hurricane Sandy can apply for compensation at

201-601-4100 or apply online at njsuccess.dol.state.nj.us/html/uimain.html

Modest Needs is a registered charity that promotes the self sufficiency of workers by

helping them to afford short-term, emergency expenses in the wake of hardships.

There is immediate assistance for those who lost wages as a result of Hurricane

Sandy. Immediate monies of up to $1500 are available now. Visit

www.modestneeds.org. Newark Public Schools Families who don’t have access to

the internet can call 973-733-7333.

Thirteenth Avenue School

Father’s Club Meeting will be

held on Monday, January 21st

from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Room

321. All concerned Fathers are

urged to attend!!!

Special Needs

Parents Meeting

will be held on

January 31, 2012

6-7 p.m.