Link Community School, Newark, NJ -- News 2008-2009

Link Community School
120 Livingston Street
Newark, NJ 07103
Tel 973-642-0529
Fax 973-642-1978
admission@linkschool.org
development@linkschool.org

	May 16, 2009 Link shipwrights launch their boat on the Passaic River Link students involved in the after school boat building program with Project U.S.E. successfully launched their wooden canoe, named Cloud 9, in the Passaic River at Riverbank Park in the Ironbound Section of Newark. Students built their vessel over a three month period, learning about the history of the maritime industry, the science of boats and how to use tools to construct a boat. Read the Star-Ledger article about the launch.

	May 14, 2009 Link girls meet with college softball tourney finalists at the Yogi Berra Museum Twenty young girls from Link participated in a program connecting female collegiate athletes with female middle school students hosted by The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Montclair, NJ. The goal of the program, a community service project for the finalist teams in the Division III Softball Championship at Montclair State University, was to inspire the younger girls to consider high school and college sports.For more story and a larger image, click on the photo to the left.

	May, 2009 8th grade students clean up the river bank An important concept at Link is "giving back to others" and every spring the 8th grade class participates in a community service project to do just that. This year, as last, students are working with Project U.S.E. to clean up the banks of the Passaic River at Riverbank Park in the Ironbound Section of Newark. Each of the four 8th grade teams will spend a day at the river and work hard to make the park a better place for all!

	May 5, 2009 Two Linkers meet former President Bill Clinton Jed-Joan Edziah and Quinn Saffold, Link 8th graders, along with Principal Marnie G. McKoy attended an invitation-only reception for former President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. Mr.Clinton spoke about the work of his non-profit foundation which, through the Clinton Global Initiative, addresses the issues of poverty alleviation, global health - particularly AIDS/HIV and malaria, childhood obesity, clean water, economic empowerment, and education. Ms. McKoy and the students were invited by the reception host and friend of Link, Mr. Charles Myers. To learn more about the Clinton Foundation, click here.

	May 5, 2009 Young Link poets to be published Tanajah Baldwin and Mojoanna Pierre, both 7th graders, entered a regional poetry contest earlier this year, and their poems have been chosen by Creative Communication to be published in an anthology entitled A Celebration of Poets. The anthology will be published in about three months. Creative Communication is a company devoted to the promotion of writing, teaching and appreciation of studnt writing. Link is proud of this wonderful achievement by our young poets.

	April 19, 2009 Link student wins Third Place in track meet 8th grader Nixon Provillon, Jr. placed third in the Youth Boys' 200-meter hurdles in a track meet today in the Greenstreakers & Supersonics Track Clubs Developmental Series at Memorial Stadium in New Brunswick. Competing as a member of the Jersey Heat Track Club, a non-profit organization based in Irvington, Nixon also was cited, in an article in the Irvington Herald, for his "personal best" in the Youth Boys' 400-meter and 200-meter dashes.

April 6, 2009 Students participate in mentoring program at Novartis Twelve Link students attended a week-long corporate mentoring program at Novartis Corporation in East Honover, NJ. Over the week, students shadowed executives and participated in a health care policy debate and other experiential activities. The students, selected by Link's science teachers, Mrs. Rosana Chanco and Mr. Errol LaGuerre, were: Alexis Flowers, Anthony Hyatt, Chinedu Okorofor, Jamee Adams, Jed-Joan Edziah, Justin Eke, Kamalpreet Singh, Quinn Saffold, Evelyn Ale, Yasmine Perry, Kriska Desir and Tamara Johnson. Novartis Corporation, a long-time Link supporter, is a world leader in the research and development of products to promote good health, including pharmaceuticals, vaccines, eye care and more.

	March 28, 2009 Link receives donation from sales at Eileen Fisher store in Westfield, NJ Link Community School was the beneficiary of a one-day sale at the Eileen Fisher store in Westfield, NJ today. The connection to the store was made by Geena De Rose, daughter of Link trustee Alan De Rose. Geena, a junior at Kent Place School in Summit, founded a program as her Girl Scout Gold Project, bringing together girls of diverse socio-economic backgrounds – from Kent Place and Link – to dialog on a variety of topics. The donation to Link will be used in part to fund Geena’s program. Thanks to store managers Ms. Robbie Feeney and Ms. Charlene Edmundson for their support of Link.

March 26, 2009 Women share their successes in Empowering Women Program for girls at Link Twenty female adult role models spent the afternoon at Link to share their success stories and advice with Link’s young ladies. The day included a special lunch, a panel of professional women who shared their success stories and advice with the girls and workshops on ways to help one toward success, including poise and presence, nutrition, skin care and interview do’s and don’t. Read the full press release here.

March 26, 2009 Link boys hit the field with the NY Giants for skills and values lessons The NY Giants and Athletes in Action, Inc. hosted the Link boys to an afternoon of skill drills and values lessons at the Practice Dome at the Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. Several Giants football players worked with the boys to help them hone their football skills with a series of six practice drills including tackling, passing, and tackle avoidance while instilling the values of goal setting, sportsmanship, positive peer relationships, and perseverance.

	March 24. 2009 Link boy cagers win basketball championship Link stunned Lady Liberty CS in the Charter School Athletic League Championship for Boys' Basketball. The final score was 50 to 28. Coach Mike Wilson led the Link Panthers, in a season in which the team lost only one game. 8th grader William Joyce, effective on both offense and defense, was named MVP for the game.

	March 13, 2009 Townsend Press donates mini-libraries to Linkers Link students received the gift of books from Mr. John Langan, president of Townsend Press and the non-profit Townsend Foundation in West Berlin, NJ. Each student was presented today with a boxed set of 15 young adult novels from Townsend Press' Bluford Series, to read and share at home as well as use in the classroom. Mr. Langan was motivated to donate a "mini-library" to each of Link's 130 students after seeing Principal Marnie G. McKoy on the recent MSNBC speacial documentary, A Father's Promise, in Feburary. To learn more about the donation, read the full press release here.


	March 9, 2009 Project P.R.I.D.E. visits Link Four young adult inmates from the New Jersey Department of Corrections Project P.R.I.D.E. visited Link today, under guard, to speak with Linkers about how the poor choices they made - drugs and alcohol - landed them in prison and impacted their lives forever. Students had the opportunity to ask questions of the inmates at the end of the presentation.


	March 5, 2009 Link's Annual Summer Opportunities Fair Students had a great time today learning about several summer camp and program opportunities to which they are encouraged to apply for this coming summer so they can broaden their knowledge and skills as well as develop personally over the summer months. Each camp or prgoram offers scholarships to Link students. See some photos from the fair here.


March 5, 2009 Students read to preschoolers at The Apostle House Five Linkers, Erin Saunders, Mojanna Pierre, Taylor Holliman, Jamee Adams, and Kamalpreet Singh, accompanied by Link’s Director of Admission La Toro Yates, visited the Apostle House in Newark to read books to preschoolers. The Apostle House, under the umbrella of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, provides social services to homeless and at-risk families and individuals in Newark.


	March 3, 2009 Dr. George Jenkins addresses Link's young men Dr. Jenkins, of the Three Doctors Foundation, inspired the young men of Link Community School today with his story and advice for the future. He told the boys to dream and prepare for the future, to believe in themselves, surround themselves with positive people and stay focused on their goals. Dr. Jenkins is one of three friends, who as teens bonded together to rise above their environment to focus on school, career and success. Dr. Jenkins' story, along with those of his friends Dr. Sampson Davis and Dr. Rameck Hunt, is chronicled their book, The Pact, Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream.


February 27, 2009 Link celebrates Grandparents' Day and Black History Month The Link family gathered to honor students' grandparents and the achievements of African-Americans past and present at the annual Grandparents' Day and Black History Month celebration. After an inspiring performance by students - music, dance and drama, all joined in a meal prepared by parents. Coming soon: photos and more story from the event! To learn about the school's special Black History Month activities, click here.


	February 19, 2009 Dr. Jeffrey L. Robinson, business scholar, professor, entrepreneur and advocate for community economic development Dr. Jeffrey L. Robinson inspired students and staff today with his talk on excellence. Citing the examples of several individuals who have achieved excellence, he asserted that they did so by following a concept he terms “A Diamond of Excellence”. They were able to combine their passions (“the things you are naturally drawn to”) and gifts (“natural abilities”) with discipline and belief in themselves to ensure their success. All four items are the pieces that come together like a puzzle to result in excellence. But, Dr. Robinson said, “It’s not enough to be excellent, for excellence is just the precursor to significance. Don’t just be great. Be significant. Make a difference.”


February 17, 2009 Link announces receipt of $1M gift Link is the recipient of a $1 million gift, the largest single donation the school has ever received, from an anonymous donor. The gift will provide endowment and capital support for the school. “The timing of this generous gift is so fitting as we celebrate our 40th year serving Newark’s youth and look forward to securing the future of the school for the next generation,” said Marnie G. McKoy, Link Community School Principal. Read the entire press release.


	February 9, 2009 Students learn importance of good character at Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center Twenty-Eight Link eighth graders participated in a character education program at theYogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on the campus of Montclair State University. Students toured the museum and then spoke with a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates about the importance of character in recruiting and life. Representative Donald Payne and Yogi Berra, baseball great, joined former Negro Leasgue player Bob Scott of the New York Black Yankees, to discuss the history of the Negro League and the sacrifice those players made. (Photo of Bob Scott to the left.)


	February 9, 2009 Ms. Lauren Jones, entrepreneur Ms. Lauren Jones admits right up front that her education in business and finance, great as it was, was boring. While shopping for greeting cards to send to her African–American friends and not finding ones that truly represented African-Americans, Ms.Jones had an inspiration: to use the doodles that she drew while suffering through some of those dull classes, she could design her own cards! Thus was born her line of greeting cards featuring a family called The Braided Bunch. Working from her home, Ms. Jones’ online and trade show business has blossomed. She encouraged students to follow their instincts and passions and be creative about their future endeavors.


	February 8, 2009 Link student and principal featured on MSNBC documentary Link 7th grader Heru Kirkland and Principal Marnie McKoy were featured in the MSNBC documentary titled "A Father's Promise" which aired on Sunday, February 8th. The documentary was a follow-up to one called "Labor Day" which ran on NBC's Dateline 12 years ago. The fathers of three children born at University Hospital in Newark on one day were interviewed and promised - in the documentary - to remain active in their childrens' lives. The 2009 documentary re-visits the fathers and their children to see if those promises were kept. Heru and his dad are interviewed and Link Principal Marnie McKoy participated in the film in a roundtable discussion of the important role of fathers. See more at MSNBC's site...the original documentary and clips from the new one.


	January 30, 2009 Linkers visit the Microsoft Technology Center Thanks to the United Way of Essex and West Hudson and the Microsoft Corporation, 30 Linkers visited Microsoft’s Technology Center in New York City. During a day long program, students learned about Microsoft, careers in technology, and the technology behind some of the latest and greatest MS products.


	January 20, 2009 Link student attends Presidential Inauguration Link 7th grader Oscar Gomez received a scholarship from the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference (PYIC) to attend their conference, along with 2000 other students from across the country, and witness first-hand the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. The PYIC, a youth leadership program sponsored by the non profit, non partisan Congressional Youth Leadership Council Foundation, is designed to “educate, motivate and inspire students by giving then a deeper understanding of the electoral history of the United States, as well as their role in democracy.” Oscar received the scholarship to attend based on his achievement and leadership potential. Read more about what Oscar states was a "marvelous" experience.


	January 20, 2009 Link celebrates the inauguration of President Barack Obama To mark the occasion of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, students at Link staged a very special assembly with guidance from Vice Principal Keisha Cleveland-Baptiste. The program lifted up the historic moment - the election of the first African American as president - in light of the founding fathers' promise of justice, liberty and equality for all. Click here for more about the assembly.


	January 19, 2009 Dr. Martin Luther King's Birthday During Morning Circle on the Friday, January 16, a group of students honored the occasion of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, reading excerpts from his speeches. 8th grader Jamee Adams wrote an original poem embracing and extending the dream of Dr. King. Read Jamee's poem here.


	January 23, 2009 PlaySmart Inc. Director speaks to Link girl cagers Suzy Digby, executive director of PlaySmart, Inc. visited Link and addressed the girls’ basketball team. She spoke of her experience playing the game – through high school in North Carolina and in college for Washington University in St Louis. She stressed the importance of teamwork as the key to a successful season. PlaySmart, Inc. was been a partner of Link’s for many years now, with summer programming and the Junior Golf Academy.


	January 13, 2009 Eaton Charitable Foundation presents grant to Link Eaton Charitable Foundation, represented by Ms. Cynthia Beresh-Bryant, Division Human Resources Manager, Filtration Division and Mr. Bruce Henderson, Leadership Development Program Participant, Human Resources, Fluid Power Group presented Principal Marnie McKoy with a check for a grant of $10,000 for the school’s operating budget for the 2008-2009 school year. This is the third year of support from the foundation, the philanthropic arm of Eaton Corporation, a diversified power management company with headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.


	January 4, 2009 Linkers gain new instrumental music program A new instrumental music program was recently launched at Link. Currently 20 students are taking lessons on various instruments including the flute, violin, cello, guitar, piano, clarinet, drums, trumpet and trombone, taught by classically trained musicians. The program is funded by a grant from the Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation and was established at Link by Lenore Davis, professional classical pianist and friend of the school, in collaboration with Derek Mithaug of the Judith G. Wharton Music Center in Berkeley Heights.Read the entire press release. (Photo: Bill Ash on trumpet and trombone, Lenore Davis, Ngozi Emenyeonu,Judy Kang on violin, Jeremy Eig on clarinet, Julietta Curenton on flute, Marnie McKoy.)


[ view slideshow ]	December 12, 2008 Link celebrates the holidays Students and their families participated in the annual Link Holiday Celebration. Ms. Sahirah Johnson's drama class performed a play, compiled from several monologues with the addition of some original writing, celebrating family, friends and their different cultures and religions. Read more and view photos.


	December 5, 2009 New film about Link, A Matter of Justice, previewed by Linkers An excited and eager group of alumni and current students gathered in Link's gym to preview the new film commissioned for Link's 40th anniversary, A Matter of Justice. A discussion was held after the film aired. Marvin Wagstaff, Class of '07, remarked that he "appreciated the efforts of the founders to make certain there was a safe and nurturing middle school in Newark, one where I was able to grow and develop." Click here to view the film.


[ view slideshow ]	November 12, 2008 A Taste of Newark benefits Link and honors Prudential Financial Link Community School held its annual fundraising gala, A Taste of Newark, on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Over 400 guests, including Newark’s Mayor Cory Booker, shared in the festivities commemorating a special milestone in the school’s history -- Link’s 40th anniversary, while also honoring its long-time partner -- Prudential Financial, which has provided support to Link over many years. Read more and view slideshow. View a list of the participating restaurants and the major donors to the event.


October 27, 2008 Principal McKoy and Link Trustee Lenore Davis interviewed on WBGO On the WBGO Journal, Doug Doyle, news director at WBGO 88.3 FM, engaged Marnie McKoy and Lenore Davis, Link trustee and benefit co-chair in a discussion of the school's upcoming gala event, A Taste of Newark. Listen to the entire interview!


[ view large ]	October 23, 2008 Principal McKoy honored for Leadership in Education On October 24, the Greater Essex County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. hosted its bi-annual Harvest Ball which benefits three non-profits organizations in Newark. This year, Link Principal Marnie G. McKoy was honored for Leadership in Education, and Link was selected as one of the beneficiaries of the evening's proceeds. The black tie ball was held at the Newark Club. Click here for larger image and caption.


[ view slideshow ]	September 29, 2008 Link celebrates 40 years at birthday bash Students, alumni, parents, past and present staff, trustees and friends gathered for a birthday party on September 29th to celebrate a milestone event for the school -- its 40th year of innovation and achievement in educating youth from Newark and the surrounding areas. The party, held on Link's Founder's Day, kicked off a year-long celebration of the school's anniversary and honored the founders and the legacy they created. Click here for photos from the party.


September 29, 2008 Link Principal Marnie McKoy serves on panel in MSNBC Documentary On September 29, 2008 Link Principal Marnie McKoy participated in a panel with Mayor Cory Booker, Tiki Barber, Reverend Eugene Rivers and Dr. Melissa Harris-Lacewell. The panel was moderated by TV personality Al Roker as part of a future edition of NBC's Dateline. The show is a follow-up to one that aired 12 years ago featuring fathers of several newborns at Newark's University Hospital and will explore the development of their relationships with their children. A Link family is highlighted in the piece. To read more about the taping and see a photo of the panel, view the Mayor's blog at http://blog.corybooker.com/?m=200809.


	September 16, 2008 Guest speaker motivates students Author and motivational speaker Alan Wiliams spoke to Linkers this morning about humility and teamwork, drawing upon some of his experiences on the Wake Forest University's basketball team, the Demon Deacons. Mr. Williams' heartfelt message, laced with stories about his teammates and himself, awed the students. Speaking as the "worst player" on the team...a member who sat on the bench more often than not....Mr. Williams learned that being a part of something bigger (a team) was inspiring and fulfilling; that it is not important to be remembered for the "points you made, but the kind of person you are"; and that one needs to think of others(the team) and not just one's self. Mr. Williams wrote Walk-On: Life from the End of the Bench based on his experiences and faith and is currently writing another. For more, visit his website at www.teammatesfirst.org .


September 14, 2008 Families come "back to school" with potluck supper and candy drive kickoff Although the day was swelteringly hot, Link families and staff gathered together to begin the new school year at Link's first Back To School event. Parents met their children's advisors,mingled with each other and enjoyed a fine meal that they provided for the day. Mr. Devon Jackson, dean of students, rolled out the new Paycheck system of discipline and Mr. Pryce Mandel, IT director, explained how parents can access their children's school records through the website. The second and last Back to School event, to be held on Wednesday, October 15 from 4:30 - 7:30 pm, will give parents the opportunity to meet individual teachers and enjoy a "mini-lesson" in core subjects.


	September 10, 2008 Students represent Link at golf fundraiser for NJ Goals Ahead Four Linkers - Quinn Saffold, Nnamdi Nwaoduh, Justin Eke and Jamee Adams, who had participated in the NJ Goals Ahead Ice Hockey Program last spring - were invited to attend the organization's annual fundraiser, the "More Than a Dream" Golf Event at Ballyowen Golf Club in Hamburg, NJ. They met Willie O'Ree (in photo with Linkers Jamee Adams and Quinn Saffold) , the first Black player in the National Hockey League and currently NHL's Director of Youth Development and "ambassador" for NHL Diversity. NJ Goals Ahead has partnered with Link for three years, providing weekly hockey classes along with lessons in teamwork, responsibility and character development. For more about NJ Goals Ahead, go to www.njgoalsahead.com.


	September 3 and 4, 2008 Link opens its doors to the 2008-2009 school year 130 students arrived eager and excited to start the new school year. On the opening days, students reacclimated to Link, received supplies and books and met their new teachers. In the spirit of teamwork and cooperation, each community developed its own cheer and all were presented at an assembly on Friday of the first week. In addition to the new and returning students, Link welcomed four new staff members: Mr. Dane Lewsi (7th grade math), Ms. Katrina Wade (7th grade English), Mr. Kraig Obadashian (8th grade English) and Mr. Devon Jackson, dean of students.


	September, 2008 Donors provide school supplies to Link students Each year Link distributes basic school supplies that students need for the year and this summer Link received some gifts that helped accomplish just that. Mitch Cahn, owner of Unionwear/NJ Headwear Corp. in Newark, NJ generously donated backpacks displaying the purple and gold school logo for all students. Last spring, Mr. Cahn hosted a group of Link students who were enrolled in a business entrepreneurship elective class at his factory.
	Additionally, a group of students from Washington Elementary School in Westfield, NJ raised $900 which they used to purchase books, binders, notebooks, art supplies and volleyball equipment for Link. Olivia McElheny, Evan McElheny and Jack Schlidge (left to right in the photo) were some of the students involved in the fundraising and visited the school with Mrs. Barbara McElheny (a Washington Elementary school parent/committee member) to present their gifts to Principal Marnie G. McKoy.


	August 21, 2008 Link staff prepares for the new school year at annual retreat Teachers and administrative staff started off the new school year with a refreshing retreat at Stella Maris Retreat Center in Elberon, NJ. Under the leadership of Mr. Mike Bagley from Project U.S.E., staff explored their wide diversity of styles through initiative games and exercises, coming to the conclusion that while individuals may exhibit different styles, a variety of styles are complementary in a group and can work togetrher toward one mission - the Link mission.


	August 20, 2008 Students return from school in The Bahamas Ten Linkers spent a great week at The Island School in Cape Eleuthera, The Bahamas learning about island ecosystems, sustainability and Bahamian culture while having fun exploring the island and enjoying water activities including snorkeling and SCUBA diving. After school ended in June, students prepared for the trip with lessons led by their two chaperones, Link's science teachers Rosana Chanco and Errol LaGuerre and then shared their experiences with the entire student body during the first week of school.Click here to read student Jamee Adams' essay about her experience at The Island School. Link is grateful to The Island School (www.islandschool.org) for providing this opportunity for students and to our donors who made it possible. Special thanks to Jeff Johnson and Divers Alert Network (www.diversalertnetwork.org) for providing insurance pro bono to our student during their stay on the island.


August 15, 2008 Link alums selected for NJLEEP college-bound program Five graduates of Link's Class of 2008 - Jabir Brinkley, Gilberto Aviles, Jordan Bennett-Spearman, Kyrsten Fowlkes, and Zaniyyah Ashby - have been accepted into the NJLEEP (New Jersey Law and Education Empowerment Project) year-round college-bound program. The program provides academic support, mentoring and exposure to positive role models through their four years of high school - all to help students on thier way to success. These students were selected based on their performance and accomplishments in NJLEEP's five week Summer Law Institute this past summer. To learn more about NJLEEP, visit their website at www.njleep.org .


[ view slideshow ]	July 31, 2008 Summer session ends on a celebratory note Students new to Link ended their month-long summer session today with a closing ceremony, lifting up the accomplishments of all participants. The ceremony, attended by students and their families, provided a snapshot of the programs and activities that have prepared the students for the upcoming school year and engaged them in a meaningful summer experience. Read more and view slideshow . . .


[ view slideshow ]	July 28, 2008 Golfers enjoy their day in the sun! Over 100 golfers enjoyed the challenging course at Metedeconk National Golf Club during the 7th Annual Link Community School Golf Outing on Monday, July 28th. The event, chaired by Link Trustee Bob Bertoni, raised over $170,000 for the school�s operating budget for this school year. View slideshow . . .


July 25, 2008 Link student wins first place in golf tournament Deja Rudolph, Link 8th grader, won first place in the female/under 13 category at the US Youth Games in Oakland, California recently. Deja has been golfing since the age of 4 and has competed successfully in quite a number of tournaments including the US Youth Games through the years. For more information about the US Youth Games, go to their website at www.usyouthgames.com


[ view slideshow ]	July 16, 2008 Goldman Sachs exposes Linkers to Wall Street through a financial literacy program Linkers gained valuable knowledge about the field of finance during a day-long Economic Empowerment Conference, a program of workshops and exercises, conducted by 14 employees of Goldman Sachs on Wednesday, July 16. The program presenters, who are part of the Goldman Sachs Community Team Works Volunteers, spent the entire day with Link sharing their expertise and experience. Read more and view slideshow . . .


[ view slideshow ]	July 11, 2008 S.T.R.O.N.G. prepares young men at Link for the future Onaje Crawford, program director, and four young high school students from NJLEEP brought the S.T.R.O.N.G. program to Link in the form of a workshop for our young men. S.T.R.O.N.G. (Striving to Reunite Our Next Generation) is a "rites of passage" type program with a focus on developing a positive "male code" and positive values as a means to better success for urban males. Read more and view slideshow . . .


[ view slideshow ]	July 8, 2008 Summer session students perform community service at food bank Part of the culture at Link is to "give back to the community" and the students in the summer session did that in a big way by volunteering at the Community Food Bank in Hillside, NJ this summer. Read more and view slideshow . . .


[ view slideshow ]	July 1, 2008 Summer session readies new students for the upcoming school year Eighty-one new Link students started their month-long summer session today -- a program designed to help students acclimate to the school, to provide assessment opportunities and, most generally, to prepare them so that on Day One in September they can hit the ground running. It's also a great time for the students, who come from many different elementary schools in and around Newark, to meet and grow comfortable with each other before school starts. Read more and view slideshow . . .