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

News

Friday, February 19, 2010 Link’s African dancers perform at City Hall At the invitation of The African Commission of the City of Newark, a group of Link’s African dancers, led by drummer and teacher Jerome Hunter, performed at a special program at City Hall, called “Dismantling the Imaginary Borderline Among Africans.” Dancers had the opportunity to meet the Honorable Donald Payne, U.S. Congressman, who was the keynote speaker at the event.

Friday, February 19, 2010 8th graders go to Prudential for a special program The Black Leadership Forum, a volunteer group at Prudential Financial, presented LearnDoEarn – a program on goal setting and the importance of academics and good decision making to Link 8th graders at Pru’s offices on Broad Street in Newark

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Link’s Board announces new head of school The Link Community School Board of Trustees announced the selection of Maria Pilar Paradiso as the new head of school. Click here for the press release about this important appointment.

Tuesday. February 9, 2010 Summer camp and program reps speak to Linkers At Link’s annual Summer Opportunities Fair today, representatives from eight summer camps and programs met with Link students to talk about the opportunities their camps/programs are offering in the summer of 2010. The camps in attendance were: Appel Farm Art Camp, Brantwood Camp, Camp Border Collie, Camp Vacamas, Project U.S.E. Summer Trek, Frost Valley YMCA Camp, NJ Playwrights Summer Creative Academy, and NJIT summer and pre-college programs. All of the camps offer full or partial scholarships for students to attend.

	Thursday, February 4, 2010 Young female engineer inspires Link ladies Kari Brown, national secretary of the National Society of Black Engineers and PhD candidate (mechanical engineering) at Michigan Technological University spoke to a group of 15 female students today. She came to Link through Mr. Tony Howell, Executive Director of Education Opportunities Program at NJIT. Ms. Brown cleverly convinced the girls they are all “engineers” and could very well move into that male-dominated field as she is and she also spoke with them regarding the importance of conveying a good image at all times.

	Wednesday, January 27, 2010 Girls’ Mentoring Group visits Montclair business and university A group of ten 8th grade girls, members of the Wednesday Girls’ Lunch Mentoring Group, had the opportunity to visit a business and a college in Montclair as part of their ongoing theme of exploring careers. Mrs. Margo Walter, Link trustee and the girls’ mentor, arranged the trip itinerary and activities. Photo: Dr. Susan Cole of Montclair State Univerosty speaks with students. Click here to read more about the trip.

	Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Link alumni edged out students in an exciting basketball game At the annual Alumni-Student basketball game, alumni managed one more basket to win an exciting, closely played game. The game is part of the annual Homecoming Week activities, when alumni are encouraged to visit Link.

	December 10, 2009 8th graders visit Montclair Art Museum All of the 8th graders and their teachers, led by Mrs .Keva Berutti, art teacher, visited the Montclair Art Museum to view an exhibit on the influence of Cezanne’s painting in American Modern Art. The trip was possible through the generosity of Margo and Frank Walter. Click here to read more about the trip.

	November 17, 2009 SmartBoard technology draws visitors to Link The Assistive Technology Support Team of the Department of Children and Families of the NJ Office of Education visited Link today to see the application of SmartBoard technology in the classroom. Karen Guilmartin, Rosemarie Fitzpatrick and Norman Rothstein visited math, science and history classrooms where teachers and students were actively using the SmartBoards for their lessons. The team will be installing Smartboards and curriculum in over 30 locations in NJ. to assist in special needs/altenrative education instruction using technology. Link is a showcase school for Smart Technology.


	November 12, 2009 A Taste of Newark is a great success! Link Community School held its major fundraiser, A Taste of Newark 2009, on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at NJPAC. With the generosity of donors supporting the event – individuals, corporations, and foundations – the event raised over $700,000, which comprises about one-quarter of the school’s operating budget. Over 500 guests shared in the festivities celebrating the school as well as honoring a long-time Link friend and trustee, Margo Walter of Montclair. Read more...


October 30, 2009 Link staff announces new student award Adonis Blue, Link’s dean of students, announced the establishment of a new student award – the Panther Award. Each month staff will select one 7th and one 8th grade students as the recipient of this award. They will choose students who are maintain good grades, live the Core Values consistently, and are an excellent role model for their peers. Congratulations to this first month’s recipients, Fakrat Alapa ’11 and Oscar Gomez ‘10.


	October 30, 2009 Pingry students spend day in service at Link Thirty students and staff from The Pingry School in Martinsville, NJ visited Link as part of their Community Service Day. Several students assisted Technology Director Pryce Mandel in the computer lab setting up computers and organizing cables. Others worked on sorting books and still others assembled packets of admissions materials. Link is grateful for the time and effort our friends from Pingry!


October 21, 2009 Board chair updates Link community on head of school search Wendy Lacey, on behalf of the Link Board of Trustees, has announced in a letter to staff and parents that the board is conducting a national search for Link's next head of school. Read Mrs. Lacey's entire letter here.


	October 8, 2009 Link hosts High School Night for students and parents Over forty high schools participated in Link's High School Night, where students and their parents had the opportunity to meet with representatives to learn about the schools' programs. Also in attendance were reps from enrichment programs, including Wight Foundation, NJ SEEDS and A Better Chance (ABC). At left, student Oscar Gomez and his father speak with a rep from St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City.


	October 6, 2009 Summit Junior Fortnightly Club present check to Link from their very successful charity event The Summit Junior Fortnightly Club presented interim head of school Maria Pilar Paradiso with a check for over $14,000 tonight. The check represented the proceeds of that organization's annual Tot Trot,a community event that raises funds for nonprofits. Each year SJF Club selects a different non-profit and this year Link was their chosen recipient. Despite rain at the start of the day, many families came out to support this vibrant community service organization and have fun with the children’s races, games, petting zoo, barbeque and much more. We are so grateful to the Summit Junior Fortnightly Club and the members who organized this event, including Karen Sanyour, Cindy Schluter and Jenny Wimsatt; and to the Summit community for their support of the event.


Photo, left to right, Mr. Hantson, Mrs. Wells and Mr. Rigby	October 1, 2009 Novartis CEO and NJ Secretary of State visit Link Ludwig Hantson, CEO and head of Pharma North America, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation visited Link Community School in the Central Ward of Newark on October 1, 2009 as part of Novartis’ annual Community Partnership Day. Joining Mr. Hantson was Secretary of State Nina B. Wells, whose participation kicked off the state’s Volunteer Month initiative. Additionally several Novartis volunteers made science and career presentations to classes during the day. Read more here.


	September 25, 2009 Link celebrates its 41st year serving youth At the close of day, students, staff, faculty and alumni observed the 41st anniversary of the founding of Link Community School by the Sisters of St. Dominic today. Head of School Maria Pilar Paradsio spoke to the assembled group and then everyone sang "Happy Birthday" and enjoyed cake!


September 24, 2009 The "Young Generation" gets involved at Link The Sea Grill, at Rockefeller Plaza, served as a great venue to introduce Link Community School to some young professionals eager to begin supporting something they believe in. Brought together by a few trustees, including Ellen Cohen, Ron Temple and Andrew Lacey, on September 24th, guests had an opportunity to hear a bit about the school, talk with interim head of school Maria Pilar Paradiso, and discuss ways they can get involved to support the mission of the school. Afterwards, two groups came out to Newark , escorted by Ellen Cohen, Kathleen Boatman and Andrew Lacey, and visited the school to see firsthand the work of Link Community School. We look forward to working with this passionate group as we serve youth from Newark and the surrounding urban communities.


September 23, 2009 Link Board of Trustees hosts reception for faculty and staff To celebrate the start of the new school year, the Link Board of Trustees hosted a reception for faculty and staff. After a welcome from Board Chairperson Wendy Lacey, board members “mixed and mingled” talking about the exciting things happening at the school.


	September 22, 2009 8th Grade English class memorializes their camping trip At morning circle today, eighth grade students unveiled a “timeline” - a project to capture the essence of their recent three-day camping trip. The timeline project was created in Mrs. Toes’ English and Mrs. Berutti’s Art classes. Each student wrote three special memories from the trip and then chose one to illustrate for the timeline of the event, beginning with their departure from the school on Wednesday, September 8th through their return late on Friday, September 10th. The timeline will remain on the wall in Mrs. Toes’ classroom for the remainder of the school year. Click here to see photos of the project.


	September 8-10, 2009 8th Graders “build community” at camp The entire 8th grade class camped for three days/two nights on Wildcat Mountain in northern NJ. The purpose of the activity was for bonding and teambuilding as the students enter the new school year as well as to provide an experience – camping – that many Linkers have never had. Students participated in hiking and backpacking, challenged themselves through team initiative activities, wall climbing, high ropes, rock climbing course, zip lines and more. Students slept in tents, prepared their own meals and collected firewood in true backwoods camping style


September 17, 2009 Link Board begins search for Head of School The Link Board of Trustees has begun the process of identifying a new Head of School. To assist in this endeavor, they have engaged Educational Direction Incorporated (EDI), a national consulting firm that has experience with independent schools. Representatives from EDI will be at Link next week for discussions with parents, faculty, staff, trustees and some students about the opportunities and challenges facing Link in the future and the leadership qualities important to the school. Click here for a letter about the search from Board Chairperson Wendy Lacey.


	September 9, 2009 Opening Day! The doors at Link opened to 133 eager students this morning. Seventh graders moved directly to Morning Circle and then on to meet their teachers and learn about expectations. Eighth graders departed by bus for Project U.S.E.’s Wildcat Mountain Wilderness Center in northern NJ for their outdoor education trip. This annual event for 8th graders features a three-day overnight camping trip with team building and bonding as their focus.


	August 31, 2009 Staff ready for the new school year In keeping with tradition, Link faculty and staff began the new school year at a retreat on August 31st at Morristown-Beard School in Morristown where they explored, with the guidance of Mike Bagley and Bob Goger from Project U.S.E., ways to enrich the educational experience for our students. The day, full of fun initiative games and deep discussions, is always a great bonding experience for new and veteran staffers alike…a wonderful, inspiring way to start off the new school year!


	July 30, 2009 Closing ceremony celebrates student achievements The Closing Ceremony for Link’s Summer Academy 2009 provided a glimpse into the summer program for families and celebrated the accomplishments of students. After welcoming comments by Ms. Ngozi Emenyeonu, Link’s director of Annual Fund, and Mr. Tony Hill, director of the Summer Academy 2009, deserving students received certificates of achievement in the academic subjects - writing, math, reading, study skills/technology and dramatic literature as well as for Core Values, perfect attendance and leadership from staff. Students performed based on the elective classes they took over the month: Chorus, Poet’s Period, Fashion, African Dance, Spoken Word, Karate and Dramatic Lit.



	July 30, 2009 Summer Academy students donate food to those in need Students were slated to work for a day at the Community Foodbank of New Jersey in Hillside today, but unfortunately torrential rains flooded the basement of the food bank’s building, closing it for a day. Students still had the opportunity to help the bank; they brought in donations of canned goods and boxed food to be delivered at a later date. The picture at the left shows a few Linkers with just some of the many items donated, thanks to the generosity of the students’ families.



July 28, 2009 Interim Head of School named by Link's Board The Link Board of Trustees has appointed Maria Pilar Paradiso as the Interim Head of School after Marnie McKoy's resignation this summer. Ms. Paradiso has been employed at Link for the past eight years, serving as Vice Principal, Director of Institutional Advancement. Read the letter here from Board Chariperson Wendy Lacey about this transition.


	July 28, 2009 Guests share their powerful stories with Linkers On July 28th, Ms. Janeen T. Uzzell, director of Service Operations at General Electric Healthcare, and Mr. Alex Ellis, author, speaker, entrepreneur and president of a non-profit organization called “Tied to Greatness” TM, spoke to the girls and boys respectively about leadership and success. Sharing their stories and experiences, the guests gave tremendous advice and counsel to young people about determination and commitment as keys to success.


	July 27, 2009 Link golf outing raises funds for scholarships After torrential rains during much of June and July, sunny skies welcomed the 129 golfers who attended the 8th Annual Link Community School’s Golf Outing, held on July 27th, at the prominent Metedeconk National Golf Club in Jackson, New Jersey. This annual summer event raises critical funds for Link students, all of whom are dependent on scholarships to enable them to attend the school. Thanks to the Benefit Committee, chaired by Link trustee Bob Bertoni, and all of the event supporters, $212,000 was raised at this year’s event. Click here to view photos of the day. Click here for a list of the event sponsors.


	July 24, 2009 Vaughn McKoy inspires boys to leadership Vaugh McKoy, Esq., director of Customer Service and Community Development at PSE&G in Newark, met with the young men of the Summer Academy 2009 to talk about leadership. Mr. McKoy explained to the boys that “everyone is a leader because everyone influences others in many ways” and that it is important to make certain that “your leadership has a positive effect on others.”


	July 1, 2009 New students acclimate to Link during the Summer Academy 2009 Seventy-one students began preparing for the upcoming school year during the Link Summer Academy 2009. Required for all students new to Link – both 7th and 8th graders – the Academy introduces students to Link’s culture and traditions so their entry into the school in the fall is seamless and they are able to focus immediately on their academics. It’s also a great time for students, coming from many different elementary schools to meet and become a community and for staff to assess students’ skills levels. Students attend the academy four and a half hours per day during the month of July and participate in classes in writing, math, study skills/technology, reading and literature as well as elective courses such as karate, African dance, poetry and more. Thanks to The Prudential Foundation 2009 Summer Grants for Youth Initiative and PlaySmart, Inc. for providing funding for Link's summer session.