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NBOE Teacher Talk


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Message from Dr. Reilly

Dear Teachers and Instructional Staff,

This past weekend, Deputy Superintendent Johnson hosted the 2nd Annual Women’s Leadership Conference. I extend my congratulations to her and her team for providing this opportunity for current and aspiring women leaders of the district. Please note that recordings of the sessions will be shared within the next few weeks. I would also like to congratulate Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Granato, Director Marilyn Mitchell, and Director Mary Harvey for hosting the 1st Annual Special Education Conference and the 2nd Annual Office of Student Life Conference on March 15th.

Your commitment to personal and professional growth is inspiring. As educators, you have the ability to lift others up and inspire them to reach their full potential. Professional development such as these are extremely valuable, and I encourage you to continue participating not just for yourself, but for those you lead and teach.

As you know, the end of the school year is fast approaching, and this is a crucial time for you to use every moment wisely to help our students pass and succeed. To achieve this, I encourage you to be organized and focused. You should have a clear plan for each day, and be flexible enough to adapt to unexpected changes. It will be important to be proactive in identifying areas where students may be struggling and provide targeted support to help them overcome these challenges.

Another critical aspect of this time of year is communication. You must ensure that you are communicating regularly with students and their families. This includes providing updates on their progress, discussing areas of improvement, and offering guidance on how to succeed.

Ultimately, the key to success during this period is to remain positive and focused on the end goal. Every action we take or do not take can have a significant impact on students' success. 

End-of-Year Activities
As we begin preparations for end-of-year activities, please be mindful of already scheduled district-wide events. Below are upcoming events during the month of June:

  • Senior Trip: June 2nd
  • STEM Week (Middle School Only): June 5th - June 9th
  • Math Olympics: June 8th - June 9th
  • Office of Early Childhood Night at the Museum: June 9th
  • Academic Awards Night for the Class of 2023: June 9th
  • Teacher of the Year: June 15th
  • Graduation Ceremonies: June 23rd

Dr. Reilly 


EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS


PREVIOUS ITEMS


Optional Office Hours for Preschool Teachers

Contact: Marialana Juliano, Office of Early Childhood
Email: mjuliano@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Early Childhood will continue to offer Office Hours for Preschool Teachers every Monday through the end of May from 3:15pm-4:15 pm to support with lesson plans, Creative Curriculum, and Assessments. Please click the links below for the complete schedule and Webex link.


ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS


NEW ITEMS


Legends of Learning Spring Break Challenge (New)

Contact: Kathleen Tierney, Office of Science
Email: KTierney@nps.k12.nj.us

Legends of Learning will be posting grade-specific science assignments for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to complete during spring break.  All students who complete the assignments will be entered into a drawing for prizes.  The "challenge" will run from April 7th to April 16th.  Login information can be found on the attached document.


 

Foundational Skills: Measuring Student Progress (New)

Contact: Jazleen Othman, Office of English Language Arts
Email: jothman@nps.k12.nj.us

In the previous session, teachers explored the role of foundational skills in reading success. This session will focus on using formative data to determine students’ strengths and needs in the areas of foundational skills. Teachers will use data to plan high-leverage small group activities and create a plan to monitor student progress during these activities. Please use this link to register.

Dates: April 17th and April 24th

See attached flyer for more information.


PREVIOUS ITEMS


Curriculum Survey

Contact: Jazleen Othman, Office of English Language Arts
Email: jothman@nps.k12.nj.us

We would like to hear from you. Teachers please take a moment to complete this survey regarding ELA curriculum. 


HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS


NEW ITEMS


Adult Education Flyers for High School Classrooms (New)

Contact: Andre Hollis, T&L - Office of Adult Education
Email: a1hollis@nps.k12.nj.us

Attention High School Teachers,

The Office of Adult Education is requesting all high school teachers to print and prominently display this flyer in their classrooms.


PREVIOUS ITEMS


Spring Break Session with Grammy Museum Experience Prudential Center

Contact: Margaret El, Visual and Performing Arts
Email: mel@nps.k12.nj.us

The Grammy Museum Experience Prudential Center will hold their first “in person” Spring Session during the week of spring break. Tuition is free for Newark students.

2023 Spring Session is a 4-day music industry program for students ages 13-18 interested in exploring a career in music. Hosted at GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center in Newark, students can apply for one of the two offered career tracks. The program concludes with a performance showcase for friends and family on the final day.

Registration and detailed information using this link: https://therecordhigh.org/spring-session/


 

2023 NBOE Junior College Fair!

Contact: Vernon Pullins Jr, Office of Student Life
Email: vpullins@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Student Life is excited to announce that we will host the annual NBOE Junior College Fair on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at the Prudential Center located at 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ 07102.

If you have any questions, please contact Vernon Pullins, Jr., Supervisor of High School Guidance at vpullins@nps.k12.nj.us.


ALL TEACHERS


NEW ITEMS


Principal's List Criteria: Grades 3 to 12 (New) (New)

Contact: Roger León, Superintendent
Email: Rleon@nps.k12.nj.us

Please be advised that page 41 of the High School Guidebook (section on Honor Roll) has been updated accordingly. Updates are found in the attachment.


 

Discontinuation of Start Strong Assessments (New)

Contact: Lydia Alvarez, OPPET
Email: LAlvarez@nps.k12.nj.us

The Start Strong assessment was originally piloted in the Fall of 2020 and its administration has continued since then. In the fall of 2021, this assessment was mandated as a mechanism to ensure that districts had access to high-quality, standards-based student data through the suspension of the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA). With the successful reinstatement of the NJSLA in the Spring of 2022, the New Jersey Department of Education will discontinue the Start Strong assessment effective Fall 2023.


 

Apply for Summer Program 2023 Jobs (New)

Contact: Matt Brewster, Office of Staff Development
Email: MBrewster@nps.k12.nj.us

Select Summer Program 2023 positions are currently available on Frontline. Additional positions will be posted in the coming weeks.


 

Transfer Period April 17th – 30th (New)

Contact: Justine Carter, Human Resource Services
Email: j1carter@nps.k12.nj.us

If you are interested in transferring to one of our AMAZING schools, please visit Frontline during the transfer period to apply and express your interest. Hiring managers will review and if your transfer is approved by all parties, notifications will be provided by HRS.


 

The Office of Special Education Updates (New)

Contact: Amy Woods, Office of Special Education
Email: a1woods@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Special Education is pleased to announce that our 5th Annual Autism Acceptance Kickoff date will be on April 3, 2023. The goal of Autism Acceptance Month is for our district staff, students, and families to be more inclusive of our Autism community and to increase understanding and acceptance of children and adults who have Autism. This year's theme will be “Make It Personal, Autism Acceptance.”  

See the attached for upcoming activities, as well as updates on DLM Assessment and ESY Job Postings.


 

Traditional Mentor Training (New)

Contact: Herb Daughtry, Office of Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us

The next mentor training session is scheduled for April 26th between 4-6pm. This session is intended for ALL mentors who have not participated in New Teacher Center training. The session will focus on mentoring for equity and using mentoring language to shift teacher practice, as well as reviewing year-end procedures. Registration Link: https://forms.gle/LXDpPp3sVRraH5BZA


 

PREVIOUS ITEMS


Observance of Ramadan

As you know, Muslims observe Ramadan, which began on Wednesday, March 22 and ends on Friday, April 21. In our continuing efforts to be mindful and respectful of everyone, attached for your convenience, is an infographic from the Superintendent.


 

Superintendent Council of Teachers

Contact: Shamere Williams, Office of the Deputy Superintendent
Email: s21williams@nps.k12.nj.us

Greetings NBOE Teachers,

The Superintendent Council of Meetings are scheduled throughout the year. As the 22-23 school year comes to a close, the Superintendent will be hosting a final meeting (in-person) as outlined below. Be sure to connect with your Principal for the list of teachers who should attend. 

  • Date/Time: Wednesday, May 10th from 8:30am-10:30am
  • Format: In-person at Harold Wilson (190 Muhammad Ali Ave.)
  • Attendees: 1 Elementary Teacher per grade span and 1 High School Teacher per grade

 

Newark Board of Education Career Opportunities

Contact: Elizabeth Vizcaino, Human Resource Services
Email: evizcaino@nps.k12.nj.us

  • Are you looking for a different career opportunity within the Newark Board of Education? 
  • Do you want to use your skills and talents to enhance our district’s goals and partner with students so all learners can achieve their full potential?

We invite you to look at all of the fantastic opportunities the district offers at our Elementary Schools by reviewing this link: Welcome to Newark Board of Education!

For more information about our Schools, please visit this link: https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/schools/

If you have any questions, please contact Teach@nps.k12.nj.us.


 

New Teacher Induction April 4th, 2023

Contact: Dana Moore-Mishoe, Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us

The next New Teacher Induction sessions will take place on Tuesday, April 4th 4-6pm.  All teachers who are new to Newark (regardless of previous years of experience) are expected to attend at least 6 of the 10 monthly sessions that will be offered this year. One of the April 4th sessions will focus on How to develop 3 dimensional Science Tasks, led by the Office of Science. The meeting link and additional session descriptions can be found in the schedule linked here.


 

Are you mentoring a Student Teacher?

Contact: Carlos Reyes, Human Resource Services
Email: c1reyes@nps.k12.nj.us

Please complete the Student Teacher Feedback Form for your Mentee using the link below.* Please note, this form is to only be completed by Cooperating Teachers who currently mentor a Student Teacher. Only one submission is required per Student Teacher. Thanks! 


 

Enter the Peace Islands Institute 2023 Art and Essay Contest

Contact: Margaret El, Office of Visual & Performing Arts
Email: mel@nps.k12.nj.us

Peace Islands Institute (PII) welcomes submissions for its 13th Annual Art & Essay (A&E) Contest. This year’s theme is “The Impact of Social Media on Peace-Building”.

The A&E Contest aims to: 

  1. Bring middle and high school students from around New Jersey together
  2. Promote awareness regarding issues of common concern among New Jersey youth
  3. Facilitate their personal and academic growth through a healthy competitive environment
  4. Inspire them to make positive change in their communities

For more information, please visit the Peace Islands Institute website: http://artandessay.org/


 

Enter "Attendance Matters…Every School Day Counts” District-Wide Poster Contest

Contact: Margaret El, Office of Visual & Performing Arts
Email: mel@nps.k12.nj.us

The Attendance Office is sponsoring an Attendance Poster Contest. Share information and support emerging artists schoolwide to enter this competition. April 4th is the due date. Criteria and judging rubrics attached.

Categories and Awards

  • Each school will select a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner plus two honorable mentions.
  • The school will forward the 1st and 2nd place winners to the District Attendance Poster Contest Committee for review and inclusion in the final stage of the contest
  • 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place will be awarded at the High School and the Elementary School levels.

Attachments:


 

Parent University – Spring 2023!

Contact: Mariah Alston, Office of Federal Programs & Grants
Email: m1alston@nps.k12.nj.us

Parent University is back for the Spring 2023 semester! Families can register to attend virtual, live workshops on various topics from February-May 2023, hosted by experts in their fields. Workshop topics this semester include: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Money Management, Stretching Food Dollars, Time Management, Goal Development, Portion Sizes & More!

Please print, share, post, and distribute the Parent University flyer and encourage families to explore all our website has to offer.

Parent University Website: 
https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/parent-university/

March 2023 Flyer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OkHbVem8kRmt1KZzUYQTrlghi9SA10l6/view?usp=share_link

April 2023 Flyer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kezf2JSnod-XZyZjQCPZGENK1TtUHNiQ/view?usp=share_link


 

FAFSA/NJAFAA

Contact: Mary Leigh Harvey, Student Support Services - Office of Student Life
Email: mharvey@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Student Life is partnering with the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA) to assist members of the Class of 2023 and their parents/guardians to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application (NJAFAA). The next workshop will be conducted in English and Spanish on May 10th via WebEx from 5pm-6pm. 

Please share the links below with students who have not completed the graduation requirement.

School Counselors are available to provide assistance.


 

 

Health Starts Here: Healthy Actions 2023!

Contact: Jennifer Medina, Office of Benefit Services
Email: j1medina@nps.k12.nj.us

Join NBOE-Well for the 2023 Healthy Actions Program!

If an employee obtains two (2) of any of the screenings listed below between January 1st, 2023 through December 31st, 2023*, they will earn a $50 gift card.

  • Annual Physical with lab work
  • Colonoscopy
  • Sigmoidoscopy
  • Immunization/vaccine (flu, H1N1, pneumococcal, hepatitis b, COVID)
  • Routine Dental cleaning
  • Routine Eye exam
  • Well woman/Pap smear
  • Mammogram
  • Prostate Exam

*Please note, if your screening(s) takes place between January 1st, 2023 and December 31st, 2023, you will need to obtain proof on Aetna’s website. 


High School Programs/Academies Transfer Fair Opportunity

Contact: Carlos Reyes, Human Resource Services
Email: c1reyes@nps.k12.nj.us

  • Are you looking for a different career opportunity within the Newark Board of Education? 
  • Do you want to use your skills and talents to enhance our district’s goals and partner with students so all learners can achieve their full potential?

We invite you to look at all of the fantastic opportunities the district offers at the high school level by reviewing this link: High School Programs - Academies: Transfer Fair Opportunity. For more information about our Academies, please visit this link: https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/academies/  


RethinkEd - SEL

Contact: Mary Leigh Harvey, Student Support Services - Office of Student Life
Email: mharvey@nps.k12.nj.us

The RethinkEd platform is utilized by students, parents/guardians, and staff to foster social emotional learning, self-care, and wellness. Trainings continue for school counselors and school social workers focused on addressing the needs of students in relation to the 5 CASEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. 

The spring Student Self-Assessment/Check In will occur from April 17, 2023 - May 19, 2023 for grades 3-12.


 

 

Rethink Ed’s Equity & Inclusion Professional Development Series

Contact: Jennifer Rodriguez, Office of Federal Programs and Grants
Email: j20rodriguez@nps.k12.nj.us

The Rethink Ed’s Equity & Inclusion Professional Development Series is now open for registration through Whetstone! The professional development series will cover 4 different topics and is open to all teachers and support staff from March 7th through March 30th (4PM to 5PM). Participants are eligible to receive their contractual supplemental pay thanks to grant funding. Please see the session descriptions and access the registration links in the attached flyer. For more information, contact j20rodriguez@nps.k12.nj.us.


 

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Teacher Talk will be delivered every other Monday.

The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

To support and encourage highly effective instruction, Teacher Talk synthesizes information and resources that will help NPS teachers meet the expectations of the framework for effective teaching. Please open the form with Firefox or Chrome in order to add attachments.

You may submit items for inclusion in the Teacher Talk newsletter via this form:
https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/departments/communications/teacher-talk-form/

 


 

 

NBOE in the News

Stay informed on everything happening within Newark Public Schools and the Newark Board of Education! Read up on all of the many ways the district is garnering media coverage. 

News StoriesMar 13, 2023: NJSCA Announces 2023 “Counselor of the County” Awards Recipients Press ReleasesMar 21, 2023: MJ The Musical Brings Broadway to Newark’s Michelle Obama Elementary School 


 

NPS Mobile App! 

The district's NPS Mobile App is now available for download for both Apple iOS and Android. With this app you, can:

• Receive Push Notifications when there is inclement weather and school closings

• Track news feeds (powered by your school web site, Facebook and Twitter accounts) at the district and school level

• Look up commonly-sought information directly from the mobile app

 

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