Being in the presence of learning at schools these past two weeks has been a joy. As we continue to make our rounds, I want to direct your attention to the district’s academic walkthrough expectations. This document can assist you to organize learning environments and assist with planning. Attention to the domains can help you ensure that essential components are present in your classrooms, such as the use of notebooks and questioning techniques. Please use the link below to become aware, if not already, of the other five domains.
All individuals aged 12 and older who live, work or study in NJ are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. Pre-registration is available but not required. Walk-ins are welcome. Parents must give consent for their child during the registration process.
Newark Residents can go to any of our district sites to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Please help us spread the word about the 35th Annual Title I Parent Conference scheduled to take place virtually on Saturday, December 4, 2021.
The conference will offer sessions in multiple languages on an array of topics such as Financial Aid, Autism Awareness, Safely Navigating Technology, American Sign Language, and more. The first 500 individuals to register for the conference will be able to submit their information to receive a Swag Bag.
Registration is now open and can be completed online, here.
Contact: Elizabeth A. Haden,Office of Policy, Planning, Evaluation and Testing Email: EHaden@NPS.K12.NJ.US
On Monday November 22, 2021, Cycle 1 Reporting Term will be locked at close of business. All grades and comments must be finalized in PowerTeacher Pro by the end of the school day.
Please be guided by the information in the attached document to prepare for the storing of Cycle 1 grades November 29th, 2021. The deadline date of grade submissions is November 22nd. Grade changes after this date require a grade change form submission to your administrator. If you have questions or concerns, please consult with your administrator(s) and or PowerSchool clerk.
The December New Teacher Development session will take place on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 between 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Teachers who are new to Newark (regardless of previous experience) are expected to attend 7 of the 10 monthly sessions. The Office of Educator Effectiveness will facilitate this session which will focus on a review and planning for improvement before Annuals.
Teachers! Look out for the upcoming Ed Plan (formerly known as EasyIEP) which now has a new user interface for PLAAFP and IEP Goals/Objectives.
Upcoming Event: Inclusive Schools Week is celebrated during the first week of December from 12/6 to 12/10. An Inclusive Schools Template is included in the newsletter linked below so that you can shout out your students and staff.
The DLM IE Fall Assessment window will close on December 17th. Teachers who are testing students should download and save the data from the Kite Portal. Please see the attached.
The second Mentor Training will take place on Wednesday, December 8th @ 4:00pm. All non-NTC mentors are expected to attend this session. Please register for the training session using the following link.
Meeting Link Meeting Number: 2620 525 2291 Password: mentor21
Contact: Julianne Bello, Extended Learning Time-Office of Teaching and Learning Email: jbello@nps.k12.nj.us
To ensure successful student outcomes, the Office of Teaching and Learning has provided all Tutoring Coordinators with materials, including a video, to train their tutors. All tutors must receive the training, including the completion of a verification survey, no later than Wednesday, November 24, 2021.
Contact: Heather Lieberman, Office of Teaching and Learning, ELA Email: hlieberman@nps.k12.nj.us
The Office of ELA is offering after-school office hours. Please click the link below to access the Webex information for each session. ELA office hours will be held Tuesday from 3:00PM - 3:45PM.
K-1 Notice of Incoming Materials: Blank alphabet books are being delivered to any school that has not yet received them. You will find more information regarding the books linked below.
Contact: Heather Lieberman, The Office of Teaching and Learning, ELA Email: hlieberman@nps.k12.nj.us
Word walls are an important feature in early elementary classrooms. Check out the linked document for helpful guidelines and tips for making your word wall wonderful for students.
Get Back to Benefits and enroll in your Newark Board of Education (NBOE) benefits from anywhere you can access the Internet, here. You have from now until December 1, 2021 to make elections for benefits, or elect/reelect into the Flexible Spending Account or Dependent Care Account, taking effect January 1, 2022.
Information on NBOE HR Connection site (site key: NBOE):
The Certification Team has available Virtual Office Hours for the month of November and December. Please register using the following link to chat live with a representative about your certification needs.
New Jersey Youth Poet Laureate Competition Accepting Submissions(New)
Contact: Margaret El, Visual & Performing Arts Email: mel@nps.k12.nj.us
The New Jersey Youth Poet Laureate competition is now accepting submissions for young artists to share and perform their original works for adjudication. Participants are eligible for special masterclass opportunities, prizes (including publication), and the chance to compete for the National Youth Poet Laureate title.
Submissions close Dec. 31, 2021.
Must be a resident of New Jersey, open to writers ages 13-19. Finalists notified by January 19, 2022. Commencement performance will take place live at Newark Symphony Hall on February 25, 2022. For more information and registration link, click here.
Enter the NJDOT 2022 International Aviation Art Contest (New)
Contact: Margaret El, Visual & Performing Arts Email: mel@nps.k12.nj.us
This annual event is an initiative to engage students and to challenge young people to illustrate the importance of aviation through art. The theme for this year is “Design Your Perfect Aircraft”. Is it a glider, a jet, helicopter, or a hot air balloon? What would power it through the sky? Would it be big or small? What special features would make pilots and passengers excited to be in the air?
Students between the ages of 6 and 17. Entries with incomplete information will be disqualified. Details are attached.
Virtual Home Instruction is Now Open to All Teachers.
Effective immediately, NBOE teachers may apply to provide virtual home instruction to students eligible for services. Home instruction provides continuity of educational services for students outside of regular school hours. Monday thru Friday, for 1 to 2 hours, beginning at 4:00 pm. Hourly rate - $40/hour, if interested click on the link below and complete the Google Form.
The mission of the "All Kids to Calculus" program is to provide elementary school teachers a minimum of 30 credit hours of baccalaureate mathematics courses in order to provide Algebra 1 to Grade 8 students in all NBOE schools, thereby ensuring all students have the opportunity to reach Calculus.
Tuition, fees, and textbooks are paid for by NBOE.
The next course in Spring 2022 is Pre-Calculus. If you've previously had College Algebra and would like to join the current cohort in January 2022, complete the google interest form at the link (here).
This confirms that robocalls to parents/guardians of absent and tardy students will be re-established in the coming week.
Per prior protocol, this requires that Homeroom attendance must be taken and submitted in PowerTeacher Pro before 9:30 a.m. Another call and/or e-mail message will be sent to students’ parents again after 4:30 p.m.
We anticipate 100% participation from all teachers. Thank you.
[High Schools: All students' attendance must be taken every period - except LUNCH]
Submit Student Art to Statewide Student Art Project
Contact: Margaret El, Visual and Performing Arts Email: mel@nps.k12.nj.us
New Jersey Department of Education Announces Statewide Student Art Project:
Students are encouraged to submit artwork reflecting the theme of “Hope, Healing and Resilience Through the COVID-19 Pandemic”
New Jersey students from Preschool through 12th Grade (ages three through 21) are eligible to submit an art piece. Artwork may be submitted by the students, guardians, or educators on their behalf. Artwork may be created in a variety of two-dimensional (2-D) media that do not exceed one inch in depth.
Application information available using this link.
Please note: if you are unable to attend in-person, the recordings will be posted. If you have additional questions please email the Benefits Team at benefits@nps.k12.nj.us
The Office of Mathematics is hosting the Math & Art Desmos contest for the 2021-2022 school year. Students enrolled in Grade 6 through Calculus are encouraged to participate as creating art in Desmos Graphing Calculator provides students with an opportunity to express their creativity while simultaneously reinforcing mathematics understanding of concepts ranging from rational numbers to functions. Submissions are due April 29, 2022.
More detailed information can be accessed using this link.
Whil, a digital training platform for mindfulness, resilience, and mental & emotional wellbeing has been purchased as part of the CDC Supplemental grant funding.
All NBOE employees, regardless of role, can utilize this platform free of charge for the 2021-2022 school year. In an effort to address the shift of moving from hybrid back to in-person learning, the WHIL app provides digital courses on meditation, reducing stress and anxiety, improving physical health, taking short breaks, and more. Please share this new resource with your staff and encourage them to participate.
Contact: Mariah Alston, Office of Federal Programs & Grants Email:m1alston@nps.k12.nj.us
Please join us in promoting the Fall 2021 Semester of NBOE’s Parent University! Parent University is a semester long schedule of courses to provide information, support, and skills to parents in order to in turn support their students. Please post the enclosed flyer to your Google Classrooms and encourage parents to attend the courses that fit their interests.
In accordance with state guidelines in the fight against COVID-19, districts were to establish a Pandemic Response Team. In Newark, the Pandemic Response Team (PRT) includes the Principal, Case Manager, School Counselor/Social Worker, School Nurse, School Safety, Teacher, Parent Liaison, etc. Additionally, members of this team meet with the Superintendent monthly to ensure alignment with guidelines provided by the CDC and Newark Health Department, and district protocols as we continue to operate during in-person learning. Should you have questions about protocols, please feel free to reach out to members on your school’s Pandemic Response Team.
We encourage you to remain patient and flexible with receiving updates as we know the CDC’s guidelines continue to change as new information is made available.
Office of Science in partnership with NSTA Presents K-2 Science Teacher Cohort: Web Seminar Series-Support Student Sense-Making. This series of eight 90-minute web seminars ranging starting at 3:20pm - 4:50pm from November 9, 2021 - June 7, 2022.
Web seminar dates:
November 9, 2021 December 13, 2021 January 11, 2022 February 14, 2022 March 14, 2022 April, 11, 2022 May 9, 2022 June 7, 2022
Enter Students in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Contact: Margaret El, Visual and Performing Arts Email: mel@nps.k12.nj.us
Engage your students to participate in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This year’s Northern NJ Art Region ceremony will take place in Newark at Gallery Aferro! We want to be sure our hometown student artists participate. Teens in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) can apply in 28 categories of art and writing.
The artandwriting.org site is fully live for the region to accept student entries.
We understand the need for intentional moments to disconnect, regroup and ground ourselves for ongoing inner strength. To help alleviate challenge with locating support and managing a busy schedule, NBOE and OSL will continue providing a Staff Support Group (Spa) in the Fall from September 15th - December 22nd.
Sessions will run biweekly on Wednesdays from 5:15pm - 6:15pm. This is an opportunity for employees to learn more about topics that can impact overall mental health and well-being. It is open to all staff and will be facilitated by an outside licensed clinician.
Office of Health & Physical Education Office Hours
Contact: Krystle Rhett, Health & Physical Education - Office of Teaching & Learning Email:krhett@nps.k12.nj.us
The Office of Health, Physical Education and Athletics will be hosting office hours for teachers. During the months of September and October, we will cover the following topics during the sessions in addition to discussing best practices and providing resources to support student achievement:
- Health & PE Curricular Guides Review and Implementation - K-12 SPARK PE Curriculum - KidsFit - McGraw Hill Health textbook
Sessions will be as follows:
Elementary H/PE Teachers Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00-3:45
High School H/PE Teachers: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-3:45
Please use department Google Classroom Link to join all sessions.
The Office of Student Life will host FAFSA Parent Workshops in both English and Spanish to support our families with the completion of the FAFSA. The Webex Link, Meeting ID and Password are provided for easy access (excluding the September 15, 2021 workshop). All workshop sessions begin at 5:00pm. Our partner in this process is the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
If you have any questions regarding the fall series, please contact Vernon Pullins Jr., Supervisor, Student Support Services, Office of Student Life at vpullins@nps.k12.nj.us
The Office of Student Life will provide monthly training sessions to SST and I&RS Teams.
REQUIRED ATTENDANCE: Administrator overseeing SST and the SST Coordinator, Administrator overseeing I&RS and I&RS Coordinator. *All other team members are welcome to join.*
SY 21-22 Meeting Dates: September 17th, October 25th, November 29th, December 9th, January 24th, February 28th, March 28th, April 25th, May 5th and June 2nd.
Teacher Talk will be delivered every other Monday.
The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.
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
Contact Us
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. Teacher Talk is typically published every other Monday. Please open the form with Firefox or Chrome in order to add attachments.
