Message from the SuperintendentDear Teachers and Instructional Staff, The end of the school year is filled with many exciting culminating activities. The list of people who assist in making all the incredible events happen literally spans the entire organization, and I recognize and commend them. Below are a few highlights of upcoming events; some are information for you, about you, or require an action, so please read carefully. May 21 - All City Budding Dancers: This event will showcase a collaborative dance performance of students in grades 3-8 from throughout the City. District dance educators at each school prepare and rehearse individual dance selections with students at their respective school locations. Students then come together on the day of the event for a group rehearsal and final performance. This wonderful event will be at First Avenue School and begins at 5:00 pm. May 21 - Elementary Basketball Rising Stars Championships: These games will take place at Central High School, with the girls tipping off at 4:30 pm, and the boys’ game at 6:00 pm. Join us in celebrating the hard work, sportsmanship, and skill of our future basketball stars!  May 28 - Principal for a Day: As part of this District-wide program, each principal has identified and invited a Community Leader, Entrepreneur, CEO, Producer, Artist, etc. to participate as the Principal for a Day (PFAD). The guest PFAD at each school will have the opportunity to witness firsthand the evolving responsibilities of school leadership and teaching techniques to meet the diverse needs of students, interact with both faculty and students, perform specific administrative tasks, and ensure they are creating a meaningful positive influence. Through this commitment and reciprocal partnership, the District continues to foster robust relationships between schools and the community.
May 28 - Math Olympics: The 37th Annual Newark Math Olympics will be held at the Robert Treat Hotel. The competitions include Middle School Math, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Calculus. Over 780 students from 56 schools will be competing - so exciting! May 29 - Vocal Jubilee: This event will be at Newark Symphony Hall and begins at 5:00 pm. The Office of Visual & Performing Arts (OVPA) continues to showcase the incredible talent of our students in grades 6-12 from schools across the District. A big thank you to them, music teachers, and accompanying chaperones in our schools. May 31 - Elementary Basketball Championships: Get ready for an exciting showcase of young basketball talent! These games will be held at Malcolm X Shabazz High School - the girls tip off at 10:30 am and the boys’ game starts at 12:00 pm. Come cheer on the teams as they compete for the title and bragging rights for the year!  June 3 - Seal of Biliteracy Event: This event will be held at East Side High School at 5:00 pm. We have over 400 students who have successfully completed and qualify for this recognition. The Bilingual Department and Bilingual staff across the schools should be very proud of this major accomplishment.
June 4 - R.A.M.P. Concert: The annual Recorder Arts for Musical Pathways (R.A.M.P.) event will be at NJPAC at 10:00 am. This event will feature third and fourth grade students from Newark Public Schools, showcasing their musical talents and progress in learning to read music and play the recorder. The concert will celebrate the culmination of their hard work throughout the year. June 4 - Academic Awards Night: I am hosting this annual event for seniors in the Class of 2025 who have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher. This year, we have the largest number of seniors who meet this criteria - 633 seniors. In the presence of their principals, families, and staff, seniors are called by GPA to receive a medallion to be worn at graduation, proclamations, and gifts. The event is followed by dinner. We will find out that evening the senior with the highest GPA in Newark. Who will that senior be and from what high school? School counselors, senior class and National Honor Society advisors, and homeroom teachers are reminded to make sure that students and their guests are notified, if you have not already done so. This event will be held at Central High School and will begin at 5:00 pm sharp. June 5 - All City Theater Festival: This event will be held at Newark Vocational High School and begins at 5:00 pm. This is OVPA’s first year of the celebration designed to enhance the rigor and participation in District theater programs, celebrate the talents of student thespians across the City, and highlight outstanding teaching. Performance genres may include drama, comedy, spoken word, and theatre. June 6 - Senior Day: I am taking seniors from the Class of 2025 who have met graduation requirements to Forest Lodge. Senior class advisors, homeroom teachers, and chaperones are reminded to set expectations, secure permission slips, and tell seniors to get ready for lots of fun, including lunch. This will be the largest gathering of seniors who qualify for graduation. The number in attendance will be well over 2,800 seniors. Incredible. June 7 - Cheerleading Championship: Our cheerleaders have been demonstrating their strength, athleticism, school pride, and spirit all season. The finals showcase will be spectacular! Come show your support at Weequahic High School - doors open at 11:30 am. Week of June 9 - STEM Week: Middle school students will engage in interdisciplinary lessons around the topics of Building a Lunar Colony, Urban Farming, and Surgical Techniques. The week-long event will culminate in a showcase of student learning. Looking forward to seeing all the great work of our students and their teachers! Fashion through the Arts - June 10: Students from the Newark School of Fashion and Design will showcase their original designs at the school's inaugural fashion show, taking place at Newark Vocational High School on June 10 at 5:00 pm. The event will be hosted by Shannon LaNier, an Emmy Award-winning news anchor, actor, and fatherhood influencer, who currently stars in Tyler Perry’s feature film Duplicity. The fashion show will mark the grand finale in celebrating the school's first graduating class, led by Principal Sakina Pitts. Any NBOE staff who are interested in purchasing a ticket to the show, click on link - https://fashionthroughthearts.eventbrite.com.  June 12 - Teacher of the Year Ceremony: New Jersey has an annual event where one teacher of the year is to be selected from each district, and then amongst those teachers, the state selects the one teacher to represent the state. In Newark, the state’s largest district, we have so many qualifying teachers for this honor that we just can’t pick one. On this day, we host a breakfast to honor one teacher from each school, identified by each school, for this District honor. We will learn at this event who is the one teacher who will represent Newark because the state still only allows districts to make one recommendation. The Office of Educator Effectiveness and school leaders help make this event possible. Who will that teacher be and from what school?
June 13 - Night at the Museum: Join us for an exciting evening of exploration and learning! The Office of Early Childhood invites all preschool and kindergarten families in the District to the 12th Annual Night at the Museum, a special event representing a key District initiative, and held in partnership with the Newark Museum. Families will enjoy hands-on activities, engaging exhibits, and take-home materials that support early learning. Don’t miss this memorable night designed to spark curiosity and celebrate education. Click here to register and be a part of the fun! Newark Olympics - June 17: Save the date for the First Annual Newark Olympics! This incredible District-wide event will be taking place at Schools Stadium. The Office of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics is spearheading this unforgettable celebration of culture, cooperation, and competition. Please review the submission within this newsletter for more information. June 24 - Commencement Exercises: This is such an exciting day where hard work and commitment to excellence yields one (of many more to come) major accomplishment in the incredible lives of our students. The Superintendent’s $4,000 Scholarship goes to one Senior from each high school at the graduation ceremony. We will also distribute two laptops to two Seniors at the ceremony. Who will these 3 Seniors be from each high school? Job well done by all of our students and a big thank you to their parents, families, friends, teachers, school administrators, and staff. To the 8th graders, we are so proud of you. We see you too and are honored that you are coming to our high schools. Congratulations to the Class of 2025! Superintendent León |
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Culture and Climate SurveyIn alignment with The Next Decade: 2020-30 Strategic Plan Priority 3 - Strategy 3.1, students, parents/caregivers, and staff are to complete a culture and climate survey annually. Data from this survey will be shared with District and School Leaders to assist in preparing for the 2025-2026 school year. The survey is now open and will close on Friday, June 13, 2025. Please click on the link below to access and review suggested methods and means to promote completion and distribution. Remember, the information will be used to determine trends, areas of success/growth, and needed programming that will enhance your school community. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Life: |
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Participate in the Summer Learning Challenge to Win $1000! (New)Contact: Matt Brewster, Office of Staff Development
Email: MBrewster@nps.k12.nj.us Our District will be participating in the Summer Learning Challenge with the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) and AT&T's Achievery. This collaboration aims to enhance online learning opportunities for older youth and to help prevent the summer slide. Achievery is a digital learning platform that empowers students with engaging learning activities. Teachers, students (age 14+), parents, and caregivers can use our unique link to sign up for a FREE account: https://bit.ly/42JFLfc Teachers are eligible to receive $1000 in instructional supplies and materials for utilizing Achievery and participating in the Summer Learning Challenge! Achievery-FAQs.pdf |
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Get Ready for the First Annual Newark Olympics (New)Contact: Elizabeth Aranjo, Office of Health, Physical Education & Athletics
Email: earanjo@nps.k12.nj.us  The Office of Health, Physical Education & Athletics is thrilled to announce that the 1st Annual Newark Olympics, a District-wide celebration of unity, school pride, and student collaboration through spirited competition and cultural representation, will be taking place on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at Schools Stadium.
The Newark Olympics will bring together 40 students from every school across the district to represent one of sixteen countries in a series of fun and challenging events designed to promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and cultural pride. The sixteen countries this year represent the sixteen most highly represented nations of our student body in an homage to the children and their families. Inspired by a camp-like structure at Frost Valley, this event will encourage students across grade levels to work together in cooperative games, problem-solving challenges, and athletic activities-all in pursuit of the ultimate prize: the GOLD. Teams will have the opportunity to also win silver, bronze, spirit, and sportsmanship awards. All other participating students will also be recognized. Homeroom teachers should share with students the country that the school is representing. This event will be more than just a day of games-it's a powerful opportunity to build community across schools, highlight student leadership, and embrace global awareness through friendly competition. Principals are receiving important guidance in preparation of this incredible event; please see them for information on how to serve on your school's committee. In anticipation, a school pep rally will be judged by a representative(s) from Central Office on June 16, 2025 at 1:30 pm. Let's make the first Newark Olympics an unforgettable celebration of culture, cooperation and competition! May the best country win! |
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Summer Technology PD Academy (New)Contact: Michael Padilla, Office of Instructional Technology
Email: m4padilla@nps.k12.nj.us This summer, the Office of Instructional Technology is thrilled to offer a Technology PD Academy during the weeks of July 14th and August 11th! These sessions will cover everything from understanding Schoology, to utilizing assessments in Peardeck, and many other ways to enhance student engagement and learning through technology. Staff will be paid to attend and space will be limited. Stay tuned to the next newsletter for sign ups! |
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HIB/McKinney Vento End of Year (EOY) Meeting (New)Contact: Stacy M Pelham-Hale, Office of Student Life
Email: s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us Attention All Anti-Bullying Specialists and McKinney Vento Points of Contact Our End of Year (EOY) Mandatory Meeting/Event will take place: - Wednesday May 14, 2025
- Marion Bolden Center
- 230 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104
- 1:45pm-3:00pm
Designated arrival times are specified by SLT (see below): - 1:45pm Arrival Time: North, South/West and Specialized Schools SLT
- 2:15pm Arrival Time: East/Central and High School SLT
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NJDOE Anti-Bullying Rights Webinar Series: NEW DATES (New)Contact: Stacy M Pelham-Hale, Office of Student Life
Email: s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us The NJDOE is pleased to announce the REVISED meeting dates for their FREE Anti-Bullying Rights Act Webinar series for all District Administrators and Anti-Bullying Specialists. This 1-hour webinar series is designed to foster an understanding of Anti-Bullying laws, statutory and regulatory requirements for school districts, and share best practices for school district personnel as they fulfill the roles and responsibilities required by law. All new Anti-Bullying Specialists are highly encouraged to attend. See attached document to view all webinars: Click the link below to register: |
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Mental Health Workshops for Parents (New)Contact: Muddasra Munir, Office of Federal Programs and Grants
Email: mmunir@nps.k12.nj.us Through the Project AWARE grant, the Office of Federal Programs and Grants, in partnership with the Office of Student Life, is hosting various mental health workshops for parents, both virtually and in person. These educational workshops will be conducted in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to ensure accessibility for our diverse community. Please click on the flyers below detailing the schedule of the workshops: |
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Mentorship Logs and License Renewal Request (New)Contact: Human Resource Services - Office of Staffing and Certifications
Email: certifications@nps.k12.nj.us Mentorship logs are due Monday, June 9, 2025. Please use the following links for additional submission details: Expiring Provisional and Emergency Licenses: Please complete the following link if your Provisional or Emergency license is expiring in July of 2025: For additional inquiries, contact certifications@nps.k12.nj.us. |
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Escrow Program (Open Enrollment and Refund Dates) (New)Contact: Human Resource Services
Email: npscompensation@nps.k12.nj.us - Escrow Open Enrollment for current and newly hired employees is May 1st through September 15th of each year!
- Employees who are 10-month and 11-month full time employees can now self-enroll, discontinue, and switch options in the Escrow Program.
- For more information about refund dates, view deduction selected through ESS (Employee Self Service), and instructions on how to enroll or initiate a refund, kindly visit our HRS Portal at https://nboehrs.com/es/#escrow or view attached:
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OSE Updates and Professional Development OpportunitiesContact: Candice Wells, Office Of Special Education
Email: c1wells@nps.k12.nj.us 
The Office of Special Education (OSE) is excited to announce that our 1st Annual Transition Fair will took place on Thursday, May 1, 2025. This event was designed to connect students with disabilities and their families to essential resources, services, and opportunities that support life after high school.
May is also Better Hearing and Speech Month. Please shout out your school based Speech Language Specialists and Audiologist. See enclosed for May's OSE Professional Development learning opportunities. |
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The NBOE Recharge and Renew Health & Wellness Spring FairContact: Jennifer Medina, Benefit Services
Email: j1medina@nps.k12.nj.us  Join us for the NBOE Recharge and Renew Health & Wellness Fair, hosted by the NBOE Well Benefits Team, for opportunities to receive massages, win exciting prizes and gift cards, and discover the valuable benefits available to Newark BOE employees!
More information: The-NBOE-Health-Wellness-Fair-Spring-2025.pdf |
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Job Announcements Contact: Ivette Toledo, Human Resource Services
Email: humanresources@nps.k12.nj.us
Exciting job opportunities await! Discover the latest positions now posted on Frontline. |
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Quarterly Grants Newsletter Now Available!Contact: Jennifer Rodriguez, Office of Federal Programs & Grants
Email: j20rodriguez@nps.k12.nj.us Discover new funding opportunities! The Office of Federal Programs and Grants publishes quarterly newsletters highlighting upcoming grant opportunities for schools and educators. Review the April 2025 newsletter to find grants to fund diverse educational programs, student athletic equipment, or professional development opportunities for educators. For more information and to stay up-to-date with upcoming newsletters, visit the Grants Opportunities and Resources page linked here. |
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New Teacher InductionContact: Dana Mishoe, HRS - Office of Educator Effectiveness
Email: dmishoe@nps.k12.nj.us New Teacher Induction sessions will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Teachers should attend 6 of the 10 sessions during the School Year. Please register for the next New Teacher Induction session scheduled for Tuesday, May 13th; 3:30-5:30pm. One of the May sessions will reflect on teacher practices and student achievement, led by the Office of Language Arts.
Registration and meeting links for each month can be found in the induction schedule linked here. |
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2024-2025 Discretionary FundsContact: MJames, Human Resource Services
Email: mjames@nps.k12.nj.us Dear Teachers, Nurses, and Academic Interventionists: As per District policy, in order to be reimbursed in the amount of $150.00 for items that supplement and affect your work with pupils this school year, you will be providing your receipts to your location treasurer. Please be guided by the Discretionary Fund Memo below: If you have any questions, please speak to your school administrator. |
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Retrieving your PD Certificate from GrowContact: Dana Mishoe, HRS - Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us This quick video tutorial will help you navigate to and print the certificate from Professional Development training you were registered for in GROW and have attended. If, after reviewing your transcript, you believe something is missing, please contact the facilitator of that session. The Educator Effectiveness team will not have access to that sign in information. |
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See the Summer Program 2025 TimelinesContact: Matthew Brewster, Office of Staff Development
Email: MBrewster@nps.k12.nj.us 
Please see the following timelines for Summer 2025: - Parents, families and schools notified of mandatory registration - February 13, 2025
- Staff job announcements posted - March 3, 2025
- Program brochure and application launch - April 1, 2025
- Program registration ends - May 16, 2025
- Parent/Student notification of enrollment - June 2, 2025
- Summer Staff Orientation and Organization Days - June 25 and 26, 2025
- Summer Program Dates - June 30, 2025 through August 1, 2025
For more information, visit our website at https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/summerprograms/. |
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Parent University – Prudential Financial Literacy WorkshopContact: Natasha Rouse, Office of Federal Programs & Grants
Email: nrouse@nps.k12.nj.us  Newark Board of Education is partnering with Prudential Pathways to offer financial wellness educational seminars hosted by industry experts. Prudential Pathways aims to make building financial planning strategies less intimidating and more empowering through easy-to-understand educational programs. Please share the flyer with families so they can register. All sessions are FREE!
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SY 25-26 School Social Worker 2 Intern Request Form: NOWContact: Stacy M Pelham-Hale, OSL - Student Support Services
Email: s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us  The Office of Student Life is now accepting applications for School Social Worker 2 Internships for the 2025-2026 school year. If your school is interested in hosting an intern, please read the following requirements:
- Principal/Administrator must authorize permission to host intern(s).
- NBOE schools must have a SW2 who is in good standing and is highly qualified to supervise intern(s).
- The SW2 must complete the following Google Request form by 5/23/25.
Note: If a college/university contacts you regarding internship placement, please direct all inquiries to Mrs. Stacy Pelham-Hale, Supervisor at s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us. |
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Mandatory Affirmative Action TrainingContact: Nichola Camacho, HRS - Affirmative Action
Email: ncamacho@nps.k12.nj.us Board policy requires all employees to complete annual Affirmative Action training. All training courses launched on February 19, 2025. You will receive an email from the Newark Board of Education containing a link to log in to Vector Solutions using your District email and password. Each training course includes an assessment that must be completed. A certificate can be saved or printed after successfully completing each assigned training course. You must complete all required courses by May 30, 2025. 2024-2025 NBOE Annual Affirmative Action Training Courses | Course Name | Course Assignment | | Discrimination Awareness in the Workplace | All Staff | | Sexual Harassment: Staff-to-Staff | All Staff |
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Certifications Yearly RemindersContact: Eboni Woolridge, Office of Staffing
Email: ewoolridge@nps.k12.nj.us
The Certification Team is hosting Virtual Office Hours and Certification Trainings throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Register for the Virtual Office Hours and the Trainings by using the following link: https://forms.gle/J9EmbPxAgG3eiM Please check NJEdCert to ensure that your Instructional, Educational Services, and Administrator certificates (if applicable) are accurate and up to date. Contact the Certifications team if you are awaiting the issuance of a Provisional or Standard license. The Certifications Team can be reached via email at certifications@nps.k12.nj.us. |
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Connecting with NBOE HRS through Employee Self Service (ESS) and NBOEHRS.comContact: Randy Schrader, Employee Services
Email: mjwilliams@nps.k12.nj.us Employee Services would like to encourage all staff to become familiar with the two online tools: - NBOEHRS.com: 24/7 source of information Benefits, Pension, Payroll, and much more.
Employee Self Service (ESS): to complete numerous HR activities, including View Paycheck, update Direct Deposit or W-4, confirm and update Personal Information, and Submit Retirement and Resignation. |
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Culture & Climate Annual Calendar SY24-25Contact: Rania Sawaged, Student Support Services - Office of Student Life
Email: rsawaged@nps.k12.nj.us Review the Culture & Climate Calendar SY 2024-2025. This calendar is suggested to be utilized as a guide and reference when planning for required/suggested activities, service/community projects, and additional school events throughout the school year. To streamline the artifact collection process, each month, the principal will designate one person from your school to be in charge of uploading pictures and artifacts to the relevant slide assigned to your school.
Please reference the due dates and directions. |
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NBOE in the NewsStay 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. Press Releases |
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 | Teacher Talk is emailed every other Monday. The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. |
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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. 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/ The weekly submission deadline is Wednesday by 5:00 p.m. before Monday distribution. |
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