IN OUR SCHOOLS

Student news: "Summer vacation" has a different meaning for some Polytech teachers

Student achieve news from:Hunterdon Polytech, Bates College, McDaniel College, Mount Staint Mary Academy, Polytechnic Institute,Delaware Valley University, Kean University, Kiddie Academy, RVCC

Staff Report
@MyCentralJersey
  • Whether working at a wildlife refuge, traveling with Hydroplane Racing League or helping students win national competitions, it was a hot season for staff
  • Mount Saint Mary Academy Snapshots in science
  • High School scientists conduct research in Sanofi-sponsored Kean University program
  • Pushcart players launches 2016-17 season

While the final dismissal of students for the year traditionally signals the beginning of two months of relaxation for students, many of Hunterdon Polytech’s teachers spent their summers doing anything but relaxing. Whether it was spending weeks at a wildlife refuge on another continent, capitalizing on professional development opportunities, or guiding students through national competitions, many Polytech teachers spent their summer volunteering their time to students or engaging in professional development opportunities to enhance their technical programs.

Taryn Romanczak, Polytech’s Animal Science instructor, capitalized on the opportunity to spend one month at the Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage in Zimbabwe. The orphanage is a haven for wild animals that have little hope for survival in the wild. They welcome animals that have been orphaned, abandoned, injured, born in captivity, or brought up unsuccessfully as pets.

Natalie Guarino and her students at the FCCLA National competition in San Diego

“It was a transformative experience, to say the least. Beyond working with the animals—which was amazing in its own right—being immersed in a different culture and radically different way of life compared to what we know in the United States was a unique opportunity that I’m thankful I was able to take advantage of,” said Romanczak. During her time at Chipangali,Romanczak provided enrichment activities for the animals, performed work on their enclosures, administered medicine, and spent time developing relationships with the various species that call Chipangali home. In addition to the time spent with the animals, Romanczak was introduced to various aspects of life in Zimbabwe, most notably the education system.

“It was eye-opening to compare their education system to America’s and see what we take for granted,” she said. Inspired by what she experienced while in Zimbabwe,. Romanczak will be holding fundraisers throughout the year in order to send supplies to the students she met. “They are so grateful for everything they receive. Being able to send over some school supplies would mean the world to the students and the teachers,” she said.

Students at SkillsUSA Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky

Teachers also used their time away from the school to make improvements to their programs. Cynthia Dailey, Polytech’s Graphic Arts instructor, spent three days training in web development through Noble Desktop in New York City. The training consisted of HTML and CSS coding languages, and will allow Dailey to apply what she learned in her own classroom.

Robert Siano, Polytech’s Health Science instructor, was recertified in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers through the American Heart Association, and Chuck Toye, Polytech’s Automotive Services instructor, spent three days at Mott Community College in Howell, Michigan, going through Factory Five’s Build School. Toye’s class will be working on building a kit car from the bare frame up throughout the year.

Other teachers spent a week of their summer teaching a class during Polytech’s EXCITE Camp. Elaine DiBenedetto, Adam Huff, and Chefs Paul Ingenito and Lauren Genco taught Extreme Makeover, Introduction to Auto Body, and Teen Cuisine, respectively. The EXCITE Camp provides students in grades 8-10 the chance to get a sense of what a program is like before deciding to register for it during the school year.

Instructors for the Adult & Continuing Education also spent time this summer working to improve their programs. Gary Peabody, the former culinary instructor for Polytech who now teaches evening culinary classes at Raritan Valley Community College, earned his certification for ServSafe and will continue teaching the Customized Training ServSafe class for the Adult & Continuing Education. Laurie Rapkin, an evening supervisor for the Adult & Continuing Education, spent her summer working with the staff at Winnewald Day Camp in Lebanon.

READ: The good things students are doing in Central Jersey and beyond

READ: Education news from around the region

COLLEGE CONNECTION: Advice from our local expert columnist

In a unique take on how to spend the summer, Chris Harley, the advanced welding instructor, traveled the United States and Canada with the Hydroplane Racing League. He worked on a hydroplane boat capable of reaching speeds over 100 mph powered by a 2.3 liter Ford four cylinder engine. The boat belongs to “Crush Racing”, and the team achieved a second place finish for the third consecutive year. Harley designed and hand crafted the boat’s stainless steel exhaust header, and this winter the team will begin construction on a new boat that will be powered by a V8 engine.

While teachers took the time to improve their programs, the facilities at Polytech also underwent some renovations—specifically the law enforcement program. Alterations were made to improve the classroom and blackout curtains were purchased to increase the effectiveness of the Meggitt law enforcement training simulator that Polytech acquired last school year through the generosity of the Jennie M. Haver Scholarship Foundation. The blackout curtains will prevent any outside light from interfering with the scenario being simulated. In addition to the law enforcement program, diners at the Careers Café will get to experience the renovated dining room during their visits for lunch and the popular Tuesday night dinners hosted by the Adult & Continuing Education.

Upcoming Events: Thursday, Oct. 20th: Back to School Night (6:00-8:00 p.m..)- Polytech's annual Back to School Night gives parents the opportunity to meet their child's teacher and become more involved in their education. Teachers will be discussing their programs and what the students will be working on throughout the year.

Thursday, Nov. 10th: Hunterdon County Business EXPO (2:00-7:00 p.m.)- Between sampling the food during the Restaurant Showcase, stop by HCVSD's table at the Business EXPO. Our representatives will be prepared to answer questions regarding our different schools and make sure no one who visits the table goes home empty handed. For more information, visit www.hcpolytech.org.

American Geographical Society

The American Geographical Society (AGS) announced the launch of its “AGS Junior Service Fellow (AGS JSF)” program.

This new program is geared towards involving high school students who demonstrate a desire to increase their geographical awareness as they become better global citizens. AGS JSF aims to help foster and mature a student’s core geographical knowledge while providing a firm foundation for geospatial concepts, public service, and professional success. The program also aims to give high school students an important activity to add to their college applications that shows serious commitment to service and the recognition of the importance of geospatial thinking as they develop their careers.

High school students who have achieved a 3 or higher on the Advance Placement ® (AP) Human Geography exam are eligible for the program. Students will have the opportunity to remain a part of the AGS Junior Service Fellow community until they graduate from college, assuming they remain in “Good Standing” through the regular performance of 10 hours/year of public service through the many opportunities they will have through the program.

To learn more about this program, visit www.americangeo.org.

Established in 1851, the American Geographical Society (AGS) is the oldest professional geographical/geospatial organization in the United States. It is recognized worldwide as a pioneer in geographical research and education in geography for more than 165 years.

Bates College

Laryssa Schepel of Flemington received a bachelor's degree in psychology this spring from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

Bridgewater: Van Holten Primary School

Van Holten Primary School teachers in Bridgewater, celebrate the beginning of school with a traditional First Day of School picture. Left to right: 
Katie Duffy, Kristin Laine, Kelly Hadfield, Lori Lacaillade, Jamie Case and Courtney Kinnevy.

Delaware Valley University

The following Central Jersey residents at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, were named to the spring dean's list: Michael Dolan of South Plainfield, Jake Peterson of Flemington, Brianna Wolfe of Milford, Rebecca LaritzAlyssa Laritz of Flemington, Sarah Fenwick of Hillsborough, Tracy Homann of Clinton, Sara Rountree of Stockton, Matthew Prior of Pittstown, Ashlyn Parise of Skillman, Michelle Wludyka of Hillsborough, Natasha Segulin of Scotch Plains, Margaret Mitchell of Frenchtown, Bonnie Kwasnik of Stockton, Katie DeAngelo of Lambertville, Lacey Kappus of Milford, Taylor Waldman of Hillsborough, Alexander Varas,William Mavrode, Amanda Wengryn of Ringoes, 
Steven Horvath of Princeton, Julia Switzer of Skillman, Efharis Vaporakis of Hillsborough, Douglas Warren of Belle Mead, Benjamin Philhower of Princeton, Sara Wooden of Lambertville, Daniel Slegowski of Fanwood, Sarah Palchanes of Stockton, Elizabeth Taylor of Flemington, Victoria Coletti of Asbury, Olivia Burlingham of Princeton, Olivia Plocinski of Berkeley Heights, Nicholas Neves of Belle Mead.

Kean University

Thirty-two high school students from New Jersey and New York City conducted real-world research this summer at The New Jersey Center for Science, Technology & Mathematics (NJCSTM) at Kean University as part of the Sanofi-sponsored Group Summer Scholars Research Program (GSSRP). The six-week program is aimed at attracting and developing talented students who are interested in pursuing a science, technology or mathematics (STEM) education.

“The need for more students in the STEM fields and for greater diversity within the STEM professions is well known, and this program is doing something about it,” said Keith Bostian, dean of NJCSTM. “With Sanofi’s support, we expose the students to the excitement of research and the possibilities for them in the scientific field.”

Working with Kean faculty and graduate student mentors in small groups, the students pursued scientific advancements in six research areas: astrophysics, cancer biology, analytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, bioinformatics and computational mathematics. About one-third of the summer scholars received full or partial scholarships from the Sanofi Foundation for North America.

The students worked in NJCSTM’s state-of-the art labs and facilities on Morris Avenue.

“I was undecided, but working with Kean University professors in these labs has helped me to decide to come to Kean to study bio-tech in the fall,” said Antoinette Antonucci from Roselle Park.

Working in various research streams, participants explored planetary bodies revolving around other stars; drugs to prevent the spread of cancer cells; the nutritional elements of chocolate; brain tumor formation and reproduction; DNA analysis and its application to infectious diseases; and the mathematical basis of sound creation from musical instruments and spoken words.

For more information about the New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics and the Group Summer Scholars Research Program, visit www.kean.edu/njcstm or e-mail njcste@kean.edu.

Kiddie Academy

Kiddie Academy’s “Amazing Starts Here”® campaign continues this fall with a focus on nurturing a child’s natural creativity. Iconic performers like George Gershwin, Patsy Cline and Louis Armstrong will inspire the fall curriculum at Kiddie Academy early education child care locations in Central Jersey. A variety of creative activities aim to encourage children to expand their minds by learning, playing and exploring in unique ways.

“Feeling free to experiment and make mistakes helps children invent new ways of thinking and solving problems,” says Richard Peterson, vice president of education for Kiddie Academy. “Creativity and play require imagination, insight, problem solving, emotional fantasy, divergent thinking, sensitivity and curiosity. The Kiddie Academy Life Essentials® curriculum nurtures each individual child’s creative potential in unique, developmentally appropriate ways.”

Activities planned around the “Creativity and Individuality” theme of the fall campaign are designed to allow children to discover their “inner melody” and to march to the original beat of their own drum. Guided by Kiddie Academy’s Music & More program, children will use music, dance and movement to help them take advantage of every opportunity to learn. Kiddie Academy would like to know how you inspire your child to be creative.

For more information about why “Amazing Starts Here” at Kiddie Academy in Central Jersey, visit www.kiddieacademy.com or contact: Rachna Patel at Kiddie Academy of Bridgewater at 908-842-0020 or bridgewater@kiddieacademy.net; Rick Burghli at Kiddie Academy of North Brunswick at 732-422-2900 or northbrunswick@kiddieacademy.net.

Learning Management System (LMS)

A free workshop for educational administrators regarding implementing and supporting the Learning Management System (LMS) in New Jersey’s K-12 schools, will take place at the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey’s (ESCNJ), NuView Annex Media Center from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21.

The workshop is open to administrators from public, private, charter and parochial schools statewide, and includes a networking lunch. Workshop participants will also have the option to participate in a hands-on curriculum development program using the Schoology learning management system.

“This workshop is a great educational and networking opportunity to help central office and building administrators understand how New Jersey schools cultivate collaboration and deepen learning with the LMS,” said ESCNJ School Business Administrator Patrick M. Moran.

The LMS is a web-based electronic educational technology software application (also called e-learning) for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of classroom and online educational courses and training. In addition to K-12 use, the LMS has been effective in colleges and universities in conjunction with online and on-campus courses.

The Educational Services Commission of New Jersey is offering educators a free Learning Management System workshop at its NuView Annex Media Center from
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 21.

Online registration for the workshop is available at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOVTHLNVNOaERaEJY9PWFO8Ox4F7ZwkEB2Aq_JwvFDkPb4IQ/viewform.

McDaniel College

McDaniel College has awarded freshman Benjamin Weil of Flemington a $100,000 Educator's Legacy Scholarship.

Any high school senior with a parent or guardian who has at least four years of current and consecutive full time employment in K-12 education can apply for this guaranteed scholarship to attend McDaniel College. Any service in a K-12 school qualifies, such as teachers, counselors, nurses, support staff or administrators, etc.

Students must have at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) to receive the scholarship and must complete and file an online K-12 employment verification form. Their parents also must submit a letter on school letterhead from the school administrator verifying the parent's employment record. The $25,000 annual scholarship is renewable each year to students who maintain satisfactory academic progress.

According to McDaniel President Roger N. Casey, "McDaniel has successfully trained teachers and administrators for over 100 years. The college also has a tradition of producing top educators, including the 2011 National Teacher of the Year Michelle Shearer. We are proud of this legacy and want to celebrate our commitment to educators by rewarding the children of elementary and secondary school employees with this scholarship."

Visit http://www.mcdaniel.edu/EduLegacyScholarship for additional information about the Educator's Legacy Scholarship. For more information about McDaniel College, visit www.mcdaniel.edu.

Mount Saint Mary Academy

Lessons are flourishing all over the campus of Mount Saint Mary Academy (MSMA) in Watchung as students have already delved into intriguing topics and concepts in the science classes.

Anne Maxwell's AP Biology students are increasing their understanding of the biochemical structure and properties of the glucose sugar molecule through a molecular model building activity in class.

Seniors Alyssa Romano of Denville, Kaitlin McCarthy of Warren, and Lauren McNeil of Plainfield. Additionally. Adele Lang's Biology students are examining ways in which science helps to inform us and connect to our everyday lives. "Examples used include the role that science has in making the connection between the mosquito-borne illness called Zika and the devastating effects of the virus in human populations," explained Mrs. Lang. "Scientific tools can help us make models of widespread human systems, so we can estimate the risk factors for diseases in the world today. The real world has so many more variables that cannot be controlled for entirely, but students learn that hypotheses can be tested using controlled experiments that stimulate real world conditions," she added.

 

Pushcart Players launches 2016-17 season

Pushcart Players has announced its 43rd season of touring theater for young audiences, bringing performances to schools, theaters, production venues, and community centers throughout the United States. The repertoire is a mix of musical productions exploring American history, self-discovery, classical music, teaching tolerance, and holiday celebrations.

Twice nominated for an Emmy©, Pushcart Players is the recipient of numerous state and private awards for excellence and innovation. Travelling more than 2 million miles nationally and abroad -- from the White House to the little red schoolhouse -- the season (September 2016 through July 2017) includes seven musical productions.

Pushcart players in "Stone Soup"

“Ellis Island: Gateway to America” takes a loving look at a small group of immigrants. A combination of original and traditional American music, the play explores the ordinary people and extraordinary events in the nation’s history through the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s.

“Stone Soup and Other Stories” features short literary favorites from Africa, India, Eastern Europe, and the United States of America. The production is designed to provide a springboard for reading and subsequent literacy-related activities.

In “Peter and the Wolf,” Pushcart puts its’ trademark spin on a beloved Russian folk tale. Classical music, story-telling, puppetry, and the ageless adventure of growing up comprise this piece..

“The Last…Butterfly” is an informative and provocative multi-media play with music, based on the poems, drawings, and experiences of children of the Holocaust..

“Alice in Wonderland” is re-imagined and designed by Pushcart Players co-founder Ruth Fost, and boasts madcap characters and meaningful nonsense.

In late November. and December, Pushcart presents the perennial favorite, “A Season of Miracles: A Collection of Holiday Tales.” This musical presents four  tales that celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. The production kicks off with a public performance on Dec. 3 for families at Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway.

Opening in spring of 2017 is “A Cinderella Tale…happily ever after” which is Pushcart’s whimsical comic version of the well-known fairy tale.

The season is directed by Paul Whelihan, who directs, stage-manages and performs off-Broadway and regionally in musicals, dramas, original works and locally produced television, film and web series projects. Orchestrations for the digitally recorded soundtracks to each production are created by award-winning composer, Larry Hochman, who also provides original music for many of the titles as well. Hochman is the Tony Award-winner for orchestrations for “She Loves Me” (2016 revival) and Tony and Drama Desk award-winner for “The Book of Mormon.”

All Pushcart Players performances by professional artists (Actors’ Equity Association) are supported by study guides, post-performance assessments and other supplemental materials, and adapt to any location with innovative scenery, lighting and sound systems. Pushcart has a theater education program, providing in-school workshops, direction of student productions and curriculum development for elementary and middle schools.

For further information, visit www.pushcartplayers.org, email information@pushcartplayers.org or call the Verona, New Jersey office at 973-857-1115.

Raritan Valley Community College

Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) in Branchburg and Millersville University in Pennsylvania have signed a new agreement that will provide for the transfer of RVCC students who are interested in continuing their studies in the areas of business, communication, and speech communication.

The new agreement makes it possible for RVCC graduates who receive an Associate of Arts in Communication Studies, an option of the College’s Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts degree program, and those who receive an Associate of Science in Business, to seamlessly transfer respectively into two Millersville University Bachelor’s Degree programs: a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication/Communication Studies Option or a Bachelor of Science in Business. The agreement stipulates that the RVCC graduates must satisfy certain admission criteria such as maintaining the requisite grade point average.

Millersville University, located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is the oldest institution of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1855 as a school specifically to train teachers for public education, it has grown into a university with an enrollment of more than 8,000 students offering bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs.

Details regarding the application and admission process for transfer students are at http://www.millersville.edu/admissions/undergrad/transfer/index.php.

Rotary Club of Plainfield-North Plainfield

Happy children proudly displayed their new dictionaries, a gift from the Rotary Club of Plainfield-North Plainfield, during a recent presentation.

Teams of Rotarians and volunteers will go to the three elementary schools in North Plainfield and the ten elementary schools and three charter schools in Plainfield during October to give a dictionary to every third grade student.  A total of 1,200 dictionaries will be presented, including Spanish-English dictionaries for ESL students.

Happy children proudly display their new dictionaries, a gift from the Rotary Club of Plainfield-North Plainfield, during a recent presentation.

“Our Dictionary Project for Plainfield and North Plainfield school children is in its eleventh year,” said Ravenell Williams, president of the club. “It is one of our most important and most successful community service projects because of its direct contact with so many young girls and boys in their classroom settings. All of our members feel the same way – our hearts are warmed by the smiles and even cheers when we announce the gift and present the dictionaries to each student. This project is so important to the education of our children, and we are proud to play our part.”

People from both communities are welcome to join this project. The Rotary Club works with the schools and teachers to help make their students active readers, good writers, and creative thinkers. “We love to have people join us on the project,” Williams said. “It’s a great way to see directly what Rotary is all about - service to others. What better way to do that than helping children with their education?”

The Rotarians take the opportunity to teach the children about service to the community, both local and worldwide.

"I like to involve the students by first asking for help defining "rotary" and "club"," said Michael Townley, club secretary. Townley is on the team that usually presents the dictionaries at the Cook, Cedarbrook, and Evergreen schools in Plainfield. "After hearing some excellent responses, I have a student read each definition from the book. Then we talk about service, about what it means to be a Rotarian helping others, about Rotary's efforts to eliminate polio.

"Most children don't know about polio, because it is not a disease we find in this hemisphere. That opens up a wider discussion about how Rotarians throughout the world have worked together to virtually eliminate this crippling disease. The discussion is a great opportunity for us to teach 'Service Above Self' to these young students," Townley. added

The dictionaries are purchased through The Dictionary Project, a non-profit created in 1995 in South Carolina. The Dictionary Project’s mission is to put a dictionary in the hands of every third grade student in the United States.  Since its founding, more than 27.2 million dictionaries have been presented to children across the U.S. More information is available at www.dictionaryproject.org.

Saint Ann School in Raritan

Saint Ann School in Raritan is off to a solid start this fall with the latest and most advanced technology, according to a school news release.

Teacher Roseann Palladino with students Benjamin, Nya and Nicholas.

Every classroom from grades one through eight is equipped with the SMART board E70 interactive flat panel. The interactive SMART flat panels use high-definition, shadow-free 70-inch (177.8 cm) LED screens, and enable freestyle multi-user interaction anywhere on the display, allowing multiple students to collaborate without limitations.

St. Ann teachers can now present many different media forms including photos, illustrations, maps, graphs, and videos. Teachers also have new ways to teach, and students have new ways to learn, according to the news release.

The SMART boards also  support a variety of learning styles. Visual learners can watch as material is presented, and audio learners can listen and have discussions. Tactile learners can touch and interact with the board. This interactive nature gives St. Ann students an opportunity to share and participate during class, through touching, drawing, and writing.

The boards also provide for rapid assessment and learners can receive immediate feedback. In addition, interactive whiteboards also allow for connectivity in different locations making collaboration ideal and distance learning environments possible.

Union County College

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh joined Union County College President Dr. Margaret McMenamin and students at the opening of the college’s Hispanic Heritage Month and Hispanic Serving Institution Week Celebration at the Union County College Cranford campus.

 

 

 

 

University of the Sciences

The following Central Jersey residents at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania received their physical therapy white coats: Alexandria DePasquale of Flemington, Michelle Marzolini of Hillsborough, Ami Patel of Raritan, Vibu Udayaraj of Somerset.

Watchung Borough School District

Eric Schwartz (left) is retiring from his position as Buildings and Grounds Supervisor of Watchung Borough School District after many years of service. Nick Naturile (right) is taking the reins as the new Building and Grounds Supervisor. Schwartz was honored at the Sept.14th Board of Education meeting."

Western New England Univesity

Ryan K. Fleming of Westfield received a bachelor's degree in communication-public relations on August 15 from Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Wilkes University

The following Central Jersey residents at Wilkes University in Willkes-Barre, Pennsylvania received their degrees this spring: Edward Dubroski of Flemington, master's degree in education; Katherine Underhill of Milford, master's degree in education.

William Paterson University 

William Paterson University in Wayne is offering individualized assistance to students affected by the sudden closing this fall of ITT Technical Institute and who are seeking to continue their education.

“We are sorry to hear about the situation at ITT that affects so many students at the beginning of the academic year,” says Reginald Ross, vice president for enrollment management in a news release. “William Paterson University is ready to assist in helping former ITT students continue their academic goal of achieving a post-secondary degree.”

Former ITT students who want to continue their education may contact Michael DiBartolomeo, director of undergraduate admissions, at 973-720-3867, or dibartolomeom@wpunj.edu.  Each student seeking admission will have their credits personally evaluated on a course by course basis, with the potential that William Paterson will accept up to 60 transfer credits to be applied toward the University’s 120-credit requirement for graduation.

The ITT Technical Institute, a for-profit that operated more than 130 schools across the country, has closed after the U.S. Department of Education barred it from receiving financial aid.

Young Audiences New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania

Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania (YANJEP) is offering Arts Education Scholarships for up to $10,000 to fund arts education programming in schools in New Jersey. 

YA’s Arts Educations Scholarships are designed to bring extraordinary and inspiring performances and hands-on workshops delivered by YA’s team of professional teaching artists, according to a news release. Each customized program is developed to maximize students’ experiences with quality arts programs, provide opportunities to understand the cultural importance of the arts and creativity, and connect to classroom curriculum and their lives. Winning schools will also create a community celebration as a culminating event with support from YANJEP.

Students from Fitler Academics Plus School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania getting out from behind their desks in a Hip-Hop Fundamentals residency lead by YA teaching artists Mark Wong and Steve Lunger.


Grant recipients will work with Young Audiences’ staff, and their roster of professional teaching artists, to plan quality arts programming tailored specifically for their schools’ arts education needs. Each recipient will receive funding for a variety of initiatives, including:  professional arts performance for the entire school population;  in-depth, hands-on arts residency for students with professional artists;  assistance in creating a community event that shares student work and celebrates a school’s commitment to arts education as an essential part of learning.

All public, private and charter preschools, elementary, middle and high schools throughout New Jersey are eligible for the grants.

The YA Arts Education Scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis, with priority given to a schools commitment to bringing quality arts programs to it’s students, teachers and community as well as a demonstrated financial need. The deadline for applications is Oct. 13, at 3 pm. Winning schools will be notified via email or phone by Oct. 27.

For more information and for grant applications, schools can visit http://www.yanjep.org, or contact Liz Winter-Kuwornu at Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania, at 866-500-9265 or lwinter@yanjep.org.

Student and School news appears Fridays: Email:cnmetro@mycentraljersey.com