Message from the Superintendent

Dear Teachers and Instructional Staff,

Today marks the National School Day of Non-Violence and Peace. As stated in last week’s newsletter, the entire school district is joining the City of Newark in reciting the peace pledge at 10am today. 

Peace Pledge:

“On this National School Day of Non-Violence and Peace, we pledge to work towards a more peaceful world for all. We pledge to promote non-violence, respect for human rights, and understanding of different cultures and perspectives. We will combat hate, discrimination, and violence. We pledge to be active citizens in our City of Newark, and to use our voices and actions to promote peace and create a more just and equitable society. I also pledge to address the underlying issues that contribute to gun violence, such as poverty, racism, and a lack of access to mental health resources. We pledge to stand with survivors of gun violence and to honor the memory of those who have been lost. Together, we can create a future of peace and harmony for all people.”

Upload artifacts using the LINK provided. We ask that all submissions be uploaded on or before February 1, 2023.

Let’s celebrate Black History by recognizing, honoring, and celebrating Black voices and Black stories. The Office of Teaching and Learning invites you to the Black History Month Celebration on Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 3:15pm – 5:15pm. Please see the attached flyer for more information: Black History Month Flyer.

Thank you,

Superintendent León 

Pre-K Literacy and Mathematics Assessment

Contact: Mara Kaplan, Office of Early Childhood
Email: mkaplan@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Early Childhood developed the Pre-K Literacy and Mathematics Assessment which is inclusive of 8 individual tasks that are completed in Fall, Winter, and Summer. These assessments support teachers, administrators, and district leaders in understanding how students are progressing to inform instruction and district wide initiatives.

Important upcoming dates:

*Individual score reports are added to GOLD and placed in Assessment Folders by January 31, 2023.

Optional Office Hours for Preschool Teachers

Contact: KeLee Brown, Office of Early Childhood
Email: k10brown@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Early Childhood is offering Office Hours for Preschool teachers to support with lesson plans and Creative Curriculum and Assessment. Please click the link below to the schedule and Webex, and note the hours are from 3:15PM-4:15PM.

• Office Hours Schedule
• Webex Link

Pre-K Learning Environment Expectations Checklist

Contact: Mara Kaplan, Office of Early CHildhood
Email: mkaplan@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Early Childhood has created the Learning Environment Expectations Checklist to support teachers and administrators in understanding the expectations of a Pre-K classroom in alignment with Academic Walkthrough Protocol. The purpose of this document is to ensure consistency across all Pre-K classrooms as we continue to focus on Priority 2 of The Next Decade. The intention is to pause at the mid-year point and check to see how many elements are present and discuss what supports are needed to ensure that the checklist items are in use in the classroom. 

Please reach out to your OEC Teacher Coach if you want to discuss how you can use this document to support your classroom.

Writing Contest (New)

Contact: Jazleen Othman, Office of Teaching & Learning
Email: jothman@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Teaching and Learning is looking for outstanding student work that stems from the K-5 ELA curriculum. As we celebrate Black History Month, we are looking for writing that aligns to units that meet the Amistad Act (Writing could have been from a previous unit taught). Please use this form to upload writing samples. The winners will be announced and will receive a prize from the Office of Teaching & Learning. All entries are due by 2/10.

K-5 Classroom Libraries (New)

Contact: Heather Lieberman, Office of ELA
Email: hlieberman@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Teaching and Learning is excited about the new K-5 classroom libraries being set up across the district. Please see the attached flyer for information about sharing pictures of your class library.

• K-5 Classroom Library Celebrations

Academic Conferences

Contact: LaTonya White, Office of Student Life
Email: ldwhite@nps.k12.nj.us

Elementary/Middle School Counselors must complete Quarter 2 Academic Conferences no later than February 8, 2023. Academic Conferences consist of:

• One on one conferencing with all students having one or more low/poor grades (D,F).
• Documented engagement with teachers.
• Collaborative meetings with parents (virtual, in-person, phone)
• Recommended interventions and “by-when” dates.

All documents should be uploaded to the appropriate Google Classroom Assignment folder.

Spring Break Session with Grammy Museum Experience Prudential Center (New)

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/

New Teacher Induction (New)

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

The next New Teacher Induction session will take place on Tuesday, February 7th 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 sessions will focus on connecting accommodations or modifications to lesson planning and supporting students in a least restrictive environment, led by the Office of Special Education. The meeting link and session descriptions can be found in the schedule linked here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LBTAibPzenR0OBaqO_6Z7k_HKxIjQT-Q/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111402871397213773622&rtpof=true&sd=true

Traditional Mentor Training – February (New)

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

The next mentor training sessions are scheduled for February 15, and February 22, 2023. The February 15th session is for 1st or 2nd year mentors. We will focus on analyzing student learning to plan instruction. The February 22nd session is for mentors who have been participating for 3 or more years. We will continue our work related to supporting all learners by focusing on universal design for learning. Please register for your session here: https://forms.gle/fNHATSpmszRSdJds6

Mathigon/Desmos + Art Contest (New)

Contact: Amanda Grossi, Office of Mathematics
Email: agrossi@nps.k12.nj.us

The 3rd Annual Desmos Math + Art Contest for grades 8-12 is under way. This year, there is a corresponding Mathigon Polypad Math + Art Contest for grades K-12 students. The deadline for submission is May 26, 2023.  More information for each contest can be found here: Desmos / Mathigon Polypad.

Connect with 4DMA for a Math 1:1 Session (New)

Contact: Amanda Grossi, Office of Mathematics
Email: agrossi@nps.k12.nj.us

The mentors at 4DMA understand the demands facing teachers now and we are here to help. We believe that teachers want and need to connect with like-minded professionals in meaningful ways, relevant to their teaching. Click here to join us for a Math 1:1

Parent University – Spring 2023! (New)

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 (linked here) and encourage families to explore all our website has to offer.

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

OSE PD: General and Special Education Teachers, CSTs and Paras (New)

Contact: Maria Jara, Office of Special Education
Email: majara@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Special Education (OSE) will host our first Annual Special Education Conference on March 15th. The “Building Bridges Connected to Student Success” Special Education Conference will be held in-person at Newark Vocational. Please look out for the Early Bird Registration information and incentives which will be shared this month!   

Additional PD includes a four workshop series dedicated to General Education Teachers, Orton Gillingham PD, PreK PSD, as well as other PD for teachers, CSTs, and paras who support students with Autism. Please review the attached.

• 1-30-23-OSE-Teacher-Talk.pdf

Coming Soon: An Easier Way to Get Your Annual Physical! (New)

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

On March 1st, The Office of Benefit Services will be launching VitalCheck, a program that brings local Hackensack Meridian primary care providers onsite for your convenience! They will provide free annual wellness checkups (100% covered by Aetna and most major insurance plans). The provider draws labs and can help identify treatment plans for potentially escalating conditions.

Bonus: Checkups will count as one of the two required 2023 Healthy Actions necessary to qualify for an incentive. Stay tuned to NBOEHRS.com for more information.

Continuing COVID-19 Testing Requirement (New)

Contact: B. Helena Blackwell, Office of Health Services
Email: Bblackwell@nps.k12.nj.us

A PCR test continues to be the only test result accepted to confirm a positive result. Once results are uploaded to ESS, employees should contact the Office Health Services immediately to confirm the next steps.

Special Announcement from the NAACP Newark

Contact: Jazleen Othman, Office of Teaching & Learning
Email: jothman@nps.k12.nj.us

The Newark Branch of the NAACP  (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) honors the teaching of Black history. We believe it is important to uplift the teaching of Black history not only in schools but also in community-based educational settings.

The Branch will honor up to three educators at our 2023 Black History Month Program where they will each present what they do in their classrooms and receive a special gift. We invite educators to submit evidence of ONE way that they incorporate Black history into their curriculums.

Submissions are being accepted Jan. 12 – Feb. 7. More details about eligibility and submission requirements can be found here: https://forms.gle/itArbcjDK5qteN147

We encourage you to apply!

• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dSRxzPKwLkv3uh7vy8mjNNZcMjc29eLa/view?usp=sharing

Paperless W-2 Form Option

Contact: Dimple Patel, Human Resource Services
Email: payrollcs@nps.k12.nj.us

This year, NBOE Payroll is offering the option to skip the mailed W-2, in favor of online access only through Employee Self Service. Attached are guidelines on how to go paperless. W-2 Consent Guidelines.docx

Please note the Office of  Payroll will mail your W-2 by January 31, 2023.

Cycle 2 Report Card Timeline

Contact: Darren Watsky, Student Information Services
Email: dwatsky@nps.k12.nj.us

All Cycle 2 grades and comments must be finalized in PowerTeacher Pro by the end of the school day on Wednesday, February 8th. Gradebooks will be locked at close of business day on Thursday, February 9th.

Please use the Cycle 2 Report Card Timeline to prepare for the storing of Cycle 2 grades. 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.

Teachers Needed for HS Entrance Exam

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

If you are interested in working the high school exam that will be administered on Saturday 2/11 and 2/18 we ask that you register  below.  Training dates are as follows: 2/2, 2/3, and 2/9 are mandatory training date for all those that will be administering the assessment. (Test administrators and proctors)

REGISTRATION LINK: https://forms.gle/sRLK9g2A6oJcZCZa8

THE NBOE – MSU LEADERSHIP PIPELINE PROGRAM

Contact: Matthew Brewster, Staff Development
Email: MBrewster@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Staff Development would like to present the Newark/Montclair State University’s Educational Leadership Program. This results-oriented, practice-driven program guides aspiring leaders to transform their passion for education into extraordinary achievements for schools and student learning. The program integrates a variety of instructional delivery models with extensive and intensive fieldwork to develop accomplished strategic leaders in schools, school systems, and educational organizations.

Please share the flyer below with identified aspiring leaders in your building and have them register for the upcoming webinar: Thursday, February 23 @ 4:00PM.

NMLPP-M.A-in-Educational-Leadership-Webinar-flyer-Fall-2023.pdf

Enter to win the Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest

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

The Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest is designed to inspire creativity in youth, ages 4-15, and help them imagine the future of mobility. Nine U.S. art contest winners are selected each year: the top three in three age categories (4-7 years; 8-11 years; and 12-15 years). There are three judging criteria for the artwork: execution, uniqueness, and artistry. For contest rules, artwork criteria and entry guidelines use this link: https://www.toyotadreamcarusa.com/

NEW Maven Family Forming Benefit Coming 1/1/23!

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

All employees enrolled in an Aetna medical plan, along with their partners, will have free, unlimited access to the Maven digital healthcare platform to help navigate preconception, pregnancy and postpartum. This includes support of your journey whether it is for fertility treatment, IVF, IUI and egg freezing; adoption; surrogacy; and returning to work after parental leave. 

For more information, visit https://nboehrs.com/medical/. After 1/1/23, you will also be to visit mavenclinic.com/join/nboe.

• NBOE-Maven-One-Pager.pdf

NEW! Brightline Pediatric Behavioral Health Benefit

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

Beginning on January 1, 2023, employees with children enrolled in an Aetna medical plan will have access to this benefit for their children and teens. Personalized coverage includes:

• Connect+: On-the-go access to content, group classes, interactive exercises, and chat with coaches.
• Coaching: Help from behavioral health experts in as few as four sessions.
• Care: Behavioral therapy, medication evaluation, and support from licensed clinicians.

For more information, visit https://nboehrs.com/medical/.  After January 1, 2023, sign up at hellobrightline.com/aetna. To contact Member Support, call 1-888-224-7332 or email care@hellobrightline.com.

• Brightline_Aetna_2Pager_1108.pdf