Chanthia C. Ma, a graduating senior at Millburn High School has been named one of approximately 550 semifinalists in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from more than 3,300 candidates on the basis of superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character and involvement in community and school activities.
In April, Ma, along with two other Millburn High School seniors, William Krinsman and Henry Meng, were selected as candidates for the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Candidates were selected based on exceptional scores on either the SAT or the ACT college admission test. Semifinalists were chosen by a panel of distinguished educators after a review of students’ essays, self-assessments, descriptions of activities, school recommendations, and school transcripts. Among her many achievements, Ma was a semifinalist in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search Competition as well as a National Merit Finalist and she received an Honorable Mention for her Senior Portfolio in the 2012 Scholastic Art and Writing Competition.
The annual May Day celebration on May 1 in Watchung Plaza was cancelled due to rain, so Edgemont School set up a maypole on the front lawn of the school and enjoyed a May celebration last Friday.
The 3rd grade Edgemont Recorder Ensemble played a lively Rondo. The Maypole Dancers danced round the maypole while singing Sumer Is Icumen In and Hippy Chippy Charlie, accompanied by the Orff Ensemble. The Green Team presented prizes to students who participated in Waste-Free Lunch for five Fridays, and then the entire school joined together to sing All Things Bright and Beautiful as a continued celebration of Earth Day. It was lovely to see so many families join the celebration.
Last night’s BoE meeting brought the announcement that Shelly Lombard, who held the role of BoE President for the past two years, would be staying on the Board, but not as president. Robin Kulwin will take on that position.
Bloomfield High School Thespian Society launches a new theatrical event this weekend, the Spring Theatre Project. Conceived and directed by Brandon E. Doemling, featuring a cast of twenty-four performers and an all-student band comprised of 22 musicians, it is an evening of song, scene and poetry entitled, “Be As You Are.”
The musical direction and arrangements (Hannah Elarmo & Candice McCloud), vocal direction (Jarred Lee), lighting design (Jarred Lee) and stage management (Aziz Naouai) are all the creation of the student thespians.
Audiences will be treated to new arrangements of Broadway classics and pop composers around the theme of the struggles, the joys, and the pride in finding your own identity. From the Bard of Avon to J.D. Salinger, Sly and the Family Stone, and Lady Gaga; classical, mid-century, and contemporary voices remind us that it is indeed a timeless theme.
It feels like musical chairs lately in Montclair’s school district. And last night, a few more big switches were announced:
In January, Ms. Cheryl Hopper took on the position of principal at Edgemont Montessori School, which was left open after Dr. Adunni Anderson announced her retirement last June. Between the two, Dr. Jeanne Pryor, former Assistant Superintendent for the Montclair Public Schools, served as the interim principal.
The BoE announced the hiring of Dr. Barbara Strobert as Interim Superintendent until they found someone to take on the position permanently.
In February, it was announced that the principal of Charles H. Bullock School, Dr. Barbara Weller, would be taking on the role of Assistant Superintendent of Instruction in the district. Kathy Lindsay, former Northeast principal, took on the role of Interim Principal. Continue Reading
Art Without Borders is a group of dedicated Montclair High students who believe that it is very important for children to grow up with the influence of art in their lives. The group will be holding its first annual art show and sale on Saturday, May 19 at Gallery U in Montclair.
The show features an eclectic combination of works created by Montclair High School students and local professional artists. Aiming to spread art directly with art, all exhibited pieces will be for sale, with 100% of the funds going towards purchasing art supplies for the children of Simon Bolivar school.
At the exhibit, enjoy a performance by Montclair High School’s a cappella group, The Passing Notes.
If you have any art supplies that are not being used, please donate them at the show. You will be providing the artistic foundation for so many students.
The group says, “Montclair is such a warm town filled with artistic vibrance. Help us share our compassion and talent with another country. Art can do so much good in the world, join us in harnessing its power!”
Find out more about Art Without Borders in the video below:
The following is an Op-Ed by Ann Schnakenberg a Clifton, NJ mother, who has joined with other parents to form the Clifton Asserting Parental Rights (C.A.P.R.) group. C.A.P.R is currently fighting the Clifton Board of Education, which has proposed a new school uniform policy for Clifton Public Schools.
NJ Schools are experiencing a serious bullying problem, but the burgeoning problem that I am referring to is probably not the one you are thinking of. Although we live in a state with the toughest anti-bullying law in the nation when it comes to protecting the rights of students and children, somehow along the way the parents were overlooked. ‘Parental Rights’ is the new hot topic. It is nowthe adults who have the bullying problem.
Throughout the state of New Jersey and all across the nation parent’s rights are being challenged by school boards who are all too willing to overstep their boundaries and enter into traditional parental territory. The main cause of this new bullying dilemma in New Jersey is a law that encourages the adoption of mandatory uniform standard dress code policies. At its heart is a new social reform movement that has been flooding our country’s public school systems: the Uniform Standard Dress Movement. This is the latest educational fad to capture the attention of public school administrators and parents alike.
Maplewood seems to be the Queen of Flash Mobs. Check out this cool video from last weekend’s Art Walk featuring some really great dancing kids from CHS, and some grown-ups too.
Glen Ridge Grows is an afternoon of appreciation. Student art and music will be placed in several public and private gardens on Sunday, May 20.
Just pick up your map at Ridgewood Avenue School and start your walk. The route ends at Glen Ridge High School (the site of the New Senior Patio and Rain garden) where there will be a raffling off of shade trees, local vendors will be at your service, and student-grown-organic herbs will be for sale. Refreshments will include artisanal tacos by Taqueria Autentica and cold treats from Scoops. Don’t cook that night… end your evening at Fitzgeralds 1928, where they will donate $1 for every patron that turns in their ticket, further supporting Glen Ridge Grows.
Every suburban home owner knows about the dangers of radon, the colorless, odorless radioactive gas that lurks within our four walls and causes an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
Fortunately, radon reduction systems in the home can keep hazardous levels of radon at bay. But what about in other public places? A recent report on the Today Show found that in many radon “hot spots”, schools have not been tested for the presence of radon. The investigative team contacted 40 schools in parts of Iowa, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New Jersey (see the list of schools they reached out to here) that are located in a radon Zone 1, areas that have the highest potential for elevated radon levels.
Chanthia C. Ma, a graduating senior at Millburn High School has been named one of approximately 550 semifinalists in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from more than 3,300 candidates on the basis of superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character and involvement in community and school activities.
