Student News: Leadership conference set at Governor Livingston H.S.

• The conference, hosted by Congressman Leonard Lance, is for high school students who want to learn more current events and issues facing the nation
• Westfield's Roosevelt School drama team wins awards
• RVCC enactus team wins regional championship
• Readington teachers trounce police in memorial basketball game

High school students from across the Seventh Congressional District are invited to participate in a morning of hands-on activities and speeches about current events and issues facing the nation during a leadership conference being conducted on Saturday, May 7, at Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights.

The conference is being hosted by the district's congressman, Leonard Lance, who represents portions of Somerset, Hunterdon, Union, Morris, and Warren counties, as well as Millburn and Short Hills in Essex County.

“Students across this country, and especially here in New Jersey, are actively engaged in a fascinating presidential election and the many issues and ideas at the center of our national dialogue,” said Lance, a Hunterdon County resident. “At this conference, students will be put in the role of lawmaker – tasked with balancing the federal budget and reforming tax policy while weighing the priorities of the nation. All students interested in public policy and politics should participate.”

Lance will oversee an interactive federal budget exercise where students will review current spending and tax policies and suggest priorities for the country through evidence and by applying their own policy interests. Lance and other speakers will also discuss public policy ideas and lessons for students interested in public service. The conference will be conducted in the school's Ken Steifel Auditorium, 175 Watchung Blvd. on May 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This event is free and open to all interested high school students. Interested students should sign up at www.lance.house.gov/studentconference. For more information, call John Malone in Lance’s district office at 908-518-7733.

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Disability Allies, West Orange High School host Mountaineers Care Day of Awareness

Young adults with and without disabilities are teaming up with the students of West Orange High School on Friday, May 6, to help handicapped students as they prepare to move on from high school. Mountaineers Care Day will take place on the West Orange High School campus lat 51 Conforti Avenue in West Orange, at 11:30 a.m.

Participants will work together on activities designed to help attendees develop their team building skills, improve their social skills, and celebrate friendship and diversity. Organizers hope the event will also foster a better understanding of what it is like to be a young adult with a disability.

Disability Allies is a 501(c)3 status nonprofit that seeks to build social connections among young adults, particularly those with disabilities. We connect youth by organizing events where social and team-building skill development are encouraged. At many events, mentoring relationships are facilitated, as well.

To learn more, visit www.disabilityallies.com.

Flemington-Raritan School District

The Flemington-Raritan School District will celebrate its first Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, from May 3 to 6, in all four of its elementary schools.

Students will showcase favorite songs and dances they have learned. This special student celebration will be held as part of a regular school day. The event has received support from the entire school community. PTOs donated piñatas and prizes; Maschios' Tim Teeling will prepare a Spanish dish on May 5; the physical education department helped in the organization and logistics of the event; and the teachers at all four schools will be participating. They have provided support by incorporating some of the songs into their weekly plans to allow more practice time.

Building administrators have provided support and leadership throughout the year and during the planning stages of this event. Nydia Peake and the elementary World Language staff have lead the effort to create this opportunity for students, according to a district news release.

Every elementary school will have a Cinco De Mayo Fiesta, running fro 2 to 3:20 p.m. at the school: May 3, Copper Hill; May 4, Barley Sheaf; May 5, Robert Hunter; and May 6, Francis A. Desmares.

Hofstra University

Jessica Lombardo of Flemington was named to the fall dean's list at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Students must achieve a grade-point average of 3.5.

Ithaca College

The following Central Jersey residents were inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, at Ithaca College: Alison Dolan of Branchburg, Makenzie Holmsborg of Annandale.

Kean University

Kean University has three student groups attended the ninth-annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), hosted by President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton at the University of California, Berkeley, from April 1 to 3.  Seven students shared their innovative solutions to global and community problems and sought funding to further their ideas.

Their student-led projects are the Vertical Gardens Initiative from Be the Change at Kean University, Let’s Go Bigger from the Department of Occupational Therapy, and the Organic Multicultural Vegetable Garden from the School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences (SESS).

Be the Change has the distinction of attending CGI U for a second straight year and was given the added opportunity to present at the CGI U Exchange and Dinner on April 2. 

“We educate the leaders of tomorrow at Kean University,” said Kean President Dawood Farahi. “However, having three separate student groups representing Kean at Clinton Global Initiative University shows that our students are already proving themselves as leaders on the global stage.”

The Kean students attended the conference, accompanied by faculty advisor Norma Bowe, and were among more than 1,000 student leaders who made Commitments to Action through CGI U. Through their initiatives, the Kean students pledge to tackle the issues of poverty alleviation, public health, and environment and climate change, three of CGI U’s five focus areas, which also include education, and peace and human rights.

Be the Change at Kean University fosters peace and hunger relief in communities through gardening. Starting first with “peace gardens” in Newark, the group then turned its attention to global needs. Last year, Be the Change shipped a freestanding vertical garden to a refugee camp in Kosovo after attending CGI U, and this year the group is seeking funding for its Vertical Garden Initiative to create a more cost-effective, light-weight garden that can be shipped to refugee camps or communities in need anywhere in the world.

“We are very excited to be going back to CGI U for the second year in a row,” said graduate student Jillian Mahon of Bridgewater. The group's plans include designing and shipping vertical gardens to Syrian refugees in Greece, she said.

Let’s Go Bigger from Kean’s Department of Occupational Therapy is a community mobility program designed to improve the health and wellbeing of senior citizens. The students are attending CGI U to expand a successful program that they ran in seven senior housing facilities in Rahway, Linden and Trenton that assisted older adults in getting out of their homes and into the community to engage in meaningful activities. Participants reported sustained physical, psychological and social benefits of increased involvement in their communities.

The Organic Multicultural Vegetable Garden from SESS is envisioned as a place for elementary and high school students to make cultural and environmental connections through gardening. SESS students will grow vegetables from diverse cultures, with the compost produced from food waste on Kean's campus, and teach local students about farming, sustainability and diversity at the garden, which will be located at Liberty Hall Farm at Kean University. The harvested produce will be donated to local food banks. The team hopes that, through CGI U collaboration, it can establish gardens in high schools and universities with diverse cultures and students.

To learn more about the Clinton Global Initiative University, visit cgiu.org.

ALSO: Kean University’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) will host Kickin’ for Courage, a campus-wide kickball tournament, at Kean’s Jim Hynes Baseball Field from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, April 29. Student and faculty teams will compete at the even to raise money and awareness for Bonds of Courage, a nonprofit group dedicated to honoring military personnel in times of war and peace. 

"I think I can speak for all of my colleagues when I say that it makes us proud to know that our students are so willing to assist others in need, especially our service men and women,” said Kean professor and PRSSA faculty advisor Jeremiah Sullivan.

Eight teams will vie against each other in the live competition. The cost of admission is $3 and includes food. All event proceeds will support Bonds of Courage and go towards care packages for service men and women.  

Kean University began hosting a PRSSA chapter in 2014. The organization strives to expand student knowledge in the field of public relations and help its members to advance their careers, widen their professional networks and cultivate leadership skills. Each semester, Kean University’s PRSSA develops a campaign to help a local non-profit organization.

The Kean University Dance Team will provide live entertainment at the Kickin’ for Courage event. Several local businesses donated food and provided additional support. Event sponsors include: Padonno’s Pizzeria, Ferraro’s Pizzeria, Proud Pappas Pizzeria, JC’s Barber House, Wegmans, Starbucks and Shoprite of Union.

For more information, visit www.kean.edu.

Lehigh University

Korey Finn of Whitehouse Station was selected for induction into the student associates honor's program, 2016-17, at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

McDaniel College

Somerville resident Nicholas Riga, a student at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, participated in the National Model United Nations 2016 conference in New York City, March 27-31. McDaniel's delegation of eight students represented the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan. The mission of the National Model United Nations is to advance the understanding of the United Nations system and contemporary global issues through quality educational programs that emphasize collaboration and cooperative conflict resolution and prepare participants for active global citizenship.

Misericordia University

Misericordia University’s Department of History and Government, Government, Law and National Security Program, and Government, Law and National Security Club recently sponsored the presentation, “Lessons from the Field,’’ in which an active shooter trainer, sniper and SWAT team leader discussed various aspects of their careers to program majors and members of the campus community in Dallas, Pennsylvania.

The seminar, under the direction of Rebecca Padot, assistant professor of the Government, Law and National Security Program, featured Sgt. Bernie Fowler, head training officer, Active Shooter Trainer, Monmouth County Emergency Response Team; Patrolman Phil Thompson, sniper, Monmouth County Emergency Response and SWAT teams, and Cpl. John Weg, retired SWAT team leader, Monmouth County Emergency Response Team.

The law enforcement officials discussed the various ways the SWAT team can respond to government attorneys should an incident occur, as well as the coordination needed between the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team and other government officials. In addition, the emergency response team gave a presentation on the history of active shooter incidents in the United States and how law personnel should prepare to respond to an active shooter incident.

ALSO: Giving up time with family and friends to focus on those in need, 50 students from Misericordia University spent their spring break on volunteer projects in underserved areas of Schenectady, New York, and Washington, D.C., with Habitat for Humanity in Lakeland, Florida, and at the Young People Who Care Ministries in Frenchville. Campus Ministry and the Office of Community Outreach coordinated the four service trips.

Twelve Misericordia students and three chaperones worked as street ambassadors and provided meals at the City Mission of Schenectady, a city where the poverty rate is nearly 10 percent higher than the state average. The group helped City Mission serve 600 meals and provide shelter to more than 100 men, women and children each day. They painted and organized the City Mission Thrift Store and assisted with Weekend Blessings, a food distribution program that provides more than 800 backpacks a week filled with non-perishable food items for low-income children to take home for their weekend meals.  Among the student participants was Abigail Parsons of Annandale.

During the evening hours, several students also walked the streets of Schenectady with City Mission Ambassadors, formerly homeless men in City Mission’s residential program who are paid by private businesses to walk the downtown area during evening hours. Businesses and visitors to Schenectady feel safer and men in the Ambassadors Program are able to earn money and build their work resume.

In other projects: A group of 12 students spent the week in Washington, D.C., where they accepted donations to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, visited with veterans, and participated in team building exercises under the direction of a wounded veteran who is a patient and volunteer at Walter Reed.

Another team of 12 students spent a week of service at Young People Who Care Ministries (YPWC) in Frenchville, a small town in rural Clearfield County. YPWC is a grass roots ministry that responds to the needs of people in Central Appalachia, Pennsylvania. The students assisted with home repairs, cleaning, organizing and yard work for the elderly of the community.

A team composed of 14 students spent their spring break with Habitat for Humanity in Lakeland, Florida. The students worked on three different housing projects.

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child

Students, faculty and parents from Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit traveled to Cuba for a photography tour during spring break in the midst of historic developments in Cuban-American diplomatic relations.

Emily Goncalves, Grace Johnson, Grace Nydam, Allison Palmeri,  Hannah Whalen,  Hannah Bucknam, Mary Kate Bucknam, Olivia Quartell, Helena Lyons, Stella Lyons, Nicole Githens,  Lily Sutton, Julia Smollen, and Adriana Coder were able to gain unique insight to the Caribbean nation and its culture during the March 15-22 trip.

The students’ journey, which was guided by professional photographer Jay Seldin, included visiting an Olympic boxing gym, masonry school and farms. At the end of the trip, students were able to have their photos critiqued by Seldin.

Jennifer Breitenstein, Oak Knoll’s Upper School photography teacher who also accompanied the students, said the students benefited from being immersed in a different culture, and said the timing couldn’t be better given the historic developments between the United States and Cuba.

She acknowledged while Cuba’s natural beauty was often on display during the trip, so were some of the economic and infrastructural issues facing the island nation.

“It was a demanding trip. Our hotel, where the press stayed for President Barack Obama's visit, didn't have water for 24 hours,” she said, noting cellular phone service was also unreliable.

Lily Sutton '17, of Chatham, chose to view the lack of phone service as a positive development.

“It was nice to disconnect from my phone and really learn about the culture,” said Sutton, who added that seeing traditional Cuban music and dances were her favorite part of the trip.

“Their performances were so emotional and they had a lot of pride in what they were doing,” she added.

Piscataway: Conackmack Middle School

On March 21, the Conackamack Middle School Team was crowned the winner of “Iron Chef Piscataway.”

This annual event conducted in the Piscataway High School Commons pitted three teams of middle school student against a team of their principals in an hour-long cooking competition. The teams had one hour to plan and cook a three-course meal with a secret ingredient that that commemorated Piscataway’s 350 anniversary – whole cranberries.

PHS film students transformed the Commons into a television studio – guests could watch the action live from anywhere in the room, simply by looking at the mounted monitors. All food materials and prizes were donated by Sodexo Food Services. The event was sponsored by the Piscataway Education Foundation.

Raritan Valley Community College

The Raritan Valley Community College Enactus team was named Regional Champion at the Enactus United States Regional Competition, conducted March 29 in Washington, D.C. The RVCC team now advances to the National Exposition, which will be conducted from May 15 to 17 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The 40 Enactus members were honored for their contributions to the community including providing consulting services to small businesses, teaching youth how to run a bike shop, assisting 500 families with sustainable hunger relief, and helping a local women’s support group build their social assets.

Enactus, an international non-profit, is a community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to enable human progress. Student programs are established on campuses across the nation. Enactus students apply business concepts to develop entrepreneurial projects that transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world.

RVCC Enactus students work throughout the year, including during the summer, focusing on projects that empower those in need in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. The team gives a 17-minute audio/visual presentation in front of a panel of business executives to persuade the judges that RVCC Enactus is among the most effective Enactus teams in the country.

Enactus teams and their projects are judged on how effectively they meet the following five criteria: Target People in Need; Consider the Relevant Economic, Social, and Environmental Factors; Apply Business and Economic Concepts and an Entrepreneurial Approach; Effectively Empower its Target Audience; and Improve the Quality of Life and Standard of Living for its Project Beneficiaries.

“I am thrilled that our RVCC Enactus students once again have distinguished themselves at competition,” said team advisor Tracy Rimple. “This is further evidence of the high quality of our students, the excellence of our programs, and dedication of our faculty and staff.”

The Enactus United States National Exposition offers competitive, energy-filled events where teams showcase the collective impact of their community outreach efforts. Students present their projects and are evaluated by business leaders serving as judges, who rank them on how they use business concepts to improve the quality of life and standard of living for those in need. The winners of these national competitions are then invited to compete at the Enactus World Cup.

RVCC Enactus members represent a variety of majors, including business, engineering and criminal justice. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu,

Readington Township School

The Readington teachers once again bested Readington’s police officers in the second annual Mark Cleere Memorial Scholarship Fund basketball game.

Conducted in the Readington Middle School gymnasium on March 18, the teachers won by a score of 57-52. Mmore than 200 community members enthusiastically supported their team of choice and were entertained by staff member cheerleaders and the Viking Cruisers, a pep band comprised of middle school students and staff.

The Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Mark Cleere, who was a fifth-grade teacher and basketball coach in the school district before death in 2014. This year’s event raised $1,300 for the fund, which awards grants to Readington students to support their attendance at outside workshops or camps to pursue their individual areas of interest.

Readington Township: Three Bridges School

South Plainfield Middle School

The South Plainfield Middle School launched recently its 1st annual Family STEAM Nights Academy, which is a program that takes place once a week at the Middle School in the evening hours.

This opportunity allows parents and students to collaboratively discover STEAM concepts (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) through hands on discovery activities. according to a news release. This program emphasizes collaboration, cooperation, and communication and provides a wonderful opportunity for families to work side by side as they are immersed in learning.

STEAM skills are important for success in the 21st century. Additionally, they provide the basis for every child to be successful in college, work, and life. This inquiry-based program builds upon problem solving skills, making sense of information, and how to gather and evaluate evidence to make a decision.

South Plainfield Middle School teachers Carolyn White, Elyse Kanaley, and Lori Stolz have designed STEAM lessons for all learning styles that are FUNctional and exciting that make STEAM Family Nights popular with parents and students alike.

Stevenson University

The following Hunterdon County residents at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Maryland, are members of the women's ice hockey team and helped the team win the colonial hockey conference championship in double overtime: Madison Lange and Sydney Hughes of Califon.

Stockton University

Research from Stockton University in Galloway reveals that recent college graduates believe the most important college outcome is to get a better job, with 30 percent naming that as their top priority. However, only about one in three (35 percent) says colleges are doing “extremely well” in preparing them for a job and career.

“Measuring College Outcomes,” was authored by Darryl Greer, Stockton University’s William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy’s Senior Fellow, and based on a statewide poll of 770 adults who were either recent graduates of public and private colleges or had at least two years of college. The poll was conducted by the Stockton Polling Institute, which surveyed recent college graduates and students to uncover their opinions on their college experience and desired outcomes. The research was conducted as part of Greer’s Higher Education and Strategic Information and Governance Project (HESIG).

Seventy-eight percent of recent graduates identified “internships or practical experience in college” as the most important factor to ensure success in a current or future job and career. Eighty-four percent viewed internships as “very important” to overall success in developing a career and finding a job. Seventy-three percent of recent graduates felt that college is worth the cost. However, 31 percent felt that the most significant change their college could have made to add greater value to their higher education experience would be to provide “more hands-on practical experience, such as internships.” About one-half of graduates and those with at least two years of college reported having had an internship.

The 2016 findings and prior reports can be downloaded at stockton.edu/hughescenter.

On Wednesday, June 15, HESIG and the Hughes Center will host a symposium on Achieving Student Outcomes: Linking Academic Success, Workforce Preparation and Civic Participation at Stockton University’s Campus Center Event Room. The event seeks to bring together collegiate professionals across New Jersey to discuss best practices for collegiate advising and career counseling, and will apply the “Measuring College Outcomes” findings. The symposium is hosted in support with the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education’s Student Success Collaborative. Free registration is available here.

The Hughes Center can be found at facebook.com/StocktonHughesCenter and can be followed on Twitter@hughescenter.

The Hun School of Princeton

Faces of Courage, a photographic exhibit by Mark Tuschman opened in the Wilf Family Global Commons at The Hun School on March 24. The exhibit is a collection of work documenting disadvantaged women from the developing world, regions like East Africa, Latin America, India and Asia. The gallery opening featured class visits and presentations from the artist followed by a book sale and reception. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. or by appointment through May 13.

Tuschman’s work tells the story of women around the world who are denied basic human rights like health care, education, freedom, and justice. But it also tells stories of triumph, education, and the impact of micro-finance. They are child brides, sex workers, victims of domestic abuse, healthcare workers, and entrepreneurs. The collection is also the subject of an award-winning book, Faces of Courage: Intimate Portraits of Women on the Edge, produced in 2015 with the help of a Kickstarter Campaign.

The collection is a decade long project, a lifetime in the making. Tuschman explained, “I think growing up in Brooklyn made me sensitive to the plight of individuals less fortunate.”

Tuschman was deeply affected after visiting a women’s shelter in Ulan Bator, Mongolia in 2001. He decided then, to dedicate himself and his photography, to helping to bring women’s rights to the forefront of the world’s attention. First, he began working to document conditions for various non-profits and NGO’s. But somewhere along the journey, the project became his and the voice became theirs.

“I wanted to tell the stories of these women as accurately as possible. My mission now, is to educate young people and to help create more activists,” he said.

The school is at 176 Edgerstoune Road, Princeton. Visit www.hunschool.org.

The Middle Earth afternoon program

As a result of National Volunteer Week (April 10-16), Middle Earth, a Bridgewater-based nonprofit serving youth for more than 40 years, is recognizing the hard work of their students who are consistently trying to make a difference in the community.

Middle Earth youth volunteer in community projects all year long. They help out at community events, harvest fresh vegetables to donate to the local food bank, organize pet supply drives for a nearby animal shelter, and clean local parks. They have even created balloon anchors for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Last month, middle school students from Bound Brook conducted a bake sale and raised more than  $150 to give to the American Cancer Society for cancer research. The youth, who participate in Middle Earth’s 21st Century Community Learning Center, recruited volunteers to work and contribute baked goods, created a menu and pricing, and advertised the sale and its cause.

Another group of Middle Earth students from the same afterschool program recognized a significant problem at their school: the safety of the playground equipment. They researched safer options for the playground and developed a budget to see how much was needed to make their ideas a reality. The students presented their ideas to the school principal, who, in turn, pledged money to their cause. The students worked tirelessly planning and implementing a hot dog and lemonade sale at their school for three straight days during the afterschool program. As a result, the students were able to donate nearly $200 to the school, and the improvements to the playground are now being made.

“Every single program at Middle Earth offers community service. We believe it is that important,” said Maria Strada, executive director of Middle Earth. "Volunteerism provides youth with an awareness of the needs of others and a sense of personal responsibility to contribute to the larger community. I am, personally, so proud of these youth.”

In addition to community service, Middle Earth’s programs offer local youth a safe environment where they can use their free time constructively, engage with caring adults who listen, obtain help with homework, prepare for college and future employment, and participate in fun group activities. Their programs teach positive decision-making skills, acceptance of consequences for their actions, and leadership skills, as well as basic life skills such as budgeting, cooking, and obtaining a driver’s license. Learn more at www.middleearthnj.org.

The Middle Earth afterschool program was funded in its entirety with federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by No Child Left Behind, Title IV, Part B, 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant funds through a grant agreement with the New Jersey Department of Education.

The Wardlaw-Hartridge School

A group of Upper School students and four chaperones from The Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison enjoyed a 10-day trip to Spain during spring break.

The students stayed with host families, attended classes at Colegio Altair Internacional in Madrid and bonded with their new Spanish friends. They also took the opportunity to enjoy sightseeing in places such as Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada, Toledo and Madrid. They visited a beautiful castle in Segovia, walked through a walled city in Avila and enjoyed a fabulous tour of Real Madrid Stadium. Some of the host families took their homestay students to a soccer match.

The group also visited a few museums, including Reina Sofia and Museo de Prado, two art museums in Madrid. The students learned about the art in these museums during classes at the school in Altair.

“Why do we encourage student travel?  We want our students to see other places in the world and experience cultures different from our own. Travel can be a little scary, but once students figure out that they can connect with people despite differences, and they learn to navigate in new environments, students grow and become smarter, more competent individuals,” said Rhona Eserner of Edison, the trip leader and W-H Director of Global Learning.

The students who attended the trip were Akash Dalal of Scotch Plains, Alexandra Garces of North Brunswick, Allison Haley of Colonia, Aman Kaur of Iselin, Andrea Tobar of South Plainfield, Andrew Park of Westfield, Anisa Ahmed of Scotch Plains, Brennan Wright of Westfield, Jaden Dugenio of Branchburg, Jordan Borst-Ortiz of Colonia, Jordan Rose of Watchung, Joshua Marseille of Linden, Laura Arriaza of Plainfield, Learta Bajqinovci of Roselle Park, Neha Chhabra of Watchung, Raphael Genty of Scotch Plains, Samantha Anastasiou of Scotch Plains, Scott Hargrove of Fanwood, Sonali Shah of Edison, Sreeja Arumilli of Edison, Steven Bessette of Scotch Plains, Victoria Howell of Piscataway, Wilson Guo of Edison and Whitney Porter of North Plainfield.

Students from the school in Altair, Spain returned to the U.S. with the Wardlaw-Hartridge students. Their visit includes two trips to New York City, a three-day excursion to Washington D.C. and two days attending classes with Wardlaw-Hartridge students. The students from Spain returned home on April 6.

Warren Township: Warren Middle School

Before there was the written word, there was oral tradition… entertaining storytelling used to pass on cultural and historical information from one generation to another. Fables, folk tales, and legends are examples of oral tradition that were used by communities of yore to reinforce values, address societal ills, and share history and customs.

“Oral tradition is about taking a story and passing it on from person to person,” said Tahira, a professional storyteller who visited Warren Township Midle School sixth-graders in February to share stories based on African oral tradition. “It’s interactive. It’s not a passive experience.”

Tahira’s expressive and educational performance was a precursor for a language arts unit on oral tradition that 6th grade language arts teachers have been doing for years. Some classes begin the unit this month; others completed it last month.

The Language of Literature unit on oral tradition combines reading, narrative writing, and public speaking, with some modern-day technology thrown in for use in the oral presentations.

“My students write a folk tale and may choose to write with a partner,” said sixth-grade language arts teacher Brenda Sasso. “The students are required to use a plethora of figurative language, repetition, great description, explicit verbs, etc. When all are finished, they illustrate and publish their works. We then share them with the class and put them on the bulletin board for my other classes to read.”

Sasso and Dean of Students Max Achtau worked with the PTO to bring Tahira’s “Gift of Story” presentation to the middle school as part of its cultural arts program.

With the help of a guitar, a shekere (a gourd covered in closely woven beads), communicative facial expressions and vocals that are clear and pure, Tahira delivered a high-energy, interactive program.

“In oral tradition, there’s always some magical component,” Tahira told her young audience as she used the spoken word and song to pass on age-old African folklore.

Submitted by Mary Ann McGann

Westfield Public School Board of Education

The spring season represents the start of the fourth marking period in the Westfield Public Schools and continued activity by the Board of Education. The nine volunteers elected to serve on the Westfield Board of Education include:  Ginny Leiz, Gretchan Ohlig (president), and Peggy Oster (vice president), Christopher Langhart, Mitchell Slater, Mark Friedman, Brendan Galligan, Charles Ostroff, and Robert Garrison.

“Our Board members devote many hours to ensuring that the Westfield Public Schools continue the tradition of excellence,” Superintendent Margaret Dolan said.

The Board of Education operates under the committee system and bases its work on district goals and initiatives as well as on the legally mandated business of the district.

In addition to bi-monthly public meetings of the whole Board during the school year, members meet and deliberate within committees, which include:
Budget & Finance: Chairperson Mark Friedman is joined by Christopher Langhart, Gretchan Ohlig, and Mitch Slater, with Robert Garrison as alternate.
Curriculum, Instruction & Programs: Chairperson Peggy Oster, as well as Ginny Leiz, Gretchan Ohlig, and Robert Garrison, with Mitch Slater as alternate, comprise this committee.

Facilities: Brendan Galligan chairs this committee, whose members include Ginny Leiz, Peggy Oster, and Charles Ostroff, with Gretchan Ohlig as alternate.

Long Range Planning: Ginny Leiz is Chairperson, with Mark Friedman, Brendan Galligan, and Mitch Slater, with alternate Charles Ostroff.

Policies: Chairperson Christopher Langhart, as well as Brendan Galligan, Robert Garrison, and Gretchan Ohlig, with Ginny Leiz as alternate, comprise this committee.

Legislation: Brendan Galligan is Chairperson, serving with Christopher Langhart, Robert Garrison, and Charles Ostroff, with Peggy Oster as alternate.

Technology: Mitch Slater chairs this committee and is joined by Ginny Leiz, Peggy Oster, and Charles Ostroff, with Mark Friedman as alternate.

Negotiations:  Chairperson Ginny Leiz, as well as Brendan Galligan, Christopher Langhart, and Gretchan Ohlig serve on this committee.
Each school in the district is represented by a Board member who attends PTO meetings and reports on Board business.  The school liaisons include:  Westfield High School – Gretchan Ohlig; Edison Intermediate School –Ginny Leiz; Roosevelt Intermediate School – Peggy Oster; Franklin School – Christopher Langhart; Jefferson School – Gretchan Ohlig; Lincoln School – Peggy Oster; McKinley School – Ginny Leiz; Tamaques School – Mitch Slater; Washington School – Charles Ostroff; and Wilson School – Robert Garrison.

In addition, Board members serve as liaisons and attend meetings of local and educational organizations.  The following organizational meetings are reported on by Board of Education liaisons:  New Jersey School Boards – Ginny Leiz; Union County School Boards – Christopher Langhart; Union County Educational Services Commission – Ginny Leiz; Parent-Teacher Council (including Special Education Parents Committee) – Peggy Oster; District Staff Evaluation Committee – Gretchan Ohlig; Recreation Commission – Christopher Langhart; Library Board – Charles Ostroff; Garden State Coalition of Schools – Peggy Oster; Town Council – Gretchan Ohlig; Tri-County Boards for Quality Education – Ginny Leiz; and Green Team – Ginny Leiz. More information can be found on the Board of Education website.

All Board members can be contacted at: wboe@westfieldnjk12.org.

Westfield: Edison Intermediate School

Edison Intermediate School students and staff joined together during their monthly advisory program to create a culture of reading throughout the school. Students and faculty discussed their favorite books and the important role literacy plays in their lives. Next, every student designed a book spine of a favorite book to decorate his/her locker, transforming the hallways of Edison School into a library filled with books.

Additionally, Edison Intermediate School kicked off a book drive for Reach Out and Read, an organization which helps bring books to pediatrician’s offices so that physicians can promote literacy from an early age as part of a child’s routine well visit.

Westfield: Roosevelt Intermediate School

Eighth-grade drama students from Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield brought home several awards earned at the 2016 New Jersey Drama and Forensic League Theatrefest.

Capturing the attention of judges and audience alike at the annual competition held at Chatham Middle School on March 19, were:  Vincent Mora - Second Place Dramatic Monologue; Julia Singer and Nina Martini - Fourth Place Comedic Pairs; Eva Boyes and Talia McRoberts - 5th Place Comedic Pairs; and Nina Martini, Alexandra Sica and Morgan Boll - Improvisation Scene Performance winners.
Coached by Roosevelt teacher Kimberly Jonny, the talented team included Eva Boyes, Grace Dabulas, Morgan Boll, Alexandra Sica, Natalia Hanchuk, and Hope Banta. Julia Singer, Nina Martini, Talia McRoberts, Sara Kirschner and Vincent Mora.

Westfield High School

For the third consecutive year, a team of student volunteers from Westfield High School was presented with the Students Change Hunger award for collecting and donating food to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. A total of 2,918 pounds of food was collected, making Westfield High School the Division Six winner of the campaign, with more donations than Rutgers, Seton Hall, Kean University and other large educational institutions. In addition, Westfield was named Second Runner-Up Heavy Weight – bringing in the third most of all 65 schools participating.

Recently, Community Food Bank of New Jersey Food Sourcing Coordinator Kathy Rosenthal presented an award, to Westfield High School 11th graders Mark Kostyack, Cole Feltman, Jack Liebling, Chris Ng, Matt Stravach, Kevin Tsui, Ben Halevy, Jacob Davis, and Aidan Paul; Assistant Principal James DeSarno, who was on hand to congratulate the students and accept the plaque for display within Westfield High School.

Upon accepting the award, Cole Feltman, one of three original food campaign volunteers at the high school, said, “I am very proud of our group, and I speak for all of us when I say: We love helping those in need.”

Wilkes University

Hillsborough resident Nicole Santorelli, a student at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, recently won the regional Enactus competition in Washington, D.C., as part of a team from the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership. Enactus is an international nonprofit organization that encourages college students to become entrepreneurs through collaboration to create innovative, sustainable community development projects. Wilkes students beat teams from 47 other American northeast region universities. The Enactus team students from the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership are invited to compete and attend the National Expo in St. Louis from May 15 to 17.

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