“Building a Brighter Future” Fall 2015 Issue Blue Bishops Bulletin is a publication of the Asbury Park School District From the Superintendent’s Desk During this time of year, it is common practice to count our blessings. I am thankful for the students, staff, parents and community members who have created an atmosphere of excellence and continue to play a positive role in supporting the educational renaissance taking place right now in the Asbury Park School District. As you know, the 2015-16 school year marks the rejuvenation of hope and opportunity in the City of Asbury Park. We have had a productive start to the academic year. Many of the strategies regarding literacy, professional development and outreach that were mentioned last year have now been put into practice. Our actions are centered on three pillars: Rebuild, Retool and Restore. To Rebuild the academic foundation, we have adopted, revised and created new curricula on all levels, participated in college-level research projects, created enrichment opportunities for the students during the summer, adopted a new grading and retention policy, developed a new student handbook and created academic identities in the middle and high schools. We also have entered into an agreement with Scholastic Partners to Retool our capacity to address literacy, instruction and leadership. In addition, we are working to Restore our image by expanding the social media methods we use to tell our success stories, by engaging parents with our Parent Conference and rebranding ourselves educationally in the community while maintaining Blue Bishop tradition. I want to remind you that this is “Our Moment” to draft a blueprint for suc- cess, to Rebuild our educational foundation, Retool our capacity to educate our students and Restore, the proud history of this great American City by the Sea. Together we can “Build a Brighter Future” for the entire Asbury Park community. Our mission is clear: To provide all students in Asbury Park School District with a comprehensive and progressive education where everyone possesses the skills and character to succeed in a diverse and evolving global society. Lastly, I want to personally thank you for playing a role in allowing the new Asbury Park School District to set the pace in Monmouth County and create an educational renaissance to match the redevelopment occurring in the community. Enjoy the holidays! Dr. Lamont Repollet, Superintendent Staff Recognition 2 College & Career Readiness Institute Makes Its Debut 2 Middle School Students Forge Partnership with Ghana 3 Alumni Spotlight 3 Partnerships in Progress 4 PARCC Update 5 Spring Sports in Review 5 Saving Our Students Symposium 6 What’s Inside! Created by Chanta L. Jackson, Central Registrar/Communications Coordinator. If you would like to share a story idea, please contact me at [email protected] or at (732) 776-2606, ext. 2475. Stay current with our activities by viewing our website, www.asburypark.k12.nj.us, our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/asburyparkschools, or Twitter feed, @Asbury_ParkSD.
Transcript
“Building a Brighter Future”
Fall 2015 Issue
Blue Bishops Bulletin is a publication of the Asbury Park School District
From the Superintendent’s Desk
During this time of year, it is common practice to count our blessings. I am thankful for the students, staff, parents and community members who have created an atmosphere of excellence and continue to play a positive role in supporting the educational renaissance taking place right now in the Asbury Park School District. As you know, the 2015-16 school year marks the rejuvenation of hope and opportunity in the City of Asbury Park. We have had a productive start to the academic year.
Many of the strategies regarding literacy, professional development and outreach that were mentioned last year have now been put into practice. Our actions are centered on three pillars: Rebuild, Retool and Restore. To Rebuild the academic foundation, we have adopted, revised and created new curricula on all levels, participated in college-level research projects, created enrichment opportunities for the students during the summer, adopted a new grading and retention policy, developed a new student handbook and created academic identities in the middle and high schools. We also have entered into an agreement with Scholastic Partners to Retool our capacity to address literacy, instruction and leadership. In addition, we are working to Restore our image by expanding the social media methods we use to tell our success stories, by engaging parents with our Parent Conference and rebranding ourselves educationally in the community while maintaining Blue Bishop tradition.I want to remind you that this is “Our Moment” to draft a blueprint for suc-cess, to Rebuild our educational foundation, Retool our capacity to educate our students and Restore, the proud history of this great American City by the Sea. Together we can “Build a Brighter Future” for the entire Asbury Park community. Our mission is clear: To provide all students in Asbury Park School District with a comprehensive and progressive education where everyone possesses the skills and character to succeed in a diverse and evolving global society. Lastly, I want to personally thank you for playing a role in allowing the new Asbury Park School District to set the pace in Monmouth County and create an educational renaissance to match the redevelopment occurring in the community. Enjoy the holidays!
Dr. Lamont Repollet, Superintendent
Staff Recognition 2
College & Career Readiness Institute Makes Its Debut 2
Middle School Students Forge Partnership with Ghana 3
Alumni Spotlight 3
Partnerships in Progress 4
PARCC Update 5
Spring Sports in Review 5
Saving Our Students Symposium 6
What’s Inside!
Created by Chanta L. Jackson, Central Registrar/Communications Coordinator. If you would like to share a story idea, please contact me at [email protected] or at (732) 776-2606, ext. 2475.
PARCC Update
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/asburyparkschools, Twitter Asbury Park Schools (@Asbury_ParkSD)Visit the website to see all of the photos/videos from district athletic events.
Stay current with our activities by viewing our website, www.asburypark.k12.nj.us, our Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/asburyparkschools, or Twitter feed, @Asbury_ParkSD.
Last year was the rst time our children participated in the English Language Arts and Math assessments created by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Ca-reers (PARCC). These assessments, which replaced the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK grades 3-8) and High School Pro ciency Assessment (HSPA grades 9-12), are one of several measures Superintendent Dr. Repol-let is using in the new strategic plan for rebuilding, retooling, and restoring the Asbury Park School District. While previous assessments commonly relied on students to answer multiple-choice or true/false answers based on rote
memorization, PARCC is created to focus on age-appropriate problem-solving, critical evaluations and higher-order think-ing skills – the kinds of skills students need to succeed in school and in the workplace.Reports containing your child’s results are beginning to ar-rive in the district and will be mailed home within the next month. During the district’s Parent Teacher Conferences on Dec. 2, each school conducted presentations to help parents understand their child’s score report. Please contact Ms. Deborah Sylvia, Director of Guidance, at 732-776-2638, ext. 2635, should you have additional questions.
Sports in Review
Congratulations to all of our TeamsFall 2015 in Review…
Football
Homecoming
Soccer
Cross Country
ParkSD)/videos from district ath t
Saving Our Students Symposium
The College and Career Readiness Institute of the Asbury Park School District hosted the “Saving Our Students” Symposium Nov. 30 through Dec. 4. The symposium included a weeklong lecture series of dynamic guest speakers who are accomplished in their respective elds and also have a cultural connection to our student body.“The goal of the symposium is to deliver the message to our students that “ImPossible,” said Brian Stokes, Supervisor of the College and Career Readiness Institute. “ Within the word impossible, we show that there is nothing that our students can’t achieve if they allow themselves to dream and then take the right steps to achieve their goals through hard work, dedication and perseverance. “The speaker line-up included:
• Keith Manning, CEO Manning Enterprise and Owner and Operator of McDonald’s Franchises, who chronicled his life story to entrepreneurship. Key takeaway – It’s not important where you start, but rather how you nish. Set your goals early and remain focused.
• Joetta Clark Diggs, 4-Time Olympian, who discussed the importance of good health and positive work ethics associated with participation in sports. Key takeaway – Everything is attainable. Never lose focus of the ve Ps: Purpose, Prepared, Patience, Perturbed and Persevere.
• Tyrone Laws, Community Activist, who talked about understanding and respecting your culture. Key
takeaway – In order to understand where you are going, you must rst understand where our people have been.
• Dr. Steve Perry, Educator, who talked to male students and parents about the need to address social issues that aim at building up individual and community. Key takeaway – Your children deserve a world-class education. Hold people accountable for your children’s performance.
• Mikki Taylor, Editor-at-Large of ESSENCE Magazine, who talked to female students and parents about knowing your self-worth, empowerment, branding, beauty and self-image. Key takeaway – Don’t let you destiny be determined by anyone else. You have to be transformational in your ambitions and in your thinking. I was positioned to succeed, and it started in my home.
• Dr. Deborah L. Tillman, National Parenting Expert, who encouraged parents and stakeholders to empower families and improve community engagement. Key takeaway – Nothing happens by accident. We go through seasons in our lives. Out of pain comes purpose.
• M. Tia Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Legislative Affairs and rst black female colonel in the Army JAG Corps, motivated young girls by sharing her journey to success. Key takeaway – Always remember your PEARLS: Personal responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Respect, Leadership and Support.
Staff Recognition
Please join the Asbury Park School District in celebrating the success of our staff.
Dr. Antonio N. Lewis, Principal on Special Assignment, recently earned the President’s Award from the Long Branch
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People during its annual Freedom Fund Luncheon. “Doc” as he is known, was recognized not only for his many educational achievements, including serving as
superintendent of the Asbury Park School District from 1999 until 2009, but also for his volunteer efforts to improve the less of youth and families in the tri-county area who are less fortunate.
L. Louis Jordan, Security Manager, was also recognized by the Long Branch National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People during its annual Freedom Fund Luncheon. He received the Silver Life Membership Award. Jordan joined the school district in 2010 after serving 25-plus years in law enforcement, rising through the ranks in the Asbury Park Police Department as patrolman to Police Director. His concern for the welfare of the city’s youth led him to his current career path.
Jessica Daniels, an English Language Arts Teacher to ninth- and tenth-graders, was named a 2015 New Jersey Exemplary Secondary Educator of the Year by the New Jersey Department of Education. She was nominated by Anna Maria Graf, Supervisor of Mathematics K-12 of the Asbury Park School District. Daniels is a veteran teacher of the Asbury Park High School learning community. According to the New Jersey Department of Education, “Exemplary Educators exhibit strong knowledge and skills, an inspiring presence; and a positive impact on students, colleagues and the school community.” During Daniels’ tenure she has been an inspiration to both students and staff at the Asbury Park High School.
Middle School Students Forge Partnership with Ghana
Scores of Asbury Park Middle School students can now be considered world travelers. How you ask? They have visited Ghana, West Africa twice since the 2015-16 year began. Thanks to technology made available from Polycom, it didn’t take 10 hours, but rather they were able to teleconference at the speed of light in the comfort of the school’s Media Center.“Polycom Foundation donates equipment to non-pro ts that support children and can leverage technology at the same time,” said Laura Owen, Polycon Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Of cer. “We use this to expand distance learning opportunities. It’s really about connecting children.”With mock passports in hand, approximately 50 Asbury Park
middle-schoolers traveled more than 5,000 miles to Agona, Ghana in part-nership through Oiada International. Oiada, a non-pro t organization, has been providing educational and cultural programs that compliment schools’ core curriculum since 1997. They began partnering with Poly-con in 2009 to engage students in distance learning programs.
During the visit, Asbury Park students shared a cheer, pre-sented a banner and provided history on Asbury Park and the State of New Jersey. As an added bonus, they met Ghanaian King Terpor V of Agona, Ghana.“Superintendent (Lamont) Repollet’s vision and desire for something greater than he was already seeing in the Asbury Park School District connected the two,” said Jones, who has partnered with the district for the past two years. “He wanted to have his students have a global experience by teaching
them to make an impact in their community and ones thousands of miles away.”In addition to the live chat, Asbury Park students collected school supplies that will be distributed to St. John’s Catholic Junior High School in Abrem, Agona Ghana. This was part of an ongoing effort to demonstrate school pride, social responsibility and teach the students that they can make an impact, accord-ing to Eric Jones CEO of Oiada International.Dr. Jeffrey Toney, Provost and Vice President of Academic Af-fairs at Kean University, was onsite to witness one of the exchanges. “We support global education. My hope is to build links,” said Toney, noting the university has a campus in Wenzhou, China. “What Asbury Park is doing here is innovative and our university community can bene t from connecting with them.” Asbury Park Mayor John Moor and Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton also stopped in to offer support for the district’s global initiative.“This is just unbelievably great to see technology being used in the (school) district,” Moor said. “You can tell by the expres-sion on the children’s faces how successful this project is.”In an effort to “Build A Brighter Future” for all students, the
Asbury Park School District established the College & Career Readiness Institute in July 2015. Since its inception, Supervi-sor Brian Stokes and his team have been busy creating new opportunities for our students.
“We formed the Col-lege and Career Read-iness Institute to give the students of Asbury Park experiential op-portunities, whether it be in business, com-munity service or col-lege,” Stokes said. He noted CCRI is trying to expose students to
various other career and vocational opportunities as well in an effort to help them determine their post-secondary path.Among the goals of the program are to groom students for post-secondary education, provide an essential foundation and tools for them to participate in a competitive global job market and to raise student awareness for career paths and
employment oppor-tunities.To that end, CCRI participants have engaged in a variety of hands-on learning
experiences. Among them are:• In July, two students
were placed as paid interns at two local businesses (First Constitution Bank and Words book-store).
• In August, volunteering at the Asbury Park Loves Jazz Weekend at Convention Hall.
• In September, attending a Historically Black Colleges and Universities panel discussion sponsored by the Lambda Omega Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Long Branch Housing Authority.
• In October, volunteering for the Pride in the Park Cleanup and at the Long Branch National Association for the Ad-vancement of Colored People Freedom Fund luncheon.
• In November, attending First Energy’s Power Systems In-stitute at Brookdale Community College, which trains local workers for high-wage, in-demand jobs in the utility industry.
• Also in November, several students par-ticipated in the MLK Teen Leadership Sum-mit at Novartis.
t
tT
College & Career Readiness Institute Makes Its Debut
Alumni Spotlight
Name: Trish Millines DzikoSchool Involvement: Played as a point guard for the girls’ basketball team during all four years in high school. The team won a state championship in 1975. She also ran the 220 and the 440 on the Blue Bishops track team. She was also a member of the school’s audio visual club.
Favorite Teacher: “We had a lot of really good teachers,” but Mrs. Belos, an English and history teacher, earned top honors. “She really kept us clued into the political happenings of the time (Watergate). She had us reading dif cult texts and the New York Times every day and discussing it. She was pretty cool.” Another assignment from Mrs. Belos that resonated with Ms. Millines Dziko was reading “Up Against the Law.”Favorite Subject: SwahiliYear Graduated: 1975Asbury Park Connection: She was born in Belmar and much of her family still lives in the area. She had a choice between attending Manasquan High School and Asbury Park High School.Education: Earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Com-puter Science from Monmouth College in 1979.Current Position: Co-Founder and Executive Director of
Technology Access Foundation. The Seattle, Washington nonpro t is a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. It uses STEM as a tool for realizing so-cial change and educational equality in communities of color and those with low income. Their targeted approach leverag-es in-school and out-of-school learning to address longstand-ing historical inequities for students of color, yet cultivates leadership and citizenship in ALL students toward equity.Career Aspiration: She originally wanted to be a doctor. By high school, her interests had changed toward engineering, hence her choice of electrical engineering as a college major. However, she went to Monmouth on a basketball scholarship and time for the engineering labs con icted with basketball practice so she shifted gears to computer science.Inspirational Words for Students: “Don’t be afraid to leave the area to follow your career path, but don’t forget where you’ve come from. Your generation will have 10-12 careers in your lifetime, so you will more than likely move quite a bit. Find a place that’s like where you came from and make a dif-ference there.”Personal: Spouse, Jill; and four children, Elise, 17, Zora, 16, Langston, 15, and Isaiah, 12.Favorite Quote: “For these are all our children. We will all pro t by, or pay for, whatever they become.” – James Baldwin
The Asbury Park Preschool Consortium brought STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) to life during its recent event. As the families walked through our “University’ halls they were able to engage in “classrooms” over owing with possibilities to explore and learn. Many preschool families from the district and consortium schools attended. They were able to participate in the many hands-on activities that allowed the children to experiment and create in a fun, learning environment. The event was a huge success thanks to the hard work of the staff and the participation of so many families!
Barack Obama Elementary has a resident artist in the person of Laura Feddeler. As the school’s art teacher, on any given day you can nd her creating designs meant to inspire and motivate. Her latest creation appears in one of the school’s main corridors. The theme is Believe, Achieve and Succeed!
LcB
Bradley Elementary partnered with North Jersey Shore Chapter of Continen-tal Societies, Inc., and UGG Australia Company Store at Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls to provide backpacks for students at the start of the year. Bradley University will partner with the organizations for various other initiatives throughout the year!
Thurgood Marshall Elementary participated in the “Be Kind People Project” thanks to Counselor Vicki Harrell, who applied for and received a $14,000 grant and partnership with Microsoft and Mar-cia Meyer, the creator of the Be Kind People Project. The generous monetary donation from the Microsoft store in Freehold Raceway Mall afforded TMES the opportunity to bring additional resources – includ-ing Xboxes, afterschool programs and class projects – to the school that will help raise STEM awareness and learning.
TTPrcmai
Thurgood Marshall Elementary School and the Asbury Park Middle School are again partnering with the Asbury Park Police Department in the Police Cadets program. Program participants have shown a commitment to the community and to the school, in addition to serving as a part of the school’s Safety Patrol Program. The primary mentors for the program are Sgt. Terry Williams and Police Of cer Tyron McAllister. The goal of the program is to expose city youth to a multitude of new and different experiences while improving their social skills and preparing them to be future Ambassadors of the city.
T
Te
The Asbury Park Middle School partners with the Phi Upsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.to offer students the “Bridge Builder.” The mentoring program meets weekly with the goal of helping boys make the transition into manhood. Topics include con ict resolution, time management, personal hygiene and study skills. To date, the program’s signature event has been the “Dress For Success All Boys As-sembly,” which taught all male students to tie a tie. The unique twist is that they were taught by members of the Asbury Park Varsity Football team and assisted by members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and other distinguished community leaders.
TToTmtppsthO
b b fm and assisted bb
All of our schools were represented in City of Asbury Park’s recent Pride in the Park cam-paign. Thanks to the diligence of our staff, hundreds of drawings were submitted. Howev-er, the overall contest winner’s drawing hailed from Asbury Park High School. As a result, the drawing by Keyonna Weaver, a 2015 APHS graduate, is currently being featured in all City of Asbury Park publications surrounding this theme. In addition, artwork by all students was on display in the lobby of City Hall over the course of a two-month period.
AAAAp
Staff Recognition
Please join the Asbury Park School District in celebrating the success of our staff.
Dr. Antonio N. Lewis, Principal on Special Assignment, recently earned the President’s Award from the Long Branch
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People during its annual Freedom Fund Luncheon. “Doc” as he is known, was recognized not only for his many educational achievements, including serving as
superintendent of the Asbury Park School District from 1999 until 2009, but also for his volunteer efforts to improve the less of youth and families in the tri-county area who are less fortunate.
L. Louis Jordan, Security Manager, was also recognized by the Long Branch National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People during its annual Freedom Fund Luncheon. He received the Silver Life Membership Award. Jordan joined the school district in 2010 after serving 25-plus years in law enforcement, rising through the ranks in the Asbury Park Police Department as patrolman to Police Director. His concern for the welfare of the city’s youth led him to his current career path.
Jessica Daniels, an English Language Arts Teacher to ninth- and tenth-graders, was named a 2015 New Jersey Exemplary Secondary Educator of the Year by the New Jersey Department of Education. She was nominated by Anna Maria Graf, Supervisor of Mathematics K-12 of the Asbury Park School District. Daniels is a veteran teacher of the Asbury Park High School learning community. According to the New Jersey Department of Education, “Exemplary Educators exhibit strong knowledge and skills, an inspiring presence; and a positive impact on students, colleagues and the school community.” During Daniels’ tenure she has been an inspiration to both students and staff at the Asbury Park High School.
Middle School Students Forge Partnership with Ghana
Scores of Asbury Park Middle School students can now be considered world travelers. How you ask? They have visited Ghana, West Africa twice since the 2015-16 year began. Thanks to technology made available from Polycom, it didn’t take 10 hours, but rather they were able to teleconference at the speed of light in the comfort of the school’s Media Center.“Polycom Foundation donates equipment to non-pro ts that support children and can leverage technology at the same time,” said Laura Owen, Polycon Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Of cer. “We use this to expand distance learning opportunities. It’s really about connecting children.”With mock passports in hand, approximately 50 Asbury Park
middle-schoolers traveled more than 5,000 miles to Agona, Ghana in part-nership through Oiada International. Oiada, a non-pro t organization, has been providing educational and cultural programs that compliment schools’ core curriculum since 1997. They began partnering with Poly-con in 2009 to engage students in distance learning programs.
During the visit, Asbury Park students shared a cheer, pre-sented a banner and provided history on Asbury Park and the State of New Jersey. As an added bonus, they met Ghanaian King Terpor V of Agona, Ghana.“Superintendent (Lamont) Repollet’s vision and desire for something greater than he was already seeing in the Asbury Park School District connected the two,” said Jones, who has partnered with the district for the past two years. “He wanted to have his students have a global experience by teaching
them to make an impact in their community and ones thousands of miles away.”In addition to the live chat, Asbury Park students collected school supplies that will be distributed to St. John’s Catholic Junior High School in Abrem, Agona Ghana. This was part of an ongoing effort to demonstrate school pride, social responsibility and teach the students that they can make an impact, accord-ing to Eric Jones CEO of Oiada International.Dr. Jeffrey Toney, Provost and Vice President of Academic Af-fairs at Kean University, was onsite to witness one of the exchanges. “We support global education. My hope is to build links,” said Toney, noting the university has a campus in Wenzhou, China. “What Asbury Park is doing here is innovative and our university community can bene t from connecting with them.” Asbury Park Mayor John Moor and Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton also stopped in to offer support for the district’s global initiative.“This is just unbelievably great to see technology being used in the (school) district,” Moor said. “You can tell by the expres-sion on the children’s faces how successful this project is.”In an effort to “Build A Brighter Future” for all students, the
Asbury Park School District established the College & Career Readiness Institute in July 2015. Since its inception, Supervi-sor Brian Stokes and his team have been busy creating new opportunities for our students.
“We formed the Col-lege and Career Read-iness Institute to give the students of Asbury Park experiential op-portunities, whether it be in business, com-munity service or col-lege,” Stokes said. He noted CCRI is trying to expose students to
various other career and vocational opportunities as well in an effort to help them determine their post-secondary path.Among the goals of the program are to groom students for post-secondary education, provide an essential foundation and tools for them to participate in a competitive global job market and to raise student awareness for career paths and
employment oppor-tunities.To that end, CCRI participants have engaged in a variety of hands-on learning
experiences. Among them are:• In July, two students
were placed as paid interns at two local businesses (First Constitution Bank and Words book-store).
• In August, volunteering at the Asbury Park Loves Jazz Weekend at Convention Hall.
• In September, attending a Historically Black Colleges and Universities panel discussion sponsored by the Lambda Omega Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Long Branch Housing Authority.
• In October, volunteering for the Pride in the Park Cleanup and at the Long Branch National Association for the Ad-vancement of Colored People Freedom Fund luncheon.
• In November, attending First Energy’s Power Systems In-stitute at Brookdale Community College, which trains local workers for high-wage, in-demand jobs in the utility industry.
• Also in November, several students par-ticipated in the MLK Teen Leadership Sum-mit at Novartis.
t
tT
College & Career Readiness Institute Makes Its Debut
Alumni Spotlight
Name: Trish Millines DzikoSchool Involvement: Played as a point guard for the girls’ basketball team during all four years in high school. The team won a state championship in 1975. She also ran the 220 and the 440 on the Blue Bishops track team. She was also a member of the school’s audio visual club.
Favorite Teacher: “We had a lot of really good teachers,” but Mrs. Belos, an English and history teacher, earned top honors. “She really kept us clued into the political happenings of the time (Watergate). She had us reading dif cult texts and the New York Times every day and discussing it. She was pretty cool.” Another assignment from Mrs. Belos that resonated with Ms. Millines Dziko was reading “Up Against the Law.”Favorite Subject: SwahiliYear Graduated: 1975Asbury Park Connection: She was born in Belmar and much of her family still lives in the area. She had a choice between attending Manasquan High School and Asbury Park High School.Education: Earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Com-puter Science from Monmouth College in 1979.Current Position: Co-Founder and Executive Director of
Technology Access Foundation. The Seattle, Washington nonpro t is a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. It uses STEM as a tool for realizing so-cial change and educational equality in communities of color and those with low income. Their targeted approach leverag-es in-school and out-of-school learning to address longstand-ing historical inequities for students of color, yet cultivates leadership and citizenship in ALL students toward equity.Career Aspiration: She originally wanted to be a doctor. By high school, her interests had changed toward engineering, hence her choice of electrical engineering as a college major. However, she went to Monmouth on a basketball scholarship and time for the engineering labs con icted with basketball practice so she shifted gears to computer science.Inspirational Words for Students: “Don’t be afraid to leave the area to follow your career path, but don’t forget where you’ve come from. Your generation will have 10-12 careers in your lifetime, so you will more than likely move quite a bit. Find a place that’s like where you came from and make a dif-ference there.”Personal: Spouse, Jill; and four children, Elise, 17, Zora, 16, Langston, 15, and Isaiah, 12.Favorite Quote: “For these are all our children. We will all pro t by, or pay for, whatever they become.” – James Baldwin
The Asbury Park Preschool Consortium brought STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) to life during its recent event. As the families walked through our “University’ halls they were able to engage in “classrooms” over owing with possibilities to explore and learn. Many preschool families from the district and consortium schools attended. They were able to participate in the many hands-on activities that allowed the children to experiment and create in a fun, learning environment. The event was a huge success thanks to the hard work of the staff and the participation of so many families!
Barack Obama Elementary has a resident artist in the person of Laura Feddeler. As the school’s art teacher, on any given day you can nd her creating designs meant to inspire and motivate. Her latest creation appears in one of the school’s main corridors. The theme is Believe, Achieve and Succeed!
LcB
Bradley Elementary partnered with North Jersey Shore Chapter of Continen-tal Societies, Inc., and UGG Australia Company Store at Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls to provide backpacks for students at the start of the year. Bradley University will partner with the organizations for various other initiatives throughout the year!
Thurgood Marshall Elementary participated in the “Be Kind People Project” thanks to Counselor Vicki Harrell, who applied for and received a $14,000 grant and partnership with Microsoft and Mar-cia Meyer, the creator of the Be Kind People Project. The generous monetary donation from the Microsoft store in Freehold Raceway Mall afforded TMES the opportunity to bring additional resources – includ-ing Xboxes, afterschool programs and class projects – to the school that will help raise STEM awareness and learning.
TTPrcmai
Thurgood Marshall Elementary School and the Asbury Park Middle School are again partnering with the Asbury Park Police Department in the Police Cadets program. Program participants have shown a commitment to the community and to the school, in addition to serving as a part of the school’s Safety Patrol Program. The primary mentors for the program are Sgt. Terry Williams and Police Of cer Tyron McAllister. The goal of the program is to expose city youth to a multitude of new and different experiences while improving their social skills and preparing them to be future Ambassadors of the city.
T
Te
The Asbury Park Middle School partners with the Phi Upsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.to offer students the “Bridge Builder.” The mentoring program meets weekly with the goal of helping boys make the transition into manhood. Topics include con ict resolution, time management, personal hygiene and study skills. To date, the program’s signature event has been the “Dress For Success All Boys As-sembly,” which taught all male students to tie a tie. The unique twist is that they were taught by members of the Asbury Park Varsity Football team and assisted by members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and other distinguished community leaders.
TToTmtppsthO
b b fm and assisted bb
All of our schools were represented in City of Asbury Park’s recent Pride in the Park cam-paign. Thanks to the diligence of our staff, hundreds of drawings were submitted. Howev-er, the overall contest winner’s drawing hailed from Asbury Park High School. As a result, the drawing by Keyonna Weaver, a 2015 APHS graduate, is currently being featured in all City of Asbury Park publications surrounding this theme. In addition, artwork by all students was on display in the lobby of City Hall over the course of a two-month period.
AAAAp
Staff Recognition
Please join the Asbury Park School District in celebrating the success of our staff.
Dr. Antonio N. Lewis, Principal on Special Assignment, recently earned the President’s Award from the Long Branch
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People during its annual Freedom Fund Luncheon. “Doc” as he is known, was recognized not only for his many educational achievements, including serving as
superintendent of the Asbury Park School District from 1999 until 2009, but also for his volunteer efforts to improve the less of youth and families in the tri-county area who are less fortunate.
L. Louis Jordan, Security Manager, was also recognized by the Long Branch National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People during its annual Freedom Fund Luncheon. He received the Silver Life Membership Award. Jordan joined the school district in 2010 after serving 25-plus years in law enforcement, rising through the ranks in the Asbury Park Police Department as patrolman to Police Director. His concern for the welfare of the city’s youth led him to his current career path.
Jessica Daniels, an English Language Arts Teacher to ninth- and tenth-graders, was named a 2015 New Jersey Exemplary Secondary Educator of the Year by the New Jersey Department of Education. She was nominated by Anna Maria Graf, Supervisor of Mathematics K-12 of the Asbury Park School District. Daniels is a veteran teacher of the Asbury Park High School learning community. According to the New Jersey Department of Education, “Exemplary Educators exhibit strong knowledge and skills, an inspiring presence; and a positive impact on students, colleagues and the school community.” During Daniels’ tenure she has been an inspiration to both students and staff at the Asbury Park High School.
Middle School Students Forge Partnership with Ghana
Scores of Asbury Park Middle School students can now be considered world travelers. How you ask? They have visited Ghana, West Africa twice since the 2015-16 year began. Thanks to technology made available from Polycom, it didn’t take 10 hours, but rather they were able to teleconference at the speed of light in the comfort of the school’s Media Center.“Polycom Foundation donates equipment to non-pro ts that support children and can leverage technology at the same time,” said Laura Owen, Polycon Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Of cer. “We use this to expand distance learning opportunities. It’s really about connecting children.”With mock passports in hand, approximately 50 Asbury Park
middle-schoolers traveled more than 5,000 miles to Agona, Ghana in part-nership through Oiada International. Oiada, a non-pro t organization, has been providing educational and cultural programs that compliment schools’ core curriculum since 1997. They began partnering with Poly-con in 2009 to engage students in distance learning programs.
During the visit, Asbury Park students shared a cheer, pre-sented a banner and provided history on Asbury Park and the State of New Jersey. As an added bonus, they met Ghanaian King Terpor V of Agona, Ghana.“Superintendent (Lamont) Repollet’s vision and desire for something greater than he was already seeing in the Asbury Park School District connected the two,” said Jones, who has partnered with the district for the past two years. “He wanted to have his students have a global experience by teaching
them to make an impact in their community and ones thousands of miles away.”In addition to the live chat, Asbury Park students collected school supplies that will be distributed to St. John’s Catholic Junior High School in Abrem, Agona Ghana. This was part of an ongoing effort to demonstrate school pride, social responsibility and teach the students that they can make an impact, accord-ing to Eric Jones CEO of Oiada International.Dr. Jeffrey Toney, Provost and Vice President of Academic Af-fairs at Kean University, was onsite to witness one of the exchanges. “We support global education. My hope is to build links,” said Toney, noting the university has a campus in Wenzhou, China. “What Asbury Park is doing here is innovative and our university community can bene t from connecting with them.” Asbury Park Mayor John Moor and Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton also stopped in to offer support for the district’s global initiative.“This is just unbelievably great to see technology being used in the (school) district,” Moor said. “You can tell by the expres-sion on the children’s faces how successful this project is.”In an effort to “Build A Brighter Future” for all students, the
Asbury Park School District established the College & Career Readiness Institute in July 2015. Since its inception, Supervi-sor Brian Stokes and his team have been busy creating new opportunities for our students.
“We formed the Col-lege and Career Read-iness Institute to give the students of Asbury Park experiential op-portunities, whether it be in business, com-munity service or col-lege,” Stokes said. He noted CCRI is trying to expose students to
various other career and vocational opportunities as well in an effort to help them determine their post-secondary path.Among the goals of the program are to groom students for post-secondary education, provide an essential foundation and tools for them to participate in a competitive global job market and to raise student awareness for career paths and
employment oppor-tunities.To that end, CCRI participants have engaged in a variety of hands-on learning
experiences. Among them are:• In July, two students
were placed as paid interns at two local businesses (First Constitution Bank and Words book-store).
• In August, volunteering at the Asbury Park Loves Jazz Weekend at Convention Hall.
• In September, attending a Historically Black Colleges and Universities panel discussion sponsored by the Lambda Omega Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Long Branch Housing Authority.
• In October, volunteering for the Pride in the Park Cleanup and at the Long Branch National Association for the Ad-vancement of Colored People Freedom Fund luncheon.
• In November, attending First Energy’s Power Systems In-stitute at Brookdale Community College, which trains local workers for high-wage, in-demand jobs in the utility industry.
• Also in November, several students par-ticipated in the MLK Teen Leadership Sum-mit at Novartis.
t
tT
College & Career Readiness Institute Makes Its Debut
Alumni Spotlight
Name: Trish Millines DzikoSchool Involvement: Played as a point guard for the girls’ basketball team during all four years in high school. The team won a state championship in 1975. She also ran the 220 and the 440 on the Blue Bishops track team. She was also a member of the school’s audio visual club.
Favorite Teacher: “We had a lot of really good teachers,” but Mrs. Belos, an English and history teacher, earned top honors. “She really kept us clued into the political happenings of the time (Watergate). She had us reading dif cult texts and the New York Times every day and discussing it. She was pretty cool.” Another assignment from Mrs. Belos that resonated with Ms. Millines Dziko was reading “Up Against the Law.”Favorite Subject: SwahiliYear Graduated: 1975Asbury Park Connection: She was born in Belmar and much of her family still lives in the area. She had a choice between attending Manasquan High School and Asbury Park High School.Education: Earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Com-puter Science from Monmouth College in 1979.Current Position: Co-Founder and Executive Director of
Technology Access Foundation. The Seattle, Washington nonpro t is a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. It uses STEM as a tool for realizing so-cial change and educational equality in communities of color and those with low income. Their targeted approach leverag-es in-school and out-of-school learning to address longstand-ing historical inequities for students of color, yet cultivates leadership and citizenship in ALL students toward equity.Career Aspiration: She originally wanted to be a doctor. By high school, her interests had changed toward engineering, hence her choice of electrical engineering as a college major. However, she went to Monmouth on a basketball scholarship and time for the engineering labs con icted with basketball practice so she shifted gears to computer science.Inspirational Words for Students: “Don’t be afraid to leave the area to follow your career path, but don’t forget where you’ve come from. Your generation will have 10-12 careers in your lifetime, so you will more than likely move quite a bit. Find a place that’s like where you came from and make a dif-ference there.”Personal: Spouse, Jill; and four children, Elise, 17, Zora, 16, Langston, 15, and Isaiah, 12.Favorite Quote: “For these are all our children. We will all pro t by, or pay for, whatever they become.” – James Baldwin
The Asbury Park Preschool Consortium brought STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) to life during its recent event. As the families walked through our “University’ halls they were able to engage in “classrooms” over owing with possibilities to explore and learn. Many preschool families from the district and consortium schools attended. They were able to participate in the many hands-on activities that allowed the children to experiment and create in a fun, learning environment. The event was a huge success thanks to the hard work of the staff and the participation of so many families!
Barack Obama Elementary has a resident artist in the person of Laura Feddeler. As the school’s art teacher, on any given day you can nd her creating designs meant to inspire and motivate. Her latest creation appears in one of the school’s main corridors. The theme is Believe, Achieve and Succeed!
LcB
Bradley Elementary partnered with North Jersey Shore Chapter of Continen-tal Societies, Inc., and UGG Australia Company Store at Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls to provide backpacks for students at the start of the year. Bradley University will partner with the organizations for various other initiatives throughout the year!
Thurgood Marshall Elementary participated in the “Be Kind People Project” thanks to Counselor Vicki Harrell, who applied for and received a $14,000 grant and partnership with Microsoft and Mar-cia Meyer, the creator of the Be Kind People Project. The generous monetary donation from the Microsoft store in Freehold Raceway Mall afforded TMES the opportunity to bring additional resources – includ-ing Xboxes, afterschool programs and class projects – to the school that will help raise STEM awareness and learning.
TTPrcmai
Thurgood Marshall Elementary School and the Asbury Park Middle School are again partnering with the Asbury Park Police Department in the Police Cadets program. Program participants have shown a commitment to the community and to the school, in addition to serving as a part of the school’s Safety Patrol Program. The primary mentors for the program are Sgt. Terry Williams and Police Of cer Tyron McAllister. The goal of the program is to expose city youth to a multitude of new and different experiences while improving their social skills and preparing them to be future Ambassadors of the city.
T
Te
The Asbury Park Middle School partners with the Phi Upsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.to offer students the “Bridge Builder.” The mentoring program meets weekly with the goal of helping boys make the transition into manhood. Topics include con ict resolution, time management, personal hygiene and study skills. To date, the program’s signature event has been the “Dress For Success All Boys As-sembly,” which taught all male students to tie a tie. The unique twist is that they were taught by members of the Asbury Park Varsity Football team and assisted by members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and other distinguished community leaders.
TToTmtppsthO
b b fm and assisted bb
All of our schools were represented in City of Asbury Park’s recent Pride in the Park cam-paign. Thanks to the diligence of our staff, hundreds of drawings were submitted. Howev-er, the overall contest winner’s drawing hailed from Asbury Park High School. As a result, the drawing by Keyonna Weaver, a 2015 APHS graduate, is currently being featured in all City of Asbury Park publications surrounding this theme. In addition, artwork by all students was on display in the lobby of City Hall over the course of a two-month period.
AAAAp
“Building a Brighter Future”
Fall 2015 Issue
Blue Bishops Bulletin is a publication of the Asbury Park School District
From the Superintendent’s Desk
During this time of year, it is common practice to count our blessings. I am thankful for the students, staff, parents and community members who have created an atmosphere of excellence and continue to play a positive role in supporting the educational renaissance taking place right now in the Asbury Park School District. As you know, the 2015-16 school year marks the rejuvenation of hope and opportunity in the City of Asbury Park. We have had a productive start to the academic year.
Many of the strategies regarding literacy, professional development and outreach that were mentioned last year have now been put into practice. Our actions are centered on three pillars: Rebuild, Retool and Restore. To Rebuild the academic foundation, we have adopted, revised and created new curricula on all levels, participated in college-level research projects, created enrichment opportunities for the students during the summer, adopted a new grading and retention policy, developed a new student handbook and created academic identities in the middle and high schools. We also have entered into an agreement with Scholastic Partners to Retool our capacity to address literacy, instruction and leadership. In addition, we are working to Restore our image by expanding the social media methods we use to tell our success stories, by engaging parents with our Parent Conference and rebranding ourselves educationally in the community while maintaining Blue Bishop tradition.I want to remind you that this is “Our Moment” to draft a blueprint for suc-cess, to Rebuild our educational foundation, Retool our capacity to educate our students and Restore, the proud history of this great American City by the Sea. Together we can “Build a Brighter Future” for the entire Asbury Park community. Our mission is clear: To provide all students in Asbury Park School District with a comprehensive and progressive education where everyone possesses the skills and character to succeed in a diverse and evolving global society. Lastly, I want to personally thank you for playing a role in allowing the new Asbury Park School District to set the pace in Monmouth County and create an educational renaissance to match the redevelopment occurring in the community. Enjoy the holidays!
Dr. Lamont Repollet, Superintendent
Staff Recognition 2
College & Career Readiness Institute Makes Its Debut 2
Middle School Students Forge Partnership with Ghana 3
Alumni Spotlight 3
Partnerships in Progress 4
PARCC Update 5
Spring Sports in Review 5
Saving Our Students Symposium 6
What’s Inside!
Created by Chanta L. Jackson, Central Registrar/Communications Coordinator. If you would like to share a story idea, please contact me at [email protected] or at (732) 776-2606, ext. 2475.
PARCC Update
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/asburyparkschools, Twitter Asbury Park Schools (@Asbury_ParkSD)Visit the website to see all of the photos/videos from district athletic events.
Stay current with our activities by viewing our website, www.asburypark.k12.nj.us, our Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/asburyparkschools, or Twitter feed, @Asbury_ParkSD.
Last year was the rst time our children participated in the English Language Arts and Math assessments created by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Ca-reers (PARCC). These assessments, which replaced the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK grades 3-8) and High School Pro ciency Assessment (HSPA grades 9-12), are one of several measures Superintendent Dr. Repol-let is using in the new strategic plan for rebuilding, retooling, and restoring the Asbury Park School District. While previous assessments commonly relied on students to answer multiple-choice or true/false answers based on rote
memorization, PARCC is created to focus on age-appropriate problem-solving, critical evaluations and higher-order think-ing skills – the kinds of skills students need to succeed in school and in the workplace.Reports containing your child’s results are beginning to ar-rive in the district and will be mailed home within the next month. During the district’s Parent Teacher Conferences on Dec. 2, each school conducted presentations to help parents understand their child’s score report. Please contact Ms. Deborah Sylvia, Director of Guidance, at 732-776-2638, ext. 2635, should you have additional questions.
Sports in Review
Congratulations to all of our TeamsFall 2015 in Review…
Football
Homecoming
Soccer
Cross Country
ParkSD)/videos from district ath t
Saving Our Students Symposium
The College and Career Readiness Institute of the Asbury Park School District hosted the “Saving Our Students” Symposium Nov. 30 through Dec. 4. The symposium included a weeklong lecture series of dynamic guest speakers who are accomplished in their respective elds and also have a cultural connection to our student body.“The goal of the symposium is to deliver the message to our students that “ImPossible,” said Brian Stokes, Supervisor of the College and Career Readiness Institute. “ Within the word impossible, we show that there is nothing that our students can’t achieve if they allow themselves to dream and then take the right steps to achieve their goals through hard work, dedication and perseverance. “The speaker line-up included:
• Keith Manning, CEO Manning Enterprise and Owner and Operator of McDonald’s Franchises, who chronicled his life story to entrepreneurship. Key takeaway – It’s not important where you start, but rather how you nish. Set your goals early and remain focused.
• Joetta Clark Diggs, 4-Time Olympian, who discussed the importance of good health and positive work ethics associated with participation in sports. Key takeaway – Everything is attainable. Never lose focus of the ve Ps: Purpose, Prepared, Patience, Perturbed and Persevere.
• Tyrone Laws, Community Activist, who talked about understanding and respecting your culture. Key
takeaway – In order to understand where you are going, you must rst understand where our people have been.
• Dr. Steve Perry, Educator, who talked to male students and parents about the need to address social issues that aim at building up individual and community. Key takeaway – Your children deserve a world-class education. Hold people accountable for your children’s performance.
• Mikki Taylor, Editor-at-Large of ESSENCE Magazine, who talked to female students and parents about knowing your self-worth, empowerment, branding, beauty and self-image. Key takeaway – Don’t let you destiny be determined by anyone else. You have to be transformational in your ambitions and in your thinking. I was positioned to succeed, and it started in my home.
• Dr. Deborah L. Tillman, National Parenting Expert, who encouraged parents and stakeholders to empower families and improve community engagement. Key takeaway – Nothing happens by accident. We go through seasons in our lives. Out of pain comes purpose.
• M. Tia Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Legislative Affairs and rst black female colonel in the Army JAG Corps, motivated young girls by sharing her journey to success. Key takeaway – Always remember your PEARLS: Personal responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Respect, Leadership and Support.
“Building a Brighter Future”
Fall 2015 Issue
Blue Bishops Bulletin is a publication of the Asbury Park School District
From the Superintendent’s Desk
During this time of year, it is common practice to count our blessings. I am thankful for the students, staff, parents and community members who have created an atmosphere of excellence and continue to play a positive role in supporting the educational renaissance taking place right now in the Asbury Park School District. As you know, the 2015-16 school year marks the rejuvenation of hope and opportunity in the City of Asbury Park. We have had a productive start to the academic year.
Many of the strategies regarding literacy, professional development and outreach that were mentioned last year have now been put into practice. Our actions are centered on three pillars: Rebuild, Retool and Restore. To Rebuild the academic foundation, we have adopted, revised and created new curricula on all levels, participated in college-level research projects, created enrichment opportunities for the students during the summer, adopted a new grading and retention policy, developed a new student handbook and created academic identities in the middle and high schools. We also have entered into an agreement with Scholastic Partners to Retool our capacity to address literacy, instruction and leadership. In addition, we are working to Restore our image by expanding the social media methods we use to tell our success stories, by engaging parents with our Parent Conference and rebranding ourselves educationally in the community while maintaining Blue Bishop tradition.I want to remind you that this is “Our Moment” to draft a blueprint for suc-cess, to Rebuild our educational foundation, Retool our capacity to educate our students and Restore, the proud history of this great American City by the Sea. Together we can “Build a Brighter Future” for the entire Asbury Park community. Our mission is clear: To provide all students in Asbury Park School District with a comprehensive and progressive education where everyone possesses the skills and character to succeed in a diverse and evolving global society. Lastly, I want to personally thank you for playing a role in allowing the new Asbury Park School District to set the pace in Monmouth County and create an educational renaissance to match the redevelopment occurring in the community. Enjoy the holidays!
Dr. Lamont Repollet, Superintendent
Staff Recognition 2
College & Career Readiness Institute Makes Its Debut 2
Middle School Students Forge Partnership with Ghana 3
Alumni Spotlight 3
Partnerships in Progress 4
PARCC Update 5
Spring Sports in Review 5
Saving Our Students Symposium 6
What’s Inside!
Created by Chanta L. Jackson, Central Registrar/Communications Coordinator. If you would like to share a story idea, please contact me at [email protected] or at (732) 776-2606, ext. 2475.
PARCC Update
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/asburyparkschools, Twitter Asbury Park Schools (@Asbury_ParkSD)Visit the website to see all of the photos/videos from district athletic events.
Stay current with our activities by viewing our website, www.asburypark.k12.nj.us, our Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/asburyparkschools, or Twitter feed, @Asbury_ParkSD.
Last year was the rst time our children participated in the English Language Arts and Math assessments created by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Ca-reers (PARCC). These assessments, which replaced the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK grades 3-8) and High School Pro ciency Assessment (HSPA grades 9-12), are one of several measures Superintendent Dr. Repol-let is using in the new strategic plan for rebuilding, retooling, and restoring the Asbury Park School District. While previous assessments commonly relied on students to answer multiple-choice or true/false answers based on rote
memorization, PARCC is created to focus on age-appropriate problem-solving, critical evaluations and higher-order think-ing skills – the kinds of skills students need to succeed in school and in the workplace.Reports containing your child’s results are beginning to ar-rive in the district and will be mailed home within the next month. During the district’s Parent Teacher Conferences on Dec. 2, each school conducted presentations to help parents understand their child’s score report. Please contact Ms. Deborah Sylvia, Director of Guidance, at 732-776-2638, ext. 2635, should you have additional questions.
Sports in Review
Congratulations to all of our TeamsFall 2015 in Review…
Football
Homecoming
Soccer
Cross Country
ParkSD)/videos from district ath t
Saving Our Students Symposium
The College and Career Readiness Institute of the Asbury Park School District hosted the “Saving Our Students” Symposium Nov. 30 through Dec. 4. The symposium included a weeklong lecture series of dynamic guest speakers who are accomplished in their respective elds and also have a cultural connection to our student body.“The goal of the symposium is to deliver the message to our students that “ImPossible,” said Brian Stokes, Supervisor of the College and Career Readiness Institute. “ Within the word impossible, we show that there is nothing that our students can’t achieve if they allow themselves to dream and then take the right steps to achieve their goals through hard work, dedication and perseverance. “The speaker line-up included:
• Keith Manning, CEO Manning Enterprise and Owner and Operator of McDonald’s Franchises, who chronicled his life story to entrepreneurship. Key takeaway – It’s not important where you start, but rather how you nish. Set your goals early and remain focused.
• Joetta Clark Diggs, 4-Time Olympian, who discussed the importance of good health and positive work ethics associated with participation in sports. Key takeaway – Everything is attainable. Never lose focus of the ve Ps: Purpose, Prepared, Patience, Perturbed and Persevere.
• Tyrone Laws, Community Activist, who talked about understanding and respecting your culture. Key
takeaway – In order to understand where you are going, you must rst understand where our people have been.
• Dr. Steve Perry, Educator, who talked to male students and parents about the need to address social issues that aim at building up individual and community. Key takeaway – Your children deserve a world-class education. Hold people accountable for your children’s performance.
• Mikki Taylor, Editor-at-Large of ESSENCE Magazine, who talked to female students and parents about knowing your self-worth, empowerment, branding, beauty and self-image. Key takeaway – Don’t let you destiny be determined by anyone else. You have to be transformational in your ambitions and in your thinking. I was positioned to succeed, and it started in my home.
• Dr. Deborah L. Tillman, National Parenting Expert, who encouraged parents and stakeholders to empower families and improve community engagement. Key takeaway – Nothing happens by accident. We go through seasons in our lives. Out of pain comes purpose.
• M. Tia Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Legislative Affairs and rst black female colonel in the Army JAG Corps, motivated young girls by sharing her journey to success. Key takeaway – Always remember your PEARLS: Personal responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Respect, Leadership and Support.
