250 Community Members Attend Citywide Barbeque Hosted By NPS to Highlight Summer Learning and Parent Organizations

Barbeque concludes “Community Talks” meetings which focused on providing access to summer enrichment opportunities and information about other NPS initiatives.

[Newark, NJ – June 6, 2016] – Newark Public Schools (NPS) hosted a citywide barbeque on Thursday at the NPS Family Support Center to educate families, students and community members about the various enrichment opportunities the district is offering this summer and to introduce them to the many community partners and family organizations who offer programs throughout the city. The barbeque marked the conclusion of the district’s five “Community Talks” meetings throughout the month of May, which were designed to provide academic-based information sessions about NPS initiatives and summer enrichment programming.

“I want to thank all our community partners for their hard work and collaboration in our ‘Community Talks’ meetings and for this barbeque. It’s been very exciting to see the active role community members are taking in these events,” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf of NPS. “These meetings have allowed families to learn more about different initiatives and opportunities available for children throughout the district, especially our summer enrichment programs, internships and jobs which will further prepare our students for college and a future career.”

Approximately 250 community members attended the citywide barbeque, which was a festive occasion that included food, face painting, and music on a sunny Thursday afternoon. Over the course of the month of May an additional 200 community members participated in the five “Community Talks” meetings, which were held at different schools in each ward.

“The Newark community came out to celebrate this past school year, and show that they are excited about the many programs and opportunities that are available for our students to explore throughout the summer,” said Margarita Muniz, the Executive Director of Family & Community Engagement at NPS. “The summer months are a great time for our children to enhance their education and enrich themselves through real world learning opportunities. I am confident that all the different partnerships and programs available in Newark will provide wonderful educational experiences for our students this summer.”

The “Community Talks” meetings are part of a larger effort by NPS to emphasize and highlight the educational opportunities for Newark’s children throughout the summer months. NPS has enhanced and expanded its Summer Plus program, a free district-wide initiative to curb summer learning loss and provide enrichment experiences for students that will help advance their academics.

Additionally, the district has partnered with Newark Thrives!, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve access to and participation in extended learning opportunities for Newark children. Together, the district and Newark Thrives! have created an online summer program catalogue to help families identify summer activities and enrichment opportunities across the city of Newark.

“We are very excited to partner with NPS to give students access to educational opportunities throughout the summer months,” said Dr. Traymanesha Moore, Director of Newark Thrives!. “It is vital that young people are able to explore their passions outside of the classroom, and by utilizing different resources, connecting with families and NPS community members, Newark Thrives! makes it possible for these opportunities to be accessible to youth throughout the city.”

For the summer program catalogue, please visit: www.nps.k12.nj.us/summerprograms/program.

For more information please visit Newark Thrives!