Link’s Choir, Percussion Elective Class, and female music ensemble, Her Voice, performed at the annual Jazz House Kids Annual Student Showcase in Newark recently. Students were directed by Ms. Lisette Santiago, teaching artist, who comes to Link through JHK. By all accounts, the students were amazing!
Students from Link’s Spoken Word Troupe, under the direction of Ms. Erica Bradshaw, teaching artist, performed original pieces for the participants of the Schools That Can 2019 Forum at the Robert Treat Hotel. The pieces focused on self-awareness and self -confidence. Students spent several months in after school sessions perfecting their performance. Kudos, scholars!
Link has been a member of Schools That Can since the late 90’s. It is a national network of urban schools that shares best practices to foster equity in education. The Forum brings educators from all over the country together.
The art of six Link scholars was on exhibit during March at the Art Educators of NJ (AENJ), Essex County Youth Art Month Exhibit at the Newark Hall of Records. Link students’ art was displayed, along with that of students from 16 other schools in the county – public, charter, and private schools. Students, accompanied by Mrs. Gwen Howard, art teacher and member of AENJ member, were honored at a reception for the student artists last week.
Art Educators of New Jersey is a non-profit association created in 1939 by art educators interested in advocating for the visual arts education in the state. Their purpose is to promote and maintain the highest degree of quality Visual Arts instruction in New Jersey’s schools. The Youth Art Month Program emphasizes the value of art education for all children, encourages support for quality school art programs, and promotes art material safety. Youth Art Month also provides a forum for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences that are not possible in other curriculum subjects.
Jalen Coleman ’17, Caleb Jakes ’18, Kelsey Cruz ’18, and Tre-Elijah Williams ’18 served on a panel during Ms. Dandie’s Life Skills class (Team Veritas, grade 5) and spoke with students about coping in school, what it takes to succeed, the preparation and then transition to high school and so much more. Our young scholars were very inspired – in fact, in awe – of our alumni. They asked a lot of great questions. The alumni, on spring break from their respective high schools, also helped with various projects throughout the school – “giving back to the community.”
Jalen studies at the prestigious Pingry School in Martinsville, NJ. Caleb, Kelsey, and Tre are attending great boarding schools – Caleb at The Masters School in NY, Kelsey at West Nottingham Academy in MD; and Tre at The Governor’s Academy in MA. All are very happy with the selections they made for high school and progressing well academically and socially. We are proud of these young people who are willing to share their time and talents at Link!
Encourage your child to read! Purchase books from our book fair for your child’s home collection! For parents, the Scholastic Book Fair will be open on Friday, March 1 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm and on Thursday, March 7 from 5 – 7:30 pm. Students will have time to select their own books during their ELA classes that week. In addition to the “live” book fair, parents can order books online at http://www.scholastic.com/bf/lccs
Laila Little, Class of ’98, is giving back to her community…to Link, the City of Newark and beyond. To Link, Ms. Little has brought her passionate concern for children’s health and Double Dutch jump roping to a weekly elective class. Ms. Little started jumping rope at a young age at the Boys and Girls Club in Newark and continued competitively through high school and college. The mentoring and support she received plus the awareness of the socio-economic issues facing the underprivileged inspired her to give back to others. Ultimately she founded Jump Kids Health, an organization with the mission to combat childhood obesity and mental health issues through therapy, nutritional counseling, and competitive Double Dutch training in Newark, Philadelphia, the Bronx, Brooklyn and, soon, West Virginia. Joining Ms. Little in Jump Kids Health are two other Link alumnae – Khaila Cross ’98 and Tiffany Walker ’02.
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