Blog Page

In observance of Black History Month, Lower House (Kindergarten through grade 2) students came to school dressed to represent a “Changemaker” in Black History, a person who has worked or works proactively to make the world a better place. Students paraded around the Penn campus showing off their creativy to 5th and 6th grade students and staff. Among the changemakers at Link: Ruby Bridges, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Misty Copland, Mae Jemison, Louis Lattimore, LeBron James, Beyonce, Bob Lemmons, Dorothy Vaughn, and so many more people!

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We are pleased to share that the Nourishing Newark Community Grants Program and the Education Department at Greater Newark Conservancy awarded a Newark Grows School Gardens Mini-Grant to Link Community Charter School. Ms. Boyle, Link’s lower house science teacher, had a vision for the school and applied for the grant, which will transform the courtyard at the Pennsylvania Avenue campus into a lovely multifunctional space for outdoor learning and play.

The plan is to section off a part of the courtyard to accommodate classes of up to 25, with bench planters, raised bed gardens, and picnic tables to accompany a raised bed project in the courtyard that the Kindergarten and first grade have begun (in photo to the right). The planters will contain dwarf coniferous and deciduous trees underplanted with herbs and gardens, and the garden beds will have flowers and crops. Students will engage in planting and tending the gardens while learning about the plants and trees. This dovetails nicely with the Kindergarten-Grade 1 science curriculum, which focuses on exploration in nature. The outdoor space will render lessons in nature so much more effective, as now students can be outdoors in a safe place and observe it first-hand! The plan also includes making the space available for the Upper House learning and collaborations between grade levels. Ms. Boyle stated in her grant request,” By providing an interactive outdoor learning space, scholars will be able to engage in nature and grow in confidence as they care for and maintain their living classroom.”

What a wonderful night for families to celebrate the upcoming season! Families circulated through the building to attend three sessions: creating a paper art winter scene; hearing Link students on their recorders and the Link Choir sing, as well as joining in a sing-a-long; and viewing a performance by students in this quarter’s Performing Arts Classes. At the end of the evening, everyone gathered in the gym to congratulate the winners of the “Find the Snowmen” contest and to enjoy some cookies and hot cocoa! Thanks to our performing arts teachers for a thoroughly enjoyable event.

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What a wonderful day of “giving back”! Students at all levels and in both buildings engaged in various activities, parents actively participated, and staff kept everything moving! We collected over 1200 canned and boxed foods that went food pantries/shelters in Newark, Irvington, Hillside, and East Orange. The team donating the most food was Team Bridges, with 408 cans and boxes. Team Chisholm came in second, with 224 and Team King, with 211.

Students prepared 215 sandwich bags (sandwiches, chips, water, and fruit) for the Apostles House and YMCA Emergency Housing in Newark. They also wrote “caring cards” to be sent to an organization that will see that children in foster care receive them. We are proud of our Link community – students, staff, and parents – for being actively engaged in the day’s activities and for giving back to the community, helping those in need.

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The Vocabulary Parade (grades K-6) and the Vocabulary Fashion show (grades 7 & 8) this week reflected student creativity as many came to school in costumes that represented a vocabulary word of their choice. The parade, outside in front of 23 Pennsylvania Avenue, was exciting, with students cheering their peers for their costumes!  7^th and 8^th graders showed off their word “fashions” in a “runway walk” in the cafeteria at the Halsey Street facility.   Costumes/fashions were judged for Most Creative, Most Challenging Word, Best Part of Speech, Funniest Costume, Best Shortest Word, Longest Vocabulary Word, and Happiest Vocabulary Word.  A fun way to learn new vocabulary words!

Click here for photos from the K-6 Vocabulary Parade.

Click here for photos from the 7-8 Vocabulary Fashion Show.

Link joined in the National Red Ribbon Week, the most extensive drug abuse awareness and prevention campaign in the U.S. The week of October 23-27 was dedicated to encouraging our students to make healthy choices and live drug-free lives. On October 23rd, Upper House students were introduced to the theme in a virtual Morning Circle. Daily announcements inspired students to make positive choices. Lower House students tied red ribbons on trees around the 23 Pennsylvania Avenue building. DEA Agent Timothy McMahon visited Link and spoke to scholars in grades 5-8 about the dangers of drugs and how to spot and avoid them. On the 27th, students and staff wore red to support the week’s theme – “Be Kind to Your Mind. Be Drug Free.”

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