SOMS Weekly Update
June 18, 2021
CONGRATULATIONS TO ONE OF
OUR 8TH GRADE STUDENTS EZRA KAMINSKY
HE HAD HIS MOMENT TO MODEL FOR
TARGET & NYC PRIDE
SOMSD NEWS
JUNETEENTH: A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM
On June 19th our community, along with the rest of the country, will be celebrating Juneteenth, a celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is a time to reflect on the past and resolve for a better future.
On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery. Although the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln came 2 1⁄2 years earlier on January 1, 1863, many slave owners continued to hold their slaves captive after the announcement, so Juneteenth became a symbolic date representing African American freedom. So technically, from the Union’s perspective, the 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were already free—but none of them were aware of it.
JUNETEENTH OFFICIALLY BECAME A TEXAS STATE HOLIDAY IN 1980. Al Edwards, a freshman state representative, put forward the bill, H.B. 1016, making Texas the first state to grant this emancipation celebration. Since then, 48 other states and the District of Columbia have also commemorated or recognized the day.
Juneteenth celebrations in the United States typically include prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings and picnics, and festivals with food, music, and dancing. While Juneteenth, originated in Galveston, Texas, it is now celebrated annually on June 19 throughout the United States, with increasing official recognition to recognize the end of slavery as well as to celebrate African American culture and achievements.
Juneteenth Resources / Events Around Town
Here are a list of resources and local events taking place to celebrate Juneteenth.
RESOURCES:
- PBS: What is Juneteenth?
Children’s Books:
- All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson
- Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper
- Juneteenth by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and Drew Nelson
- Freedom’s Gifts: A Juneteenth Story by Valerie Wesley
- Juneteenth Jamboree by Carole Boston Weatherford
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Juneteenth Pop-up Shop at the Y
Friday, June 18, 6 pm - 9 pm
Coloring Juneteenth: A Collaborative Storytime
June 19 10:00 am, 11:15 am, 12:30 pm - by reservation
Jefferson Elementary School Yard 518 Ridgewood Rd. Maplewood
Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 19, 6 pm - 9:30 pm
Flood’s Hill South Orange
Celebrate Freedom Day on Flood’s Hill with FREE live performances and music. Bring your own picnic, purchase BBQ and beverages from Gaslight restaurant.
Juneteenth, an African American holiday marking the end of slavery, will be celebrated on Saturday, June 19th at the Durand-Hedden House, 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, in collaboration with the South Orange-Maplewood Community Coalition on Race. It is part of a larger celebration by Maplewood Township and South Orange Village to mark this important holiday.
An African American holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States at Durand-Hedden House 523 Ridgewood Rd., Maplewood
Experience living history through the voices of Civil War-era interpreters
- Learn about the History of Slavery in New Jersey
- Meet a Harriet Tubman interpreter
- Understand the impact of the Fugitive Slave Act through a reenactor
- Talk with a reenactor of Mary Todd Lincoln’s Black seamstress
- Hear poetry by the Maplewood Black Poets Project
Visit the Country Store;
Town-run kids’ activities at Jefferson School
Admission free; pre-registration required due to health safety precautions
To schedule timed reservations, visit durandhedden.org
For more information visit: https://www.communitycoalitiononrace.org/events
Maplewood Township 2021 Summer Meals Program
Begins on June 28, 2021
Mrs. Tazewell has worked with the MackinVIA Middle School Librarians Consortium to thoughtfully select appropriate young adult eBooks and audiobooks for the SOMSD digital library collection
Mrs. Tazewell has created groups in the SOMS MackinVIA library to search for ebooks/audiobooks using genres - similar to the way that our books are organized on the shelves in our school library. As an introduction to our new MackinVIA library collection, Mrs. Tazewell created an engaging youtube orientation video for our students, parents and staff that outlines the steps involved in accessing our digital library. Our digital library has received over 2400 visits since September of 2020.
The successful transition to an all digital library during a time when our school library has not been accessible as a result of this pandemic was a huge undertaking. Marketing this new digital service to our entire SOMS community to ensure access to all has been Mrs. Tazewell's priority and passion.
Please visit https://www.mackinvia.com to access our MackinVIA collection. Students should use their school gmail username and password to enter the system. Students and parents are encouraged to bookmark this website on their desktop and laptop computers to access the database 24 hours a day with ease. Our MackinVIA library is also conveniently located in the left menu of every Canvas course at SOMS.
Hello parents and guardians!
We at the SOMS Guidance department are certainly adapting to the new online learning paradigm. Although reaching us may not be as easy as just stepping into our office anymore, we are still ready and available to help with students' social, academic, and emotional needs. In the interest of being as accessible as possible, we have set up several mediums by which we can be contacted:
FOR STUDENTS:
The easiest way for a student to reach us is by sending us a message in the Guidance canvas page. Every student should have access to the page via an invite that was sent to their student email address. If they have not received an invite, please feel free to message sprall@somsd.k12.nj.us to reach Ms. Prall or psingh@somsd.k12.nj.us to reach Mr. Singh.
Additionally, we have set up google forms as well as youbookme accounts. If students would like, they can use either one of these as well to book an appointment with us.
Ms. Prall's links:
- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPHVY16kpiXZyDUbdvEBTKl838mFyF2606_ih_V2G5Bmz-HA/viewform
- https://msprall.youcanbook.me/
Mr. Singh's links:
- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O7O-9OxzzT5bDafEPxIjMmidUijxlfMSlcOGT6VshdE/viewform?edit_requested=true
- https://mrsingh.youcanbook.me/
FOR PARENTS:
First and foremost, parents can always reach us at our email addresses. However, just like students, parents are able to send us messages on canvas. You can access parent canvas through https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/. Quick links->Parents->Canvas. Attached is a step-by-step guide on how to connect your account to your child's. If you are having difficulty with your canvas credentials, you can message info@somsd.k12.nj.us
Parents can also fill out a google form if they choose.
Ms. Prall parent referral form:
Mr. Singh parent referral form:
As we continue to settle into the school year, please feel free to reach out to us with any concerns.
-Ms. Prall and Mr. Singh
Achieve tutoring is open for enrollment!
If you are looking for extra academic support for your student, please consider signing them up for Achieve tutoring. Achieve is a free tutoring program. Your student will be paired up in a study group with a tutor from Columbia High School or the South Orange and Maplewood community. Spaces are limited!
Please email Anna Elson at aelson@somsd.k12.nj.us if you have any questions.
Fill out the Achieve form here.