As a Matter of Fact!

Dear SOMSD Community,

Please allow me to be among the first to wish you and your family an enjoyable, memorable, and relaxing holiday recess. As we enter this natural pause in our school year it feels appropriate to reflect on how fortunate we are, both collectively and individually. Moving away from the transition to normalcy to truly embracing daily life and the creature comforts that we took for granted prior to 2020.

As I have mentioned previously, our administrative visits to our schools and classrooms have returned. We are again able to see the beautiful smiling faces of our students and staff. While we understand that COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses are still a part of our lives, our existence is no longer controlled by the fear we experienced as a society in 2020 and 2021. We are now celebrating the arts at every School Board Meeting with our student performances that help us all to remember what the meetings are truly for.

Our Board of Education and Administration are now regularly having discourse about student achievement, socio-emotional support, and academic interventions instead of pandemic mitigation efforts and infection rates, etc. While we of course know that there is never 'perfect' and always much work to do, we are grateful to return to the work that we truly love and that is teaching (our kids), learning (with and from our kids), and loving (our kids and our mission).

We thank you for your ongoing partnership and wish you, your family, and your loved ones a fun, safe, and rejuvenating holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools

New student registration and online enrollment information for the 2023 - 2024 school year (for fall, September 2023) will be available in January 2023. Please be sure to check the SOMSD registration website frequently for updates.

On Thursday, December 15 during the last BOE meeting of year, Superintendent, Dr. Ronald Taylor thanked and bid farewell to Board President Joshua and Board Member Siders as they completed their three-year terms as Board of Education members and Board Member, Johanna Wright who served three- terms on the BOE from 2014 - 2022 (she attended virtually). Taylor thanked them for their service and behalf of the District presented them with plaques of service and flowers, in addition fellow Board Members, Qawi Telesford spoke on behalf of Johanna Wright, Board Member Courtney Winkfield spoke on behalf of Erin Siders and Board Member and 1st VP, Susan Bergin spoke on behalf of Thair Joshua . Both Joshua and Siders thanked the community for their support and shared that it was an honor to serve the SOMSD community. Click here to watch the BOE appreciation ceremony.

The District is pleased to announce the appointments of three Directors following approval at the December 15th Board of Education public meeting. Zoila Correa, currently Assistant Principal, Clinton Elementary School was appointed to Director, Curriculum & Instruction; Tunde Adedoyin has been appointed Director, Human Resources and Kerri Waibel has been appointed Director, Access & Equity.

Zoila A. Correa, an internal candidate, currently serves as the Assistant Principal of Clinton Elementary School. She brings over twenty-years of educational experience with extensive knowledge of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) as well as the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Prior to joining the District, Correa served as a Middle School Mathematics teacher for West New York's Board of Education. While there, she also served as the District Master Teacher of Mathematics for K -6, where she addressed the instructional needs of 175+ educators by reinforcing and enhancing teaching practices through innovative learning techniques. In this role, she also analyzed relevant performance data, revised curricula, planned and implemented professional development for teachers and enhanced classroom instruction through many methodologies.

The incoming Director of Human Resources, Tunde Adedoyin is replacing Stacey Robinson who is retiring at the end of the year. Mr. Adedoyin is an alumnus of SOMSD with over sixteen years of Human Resource experience in the education sector. He brings extensive knowledge of human capital, collective bargaining, performance evaluation, strategic and business planning, policy development, employee relations and change management. He has previously held roles in the Teaneck, Trenton, Orange and Newark Public School Districts. He will begin his role with the District in mid-February.

Kerri Waibel has been appointed the Director, Access & Equity for SOMSD and brings over twenty years of experience in education, with roles as a teacher, principal and former Director, Curriculum & Instruction. Throughout Ms. Waibel’s teaching and leadership tenure, she has continually provided support and resources to students, teachers, and administrators. In addition, Ms. Waibel expanded access to student programming and increased achievement for all students in the area of Algebra 1, STEAM, ELA, and mathematics. She also created and implemented restorative practices to support student’s social and emotional growth, reduce time out of school for discipline and build positive relationships between children, families, and the school community. Read more.

For the first time in two years, 4th Graders from the South Orange Maplewood Schools returned to SOPAC to attend a live performance of LUX Orchestra (https://www.luxorch.org/) as part of an arts education partnership developed between SOPAC's Arts Education and South Orange Maplewood School's Fine Arts Departments. With a clash of the cymbals and flashes of light, LUX Orchestra dazzled the students with dynamic performances of the music of Beethoven (5th Symphony, 1st Movement), Stravinsky (Firebird Suite), Bizet (Toreador) and concluded with a John Williams cinematic music Trilogy with segments from Star Wars, Jurassic Park & Indiana Jones. “Today the theatre was bustling with music, cheers, laughter and the singing of SOMA students enjoying an energizing performance of the orchestra. I’m grateful for the support and efforts of all the district’s teachers and administration who we’ve worked with to, once again, share the invigorating experience of live performance with our community’s students,” said Linda Beard, SOPAC’s Director of Education and Community Engagement, “this was truly a magical day.”

Special guest performers and appearances included Baritone, Michael Gracco who invited students to sing Toreador with him, and Jennifer Hinkle who introduced her Medical Alert Service Dog, Kita, to the students, sharing that people of all abilities can play in the orchestra.

Additionally, two Columbia High School string students, Mila and Leandra Wyrick, joined the LUX Orchestra ensemble playing alongside the professional musicians on cello and violin, respectively.

The purpose of this field trip concert event was to not only expose students to timeless musical works but to inspire the district's 4th graders to study a musical instrument and join their schools' band or string program next year. LUX even provided an additional mid-day performance for music students at South Orange Middle School who walked over to the arts center, with teachers and chaperones, to enjoy LUX Orchestra's unique approach to the concert experience. Conductor Brent Chancellor called LUX, “Bold, dramatic, visionary – LUX is an orchestral explosion, merging the worlds of high-energy performance and symphonic music. It’s an unparalleled musical experience.”

The LUX Partnership will also offer additional opportunities for students to meet and interact with the orchestra musicians and their instruments in smaller groups throughout the year giving them an up close experience as they continue their journey in the SOMSD instrumental music program.

Photo credit: Lianne Schoenwiesner, Spotlights Photography

One of the things that make Columbia unique is the “master class” programs we have in many programs. A “master class” is when a resident or local community organization comes to a classroom to speak with students or perform with them in their field. It was great to walk by Mr. Todd VanBeveren’s classroom where members of the Harlem Quartet sat with our Virtuosi ensemble. It was just beautiful to hear!

In November, CHS held its annual Hamingson Literary Showcase which honored graduate Ahmed Best (Class of 1991). Mr. Best is an actor, writer, director, producer, musician, host, futurist, and professor. After graduating CHS, he started his theater career in the musical “Stomp,” and then was tapped to be a lead in the Star Wars prequels as Jar Jar Binks, the first CGI lead character in a motion picture. The students who attended enjoyed his speech and they asked great questions about theater, filmmaking, Star Wars, and futurism.

Congratulations to CHS Sophomore, Ashley Fils-Aime for being chosen as a Hoby Leader. Since 1958, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) has provided transformative leadership development training that has positively impacted the lives of over 500,000 high school students around the world. Ashley was chosen as a CHS Leader to attend this transformative experience of the HOBY State Leadership Seminar.

Achieve’s newest collaboration with MAC is the “MINI MAC” Saturday Sessions, which kicked off last month with great success. More than 20 elementary students were in attendance and we expect even more in the coming weeks. Students participated in academic lessons (reading comp on Mae Jemison and other Black scientists), SEL activities (Black history-themed Jenga team building), art activities (creating personal superheroes/powers), and more! We thank Ms. Hicks and Achieve for their efforts and support!

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that the Essex County Division of Health is transitioning the COVID-19 Vaccination Mobile Clinic schedule for the winter. The new schedule is below:

• Mondays from 2 to 6 pm at the Hall of Records Parking Garage Conference Room, 84 West Market Street in Newark
• Tuesdays from 2 to 6 pm at the Essex County Watsessing Park Community Center at 38 Conger Street in Bloomfield
• Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Chris Gatling Community Center at 291 Union Avenue in Irvington
• Thursdays from 2 to 6 pm at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in the Berson Education Building at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange.

• Only the Moderna vaccine will be offered at the mobile locations for people ages 6 years and older. COVID-19 testing is not being offered.
• Appointments are recommended and can be made at EssexCOVID.org or 973-877-8456.

Opt-In For Text Messages

In order to participate in the text messaging service, you must indicate your willingness to receive text messages to your phone, even if you received text messages this year. You must do this whether you have a child in the school system or belong to a community organization that wants to keep up-to-date with our alerts. To learn more about signing up for SMS text messaging visit: website: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/headlines/district-news/2019/12/16/sms-text-message-communications-from-the-district/

• Friday, December 23: All District Schools Early Dismissal
• December 26 - December 30: Holiday Recess, District Schools Closed
• Monday, January 2: New Year Day Observed, District Closed
• Thursday, January 5, 2023: Board of Education Reorganization Meeting
• Tuesday, January 16, 2023: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, District Closed

• 2022-23 SY Return to School Guidelines, News, Resources & Updates
• District SMS/Text Messages
• Chromebook 1:1 District Initiative
• SOMSD Mental Health & Counseling Resources
• Student Discipline & Code of Conduct Policy
• SOMSD Intentional Integration Initiative (III) Microsite
• District Withdrawals/OOD Transfers

A district that celebrates diversity!

Email: communications@somsd.k12.nj.us
Website: www.somsd.k12.nj.us
Location: 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-762-5600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somsdk12
Twitter: @SOMSDK12