|  | University Heights Charter School REACHing for the Heights of Character, Scholarship and Leadership!
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News from 2010-2012 School Years
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UHCS's 3-5 ELA Team 1 of Only 25 Schools to Secure Technology Grant From Facebook!
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Newark, February 23, 2012.
Twenty-five teams of Newark teachers with innovative plans to improve their schools will receive more than $200,000 in grants funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million gift to the city’s schools at a reception today.
More than 100 teams of teachers applied for the money after the nonprofit Foundation for Newark’s Future — the group responsible for spending Zuckerberg’s gift and funds raised to match it — announced plans to award the "teacher innovation" grants.
Winners earned up to $10,000 each and include groups of educators from 13 traditional and charter elementary schools, eight high schools and four special education schools.
"These grants are just the beginning of our commitment to ensuring that every school has the very best teachers — educators who innovate and take action to ensure that every one of their students is on a college and career trajectory," said Greg Taylor, CEO of the Foundation for Newark’s Future. Read more.
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UHCS Bigs In Blue: Ikenna Amadi (2nd Grade) talks about Big Brothers Big Sisters
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Newark, January 12, 2012.
Ikenna Amadi, 7, loves hanging out with Tom, his friend and a volunteer from the local Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Newark.
They play basketball and games with other kids like himself after school at University Heights Charter School. They sometimes make paper swords, do homework, draw, and play hangman.
Most of all, Tom is someone "you can look up to," Ikenna said about his mentor.
City officials are gearing up for more kids like Ikenna to have a mentor, but not just any mentor. A big brother or big sister who's a firefighter or police officer.
The new program is called "Bigs in Blue," a initiative between the city and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties. It was kicked off Monday during a press conference featuring many public officials including Ikenna, who even gave a speech to the assembled crowd. Read more.
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Newark Sounds Alarm on Fire Prevention
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September 29, 2011
Stop, drop and roll.
Students from University Heights Charter Schoollearned those three life-saving words Wednesday as they helped kick off Fire Prevention Month in Newark.
Donning
red plastic fire helmets, nearly 20 second graders from Philippa
Sutherland and Toni Tagliareni's class enjoyed a visit from "Sparky,"
Newark's fire prevention dog who demonstrated the three-step technique
at Engine 7 Company Headquarters.
See more UHCS stories in our News Archives.
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Essex County Mocha Moms Donates Hundreds of Books to University Heights Charter School
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Newark, April 13, 2011 -- University Heights CharterSchool received a donation today of hundreds of books from the Essex County Chapter of Mocha Moms, Inc.
Essex County Mocha Moms collected the books as part of their 2011 Book Drive, held in March in honor of Reading Awareness Month.
Natasha Gaujean-Lamar and Shushana Vignier, Co-Presidents of Essex County Mocha Moms, and Tulani Thomas, Community Service Chair, presented the books in the school’s library.
Misha Simmonds, ExecutiveDirector of University Heights Charter School, accepted the books on the school’s behalf, noting, “This generous donation will go a long way towardsgrowing our library so it meets the needs and interests of all of our children.”
Mocha Moms, Inc., is a non-profit support group for mothers of color who have chosen not to work full-time outside of the home or have chosen alternate career paths in order to devote more time to their families and communities. Mocha Moms serves as an advocate for those mothers and encourages the spirit of community activism within its membership.
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UHCS Wins National Award for EPIC Achievement!
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Newark, March 13, 2011 -- Newark’s University Heights Charter School is one of just 18 charter schools from across the country, and only two in the tri-state area, to be honored by the New Leaders for New Schools’ Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC) program for accomplishing breakthrough student achievement gains.
Educators at the school will receive individual financial rewards in exchange for working with New Leaders for New Schools to document and share the practices that led to their successes. See article Local Talk News and video coverage on Fox News.
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| Principal Davis wins Administrator of the Year Award |
Princeton, April 8, 2011 --Rahshene Davis, principal of University Heights Charter School in Newark, was honored Friday as the “Charter School Administrator of the Year” at the New Jersey Charter Schools Association (NJCSA) Annual Conference in Princeton. See article at Local Talk News. |
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Grade 4 Scholars Perform at Charter Schools Conference
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Princeton, April 11, 2011 -- Grade 4 scholars from University Heights Charter School performed at the NJ Charter Schools Association Annual Conference. See the video on YouTube
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News from 2009-2010 School Year
First Graduating Class of Urban Prep Academy
Receives Video Congratulations from UHCS
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Chicago, June 12, 2010 -- Inspired by the 100% college acceptance rate of Urban Prep Charter Academy's first graduating class, University Heights Charter School students sent a video message shown at their first Commencement held on June 12, 2010. In addition to the members of graduating class of Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men—Englewood Campus, more than 1,800 family members, friends, faculty, staff and supporters of Urban Prep attended. The video message consisted of personal messages written by UHCS students and the whole school chanting a modified call and response in Urban Prep's honor, led by Ms. Davis. See the truly inspirational video posted at Urban Prep's website and click the link on the seventh segment at the bottom of the page.
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Mr. Simmonds recognized as MVP by Playworks
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Newark, May 22, 2010 -- Playworks recognized Mr. Simmonds as its "2010 Most Valuable Principal" at is annual "Get in the Game" gala held in San Francisco. Watch the video featuring him and the partnership with UHCS at Playworks website. See Mr. Simmonds accept the award at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp-uzvV5V9U
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UHCS Student Boatbuilders, Youngest Ever in Program, Launch Boat on the Passaic River
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Newark, May 16, 2010 -- This past autumn, ten fourth grade UHCS students worked with Project USE instructor Marie Pasquariello to study the maritime history of Newark and learn the science and art involved in boat building. The students then applied science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM) skills, as well as hand and power tools, to construct an actual canoe out of wood. After a long winter wait, the UHCS student "Team Dynamite" launched its boat on the Passaic River in Newark along with four other schools: Ann Street School, Big Picture High School, Discovery Charter School, and Sussex Avenue School. The UHCS team of fourth graders was the youngest group in the program's four year history to participate and launch a boat. See the slide show at the UHCS Photo Gallery
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UHCS featured in NY Times article on Playworks
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Newark, March 14, 2010 -- "It is not just about fun and games. At University Heights Charter School in Newark, [one] of New Jersey’s eight Playworks programs, students have learned to settle petty disputes, like who had the ball first or who pushed whom, not with fists but with the tried and true rock-paper-scissors.
'Recess used to end with bad feelings that would continue to play out in the first 20 minutes of class,” said Misha Simmonds, the charter school’s executive director. “Instead of recess being a refreshing time, it took away from readiness to learn.'" Read full article at https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/education/15recess.html
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Ms. Muldoon Featured in TeacherNex YouTube Video
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Newark, March 2, 2010 -- UHCS Grade 4 Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Teacher Elizabeth Muldoon, is profiled on YouTube by TeacherNex. Ms. Muldoon was an applicant to TeacherNex in 2009, a recruiting partner for UHCS. TeacherNex is a non-profit service of The New Teacher Project, working to connect Newark district and charter schools with effective teachers. See video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_ZTvOI6Ps
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UHCS Junior Coach interviews
Mr. Simmonds on Playworks
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Newark, January 8, 2010 -- Solomon, a fourth-grader and Playworks Junior Coach, was looking for the scoop on recess for his school newspaper at University Heights Charter School in Newark. He sat down with the school’s executive director, Misha Simmonds, to find out how recess has changed and — just as important — what his favorite game is! Read full article at https://www.playworks.org/make-recess-count/play/playworks-newark
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News from 2008-2009 School Year
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JERSEY SHORE, June 18, 2009 -- On June 17th a group of University Heights Charter School students weretreated to an end of year reward; a pirate adventure, complete withswashbuckling, treasure maps, booty and grog. The second graders weresailing with the Jersey Shore Pirates, a small company that createsdaily adventures for children along the Metedeconk river. The class gota day of fun and education, as they learned about pirates, watersafety, and worked together to make it through their adventure. Read full article and video from the Newark Star-Ledger.
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Newark Schoolkids Pay Visit to Princeton Men's Basketball Coaching Staff
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PRINCETON, May 21, 2009 -- Students in third through fifth grade from theUniversity Heights Charter School in Newark recently visited thePrinceton men's basketball coaching staff to reach the youngsters in auniversity setting and through sports. Read full article
"UHCS takes picture with Princeton coaching Staff"
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