Fisher-Price Little People Mickey and Friends toy recalled. How to tell if yours is safe
IN OUR SCHOOLS

Kean University discussion focuses on DACA impact on students

Staff Report
@MyCentralJersey.com
Alvaro Aguilar, Yeimi Hernandez, Frank Argote-Freyre, Ana Ventura and Ana Yngelmo led a panel discussion on immigration at Kean University on Oct. 4.

What impact will President Donald Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program have on students at Kean University and around the country?

On Oct. 4, that question and many others were examined during the Union-based university's panel discussion, "Dreaming of an Immigration Solution: What do we do with DACA?"

Kean history Professor Frank Argote-Freyre led the panel in examining the president's decision to the DACA program and its effect on the Kean community and the world. DACA allowed undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to defer deportation and receive work permits.

“The whole idea of having a talk on DACA began last year after we had a speaker series on the impact of the Trump administration on a variety of issues in our nation,” Argote-Freyre said. “I have been involved in the struggle for comprehensive immigration reform for about 20 years. One of the things that we achieved was to get in-state tuition for the Dreamer kids.”

President Obama created the DACA program in 2012, but it was recently terminated by President Trump, who called on Congress to legislate a solution for childhood arrivals. There are approximately 800,000 DACA recipients in the United States. Argote-Freyre estimates that more than 200 attend Kean University.

Sarah Compion, executive director of general studies, introduced a panel of speakers closely connected to immigration, including Freehold High School student Yeimi Hernandez, DACA recipient Alvaro Aguilar, attorney Ana Yngelmo and bi-lingual paraprofessional Ana Ventura.

Ventura described her border crossing at eight-and-a-half as “a very traumatizing experience,” but one for which she is now grateful. For many years she was reluctant to reveal her immigration status, and she considers her participation on the panel as her “coming out.”

Aguilar has taken the path of civil disobedience in the fight for his citizenship rights, supporting immigration reform as an activist and community organizer. 

University of Pennsylvania and Seton Hall Law School graduate Ana Yngelmo is a Cuban immigrant who moved to Elizabeth, at the age of four. Yngelmo provided an overview of the legal landscape surrounding DACA going back to the 1800s. 

Freehold High School student Hernandez came to the United States at the age of one. “What happens to Yeimi when DACA ends?” asked Freyre.

Hernandez dreams of attending college in the United States and plans to apply to schools, although her future in this country is now uncertain. She hopes to one day become an immigration attorney and eventually join the FBI.

“I don’t like using the word illegal. I consider myself a human being,” Hernandez said. “I was told at times, ‘You will never become anything because you have no documentation.’ The only thing that I can think of right now is to fight. Peacefully, not violently, because we do have a voice. Our words are weapons of good.”

Berkeley College

On Saturday, Nov. 4 Berkeley College in Woodbridge will host two Free Application for Student Aid)Workshops at 10 a.m. and at 12 p.m. These hands-on workshops are for adults as well as parents/guardians of high school seniors interested in applying for financial aid.  Students are encouraged to attend and should bring identification.  How to apply for a PIN and a full explanation of the financial aid process will be discussed. A presentation will take place on Berkeley College institutional aid in the form of scholarships and grants. Parents/guardians can request a free financial aid planning session by presenting their most recent income tax returns to a financial aid administrator.

On Nov. 11, Berkeley College will host an Open House from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is for high school seniors, adult students and members of the military. Guests will have the opportunity to meet and greet staff and faculty, and learn about degree programs, as well as financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Transfer students will learn about transfer opportunities.  

For further information, call 800-446-5400, ext. CAL, or visit www.berkeleycollege.edu.   

Clark UNICO Columbus Day Essay Contest

Union County Freeholders Alexander Mirabella, Angel Estrada and Christopher Hudak joined Clark Mayor Sal Bonnacorso, members of Township Council, Clark School administrators and members of the Clark Chapter of UNICO in honoring the winners of Clark UNICO's Columbus Day essay contest winners on a recent Sunday afternoon at the municipal building in Clark.

Left to right:  Freeholders Al Mirabella, Angel Estrada, Mayor Sal Bonnacorso and Freeholder Chris Hudak made the presentations.

Winners included: Emma Herko of Valley Road School; Nicholas Cardoso of Frank K. Hehnley School; John Fleckenstein of Carl H. Kumpf Middle School; Michael Buttleman of  Arthur L. Johnson High School.

Read: The good things students are doing in Central Jersey and beyond

Read: Education news from around the region

College Connection: Advice from local expert columnist

Elks National Foundation

Elks scholars dream big. With their sights set high, this fall, 500 Elks scholars will enter the hallways of their dream schools supported by an Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student scholarship, ready to embark on their college journeys.

No dream is too big for the Elks National Foundation. This year, the foundation is investing $4.1 million in college scholarships for the nation’s future lawyers, doctors, engineers and more. According to a news release, MVS scholars — all of whom demonstrate scholarship, leadership and financial need —a re graduating from college at a rate of 90 percent, nearly 40 percent higher than the national average.

Through the contest, the foundation will award 20 top scholarships ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. The remaining 480 runners-up will receive $4,000 scholarships.

The MVS scholarship is available to high school seniors who are United States citizens. Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks. Males and females compete separately and are judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need. The application is completed online and must be submitted by the Nov. 27, deadline. The 500 national winners will be announced in late April 2018, after the top 20 finalists participate in the Leadership Weekend in Chicago, April 26-29, 2018. Applications for the 2018 contest are available on the Elks National Foundation’s website. For complete Most Valuable Student scholarship contest details including the application, visit elks.org/scholars.

In addition, Piscataway Elks Lodge #2414 is encouraging area students to apply for the foundation scholarships. If you live in the Piscataway area and would like more information about applying for scholarships, contact piscatawayelks@gmail.com.

For information about the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks or to learn more about the charitable work the Elks do, visit elks.org.

Linden School No. 2

When Diana Lee Santamaria sees an anxious child, she can relate — whether it’s nervousness about going to school, fear of the dark, or just a bad day.

Author Diana Lee Santamaria reading to students from School No. 2 in Linden from her “DLee’s World” books on Thursday, Oct. 12.

“I was a worry wart,” she said.

Now she’s using those personal experiences to relate to children through her “DLee’s World” book series. DLee’s stories (and even her name) are based on Santamaria’s childhood.

“When she cries a lot, that was me,” she said. “A lot of that — being worried and having apprehensions — that defines who I was as a kid.”

Santamaria visited Linden’s School No. 2 last month to introduce the children to DLee, pronounced dee-lee. Santamaria read her stories in the voices of the characters, led the students in songs and dances, and took questions.

Part of the reason School No. 2 brought Santamaria in was to mark Hispanic Heritage Month. Most of Santamaria’s books are in English and Spanish, and feature a multicultural cast of characters. Linden has more than 700 students whose primary language is Spanish — by far the largest number besides English. (Second is Polish with 230.)

“I try to inspire literacy, to inspire a fun environment, and to inspire diversity,” Santamaria said.

Santamaria grew up in a Hispanic household in Bogota in Bergen County, but her parents spoke English at home because they wanted their children to learn the language. The characters in her books are based on her family. Her nickname was “DLee” when she was little, and the illustrations in the books are based on pictures of her mother, father and brother — who shares the name Angel with DLee’s brother.

She says her books can help parents who speak Spanish to read to their children while learning English. And they can help parents who speak English to learn Spanish along with their children.

“Most of the books have English and Spanish on the same page,” Santamaria said. “So it works both ways.”

The School No. 2 assembly was for Grades K through 2, but bilingual and English as a Second Language students in the older grades also attended.

Overall, the books help children see the world through a more diverse lens, she said.

“I remember when I would read a lot of the children’s books growing up, I didn’t see a very multicultural cast of characters,” Santamaria said. “I wanted to incorporate that in my stories so that children can feel like they see themselves.”

Santamaria has a master’s degree in early childhood education from Montclair State University and was a teacher in East Orange and Newark for nine years. She says she’s still a teacher, but is taking a break to work on getting the word out about her self-published books.

“DLee’s World is very personal for me,” she said.

Linden School No. 8

The costumes made students think Halloween had come early, but instead of sugary candy they were treated to healthy snacks of apples, grapes and carrot sticks.

From left, Marcia Morgan, Pomptonian's food services director for Linden Public Schools; School No. 8 Principal Michelle Rodriguez; food servers Yaridy Hernandez, Sara Vasquez, and Maritza Artunduaga; and Pomptonian Operations Manager Cindy Sue Schaller at School No. 8's "Tiger Cub Cafe."

Workers from Pomptonian Food Service dressed up as fruits and vegetables for lunch at School No. 8’s “Tiger Cubs Café” on a recent Wednesday to mark Farm to School Month. The workers handed out fresh produce from the cafeteria’s “Farm Stand” to highlight the importance of good nutrition.

Pomptonian, which is based in Fairfield and handles food services for all of Linden Public Schools, offers healthy food options in the serving line each day at all the schools.

“We believe that giving students a variety of healthy options will encourage them to make nutritious choices,” Pomptonian says on its website. “It is for this reason that we have designed The Farm Stand. … The Farm Stand is proven to increase fruit and vegetable consumption by allowing students to choose from their favorite fruits and vegetables.”

Marcia Morgan, Pomptonian’s food services manager for Linden Public Schools, welcomed Cindy Sue Schaller, operations manager for Pomptonian, to School No. 8 for the event. Schaller chipped in to the effort by handling out healthy snacks — dressed as a carrot.

National History Day Contest

For thousands of students around the world, September marks the start of another chance to win history gold with the National History Day Contest.

Students enter their projects in local level contests, with the top entries advancing to regional, state/affiliate, and finally, the National Contest in June 2018. Along the way, students compete for the gold medal in their category as well as honors, awards, and thousands of dollars in prizes and scholarships.

Guided by an annual theme, students are encouraged to choose a topic that matches their personal interests. The 2018 theme is Conflict & Compromise in History. Students can create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website as an individual or group. Creation of these projects requires creativity and hard work that helps students succeed in all academic subjects.

An independent study in 2011 found that this project-based contest has proven benefits such as increased test scores, greater aptitude for reading comprehension, and analytical skills. It takes students out of the textbook and into historical research.

The 2011 study found that students who participate in the National History Day Contest outperform their counterparts in all subject areas and on standardized tests. Participants also expressed greater confidence in research, communication, and analytical skills. More information on this study is available at nhd.org/why-nhd-works.

“Creating an entry for the National History Day Contest requires keen analytical thinking and assessment of historical sources,” said National History Day® Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “Participants spends countless hours researching and examining sources for credibility and accuracy. These are skills that help them in all aspects of life, especially life as an active member of a democratic society.”

To assist students and teachers throughout the year, National History Day® has developed a number of free resources: 

  • Conflict & Compromise: Contest Theme Book 2018: This book explains the National History Day Contest theme and offers instructional insight for teachers on how to best incorporate the 2018 contest theme in classroom materials as well as sample topics for students
  • How to Create a Project: The first step for any student is creating a project. This page guides students through the steps to create a National History Day Contest entry
  • Project Examples: Award-winning projects from previous contests are hosted on this page. It provides numerous examples of the hard work participants put into their projects
  • Categories: This resource helps students learn about each of the five categories and includes examples from previous contest winners
  • Teacher Resources: From lesson plans to workbooks this page hosts a multitude of resources for promoting history education in classrooms.

More than half a million students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, and international schools in China, Korea, South Asia, and Central America will create projects for the National History Day Contest. Many of the local and state/affiliate contests allow public viewing of the projects and students are eager to talk about their research and findings. A full list of National History Day® affiliates can be found at nhd.org/affiliates. The top two entries in every category will be invited to compete in the National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland, College Park in June 2018.

For more information, visit nhd.org.

Old Bridge High School Marching Knights to host Regional Championships

The Old Bridge High School Marching Knights will host US Bands New Jersey Regional Championships at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at Lombardi Field. This competition will feature bands representing 18 high schools from across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

Members of the Marching Knights are set to present their preliminary performance at 2 p.m. The final round will start at 6:30 p.m. The band, under the guidance of band director Melissa Thatcher, has had a strong season this year, and has been selected to represent the USS New Jersey at the 77th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 2018.

Lombardi Field is at 3439 Highway 516 (Wisdom Way), Old Bridge.

Rowan University

With the newest U.S. News & World Report rankings, Rowan University in Glassboro has entered a new category — National University.

The shift from “regional” to “national research” university status is a result of Rowan’s designation as a doctoral university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education earlier this year. The 2018 America's Best Colleges ranking places Rowan University No. 90 among the public institutions ranked and No. 171 overall among 311 national universities. Rowan is tied with Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Central Florida, Mississippi State University and University of Idaho.

“As a national university, we look forward to earning more research grants and funding, and this new designation strengthens our ability to continue to attract the best and brightest to Rowan University,” said Dr. Ali Houshmand, Rowan University president.

In addition, the University’s Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering was ranked No. 19 in the nation among the best undergraduate engineering schools, improving its ranking by 14 places over the past four years. Rowan tied with the top programs at six other prestigious schools — The Citadel, Gonzaga University, Loyola Marymount University, San Jose State University, Swarthmore College and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

“These are truly exciting times for Rowan University. The 2016-17 academic year was our most productive in recent history with four new buildings, tremendous growth in academic programs and more,” Houshmand added. “Now, with increased national recognition, a groundswell of support from alumni and partner organizations, plus $1 billion in construction being planned, Rowan will continue to be on the rise.”

For more information, visit www.rowan.edu.

South River Primary School

Students at South River Primary School got a chance to go pumpkin picking on Oct. 19. Denny’s Stadium in South River was transformed into a pumpkin field, where students carefully selected their favorite sugar pumpkins.  The event was sponsored by the South River Primary School PTA and Custom Landscaping and Lawncare.

St. Francis Cathedral School

The annual St. Francis Cathedral School 4 and 5 grade spelling bee contest was conducted on Oct. 6 at the Metuchen-based school. The first-place winner was Tobey Garcia and second place went to Francis Regis.

First place winner was Tobey Garcia (left) and Second place went to Francis Regis (right).

Sayreville War Memorial High School

The Sayreville War Memorial High School Theatre Society will present "The Good Doctor," at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4.

"The Good Doctor" explores the multiple ideas of a writer who is suffering from writer’s block. The play consists of several comedic short scenes depicting different works of writer Anton Chekhov.

This play is the final act of Dr. Michael Piccuirro’s career at SWMHS. Piccuirro has worked as director of the theater program at Sayreville War Memorial High School for more than 40 years. :The Good Doctor" was the first play that Piccuirro directed on the school's stage and it is fitting that it is his last, according to a news release.

The play will be performed in the SWMHS auditorium at 820 Washington Road, Parlin. Tickets to see the performance are on sale for $12. Students and seniors receive a discounted rate of $10. Tickets are available for purchase at the door or at showtix4u.com

The State University of New York/Oswego

Nicholas Johnsen of Parlin at SUNY/Oswego received a transfer achievement scholarship and destination Oswego scholarship as a new transfer student at SUNY Oswego.

University of the Sciences

The following Central Jersey residents at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were named to the summer dean's list: Fatima Ali of Edison, Nicolette Cerminaro of Somerset, Nazeeb Chowdhury of Kendall Park, Soonyip Huang of Edison, Nikhila Indukuri of Edison, Rachel Kim of Princeton, Grant Lee of Plainsboro, Daniel Michael of Monmouth Junction, Deep Parikh of Iselin, Deep Patel of Dayton, Jay Patel of Piscataway, Pooja Patel of North Brunswick, Shraddha Patel of Princeton, Anna Rebisz of Colonia, Karishma Shelley of Edison, Vamsi Suryadevara of Dayton, .

Wardlaw+Hartridge School

The College Counseling Office at The Wardlaw + Hartridge School in Edison hosted two informative programs recently to assist Upper School students and parents with the admission process.

On Oct. 12, the Jump Start to College Program for freshmen, new sophomores and their parents provided an early glimpse of the college process. Attendees learned about what colleges are looking for in a successful candidate and what students and parents can do now. Ashley LaFrance, program manager from Kaplan Test Prep, led the presentation.

On Oct. 5, Wil Casaine, executive director of financial aid at The College of New Jersey, covered the college financial aid process from A to Z and addressed many questions, including: How will you pay for college? What’s the difference between FAFSA and the CSS Profile? Are grants and scholarships the same thing?

ALSO: On Oct. 11, the freshman class from The Wardlaw + Hartridge School in Edison took part in a service outing under the direction of Nicole Nolan, director of service learning. Students met and worked under the direction of Samantha Kreisler from New York /New Jersey Baykeeper to clean up Roosevelt Park in Edison.

The freshman celebrate a job well done at Roosevelt Park

Kreisler explained the importance of keeping our parks that lead to our waterways clean, and what happens when garbage, particularly plastics, enter our waterways. Students worked in teams of eight to 10 to clean a designated area of the park, and were amazed at the amount of trash that they collected in a span of about 90 minutes.

Student and School news appears on Fridays: Email:hntmetro@mycentraljersey.com