At the February 20 Elizabeth Board of Education meeting at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early Childhood Center School No. 52, the meeting opened with a moment of silence for the passing of former Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. Health and Public Safety Academy student Ashley Romulus.

Pre-K students from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ECC School No. 52 led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a recording of the Star-Spangled Banner by late music legend Whitney Houston. George Washington Academy School No. 1 Music Teacher Mr. Kerry Stubbs performed the African American National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson and Pre-K students from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ECC School No. 52 led the Pledge of Ethics.

The performances for the evening were inspired by and in celebration of Black History Month, including “He’s Got the Whole World,” performed by Pre-K students from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ECC School No. 52; “This Little Light of Mine,” performed by Pre-K students from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ECC School No. 52; “Respect,” performed by Pre-K students from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ECC School No. 52; “The Underground Railroad,” performed by George Washington School No. 1 Choir; “We Built This,” performed by First Ladies and a Few Good Gentlemen from George Washington Academy School No.1; “‘UBUNYE’ Unity,” performed by First Ladies and Leaders of Technique from George Washington Academy School No.1 and Jerome Dunn Academy School No.9; “A Message from Mothers to Sons,” performed by students from Mabel G. Holmes School No. 5; and “FREEDOM: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” performed by students from Nicholas Murray Butler School No. 23.

Following the performances, Elizabeth Public Schools Administrative Secretary Yolanda Eady, on behalf of Kim Nesbitt Good, read a proclamation presented by the Friends of New Jersey Legacy Foundation, Inc. recognizing Black History Month in the City of Elizabeth and the ongoing support of the Elizabeth Board of Education and Elizabeth Public Schools in educating Elizabeth students about black history. The proclamation, in addition to being presented to the members of the Elizabeth Board of Education and members of Elizabeth Public Schools central administration, will be displayed in the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May on June 19, 2020, the day the museum is scheduled to open.

The Board celebrated and recognized excellent achievements of members of the Elizabeth Public Schools Professional Learning Community. Among those honored at the meeting were the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ECC School No. 52 School of Character, Health and Wellness, American Education Week, Multicultural, and Week of Respect Committees; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ECC School No. 52 PTO members & volunteers; and the Elizabeth Public Schools Black History Month Committee

STARS OF EXCELLENCE

School of Character Committee

Kerry Sullivan, Chairperson

Gina Andrade

Lauren Beato

Sarani Bose

Ana Maria Gonzalez

Judy Landaverde

Lissette Liman

Gorica Stivers

 

Health and Wellness Committee

Ana Maria Gonzalez

Ann Green

Ceu Matos

Bonnie Narciso

Jennifer O’Connell

Rosa Perez

Raquel Villarino

 

American Education Week

Andrea Duran-Lituma- Chairperson

Elaina Davis

Janet Mayfield

Brigida Moreno-Chavez

Denise Nitisco

Maria Rocha

Raquel Villarino

 

Multicultural Committee

Gina Andrade

Paula Arenas

Marily Cruz

Bernadette Zahran

 

Week of Respect

Jehnce Collacitti

Mereca Franco

Aylin Jimenez-Aleman

Maritza Pareja

Donna Williams

 

PTO Members & Volunteers

Yenys Aguilar, President

Andrea Arisso

Linda Ortiz

Anthony Santiago

Lina Rojoa

Natasha Carpio

Maria Alfaro

Rebecca Montes

Berkys Gonzalez

Silvya Rodriguez

Carmen Rojas

Karen Rivera

Luisa Morales

Kimberly Villalta

Naismith Dussan

Keyla Barahona

Fatima Espin

Nicole Cruz

 

Elizabeth Public Schools Black History Month Committee

Kerry Stubbs

Story Thompson

Ameerah Boone

Ana Cobas

Tasheemah Rembert

Jasmine Lee

Kwao Taylor

Melissa Donlay

Alfred Aguilar

Maryse Baird

Edyta Drobniewska

Willie Hayes

Erna Letemps

Marie Sajous

Samaiyah Simpson

 

Board President Diane Barbosa shared about visiting schools in March as part of the President’s Tour and looking forward to seeing the activities and student work that are sure to be on display for observances such as Read Across America, Music in our Schools Month, National Nutrition Month, Women’s History Month, and Youth Art Month among others. She again applauded students from George Washington Academy School No. 1, Mabel G. Holmes School No. 5, Jerome Dunn Academy School No. 9, Nicholas Murray Butler School No. 23, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ECC School No. 52, as well as the members of the Black History Month Committee, for helping the Board to celebrate Black History Month by entertaining the audience with performances highlighting African American culture and bringing the diversity of the Elizabeth community to life.