On Thursday, June 17, 2010, the Plainfield Public Schools celebrated its 2010 Commencement Ceremony.  Over three hundred seniors from Plainfield High School and the Barack Obama Academy for Academic & Civic Development concluded their educational experience with the district.  The students were positive and committed to celebrate their accomplishments with dignity and professionalism.  Board Members Patricia Barksdale, Wilma Campbell, Agurs L. Cathcart, Jr., Keisha Edwards, and Renata A. Hernandez were in attendance.  Board President Lisa Logan-Leach gave opening remarks.  Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs was also in attendance and provided our students with words of inspiration.  Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles commends PHS Principal Dr. Brian Bilal and BOAACD Principal Mrs. Shirley Johnson-Tucker and their dedicated staff for the success of this event.

Barlow and Washington Schools were honored on Friday, June 11, 2010 at the New Jersey Department of Education Awards Program.  This event was designated to honor selected schools.  Barlow Elementary School and Washington Community School were both selelcted as recipients of the Title I School Rewards Grant in 2009 and 2010 respectively.  This enabled both schools to receive $100,000 grant.  Schools selected to receive this grant were formerly listed on the state’s list of schools in need of improvement for four years or more.  The Plainfield Public Schools is proud of the dedication and commitment of the students and staff at both schools.

Consistent with Goal 5: Community and Family Engagement of the 2008- 2012 District Strategic Plan, the Cook K-8 Center PTO held a Community Picnic to celebrate the end of the year on Saturday, June 12, 2010.  This event was designed to provide an opportunity for students, parents, and community members to come together. The PTO provided food, drink, games to show their appreciation for the support everyone gave during this past year.  This event was no cost to the district, and several attendees came with donations to add to the festivities.     Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles commends Ms. Jennifer Fuller and Ms. Trinise Sullivan CO-Presidents of the PTO, under the leadership of Principal John Martucci, for this effort.

The Plainfield Public Schools proudly held the 2010 8th Grade Promotional Activities for Hubbard and Maxson Middle Schools on Monday, June 14 and Tuesday, June 15, 2010, respectively.  Mrs. Belin-Pyles provided key words of inspiration to the students at Maxson’s event.  Both were well attended by parents and family members who gathered to support the students in their transition to high school. Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles would like to recognize and commend both principals---Mr. Anthony Jenkins and Ms. Gwynetta Joe for their leadership and organization of these activities.

Consistent with Goal 5: Community and Family Engagement of the 2008- 2012 District Strategic Plan, the Barack Obama Academy for Academic & Civic Development, in collaboration with the community, board members, and district personnel, held a Seniors Award Banquet on Monday, June 14, 2010.  This event, held at the Barack Obama Academy for Academic and Civic Development, was designed to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to join together to reward BOAACD Seniors for their academic achievement during the 2009-2010 school year. The event was hugely successful due to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. John Campbell who are always in support of the school and its vision to “support the academic, social and emotional development of each individual student…preparing today for success tomorrow.”.  Special thanks to Mr. Morris Lucky, the keynote speaker, and his wife Mrs. Kay Rolle-Lucky, a teacher at Cedarbrook K-8 Center.  Thanks also to Ms. Debbie Meyers and Ms. Debbie Marcelline Jenkins, a teacher at Cedarbrook K-8 Center, for their exuberance and willingness to provide support wherever needed.   Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles commends the BOAACD teachers and staff and Ms. Sandra Martin, our Family Liaison, under the direction of Principal S. Johnson-Tucker, for this effort.

Consistent with Goal 1: Learning Outcomes of the 2008-2012 District Strategic Plan, Hubbard Middle School Eighth Graders visited Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, June 15th, 2010.  The students visited the Smithsonian Institute Museums and Mall and were provided an opportunity to view primary documents referred to in their Social Studies and Language Arts classes.  A special thanks to the students' fundraising efforts throughout the school year.  Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles commends the teachers and students, under the direction of Principal Gwynetta Joe, for this effort.

Consistent with Goal 5: Community and Family Engagement of the 2008- 2012 District Strategic Plan, the Plainfield Family Success Center (PFSC) hosted an Open House for families in the community on Saturday, June 12, 2010, from 10:00am - 1:00pm. The purpose was to invite families to visit the new location and to learn of the many services that are offered at the Center.   This event was co-sponsored by the Plainfield Board of Education and a grant through the Department of Children and Families.  Special thanks to the Family Success Center’s, Advisory Board parents; PFSC staff; School Based Youth Services program; Buildings and Grounds; and all school Principals that helped to get the information out to parents.

Consistent with Goal 5: Community & Family Engagment of the 2008-2012 District Strategic Plan, Hubbard Middle School 21st Century Program unveiled a Mosaic Tile Mural on Thursday, June 17, 2010.  This event culminated a year long effort by the nearly thirty students who met weekly to complete this task.  Ms. Nathalie Alleyne, a volunteer artist from Bloomfield, New Jersey, worked with the students weekly to impart skills in the area of sketching, design layout, tile cutting, and placement.  During this process, Hubbard students developed essential development skills in team building, time management, and quality control.  Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles commends Ms. Alleyne and the 21st Century Program, under the leadership or Principal Gwynetta Joe, for this effort.

Consistent with Goal 5: Community & Family Engagment of the 2008-2012 District Strategic Plan, Ms. Rose Dean’s First Grade students at Cedarbrook K-8 Center presented letters of acknowledgement and gratitude to the members of the Plainfield Shriner’s Club on Tuesday, June 15, 2010.  The Sons of Desert Shriner’s Club adopted this class in November 2009.  Throughout the course of the school year, they donated pencils, crayons, homework folders, erasers, pencil sharpeners, and a laptop for the students’ use.  A representative from the Shriner’s Club was on hand to receive the student letters.  Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles thanks  the members of the Plainfield Shriner’s Club for their investment into the students of the Plainfield Public Schools.

Consistent with Goal 1: Learning Outcomes of the 2008-2012 District Strategic Plan, each of the district’s thirteen preschool centers hosted an English Language Learner Family Workshop during the months of May and June 2010.  Parents were given simple hands-on activities and strategies on how to support their children’s language development, math skills, and science skills by using household items and other simple tools in daily life (i.e. bedtime story station, midnight snack counting game, family game station, science station, etc.).  Workshops were designed to promote home language and encourage parents to use their strongest language to communicate with their children if they speak two languages.   The Office of Early Childhood Programs & Services gave support to all centers.

Consistent with Goal 5: Community & Family Engagement of the 2008-2012 District Strategic Plan, the Office of Early Childhood Programs & Services hosted a Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Preschool Dance on Saturday, June 12, 2010.  The theme this year was “Celebrating Fathers”.  District staff, in collaboration with preschool centers (Al & Jeans Children, Faheemah’s Child Care Center, King’s Daughters Day Care, HOPES Head Start, Little Hearts and Precious Steps) planned this event.  Over 100 people from preschool programs throughout the district were in attendance and enjoyed dinner, poetry readings, a live DJ, musical games, fun activities, and fruit smoothies prepared on site from Rutgers Cooperative Extension.  Children’s books donated from United Way, piggy banks donated from Bank of America and a variety of resource information were given to parents and children.  Families also had the opportunity to take a professional family picture.  Parents and children commented that they had fun and enjoyed the entire evening.  Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles commends the Office of Early Childhood, under the leadership of Director Evelyn Motley, for this event.

Consistent with Goal 1: Learning Outcomes of the 2008-2012 District Strategic Plan, Barlow School Sixth Graders visited Washington, D.C. on Tuesday & Wednesday, June 15-16, 2010.  During this engaging, educational experience, the students visited the Maryland House, the White House, Captial Hill, the Smithsonian Institute, and the National Archives.  The trip was partly funded through funds from the Rewards Grant.  Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles commends the Barlow school community, under the direction of former Principal Caryn Cooper, for this trip.