Imagine learning language arts, word processing, how to create PowerPoint presentations and how to use a digital camcorder to make a movie, write the story line and share it with your family and friends? What would an after-school and evening class for such a program cost you? It’s free, if you are a student or a parent of a student in Washington School or in the East Newark grammar school.
That’s right! Washington School, in collaboration with the East Newark School District has been awarded an ACE+ Grant for approximately $200,000 it was announced by Washington School Principal, Norberto Diaz. ACE+ is an acronym for Access, Collaboration and Equity. The grant was written by Vice Principal Dr. Addie Boyd and it will give students and parents in Washington and East Newark elementary schools an opportunity to improve their language arts skills through technology.
The grant provides the resources to establish ACE Centers in each school. The centers will have high-tech computers, digital cameras, camcorders, smart boards, LCD projectors, listening centers and Internet access. The main branch of the Kearny Library will be a satellite ACE Center. Administrators, ACE Center personnel, media specialists, mentors, language arts teachers, ESL/bilingual and special education teachers will be available at each center to provide assistance in language arts and technology for students in grades K-8 and their parents, should the parents desire to improve their reading, writing, specking and technology skills.
The center in Washington School invites its students and parents to come and learn on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15 – 6:15 PM, on Wednesdays from 3:15 – 4:45 PM and 6:15 – 7:45 PM and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. While at the center, the participants can improve their reading, writing, speaking and other language arts skills using special computer software. They may work alone or collaboratively. Students and parents must bring to the center a desire to learn, participate regularly for three months and complete a brief survey that measures acquired skills. Each center hosts different grade levels one day a week. It is mandatory that K-2 students be accompanied by their parents. For the older children, parents are welcome but not required for the children to participate in the ACE+ program.
In addition to providing the acquisition of language arts through technology, family access to technology, resources and information, Mandy Lavalle, Jessica Perone, and Martin Hoff who are also teachers in Washington School, will be infusing technology into their daily lesson plans and helping other teachers do the same. The NJ Department of education requires that every school district include in their technology plan steps that will be taken to enhance instruction through technology. The ACE Center is one example of how instruction for all children is being embellished through technology. Principal Bert Diaz, whose mantra for Washington School is Administration By Collaboration said “The ACE Center will provide many opportunities to enrich the lives of our young people and their parents in two very important life skills for the 21st century: language arts and technology. Special thanks go to Dr. Boyd and to everyone involved in the ACE Center for providing yet another wonderful learning experience for the children in Washington School.”
