About 40 families enjoyed the third evening event of 2023-24 school year at Newark Middle School this one being the Winter Wonderland Family Workshop for students and their families held December 21st from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. that was jam-packed with free activities.
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Activities included:
• Roller skating in the gymnasium.
• A hot cocoa bar managed by NMS school counselor Rebecca Battle.
• Holiday craft-making facilitated by Wayne County Community Schools staff Laura Brown and Diane Kellogg.
• Free holiday portraits taken by Charlene Gonzalez, owner of Charlenesvision Photography in Newark who is the mother of sixth grader Miguel Gonzalez III.
• Cookie decorating staffed by Kristen Harper, NMS Family and Consumer Science teacher & NMS art teacher Lisa Stringer. The cookies were made in advance by students in the FACS classes.
• Video games, staffed by Newark High School special education teacher Mark Solan.
Another popular attraction was the gift shop, complete with a gift wrapping station, where all NMS students could spend $20 in “Fox Funds” they were given to purchase gifts and have them wrapped.
Sixth grade teachers Chelsea Rapp, Lindsay Dibble and Julia Solan, NCSD Family Outreach Coordinator were the overseers of the shop and also wrapped gifts purchased by students that were donated either from the Newark Public Library, Steady Work Print Shop and Deb’s Crafts and Things in Newark or provided through 21st Century Community Schools grant money.
The Winter Wonderland Family Workshop event was planned by Braxton Guy, the NCSD Community Schools Coordinator, and NMS school counselor Jessica Orchard.
Guy said the idea was to provide families with some great holiday experiences at no cost.
“Newark Middle School wants to increase student and family engagement opportunities,’’ he said. “I think it went really well. Everyone had a lot of fun.”
“. . . .It was heartwarming to see our community come together and provide an event for our students and families where lasting memories were created. Because after all, the essence of the holiday season lies in connecting with one another _ cherishing moments with family and friends, embracing kindness and reflecting on the blessings of the past year,” Orchard said.
kindness and reflecting on the blessings of the past year,” Orchard said. “The Winter Wonderland Night at NMS was such a wonderful experience! It was a fun night for our families and for our building, and helped us to build stronger connections with students, families, and staff. We are looking forward to many more events like this one!” said NMS Assistant Principal Melanie Meyer.
Three other evening events this school year preceded this most recent one.
On November 22nd, a “Fox Fun Night” was held at Newark High School for NMS students only. Activities included swimming, gym activities, karaoke, a video game arcade, pizza, snow cones, popcorn cotton candy and more. BB’s Pizzeria and Ruffalo Appliance in Newark donated pizza for event.
Guy said Community Schools staff built a haunted house in the NMS small gym for an evening school dance event October 27th sponsored by NMS Student Council. On September 9th, a “Fox Fun Night” featuring roller skating was held for NMS students and families at NMS..
NMS students and families at NMS.. A “Fox Fun Night” for just NMS students will be held February 3rd at NHS that will again feature swimming, roller skating, karaoke, a video game arcade, pizza, snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy and more.
Guy’s hope is also that one evening event will be held each month for the remainder of the school year and the activities will be planned with student input in mind.
“We’ve been receiving a lot of positive feedback and want this to continue,’’ he said.