SOMSD students display their art at annual exhibit in mall

SOMSD students display their art at annual exhibit in mall

LIVINGSTON, NJ — This February marked the Essex County Education Association’s 23rd annual art exhibition at the Livingston Mall and several South Orange and Maplewood students were chosen to represent the district. The show ran from Feb. 28 through March 6. From South Mountain Annex and Clinton Elementary School, with art teacher Tara Kanter, participating […]

MMS students to present musical ‘13’

MMS students to present musical ‘13’

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood Middle School presents the musical “13” on stage from Feb. 28 through March 1. In the musical, Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast-paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents’ divorce. Surrounded by an array of simple-minded middle school students, he needs […]

Vanguard to present ‘For the Love of Charlie Brown’ at Montclair Art Museum

Vanguard to present ‘For the Love of Charlie Brown’ at Montclair Art Museum

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Students from Montclair, South Orange, West Orange, Newark and other towns in Essex County will present “For the Love of Charlie Brown” at the Montclair Art Museum this weekend. The musical features all of the beloved “Peanuts” characters and songs from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Snoopy” and various Peanuts television […]

Maplewood celebrates Black History Month

Maplewood celebrates Black History Month

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In honor of Black History Month, the township of Maplewood has joined with local nonprofit, community and business partners to sponsor more than 30 artistic, cultural and educational events and activities throughout February. Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee, who will lead two different book discussions during the month, said, “Our goal is to […]

MMS students honor King’s life and legacy

MMS students honor King’s life and legacy

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — More than 800 Maplewood Middle School students and staff held the school’s 20th annual MLK Silent Peace March in remembrance of the work of Martin Luther King Jr. Students walked in silence through Maplewood Village and ended the walk with a rendition of “We Shall Overcome,” led by the MMS concert choir, […]

SOMSD fifth graders hear from civil rights pioneer

SOMSD fifth graders hear from civil rights pioneer

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — District fifth graders had the opportunity to hear from civil rights pioneer Lynda Blackmon Lowery at a Jan. 16 assembly at South Orange Middle School. This was part of the district’s “One Book One Grade” program, under which every fifth grader in the school district read Lowery’s book “Turning 15 on […]

Grammy-winning jazz bassist teaches masterclass at Columbia High

Grammy-winning jazz bassist teaches masterclass at Columbia High

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Jazz students from Columbia High School and Maplewood and South Orange middle schools gathered in CHS’ auditorium on Wednesday, Nov. 20, for a free jazz masterclass event hosted by New Jersey Performing Arts Center and made possible by support from TD Bank.  Six-time Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist Christian McBride interacted with student […]

Middle school parents learn about AileyDance Kids

Middle school parents learn about AileyDance Kids

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — On the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 12, the South Orange Performing Arts Center hosted a “Meet & Greet” event to engage and inform middle school parents about the AileyDance Kids Residency Program occurring at both South Orange and Maplewood middle schools. AileyDance Kids is an education extension division of Alvin Ailey […]

SOPAC gains $10,000 grant for its education programs

SOPAC gains $10,000 grant for its education programs

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — South Orange Performing Arts Center received a major grant in the amount of $10,000 from the Provident Bank Foundation to support its education programs, including dance residencies at the South Orange and Maplewood middle schools; music residencies in the Orange School District; school performances for thousands of young students in the […]