COLUMBUS, MS — South Orange and Millburn resident Elias Bikales, 15, has completed a U.S. Air Force–led program in Columbus, Miss., that offers Civil Air Patrol cadets the opportunity to train side-by-side with Air Force pilot trainees. Bikales trained with military flight simulators, pilot oxygen masks, nausea-inducing spinning machines and other high-tech equipment during the […]
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The east branch of the Rahway River runs right through the heart of South Orange — literally and figuratively. Sadly, trash quickly builds up along the banks and in the river itself. But for 11 years, members of the community have gathered together on the first Sunday in May to remove […]
MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — For Amy Popp, a media specialist at Tuscan Elementary School, receiving a fellowship from the Achieve Foundation in March has special significance. She is one of five educators who were awarded Michelle T. Riecke Fellowships totaling $5,073 to pursue professional development programs this summer. Popp will attend the week-long […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The board of trustees at the Achieve Foundation, a nonprofit organization promoting high-quality education that prepares South Orange–Maplewood School District students for the future, has announced the recipients of its fall 2021 education grant awards. Local SOMA educators will receive $66,000 in grants that fund 34 varied projects and programs to support […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Eleven middle school students in the South Orange–Maplewood School District are a part of the first group of scholars accepted into the Kean University Scholar Academy, a dual-enrollment initiative that will prepare selected students for college by bringing them on campus to earn college credits and take part in […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education approved creating a task force to protect students from sexual assault and violence at its May 17 meeting, following students speaking out about their own experiences at the April 19 meeting. The resolution allows Superintendent Ronald Taylor or a designee to appoint stakeholders […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood School District was once again recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation as a “best community” for music education. According to SOMSD fine arts supervisor James Manno, this is at least the ninth consecutive year that the district has received this recognition. In all, […]
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — South Orange–Maplewood Superintendent of Schools Ronald Taylor attended the South Orange board of trustees meeting on Sept. 29, giving the trustees a presentation on equity in the school district, as was requested by trustee Donna Coallier. During the presentation, Taylor shared statistics on equity in high school AP classes and outlined […]
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Elisha Wasden, a South Orange Middle School eighth-grader, donated 60 bags of books for the participants of the Rising Stars reading program that took place this summer. He raised more than $1,000, with the help of friend Maggie Hanley and her mother, Jenna. His mom and dad pitched in as well […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Elisha Wasden, a rising eighth-grader at South Orange Middle School, is hosting a book drive for 60 students participating in a summer skills reading program in Maplewood. His “Brain Bags,” as he calls them, will include reading and activity books. His goal is to raise enough money to give […]