SOMSD once again named a ‘best community’ for music education

SOMSD once again named a ‘best community’ for music education

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, […]

Taylor presents on inequity in South Orange–Maplewood School District

Taylor presents on inequity in South Orange–Maplewood School District

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 […]

Student donates 60 bags of books

Student donates 60 bags of books

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 […]

SOMA middle schooler hosts book drive

SOMA middle schooler hosts book drive

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 […]

CHS sophomore robotics team takes 1st place

CHS sophomore robotics team takes 1st place

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — It was an underdog upset on Feb. 8 at the FIRST Tech Challenge New Jersey Essex County League Tournament, Robo-CATastrophe, with Team 4102 winning first place. With less experience and a young team comprising only a sophomore and two eighth graders, Team 4102 of the Columbia High School Robotics Team took home […]

SOMAS Children’s Summer Program: curiosity and fun abound

SOMAS Children’s Summer Program: curiosity and fun abound

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood Adult School Children’s Summer Program offers more than 100 classes in creative arts, music, science and sports. Students get to choose their own classes — there are five periods in a day — and the day can be as long or short as they like. The program is […]

SO Symphony fosters an early love of classical music

SO Symphony fosters an early love of classical music

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Intermission at the South Orange Symphony’s concert on Jan. 26 was full of string plucking and trombone sliding, as the orchestra hosted a “musical petting zoo,” where children in the audience could take the instruments for a test drive. The zoo was part of the orchestra’s annual family concert, which invites […]

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 […]

Free concert for the whole family in South Orange

Free concert for the whole family in South Orange

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — South Orange Symphony will hold its free family concert Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m. in the main auditorium of South Orange Middle School, 70 N. Ridgewood Road, South Orange. Susan Haig, of South Orange, will lead the orchestra in family-friendly music selections by Tchaikovsky, Ponchielli, Gabrieli and Britten. There will […]