Pride Hosts Literacy Night Awards

 

Students in the 5th grade were recognized during the Literacy Night Awards Ceremony held in Hackensack Middle School’s Media Center on Thursday, March 30th.  The event was sponsored by Hackensack Education Association and NJEA PRIDE, a campaign that brings schools and communities together.   Students were nominated for one of two awards -  the Awesome Achiever Award or the Incredible Growth Award.  

 

As part of the evening’s program, each student received special, individualized certificates honoring their accomplishments in reading this school year.  Additionally, students were awarded a book of their choice for their home library.  During the 90 minute ceremony,  participants also enjoyed dinner.   

 

The evening began with HEA Pride co-chairs Shanira Robinson and Raquel James Goodman, both English Language Arts teachers, discussing  the initiatives of the HEA and PRIDE committee members in bringing the school and community together to celebrate our students’ accomplishments and to foster a love for reading.  

 

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Hackensack Middle School’s librarian, Maureen Carroll, then briefed parents on the innovative educational programs launched at the Middle School’s Media Center. Students are particularly excited about the coding, engineering, and maker activities offered during lunch recess.  Ms. Carroll also awarded a special Library Bookworm Award to Jocelyn Rodriquez, a voracious reader.  Ms. Carroll reported that, “to date, Jocelyn has borrowed 56 books - by far surpassing students in every other grade!”

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The Middle School library has a strong relationship with Johnson Public Library, offering in-house programs to Middle School students during lunch recess. Next in the evening, Mari Zigas and Gladys Cepeda from the Johnson Public Library provided an overview of the ongoing programs available in the Children’s Room including Lego League, Chess, and a Video Game Club.  Ms. Zigas also had library card registration available for any families seeking a public library card. Additionally, participants were asked to fill out a survey to solicit feedback on what they would like to see the library provide in the future.

 

Hackensack Middle School Principal, Celso King, thanked students, teachers, parents and community members for attending, and urged students to keep working hard.  As a Hackensack Middle School and Hackensack High School alumnus, Mr. King recalled when he first discovered Johnson Public Library.  “As a first grader I remember checking out my first book at the Johnson Public Library Here comes a Strikeout.  Today I read the same book to my kids before bedtime.”  Mr. King acknowledged the students that were nominated from the ESL/ELL (English Second Language and English Language Learner) programs, emphasizing  that speaking two or more languages is a great asset in life and advising parents to read to their kids, even if in their native language.  

 

Ms. Judy Soto-Holland, Humanities Supervisor, explained that she believes in Hackensack and is proud of the many achievements the students continue to attain.  She spoke not only as a supervisor, but also of a parent whose child attends Hackensack Middle School.  She urged students to continue to read and she advised parents to “allow them to read anything they like: graphic novels, comic strips, magazines etc.”

 

As a parting gift, participants were given magnets that listed ways to encourage and praise students, and a notepad with a matching pen, compliments of Hackensack Education Association.

 

The Literacy Night Awards Ceremony was made possible by NJEA PRIDE in Public Education grant, whose main purpose is to share the successes of New Jersey’s public schools and build community support and involvement.