Student Partner Alliance

March eNewsletter

marianne — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:53:07 +0000

Student/Partner Alliance Newsletter 2012

Student/Partner Alliance Hosts Holiday Party for 200

marianne — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:51:05 +0000

Immaculate Conception sophomore was the 1st runner-up in the Student Talent Show at S/PA's Annual Holiday Party

Students, their Families, Student Partners, Sponsors and Mentors Gather for a Post Holiday Event at Marist High School in Bayonne

Not to let the holidays go by without acknowledging the joint efforts of so many concerned individuals in supporting the educational goals of select students at inner-city private schools, Student/Partner Alliance (S/PA) held their annual holiday party on the evening of Wednesday, January 11 in the cafeteria of Marist High School in Bayonne.

This year’s dinner was graciously underwritten by PNC Bank in Millburn. The buffet-style dinner was attended by 200 S/PA students, the students’ families and the students’ benefactors. Dinner was prepared and served by The Foodservice Training Academy of the Community FoodBank of NJ. This came about after S/PA Executive Director Margaret Momber, learned of the Academy while S/PA students and sponsors were at the FoodBank last November for a day of service.

While the tasty dinner was greatly enjoyed and appreciated, the most anticipated part of the annual party remains the Student Talent Show! A young man from St. Anthony High School in Jersey City started off the show with a beautiful vocal performance. Next came a street dance, a drumming duet, a solo guitar performance, a magic show and a recitation of an original essay. The coup de gras, however, was an animated recitation of a self-authored poem by senior student, Roslyn Johnson, who will be graduating from St. Vincent Academy (Newark) in June. The randomly selected group of 5 student judges had no trouble agreeing that Roslyn stole the show – both from the standpoint of the content and her delivery! Second and third place winners were also announced. All contestants were recognized for their participation and given a huge round of applause by the group. Dessert, coffee and conversation followed.

Rosalyn Johnson, 1st prize winner in Student Talent Show

S/PA students attending any one of the 9 area inner-city private schools that S/PA is affiliated with, came together at the Bayonne site to celebrate the blessings of the Holidays, the New Year and to acknowledge the kindness of the people and organizations that help them meet the tuition, and perform well, at their respective schools. Families of the students and partners (sponsors) are all invited to the event. “We are just so grateful to my son’s sponsors “, remarked one parent, “Their interest in helping us has made it a reachable goal for Derrick to attend his school. Without the sponsors (and S/PA), I just don’t think we would have been able to come up with all of the tuition. We know he will have a much better chance at being successful in life for having gone to such a strong academic and character building school! Couldn’t have done it without you!”

Among the attendees were Student/Partner Alliance Board President and Summit Resident, Emmett Daly and his wife Regina. Over the years, the Dalys have helped several students achieve their dreams of attending a quality private school in their neighborhood, by assisting them with private school tuition. As part of their role with S/PA, the Dalys have also provided very important mentoring support to their students; speaking with them on a regular basis, guiding them through academic problems and just “being there” for them! Many other individuals and families from Summit, Short Hills, Chatham, Westfield and the surrounding areas have also contributed as Partners to students through Student/Partner Alliance.

Morristown residents, Anne and John Goldsmith, who have already helped one young man through high school (via S/PA), have now committed the same for a freshman girl. At the holiday event, Anne reported, “We are having a great time! Christina and her mom are delightful. We also met several other students – they are such enthusiastic kids”. As to why they are sponsoring these students, John Goldsmith responded, “We raised four of our own children; and were lucky enough to send them to great high schools. Now we want to share that opportunity with some other kids. These kids don’t have the luxury of quality public schools in their neighborhoods, making the private schools so important to their educational experience and to their future. We’re happy to be of help to make it all happen!”

The New Generation

by Rosalyn Johnson, Senior, St. Vincent Academy

See in this generation, it seems we got it twisted,

When we have problems, are text messages gunna fix it?

We cant even converse, always texting or on the phone,

Im sure every once in a while, we could exchange, voice tones

But its like were mentally weak, technology is the controller

signing straight onto Twitter when we wake up and roll over?

Slaves to the media, and they just take and take our money,

if we try to break the trend, our friends will look at us funny,

Really? Is this what were becoming? The TV is telling us who to be?

telling us lose weight, then throwing food commercials at me.

Its makes me really question, what do they really know?

Do I really need to be super slim, just to let my body show?

Am I any less of a person because my hair is not the same?

Because I don’t have the new video game?

Is that why I should be ashamed?

Dumping chemicals and toxics in the oceans and streams

While they tell us to save the earth – but that’s not really going green.

Charity workers say how is this child is dying from starvation?

Then we invade the mother land,

stealing from diamond plantations

We gotta shoot to fight our problems,

fighting for peace,

Then we turn to drugs to shoot up

and give us relief.

Do you know what Jesus did for us?

Do you know how bad he was hurt?

You’re expecting to go to heaven,

but you can’t wake up and go to church.

I’m no angel to sit and preach,

I made choices that weren’t clever

But I realize my mistakes,

and I’m try’na make it better,

I feel the need to reach out,

Tell all my fellow peers and friends,

We gotta pave the way for the future,

or this world of ours will end

You may take this as a joke,

just a little too petty,

But honestly, if tomorrow was Judgement day,

would you be ready?

Ask yourself that question,

even if it’s little strange

I could tell you to do right a thousand times

but only YOU can make the change.

Student/Partner Alliance Students and Sponsors Volunteer at the Community FoodBank in Hillside

marianne — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:15:29 +0000

Marist Principle, Alice Meisnick, enjoys a light moment with Marist students at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, in Hillside

A crowd of over 202 students, parents, school staff, student partners and mentors from Student/Partner Alliance (S/PA) gathered for a morning of community service at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Hillside on Saturday, November 12^th. The annual event is the largest and most anticipated gathering organized by S/PA as an opportunity for students and their sponsors/mentors to spend time together while “giving back” to their community. It is also an opportunity for scholarship recipients and their families from the various S/PA schools to meet each other and work side-by-side.

Many families in the Greater Newark area have been hit hard in the recent months and weeks between storms and the economy. The Community FoodBank of NJ has had a higher than normal rate of requests for assistance from families and individuals in the area, and expects the usual holiday needs to be even greater than usual this year.

Student/Partner Alliance provides scholarship tuition assistance and mentoring to high school students in the Greater Newark area so that they can attend private schools in their neighborhoods. All the schools that S/PA is affiliated with are strong academic, college preparatory high schools, with upwards of 98% of their graduates continuing their education beyond high school. Additionally, these values-based schools are uniformly concerned with instilling a sense of community awareness and giving back through service to their neighbors.

One student remarked, “We may really have it hard at times in our family, but we always seem to have food on the table. I know people right down the street who are much worse off than us.” Another student, a senior this year, said, “Wherever you look, you can find someone who has it tough. It makes me proud to come here and help every year. This is one event I’ll miss when I’m at college….maybe I’ll still be able to come and help out even after I’ve graduated!

Frieda Zaffarese Retires

marianne — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:58:54 +0000

Frieda Zaffarese, Executive Director of Student/Partner Alliance (S/PA) Steps Down After 17 Years

For her retirement party on Tuesday, October 11th, 45 friends and family gathered to send a message of gratitude to the Executive Director of Student/Partner Alliance (S/PA), Frieda Zaffarese, about just how much she has meant to the organization and to them as individuals. Frieda had made many friends within the S/PA “family” over her 17 years with the organization, to include graduated students, parents, co-workers, school administrators, Board Members and student “Partners”.

As a resident at the time, Frieda was active in local non-profits from the early ‘80’s, when she started part-time with the Millburn chapter of the Red Cross. Her association with non-profits extended to the Stifel Foundation (later became American Paralysis Assoc, then Christopher Reeves), the United Way, Common Agencies Corporation and the Health & Human Services Association in Millburn. In 2007, Frieda left the United Way to devote her time to Student/Partner Alliance (then in Newark) as Executive Director.

At the dinner, which took place at the Grand Summit Hotel, Frieda recalled stories about the students and their parents; their partners, sponsors and mentors; and their schools. Since Frieda’s association with the organization, S/PA has assisted over 1500 students from the Greater Newark area, with private school tuitions, so that these youth might access a stong, values-based education at a private school near to their home. A parent and several past students shared stories attesting to the difference Student/Partner Alliance and Frieda Zaffarese had made in their life!

Student and Partner Breakfasts

marianne — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:13:14 +0000

Partner Ted Kundtz enjoys a laugh with Christ the King student Tiyyan Thompson-Floyd

Early Morning Visits a Hit!

Dubbed “Student Breakfasts” because they are held early in the school day, food is actually secondary to the main purpose of these popular events. The breakfasts provide a venue for students and their Partners or Mentors to relax and spend some time catching up. This year, we had over 30 Partners and Mentors visiting our partner schools in the Greater Newark area. For freshman students who are new to their schools and new to the S/PA program, the setting of their school cafeteria or library is a comfortable place to meet their new Partner/Mentor. For returning students, they are anxious to share the excitement of their new academic subjects and other, non-academic activities at school. Partners and Mentors have an opportunity to tour the school, or view special displays.

During this year’s visit to Marist High School in Bayonne, Principal Alice Miesnick gave the visitors a tour of their very impressive medical exploration, “Medquest” program. At Christ the King, after a tour of the facility by the Dean of Academics, Dr. Pam Rauscher, Father Bob explained the unique Corporate Internship Program at the school. Similarly, administrators at each of the schools happily escort S/PA Partners and Mentors through the schools for general tours, or to highlight special academic programs and facility renovations.