Luis Munoz Marin School in Newark has a Historical Year!

Newark, NJ

Luis Munoz Marin School for Social Justice had a year filled with historical events and achievements. The year started out with an invite from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. In celebration of the school anniversary students wrote essays to the Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor. Sotomayor so impressed by the letters see reached out to Principal Maria Ortiz and invited them to come to visit her in Washington D.C. and received a personal talk and tour of her office. Many students said they will never forget their visit, it truly left an indelible impression on the young students.

During this school year, Luis Munoz Marin also was selected as one of only 5 other schools in the state to put on a Disney Theatrical production. The school chose the Lion King. Students and staff worked long hours after-school to perfect their acting skills that was led by one of the cast members of the Broadway show and a NJPAC training artist.

When parents and school staff saw the production they were Floored!!! Principal Maria Ortiz said," I am in the business of transformation" after seeing her students and said "I would pay Broadway price for the tickets! $ 103 bucks! Newark Schools Superintendent Christopher Cerf was also impressed on just how much of an effort was put into totally transform the students into the actors they became. Cerf congratulating them and wished them well in all their future endeavors. The students were also featured on Spotlight New Jersey on News 12 New Jersey and News 12 New Jersey said they hit a home run with the Lion King production!

As the school year came to a close the 8th grade class of 2016 had the honor to hear from keynote speaker Darryl K. Terry Sr. the First African American President of Newark Beth Israel hospital.

On a final note, we have received on "Good Word" that next year their may be another visit to Washington D.C. To meet very special and important person.

This year was truly historical for Luis Munoz Marin.