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It was my pleasure over the last few semesters to work with the...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:09:35 -0400

It was my pleasure over the last few semesters to work with the Westfield High School, NJ Project ‘79 class of 2013 on songwriting. In the end, it was a truly unique experience for me. It pushed me pretty far beyond my natural creative zone and ultimately refreshed my perspective on the creative process. Rather than recording the completed song myself, the students and I worked together. With vocals recorded by Casey, Danisha, and Deandra. Danisha also wrote the keyboard line. I did my very best to capture the entire process, from the drum circle that defined the groove, to the lyric writing. The class agreed on the style of the song and we grew it from there. It was a true pleasure. -Shayfer James

Parents remember the p79 difference

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 06:30:20 -0400

Parents remember the p79 difference:

A father of an alum from the mid-2000s recalls the difference p79 made for his son

#p79 member tribute from Class of 2016. Respect

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:52:22 -0400

#p79 member tribute from Class of 2016. Respect

In late May, students in Chambers’ Graphic Design II class...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:41:59 -0400

In late May, students in Chambers’ Graphic Design II class visited the Princeton University campus to check out the 1913: The Year of Modernism show at the art museum. Bear met a lion that many folks assume is a tiger (check the address: 79), and there were unicorns, gods chilling (“royal ease pose” is the official description), and 2000 year-old art about talking …

Last week #p79 was visited recently by two NJ officials...

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:40:28 -0400

Last week #p79 was visited recently by two NJ officials interested in our work.

On Monday, June 3rd Rahway Councilman David Brown (shot 1) came after seeing Steve Adubato’s p79 piece on NJTV to see what we’re doing as a learning community that produces public art. He’s doing field research to learn what he might propose for Rahway.

On Friday, June 7th the NJ Department of Education Assistant Commisioner of Education Evo Popoff (shot 2) visited WHS to learn about schools’ application of technology. Ms Spring’s and Ms MacDonald’s mainstream American Studies class provided extensive feedback about their year-long experiment with iPads and other devices.

The Assistant Commisioner was also interested to see the #BYOD pilot with the p79 Class of 2014, which he visited 5th period. Holla!

Photo

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:53:02 -0400

Baggage?

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 06:30:40 -0400

Baggage?

p79 Year-End Celebration 2013 (Tuesday, June 4th) photo set...

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:20:54 -0400

p79 Year-End Celebration 2013 (Tuesday, June 4th) photo set 1

END OF YEAR CELEBRATION Tuesday 6:30 p.m. (Silent Auction starts...

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 22:23:34 -0400

END OF YEAR CELEBRATION Tuesday 6:30 p.m. (Silent Auction starts at 6) in Cafeteria B … 9th graders bring dessert for 10; 10th and 12th graders bring entree for 10; 11th graders bring salad for 10

Midsummer night’s dream theme has been suggested, but who knows where that’s going

Thanks to everyone who made Project Family Reunion the feel-good...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:40:29 -0400

Thanks to everyone who made Project Family Reunion the feel-good hit of the summer! Special appreciation goes to Parent Coordinator Donna Vallario, who made sure the dream of the event was realized.

It was great to see everyone who could make it. Alumni are the great untapped resource of p79. Sure, we’ll take your donations, but we’re really interested in the life experiences you can share with current students. Keep in touch!

Founding Coordinator Alan Lantis

Tue, 28 May 2013 23:39:52 -0400

Founding Coordinator Alan Lantis:

Mr Lantis, who directed p79 from the beginning until 2008, gives an overview of the purpose of the program

Directed by junior Jacquil J.

Fletch’s NYC trip was again this year a highlight of the...

Mon, 27 May 2013 06:30:15 -0400

Fletch’s NYC trip was again this year a highlight of the p79 freshman experience. Following an itinerary that they designed based on what Holden Caulfield describes in The Catcher in the Rye, our 9th graders spent last Thursday in Manhattan re-enacting a literary odyssey—with support from Señora Schultz and, occasionally, Elmo

Cookie Monster writes some things, sometimes apparently on the...

Sun, 26 May 2013 06:30:39 -0400

Cookie Monster writes some things, sometimes apparently on the chalkboard in 166 …

p79 2009 alum Alexander Leone stopped by last week with...

Sat, 25 May 2013 06:30:18 -0400

p79 2009 alum Alexander Leone stopped by last week with news that he was just accepted to law school—at Harvard. (Heard of it!) When he said he couldn’t have done it without Project, we thanked him for continuing to do us proud. He’s just one of the alumni excited to attend Project Family Reunion at the Crossroads on 6/2 from 1-5 p.m. $10 at the door

Motivational speaker Mike Smith was so interested in p79...

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:59:55 -0400

Motivational speaker Mike Smith was so interested in p79 following his 10-minute visit to Muir’s geometry class that I was invited to explain more about the program—something I am always proud to do! Smith spoke to student audiences last Monday about how he came to realize he was powerful enough to change the world. Find out more about his organization at www.skateforchange.org

SEVEN DEADLY ZINES is the name of p79’s new publication,...

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:30:26 -0400

SEVEN DEADLY ZINES is the name of p79’s new publication, released the same magical evening as the EYES WIDE OPEN documentary. Brad, Sam, Ellie and Izzy worked many hours of overtime to meet each deadline. These shots present different stages of the process, beginning with the group’s thoughtful acknowledgement of Ms Singhbaba’s support with a bouquet of flowers. Shot 2 shows early research poring over different styles of zines; in shot 3 the project manager reviews the master, pasted up during a marathon group session over a weekend; shot 4 shows custom invites (lettered by many p79 members) and two copies of the zine; finally, the proud fathers with their newborn.

53 p79 members visited the American Museum of Natural History in...

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:30:36 -0400

53 p79 members visited the American Museum of Natural History in NYC on Tuesday, May 14th. Students enjoyed the classic exhibits as well as the few things that have changed in the past half-century. Thanks again to Shayfer James (whose birthday it was) and Ms Janet Lee for chaperoning!

Eyes Wide Open (May 2013)

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:30:26 -0400

Eyes Wide Open (May 2013):

EYES WIDE OPEN documents the series of four public art pieces installed in Westfield (NJ) High School hallways from late winter to spring 2013. A joint effor…

Many hands shaped the months-long public art conversation...

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:30:36 -0400

Many hands shaped the months-long public art conversation between American Studies, p79, and the larger WHS community documented in EYES WIDE OPEN. It was quite a trip between the raw portrait of Ms Jarvis, for example, in shot 2 and the projection of her eyes on the chalked “screen” outside 166 on the night of the world premiere.

Muir attempts to snare Tafelski in the Monty Hall problem, a...

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:30:20 -0400

Muir attempts to snare Tafelski in the Monty Hall problem, a probability puzzle involving three doors, two goats, a car, and the host, whose role often goes under-noticed …