Newark Academy kicked off its historic 250th anniversary year with a celebration at The Newark Museum of Art on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
Livingston Township Councilman Edward Meinhardt and Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon, an alum of NA’s Class of 2002, were in attendance to celebrate the historic milestone.
Newark Academy returned to its origin city of Newark — which was the Academy’s home for 190 years — in honor of its connection to the Brick City. This work includes the recent installation of a new plaque commemorating the school’s founding, which was installed at the site of its first location in the now Harriet Tubman Square, a stone’s throw from The Newark Museum of Art.
Livingston Township Mayor Michael Vieira congratulated Newark Academy on the school’s anniversary. “On behalf of the entire township of Livingston we want to offer our sincere congratulations to Newark Academy on their 250th anniversary celebration. Livingston is honored to be the home town of such an extraordinary school and campus,” he said.
United States Senator Cory Booker also congratulated Newark Academy in a letter to the school. “Since 1774, Newark Academy has stood as an unwavering pillar of support for its students. Over the years, Newark Academy has expanded, reached its goals, and exerted its efforts to ensure that all are able to learn in an inclusive environment where they are challenged and empowered to change the world around them,” Booker said.
Newark Academy has maintained strong ties to its origin city through several service-based initiatives and curricular activities. Most recently, NA’s Office of Community Service “adopted” and is currently furnishing two apartments in the transitional housing center at the Apostles’ House. It is also in the process of creating a student tutoring program at the Thirteenth Avenue School. At Newark Academy, Humanities Teachers Callie Bond and Jim Coe developed Newark-specific lessons in their American Experience classes which include a field trip to the New Jersey Historical Society for artifact analysis and The Newark Museum of Art for workshops examining African-American history and contemporary art and history around Newark.