Pre-K Plan Squeeze in Dist. 10

By DAVID CRUZ  Several buzzwords abound to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s lofty plan in expanding the city’s universal pre-K program.  Terms such as“progressive”and “equity” appear on most news reports, suggesting de Blasio’s genuine belief the program can help raise a child’s future success. But another word still trails behind—“space.”

Musicians Homegrown at PS/MS 95

by David Cruz “It is really lovely to bring music into this school, and win over the hearts of the classes,” explains Julie Waters, a music teacher at PS/MS 95 Sheila Mencher, a K-8 school in Kingsbridge. She looks at music as a very natural activity, an art form paired with high standards, discipline and a sense of humor.  

Presenting Bronx Youth Heard Winter 2013-2014 Edition

The Norwood News, through generation donations, holds an after school program called Bronx Youth Heard, designed to train young people to become journalists.  These gumshoe reporters hail from high schools all over this borough, and they’ve crafted stories with young people in mind.  Yes, young people have a voice that is often overlooked.  This program, running for 12 weeks, teaches them about the power of journalism, how it can shape public opinion, identify key community issues happening in the area and empower them to do something about it.  Below is a list of all of our students who brought their voices


Read More

Northwest Bronx School Zoning Hearing Thursday Night

The Department of Education is holding a public hearing at Community Education Council District 10’s monthly meeting tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at PS 32, 690 E. 183rd St. The hearing will be to discuss proposed zoning changes for several schools in the northwest Bronx — specifically PS 20, PS 56, PS 8, PS 280, PS 46 and PS 54 — that will be affected by the opening of the new elementary school opening in a new building on Webster Avenue next year.

Free After-School Journalism Program in the Bronx (Applications Due Friday!)

Above is a link to an interview with me, Bronx Youth Heard Director and Norwood News Editor Alex Kratz, and Lehman High School student Adonis Jimenez for a Bronx 2.0 segment that aired on Bronxnet in February. Everything I talk about in that segment remains true. Bronx Youth Heard is a fantastic program for students interested in journalism or who love to write or who want to have impact on their communities and think (like we do) that journalism is a way to make that happen.

Clinton Football Looking to Stay Undefeated This Weekend (Slideshow from Port Richmond Game)

DeWitt Clinton’s football team likes to live on the edge. The Governors have won their first three games of the 2013 season by the narrowest of margins — 6, 2 and 4-point victories — and in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion. This weekend, they plays Brooklyn Tech in a Saturday noon homecoming showdown behind the Castle on Mosholu Parkway. The photos above were taken by local photographer Adi Talwar during Clinton’s dramatic come-from-behind, double-overtime win over Port Richmond two weeks ago. Enjoy.