News
$1.8 Million in Scholarships Awarded to Seniors
By Eric Vasquez
The first round of college and scholarship applications closed in December 2024, with a whopping total of $1.8 million in scholarship money awarded to the class of 2025.
“This money was just scholarship funds, separate from FAFSA (federal financial aid),” Judith Redlener, head of the College and Career Readiness Center, said.
The end of 2024 was a busy time for Earl Monroe’s seniors as college and scholarship application deadlines became a reality. College advisors Judith Redlener, Joe Frederick, and Dino Murphy tackled dozens of dizzying technical financial aid forms, held admissions essay writing and editing seminars, and worked with students to meet scholarship requirements for an almost 100-student senior class.
“99.9% of the senior class applied to a college program,” Redlener said. “One student so far has fully committed to a technical program to study diesel mechanics. Everyone else is waiting to hear back from the colleges they applied to.”
The spring semester is on its way, and there are still so many opportunities for seniors to win scholarship money. Visit the college and career office located on the third floor, or reach out to jredlener@earlmonroeschool.org for more information.
Wear Your Voice Fashion Show January 17th
By Infinity Cortijo
Earl Monroe student and teacher fashion icons are strutting the catwalk this Friday, January 17th, 2025. Categories include London, New York, and Tokyo streetwear, Black is Beautiful evening wear, and a multicultural finale. On top of stylish outfits, the show will include spoken word poetry, singing and dancing from the school’s choir and dance team.
Stacey Seabrook, the school’s fashion club founder, has been planning this event for months now. "The name of the show, penned by student Janiah Jackson, 10th grader, is Wear your Voice," Seabrook said. "This is an opportunity for students to proudly wear how they feel about the world at large and their place in it. We want them to know that we hear them!"
Christian Hardy, one of the show’s spoken word poets, is speaking his voice. “I wrote this poem because I’ve seen so many of my people lose their life or lose opportunity, and I am tired of it. I want to be the example that people can look to follow, and I want to see my people escape the stereotype. I want people to know that some situations are rough when it doesn’t go your way, but that's okay, as long as you don't let your environment dictate who you are,” Hardy said.
Students are encouraged to dress their best, even if they are just watching. See streetwear and evening wear sparkle before your eyes. Hear beats that get you moving. See lights blinding your eyes from pictures and flashes all around. Teachers and students who may not show off their style will have space to show their stuff, thanks to Stacey Seabrook, Goddess of fashion. Speak your voice, speak your walk.
Knights Volleyball Kicks off Second Season
By Edem Messanh
Earl Monroe continues to add to its roster of extracurricular activities with a new volleyball team, led by teachers Mariam Ouattara and Natalie Gomez.
The Knights took to the court this fall semester and are set to prove to the school (and themselves) that the team is here to change what it means to be a student-athlete. Pictured above is their matchup against Democracy Prep, in which the Knights won both sets for a sweep.
Their motto, "all gas no brakes" is their rally cry to be intelligent competitors and leaders of the school, bringing the heat on the court and in the classroom.
The Art of Democracy With DoSomething
By Eric Vasquez
New York's hub for youth-centered activism, voting education, and community involvement DoSomething.org collaborated with EMNRBS students to improve their community. Speakers, which included activists working with elected officials, youth poet laureates, and experts in voting rights/ current issues educated students on the power they have to change and improve their community.
Four-Year Student Remains Undefeated
By Eric Vasquez
Cliff Cooper, a student of EMNRBS since the school's opening, competed in his third kickboxing match on Saturday, October 24, 2024 for the Extreme Cage Fighting Corporation.
Cooper won the match in a unanimous decision. "This match I felt way more calm than usual. This was the first time I won every round and felt like I belonged there," Cooper said.
Cooper stuck to using his long reach and waited until his opponent was tired before delivering heavy kicks and a quick 1-2 for a knockdown. "I want to say thank you to all the administrators, teachers, and fellow students who told me they would watch the fight. Even if they didn't come they watched it on Pay Per View, and it motivated me to do my best."
Cliff Cooper after his October 19th, 2024 matchup against Anthony Tufte
The Dwyer Makes It's Debut!
There has been a lot said recently about the lack of high school newspapers around the city. "As of 2022, 73% of New York City high schools didn’t have a newspaper" according to Chalkbeat. EMNR is working against this trend and helping to expose print and digital journalism to students in The Bronx.
Literacy Enrichment
By the end of the 2021-2022 school year, we reduced the number of “at risk” students in reading to 47% - a remarkable 33% improvement. We also increased the percent of students reading at or above grade level by 13%.
Supporting Children in Ukraine
“When Simeon Wilcher and his NY Rens teammates take to the court over Memorial Day weekend at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League stop in Louisville, they will be looking to not only win games but to raise awareness about an issue they are deeply concerned with: Ukrainian children victimized by Russia’s invasion.”
Bloomberg Summer Boost
This year the school was awarded over $100,000 in grants by Bloomberg Philanthropies to conduct a Summer Boost program for its incoming 9th graders and some of its rising 10th graders. The program is meant to help the kids with lower reading and math scores bridge the gap during the summer, and also has an enrichment section filled with activities including basketball, sport training, drills, and arts and crafts.