Community Connections PIN Program

Newmark’s Community Connections PIN program provides individual recognition for achievement by Newmark students who demonstrate personal and social growth by participating in a personally meaningful community-based experience. Community-based experiences can include the following categories: Community Service, Sports, Volunteering, Music/Performing Arts, Clubs (including Scouting), and miscellaneous experiences approved by the Newmark PIN Committee.

Students earn individual PINs that represent their achievement. Students who earn PINs receive a lanyard on which to keep their PINs and to wear to display their achievements The criteria for earning a PIN is as follows: o Completion of Activity (i.e. sports season, performance following music lessons) o Minimum of 85% participation time completed in activity (i.e. attending 85% of meetings, practices, games) o Hours of time spent in each activity (ex: volunteering) denotes level of PIN earned. (5 hours = bronze; 10 hours = silver; 15 + hours = gold) o Nomination of a singular activity worthy of achievement must be made by parent, teacher, or member of the PIN Committee. o The community leader or coach of the event will be asked (by the student) to complete a Community Connection Form to verify the student’s achievement (see back; also available at www.newmarkeducation.com)

Newmark High School students are encouraged to focus on earning PINs for service experiences that benefit others rather than focusing on personal achievements. Some examples of recent accomplishments of NHS students include: volunteering at a local temple to prepare food for a halfway house, participating in a beach clean-up through Clean Ocean Action and volunteering to help young children learn to swim at the YMCA.

Students will be recognized for their achievement during an annual spring PIN Breakfast Reception for the students receiving PINs, their families, the person in the community who is involved with the student (coach, scout leader, etc.), the PIN Committee, the Principal and the Director(s).

Cathleen M. George, LCSW Supervisor of Counseling Services, Newmark Education Telephone: 908-753-0330 E-Mail: cgeorge@newmarkeducation.com 1000 Cellar Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 www.newmarkeducation.com