Newburgh, My Home

Community Spotlight

Grades 3/4, 5, & 6 Exploration of Our Hometown

An HOH Library & NFL Collaborative Project

(2021 - 2022)

Bonus: Take a walk down Memory Lane and see the inaugural project & scholars (2012 - 2013)!

Update!

Horizons-on-the-Hudson Receives Recognition

in the 2022 New York State Archives Student Research Awards Competition!

Go to eBooks tab for the full story.

Community Spotlight Project

A Project Endures:

This variation of the project, Newburgh, My Home Community Spotlight (NMHCS) was initiated by Lisa Kochik, Head of Youth Services, Newburgh Free Library, Newburgh, NY. The project is based on the idea that some non-Newburgh residents may not see this historic, dynamic, resilient city and town in the same way as those who live here. Newburgh is home and solace. It is family and friendship. It is diverse in opinions, beliefs, traditions and identities. The project seeks to celebrate and illuminate the beauty and resources of all of Newburgh, through stories we know and others we may not have heard.

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District (NECSD) was up to the challenge! Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School (HOH), Mrs. Wright Jumpp, School Librarian/Collaboration Coordinator, 3rd/4th, 5th grade scholars and educators, joined by South Middle School 6th grade scholars and educators, with the support of community partners, took the baton from Ms. Kochik, and delved whole-heartedly into this project. This project elevates the voice of our precious children, promoting equity, access, inclusion and belonging.

Interesting Fact: The project was first pursued during the 2012-13 school year as a collaboration between Mrs. Wright Jumpp, HOH Library and Ms. Kochik, NFL. Each year it gets better! We anticipate that it will continue to grow.

Special Invitation

Our scholars are eager to continue discovering and sharing more about Newburgh's amazing history!

Please contact Mrs. Wright Jumpp at mwrightjumpp@necsd.net if:

you or anyone you know, can share oral history about any person or place in Newburgh, and/or has historical documents (pictures, letters, diaries, postcards, newspaper articles, maps, etc.)
your organization would like for us to explore your history and you can provide us with historical stories and documents, as listed above.

Please Note: Stories and documents must be 50 years or older.

Student Tasks:

1. Select a Place:

a. Brainstorm a list of places you love, are curious about and/or with which you have connections.

b. Preview Google Slide with interesting places sought independently, provided by educators, the Newburgh Community Photo Project (NCPP) and The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands.

c. Select a place to feature.

2. Create a Collage: Create a detailed collage of your featured place either as it is currently, or back-in-the-day.

3. Conduct Research: Use primary and secondary sources, including historical records from Newburgh Community Photo Project (NCPP), the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, the Hudson River Maritime Museum, the New York State Bridge Authority, and other authoritative sources. Conduct virtual and in-person interviews.

4. Create a Presentation: Collages should be accompanied by the following:

4th Grade: Write an "I love this place in Newburgh, NY" blurb about place of choice.

5th Grade: Write a historical poem with facts and opinions about place of choice.

and

Some 3rd/4th and 5th Graders presented in an eBook using Book Creator as follows:

One student in Mrs. Yonnone's/Ms. Sickler's 3rd/4th grade Special Education Class.

Five students in Mrs. Dolfinger's/Ms. Shirley's 4th/5th grade Special Education Class.

Three eBooks created by these students were submitted to the New York State Archives 32nd Annual Student Research Awards Contest (2022).

Click on the images below to see the students' incredible work...

A Community Partnership

Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School (HOH)

HOH 3/4th & 5th Grade Scholars

HOH Educators:

Michell Wright Jumpp, Library Teacher, Collaboration Coordinator & Website Designer

Shaun Merritt-Scott, Instructional Technology Teacher & Website Creator
Sabrina Dolfinger, Special Education & National Board Certified Teacher
Marsetta Shirley, Teaching Assistant
Lisa Sickler, Teaching Assistant & Co-President of the HOH PTO
Lori Mulick, One-on-One Aide & Co-President of the HOH PTO

HOH Parent Liaison, Technical Support and past President of the HOH PTO:

Kate Clarke

South Middle School:

6th Grade Scholars (Enrichment Classes)
Kelly Garcia-Omana, 6th Grade Social Studies Teacher
John Clark, 6th Grade Social Studies Teacher

Newburgh Free Library

Lisa Kochik, Head of Youth Services & Project Initiator

Primary Historical Document Repositories and Support

Newburgh Community Photo Project (NCPP)

Vincent (Vince) Cianni, Founder & Director
Fellows

The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands

Mary McTamaney, City of Newburgh Historian
Jeff Doolittle, Archivist

Thank you to ALL of the partners listed above. With your invaluable support (help, patience, constructive criticism) this project came to life!

This project is proof that history does not need to be dormant, and research, especially at the elementary level, can be dynamic and relevant to the lives of our scholars!

~M. Wright Jumpp

Coral C's drawing of Crawford House (built 1830),

home of The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands