School Assignment Inspires Newark Students To Perform ‘Powerful Act Of Compassion’

NEWARK, NJ — A classroom reading assignment at a Newark middle school has sparked a “powerful act of compassion and community service,” district officials say.

Eighth-grade students at Wilson Avenue School recently raised a total of $2,000 to support teenage parents attending Barringer and Weequahic high schools. Each school will receive $1,000 to help stock its onsite “student support closet” with critical items such as disposable diapers and infant care products for young mothers and fathers.

Wilson Avenue School students raised the money by running a lemonade stand that also sold baked goods. It was a project that found inspiration in “Make Lemonade” by Virginia Euwer Wolff – which was assigned reading from their English teacher, Pamela Cassell.

The coming-of-age novel explores teenage pregnancy, poverty, empathy and resilience. LaVaughn, the main character, is a 14-year-old girl who dreams of going to college. She takes a job babysitting for a 17-year-old single mother of two children named Jolly. Together, they improve their lives despite their difficult circumstances.

Deeply moved by the story’s message, the students decided to take action and create a real-world response to some of the challenges depicted in the book.

The result? A fundraising project that each of the school’s 114 eighth-graders can be proud of, district administrators said.

School officials aren’t the only ones who feel that way. Earlier this month, the book’s author met with the entire grade via a live video conference, answering students’ questions about writing, symbolism and the deeper meaning behind her work.

Wolff emphasized that the characters’ identities are intentionally universal.

“Whatever ethnicity the reader needs them to be, that’s who they are,” she said.

Empathy sits at the heart of the novel, Wolff told students.

“As authors for young readers, we have to focus on empathy,” Wolff said. “Empathy is a really hard thing to learn. Kindness, especially when it’s difficult, is one of the most important lessons we can teach through story.”

Assistant Superintendent Sandra Marques praised the students’ scholarship and generosity.

“You didn’t just read this book – you extended your learning beyond the classroom and into the community,” Marques told the students.

“By connecting your studies to a service project, you took this experience to another level,” Marques added. “You should be incredibly proud of the impact you’ve made.”

The students also got a big thumbs-up from Newark School Superintendent Roger León and Board of Education president Hasani Council.

“This is what real-world learning looks like – when students use their voices, their hearts, and their education to uplift others,” León said.

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