Newark Academy’s Revolution Week is well underway. With nearly thirty events occurring over the course of the week, the jam-packed, exciting schedule makes it easy to overlook some of the incredible activities and discussions going on throughout our school. To help the community keep up, we at The Minuteman are here to provide an update on everything that has occurred so far, as well as a preview of the days to come.

Last Friday, the official Opening Day, formally kicked off Revolution Week with a Bubble Soccer tournament. Over 110 students from grades 6-12, divided into over 20 teams, played in the tournament and raised over $1,100. Aman Patil ‘17, who helped coordinate the event, explained that: “All the funds for the event are going to the organization Right To Play that works with children internationally to empower them and to help them face the problems ongoing in their society.” Right to Play’s initiative in Lebanon, which works with Syrian refugee children, primarily inspired this event.

Monday was Social Justice Day, encompassing a range of important topics that various groups brought to light. The Asian Diversity Club organized an interactive display titled “Origami Race Cards: Exploring Asian-American Identity,” in which students of Asian descent were invited to write about their experiences and contribute to a display outside the Kaltenbacher Hall. After school, the club followed up by folding the squares into origami and discussing their messages. Asian Diversity club president Elizabeth Merrigan ‘16 reflected on this literal and metaphorical “reshaping,” commenting, “We

talked while we folded hurtful experiences into art, and shared experiences, and often people would be nodding empathetically. It definitely would’ve been nice to have more non-Asians come to hear what we had to say, but seeing the exhibit as it is now, I’m very appreciative of what took place.”

Additionally, Newark Anatomy screened Living in Emergency, a documentary about Doctors Without Borders.

The events on Tuesday were united under the theme of Health. “Do Something” club focused on epilepsy awareness; to represent the 1 in 26 people that have epilepsy worldwide, a proportionate amount of Newark Academy students donned purple armbands and carried fact sheets about the disease. Furthermore, Ms. Rezvani gave a demonstration of what to do when someone is seizing. Jocelyn Tolpin ‘17, one of the leaders of “Do Something” club, was pleased with the turnout of the demonstration and hopes that the message got across.

This year, Revolution Week coincides with National Eating Disorder Awareness (NEDA) week. Organizers of NEDA week at Newark Academy held a crucial conversation about eradicating the stigma of eating disorders, which attendee Hannah Henick ‘16 called “thought-provoking and definitely necessary,” although she noted that almost every student at the discussion was a senior, exposing the need to engage underclassmen and middle schoolers with this important topic.    

After school, the Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds club hosted a yoga session with Ms. Mahoney, allowing students and faculty to celebrate body positivity and step back from the everyday stress of school life.

A few displays, collections, and other events will continue throughout the week. Be sure to take a look at the exhibits described and the items requested:

• POWER’s installation on Women’s Health (Kaltenbacher)
• Human Rights Club’s installation on the Syrian Refugee Crisis (Kaltenbacher)
• Animal Welfare Club’s installation on Pet Homelessness & Shelters (Kaltenbacher)
• NEDA Week body-positive mirror messages and “Proud to Be Me” display (Kaltenbacher)
• Umojaa’s “It’s the Little Things: Intent v. Impact in the NA Community” display (Kaltenbacher)
• POWER’s Toiletries and Tampon Drive
• Cancer Awareness Club’s New Toy Drive
• Kickball for Cancer Research Tournament

Here is an overview of today’s activities, which again center on the theme of Social Justice. The daily schedule can also be found in the front foyer and along the lines in the dining hall.

• Black History Month interpretive dance presentation in Morning Meeting, organized by Umojaa
• Revolution Week Installation Reception, an opportunity to discuss the displays outside the Kaltenbacher, during fourth and fifth periods
• NA Discussions: Facebook to Face-to-Face, a conversation that will bring the recent social media conversations to an in-person setting. Hosted by Think Tank, Umojaa, and the Equity and Inclusion Team after school in the Kaltenbacher Hall
• POWER’s women’s health letter-writing campaign