On October 28, 2023, the Jersey City Public Schools will celebrate the150 year anniversary as a unified school district under one board of education. Each school has its own history and is connected to the story of Jersey City. Help us discover some of the historical treasures around our city schools by participating in this interactive scavenger hunt.
Over the next few weeks, we will be posting fun facts about our schools on District Social Media, asking you to seek them out, and snap a selfie at each location to earn a point. The Jersey City public school student with the most points will be awarded a prize from the Sneaker Room. Remember to use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary with your selfie. Happy scavenger hunt!
Look for new clues on Tuesday and Thursday the weeks of October 2nd and 16th. Look for new clues on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the weeks of October 16th and 23rd. Post your selfie each day between the hours of 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Points will be counted for responses to our posts up until 9:00 pm on October 26th, and a winner will be announced at our event on Saturday, October 28th at Dickinson High School. Happy scavenger hunt!This hunt is only open to the students and families of the Jersey City Public Schools.
Post# 1 - Our first location is Henry Snyder High School located at 239 Bergen Avenue, in the Greenville section of Jersey City, it was intended to bring higher education to the area. Henry Snyder came to Jersey City in 1887 to teach Latin and Greek at Jersey City High School (Dickinson High School) and later became superintendent of schools. The land for Snyder High School was purchased in 1921 for $57,550 and opened in 1924, however construction began in 1923.
Reply to this post with a selfie of yourself at the cornerstone on the southeast corner of the building and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your first point.
Please contact Executive Assistant Ms. Ann Beirne and Snyder HS if you have any questions.
Post# 2 - Our second location is James J. Ferris High School, in downtown Jersey City, to visit the Clarence Fitch Walkway. Clarence Fitch graduated from Ferris High School in 1967 before joining the Marines and fighting in the Vietnam War. Fitch was awarded a purple heart for his service overseas, and continued to serve his community when he returned home. Fitch became a civil rights activist, an anti war spokesman, a mentor to the city's youth, as well as a substance abuse counselor. In 2021 the walkway between James J. Ferris’ main building and the Ferris Junior Academy (formerly PS #9) was named in honor of Clarence Fitch to remember his service to Jersey City. #clarencefitch #FerrisHS
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of the Clarence Fitch’s Way and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of the Clarence Fitch’s Way and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
Post# 3 - Our third location for the #jcps150anniversary scavenger hunt is William L. Dickinson High School. This strategic location on the hilltop has had many uses over the centuries before it became home to the William L. Dickinson High School in 1906. Even after the school’s construction the school has played pivotal roles during national crisis’ such as World War I and World War II. However it is an earlier conflict that our next landmark commemorates, on the Southwest corner of Dickinson High School. During the War of 1812, soldiers from New Jersey fortified the hill to protect the Hudson River waterway from invasion by British ships. The plaque was placed on Dickinson High School in 1916 by the United States Daughters of 1812 to commemorate their service. #Warof1812 #DickinsonHS
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of the War of 1812 plaque and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of the War of 1812 plaque and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
Post# 4 - As we continue the #jcps150anniversary scavenger hunt, we take another trip to William L. Dickinson High School and the Albert Blozis Gymnasium. The new gym as some call it, was constructed over 90 years ago, but was named in memory of Al Blozis in 1967. Blozis was a student athlete at Dickinson High School from 1935 to 1939, he excelled at football, basketball, track and field, and swimming. Nicknamed “the human howitzer” Blozis set multiple national records in the shot put and went on to a career in the NFL with the New York Football Giants. Blozis put his career as a professional athlete on hold and enlisted in World War II and shipped off to Europe. Blozis died in January of 1945 in the waning months of the war after serving honorably in the Battle of the Bulge, his remains are interred in Saint Avold, France.
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of the #BlozisGym and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
Post# 5 - Our next stop on the #jcps150anniversary scavenger hunt is PS#6 the Jotham Wakeman Elementary School in the heights. Jotham Wakeman served as principal of PS #6 for a remarkable 57 years from 1863 - 1922, the current PS #6 began construction in 1919 and was renamed after Mr. Wakeman following his death. In a memorial service held in his honor in 1922, three generations of pupils came to pay their respects to Mr. Wakeman, including many city and school officials. Dr. James Hopkins, the principal of Dickinson High School said, “We are trying to sell Jersey City and it is a known fact that our education system is a recognized one… Then why should we go so far as to take the name of some old historic character to advertise Jersey City to the world. Why not take the name of someone who has been recently active and represents modern day developments.”
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of PS #6 the Jotham Wakeman Elementary School and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
Post# 6 - The next stop on the #jcps150anniversary scavenger hunt brings us to PS #11 the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in the Bergen Square neighborhood of Jersey City. Many know that PS #11 is the oldest continual school site in the United States dating back to the 1660’s when the area was a Dutch Colony. However, did you know that there have been 6 school buildings in this location over the course of those years? The current PS #11 school was opened in 1969, after a fire destroyed the previous building, and was named in honor of Dr. King. Attached to this post you will find some pictures of the school building from the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of PS #11 plaque and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of PS #11 plaque and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
Post# 7 - Our next stop on the #jcps150anniversary scavenger hunt is to visit the mural at the new PS #30 Alexander D. Sullivan School playground. #jcpsps30
What started as a 3rd grade science project in 2019 turned into a full scale reimaging of what a playground could be. In partnership with New City Parks, the Jersey City Public Schools broke ground on the playground in March 2021 and was completed by November. Over those months new playground equipment was installed, trees were planted, seating was added, and safety surfacing was laid down. However, one final piece was waiting to be added, the murals that you see in the photos attached, were completed by artist Louise Jones and Avery Nice in August 2022. The murals portray native plants and butterflies and seek to inspire student creativity and scientific thought.
Reply to this post with a selfie near the PS #30 murals and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
Post# 8 - Our next stop on the #jcps150anniversary scavenger hunt brings us to the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School. Named after the scientist and NASA astronaut Dr. Ronald McNair who was just the second African American to fly in space. Dr. McNair tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, but has lived on through numerous scholarships, academic programs, school buildings, streets, and other public places named in his honor.
In addition, McNair High School is steeped in Jersey City history both old and new. The McNair school building on Coles Street was the original James J. Ferris High School. The outside of this historic building was featured as the high school in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the Disney+ series and comics of the new Ms. Marvel.
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of McNair Academic High School and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.
In addition, McNair High School is steeped in Jersey City history both old and new. The McNair school building on Coles Street was the original James J. Ferris High School. The outside of this historic building was featured as the high school in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the Disney+ series and comics of the new Ms. Marvel.
Reply to this post with a selfie in front of McNair Academic High School and use the hashtag #jcps150anniversary to score your next point.