JC Caribbean American Carnival goes virtual at 25
President, CEO Cheryl Murphy, Jersey City West Indian-Caribbean American Carnival Association Inc. and Assembly
Woman Britnee Timberlake, far right, strike a pose with offi cials, before taking to a Jersey City street, in a
past carnival celebration. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Queens day care praised for its education
Caribbean Life, July 17-23, 2020 19
By Nelson A. King
A Laurelton, Queens parent of Caribbean
roots is heaping high praise on a
Guyanese-owned family day care provider
in Laurelton for soundly preparing
her son in becoming the Salutatorian
for the 2020 graduating class at PS 38
in Queens.
Yolanda Smith, whose grandparents
hailed from Trinidad and Tobago, told
Caribbean Life that her son, Quinn
Smith, 11, would not have accomplished
the feat if Nicky’s Little Sprouts
D.C., Inc. (NLS), owned and directed by
Shaundell Agrippa, a 2018 Caribbean
Life Impact Awardee, did not lay the
groundwork.
“They say that a structure is only is
as good as its foundation,” Ms. Smith
said. “I can attest to that statement as
being a true one. When we, as parents,
go to work every day, we entrust that
our children are cared for and pray
that what we are teaching at home is
not untaught when we send them off
to school.
“I’m thankful that God allowed my
family the privilege of NLS as an educational
and moral foundation,” she
added. “They, most definitely, helped
to lay the groundwork for both Quinn
and his sister (Malaysia), who is also at
the top of her class and excelling in her
academics.
“Their serious approach to early
education is unmatched,” Ms. Smith
continued. “Both Quinn and his sister
left pre-school with a kindergarten
education. I had mixed feeling when
they both went on to kindergarten
and were no longer challenged, as they
breezed through the curriculum that
was already familiar to them.
“Thank you NLS for that footing,”
she said. “It’s played an essential part
in their upbringing and education, and
still does, as their current after-school
provider.”
Ms. Smith said that Quinn, whose
father is Guyanese, began his early education
at 3 at NLS in fall 2012, graduating
from NLS’s pre-school in the summer,
2014.
He then attended Flushing Christian
Academy for his kindergarten year.
Due to his family’s relocation, Quinn
then enrolled at PS 156 elementary
school, in Laurelton, for first grade.
Ms. Smith said Quinn “scored exceptionally
well on the gifted and talented
test, and earned a spot at the district
program but was unable to attend due
to the location.
“During this time, I felt that PS
156 was not challenging enough, and
I decided to enroll him into PS 38 at
the recommendation of Ms. Agrippa,”
said Ms. Smith about the NLS director,
who was also a 2019 United Federation
of Teachers (UFT) Juanita Diggs Educator
of Excellence Awardee and holder of
a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from
Brooklyn College.
Ms. Smith said Quinn excelled at
PS 38, finishing his elementary years
there.
During his 2nd grade year at PS 38,
she said Quinn’s academic excellence
allowed him to partake in a bridge class
in which part of his school day was
devoted to working in a class above his
actual grade level.
“Throughout his years, every single
one of Quinn’s teachers expressed their
sentiments of Quinn’s diligence and of
him being a model student,” Ms. Smith
said.
She said Quinn also became a member
of the PS 38 debate team during his
senior year, “where he learned to discuss
and argue controversial topics.”
Ms. Smith said Quinn’s history
projects were chosen to represent PS 38
at the District 29 History Fair for three
successive years, along with his sister’s.
In being chosen Salutatorian for the
2020 graduating class, Quinn “took
home collaboration, citizenship and
academic achievement awards,” Ms.
Smith said.
By Tangerine Clarke
The Jersey City West Indian-Caribbean
American Carnival Association
Inc. ((JCWICACAI), will commemorate
25 years with a virtual Carnival Mas and
Mask celebration on July 25.
The massive event will go live from
2 pm for a four-hour observance via
Zoom, Instagram and Facebook live,
after an Eventbrite registration.
Founder, President and CEO of
JCWICACAI, Cheryl CD Murphy said,
“we had anticipated celebrating with
you in person this July, our carnival’s
milestone of 25 years, but due to the
COVID-19 pandemic the Jersey City
Carnival will be going virtual.”
“Yuh ready, are you ready for the
2020 celebration — Mas & Mask Virtual
Family Carnival Celebration! Get your
crew, family and friends, bring your
flag, rag and register today to join the
lime. Let’s celebrate culture virtually,”
said Murphy, adding that everyone was
welcome to join the festivities online.
“We invite the world community at
large to participate on Saturday, July
25, 2020 by submitting virtual journal
ads, and virtual marketplace spaces. JC
Carnival is calling DJ’s, carnival masqueraders,
mas folklore, cultural bands,
dancers, artists, steel pan, designers,
model, community organizations to
submit short videos to play during our
live virtual carnival experience.”
“Register today, bring your flag, rag
and celebrate Caribbean American culture.
Admission is free and donations
are welcome,” said Murphy.
In celebration of the association’s
momentous milestone, Murphy honored
the 2020 JC Carnival Pillars, Rising
Pillars and founding members, noting
that because of the pandemic, there
will be no grand marshall to unite and
walk until 2021.
As such, she shared a list of the honorees
including the late Carlos Lezama,
Dr. Roy Hastick, Dorothy Allen-Bellinger,
Derek “Music Man” Parson, Mal
Petioni Woolfolk, JCTVI, Richard Gore,
George Mercado, Daily News Caribbean
Beat, Sandra Bell, Glenda Codogan,
Sandra Bell, and others.
Headed by Cheryl Murphy, JC founding
committee members are: Former
Mayor Bret Schundler, Rosalyn Waters
Maxwell, James H. Wolfe, lll, Esq.
Wayne Anderson, late Dr. Theodore
Brunson, Kendrell Bates, Claire Philip,
Emily Smalls, Aura Highsmith, Theodore
“Ted” Cruz, Christopher Murphy, lll,
and Winston Patrick.
To learn more, call: Tel: 201-332-5538
Text: 201-757-9043, Email: jcwicarnival@
gmail.com, dbgems2004@gmail.
com, Website: www.jccarnival.com;
Instagram &Twitter: @jccarnival
Facebook: Jersey City West Indian
and Caribbean American Carnival.
Quinn Smith, 11, in salutatorian 2020
graduating attire. Shaundell Agrippa /
Nicky’s Little Sprouts D.C., Inc. (NLS)
/gmail.com
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