If you are a parent interested in learning ways to support your child’s success at school, we invite you to attend the 2008 Parent Conference, sponsored by the Christina School District Title I Program, in collaboration with the Delaware PTA and Delaware Parental Information and Resource center. 

The one-day free conference will be held on Saturday, October 25th from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel, 700 North King Street in Wilmington. The day will feature guest speakers, workshops, and door prizes. Free parking, free childcare, and lunch are provided.

The keynote speaker for the event is Dr. Karen L. Mapp, a nationally-recognized expert in the areas of educational leadership and educational partnerships among schools, families and community members. She is currently on the faculty of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, and has also worked in the field of family and community engagement for the Boston Public Schools. In 1997, she was awarded a Spencer Fellowship for her research on how and why families are involved in their children's education. She is the author of "Making the Connection Between Family and Schools" published in the Harvard Education Letter.

Come join parents from across the state in learning new ways to get involved in your child’s education, enrich your family life, and help your children succeed now and in the future.

For more information and to register, please call 552-2642.
 

The Child Nutrition Services of the Christina School District (CNS) showed its culinary prowess and competed with upscale Wilmington restaurants at “The Farmer and the Chef” competition this year on September 18, 2008 at the Riverfront Chase Center.  Serving dishes like Pulled Pork over a Jicama Salad and Chef Paul Schuele’s own Bouillabaisse, a seafood dish with a zesty tomato broth, Chef Marc-Anthony Williams and his team proved to attendees at the Chase Center that the children of the Christina School District are served food as sophisticated as they could find in some of the area’s toniest eateries. Chef Fran, who serves all city schools, served Caribbean jerked chicken with golden mashed cauliflower, which was well-received by the crowd of over 500.  Attendees included US Senator Tom Carper, Lieutenant Governor John Carney and New Castle County Superintendent Chris Coons. 

“The Farmer and the Chef” is an outgrowth of New Castle County Superintendent Chris Coons’ “Buy from Your Neighbor” program that encourages partnerships between local agricultural businesses and restaurants.  CNS has adopted this philosophy with its own “Farm Fresh Project” that encourages local farmers to supply CNS with produce that they can use in the schools’ kitchens.  So far, results have been mixed, with few farms participating in the program.  Chef Williams vows to keep trying.  “We’ll reach out to local farmers and remind them of the volume business that we can generate.  We serve more than 15,000 meals per day. Someone with vision will step forward eventually.”  CNS enjoyed a relationship with Shangri-Llama Farms, but its recent sale has ended their working relationship. 

No funds from the Christina School District were used for CNS’ participation in “The Farmer and the Chef” and much of the food was donated by PK Foods of Wilmington, DE.

Click here to learn more about The Farmer and The Chef.

A special event, "Preparing for High School", will be held at Shue-Medill Middle School, 1500 Capitol Trail, Newark on Tuesday, October 7th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.  This program is being sponsored by PTA and will provide the opportunity to hear from administrators, staff and parents from Glasgow HS and Newark HS, as well as administrators from Delcastle Vo-Tech, Hodgson Vo-Tech and Howard Vo-Tech.  Topics covered will include curriculum, discipline, athletics, fine arts programs, and wellness & transition concerns (new stresses/pressures).  All Christina School District middle school families are welcome to attend!  We hope to see you there!

Leasure Elementary Student Receives
Recognition from Cecil County
Department of Emergency Services

Traevon Brown, a 4th grade student at Leasure Elementary School, was awarded a citation on October 3 at Leasure’s monthly awards assembly. The citation was presented by Cecil County, Maryland Police Captain Holly Trego, in recognition of Traevon’s handling of an emergency situation this summer.  When Traevon recognized that his mother was in medical distress, he called 911 to get help for her.  “He is a caring young man who obviously thinks well under pressure,” said Leasure principal Linda Ochenrider.  His mother, Shannon Brown, and Captain Trego of the Department of Emergency Services, were present to congratulate Traevon.

Hurry!  There is still space in some of this fall's Continuing Education classes!  Several October classes also need a few more participants to run.  They are...Introduction to Excel, Beginner Spanish, Defensive & Advanced Defensive Driving, Credit Consumerism, and Finances.  If you are interested in signing up for these or any of the Continuing Education classes, click here to access the online Catalog.  You may also contact the Continuing Education office at 302-454-2101.

A project begun by students at Douglass School last year to raise money to support a water well in an African village is featured on the Africare organization’s website.  The website highlights efforts made by young people to raise money for those in need.  Photos of the project can be viewed at the following website link: www.africare.org/supportus/thankyou/kids/2008HighlightStories.php.  Every month, Africare will feature the fundraising efforts of children and youth around the world who are making a difference in the lives of families in Africa.  Africare programs help struggling people in Africa in the following areas:  health and HIV/AIDS, food security and agriculture, water resource development, environmental management, literacy and vocational training, microenterprise development, civil society development, governance and emergency response.

Congratulations to the students and staff at Douglass School for their fundraising efforts, and for being highlighted on a website that will be viewed by people throughout the world.