Christina School District E-News

Charles R. Drew Educational Support Center
600 North Lombard Street
• Wilmington, DE 19801
PH 302-552-2600 • FX 302-429-4109 • info@christina.k12.de.us

View the Christina School District Homepage

December 10, 2008    

 
INSIDE THIS ISSUE...
Christina School District Taken Off Financial Recovery Team Status
Sarah Pyle Academy Interns Participate in Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
UD Donates School Supplies to Brookside Elementary
Douglass Students "MIX IT UP"
Shue-Medill Student Wins "Sign on to Literacy" Essay Contest
Hats Off to Downes Elementary!
Glasgow Students Help Needy Families
Students, Parents and PTA Celebrate Academic Excellence at Kirk
Marshall Elementary School Hosts Math Night
McVey 5th Graders Participate in GIS Day Event
West Park Place Kicks Off Reading Challenge
Leasure Elementary Candy Crusade
Are you an NHS Grad?  Join us for the 2nd Annual Happy Holiday Homecoming
New School Resource Officer at Bayard Middle School
Abraham Jones appointed to NEA IDEA/Special Education Resource Cadre
Two Christina Teachers are State Finalists for Presidential Teaching Awards
Surprise!  Brader Principal and Teacher of the Year Receive a Special Gift
2008 Classified Employees of the Year
Police Band Performs at Smith Elementary School
State PTA Reflection Winners Announced
Brader Principal Richelle Talbert Honored at Principal Recognition Day
Positive Behavior Support Programs Enhance Our Schools
Vision 2015 Highlights Three Christina Schools for "Promising Practices"
More Great Things Happening In Our Schools...
Calendar Reminders...
   

 
 

Christina School District Taken Off Financial Recovery Team Status


(Dover, De.)  Secretary of Education Valerie A. Woodruff has requested and received approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to remove the Christina School District from Financial Recovery Team (FRT) review.  Red Clay Consolidated School District was also taken off Financial Recovery Team status. Both districts were placed under financial review in accordance with 14 Del Code §1802 (c)(5).

In a letter to OMB, Secretary Woodruff wrote, “The Christina School District through the successful efforts of a new superintendent, Dr. Lillian Lowery, the Financial Recovery Team and a strengthened Christina administrative team has within a two and a half year period satisfied the requirements for release from the FRT review as determined by Title 14, Chapter 18.  Through the proper and efficient readjustment of resources, Christina School District has managed to regain financial solvency.” 

Following a request from Dr. Lowery in March 2006 to have the state examine the district’s finances, the Christina School District was placed on FRT review.

“I am pleased that through the vigilant work and management of our Business Office staff, our community-based Finance Review Committee, and our Board of Education, the Christina School District has proven to the taxpayers of our District that we are competent stewards of the Delaware tax dollars.  Our entire district came together to put children at the forefront of every decision.  Therefore, this news is a good news story for our students, faculty, staff, and community.  This demonstrates what school-community collaboration can accomplish,” said Lowery.

“I am pleased that both the Christina and Red Clay Consolidated School Districts have been removed from financial review,” said Secretary Woodruff.  “Their efforts are to be commended.”

 

 

Sarah Pyle Academy
Interns Participate in
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Wilmington Mayor James Baker welcomed a "new" restaurant to the Downtown District on November 19 by hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand re-opening for Lapp's Kitchen.  After 8 years in operation at the Riverfront Market, Lapp's Kitchen owner Chuck Parkhill moved his business to 901 North King Street - the site formerly occupied by Corner Market.  Interns from Sarah Pyle Academy participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new restaurant.

 

 

UD Donates School Supplies to Brookside Elementary


The University of Delaware's Agriculture/Animal Science Department donated more than $300 in school supplies to Brookside Elementary School.  UD's Karen Weiner (center) is shown with Brookside Principal Eric Stephens (left), Second Grade Teacher Jennifer Roche (right), and some of the lucky students at Brookside School.

 

 

Douglass Students "MIX IT UP"


On November 13 Douglass students and staff participated in a “MIX IT UP” Lunch.  The purpose of the activity was to encourage students to interact with others who are “different” from them.  The focus was to help students recognize the vast diversity within their own school and to develop a tolerance for all persons.  The students participated in classroom activities focusing on personal uniqueness prior to the lunch.

It was estimated in 2007 that four million students nationwide participated in the “MIX IT UP” Lunch Day.  This is the first time that Douglass students and staff have participated, but it is hoped that this will become an annual event for the school.

 

 

Shue-Medill Student Wins "Sign on to Literacy" Essay Contest


Shue-Medill Middle School 8th grader Cassandra Ingram has been chosen as the First Place winner in the 7-9 Grade category for the Newspaper In Education Program’s Sign on to Literacy essay contest.  The theme of the contest was "Understanding what I read is important because..."   As a winner, Cassie will receive a $100 savings bond.  Her photo and name, along with the name of her language arts teacher, Joan Gregory, were featured in a congratulatory ad in The News Journal on November 14.
 

 

Hats Off to Downes Elementary!

 


Hat Day at Downes Elementary School was held on November 21.  Students paid $1.00 to wear a hat of their choice for the day.  The school raised $150.00 for Children's Cancer Research.  Congratulations to the students who helped to make a difference for children in need.

 

 

Glasgow Students Help
Needy Families

Members of the Glasgow High School French Club/French National Honor Society, National Honor Society, and FFA recently collected 504 boxes of pasta for the Basket Brigade of Delaware. The students then visited a warehouse in Newark at White Clay Center to fill boxes for needy families throughout Delaware.  Students and teachers assembled many bags of potatoes and fresh fruit for families, and then later helped assemble boxes for all of the families (about 2000 this year). Congratulations to these generous Glasgow Dragons for making the holidays brighter for Delaware families.

 

 

Students, Parents/Guardians and PTA Celebrate
Academic Excellence at Kirk


On
November 19, more than 423 students at Kirk Middle School were acknowledged for outstanding academic achievement during the school’s first marking period Honor Roll Assembly.  The assembly was hosted, for the first time, by PTA president Denise Jackson and the parents of PTA.   

The honor roll assembly began with a stunning performance from new teacher, Mr. Tom Wesley, with the singing of the National Anthem Some of Kirk’s students from the cluster group Team Manners
First-Wise Guys  served as ushers and greeters.

More than 200 parents/guardians, family members, and friends attended this event.  Very special thanks to the Kirk PTA for hosting this wonderful recognition activity.  Following the assembly, parents/guardians and guests enjoyed a delicious hot breakfast prepared by the wonderful cafeteria workers at Kirk.

 

 

Marshall Elementary School Hosts Math Night

Marshall Elementary School held a Math Night for grades K-5 on November 20.  The event gave students and parents a chance to play many math games at different stations.  The stations were run by teachers and volunteers.

 

 

McVey 5th Graders Participate in GIS Day Event


Fifth grade students in at McVey Elementary had an opportunity to visit the Dover Air Force Base Museum on November 19, and learn first-hand how Geography Information Systems (GIS) work in real-world settings.  The McVey students joined students from schools in Kent and Sussex County for hands-on demonstrations, including a flight simulator using GPS, visits inside an Earth Balloon, Emergency Response Paramedics from Sussex County, and a movie featuring internationally-known chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall on how GIS is used to address the diminishing chimpanzee population in Africa.  The trip was organized by McVey teacher Charles Sanders.

Prior to the trip to Dover, McVey students trained in McVey’s computer lab using a two-lesson module entitled Recognizing Patterns: People and Places.  Sanders is a member of Delaware Geography Alliance (DGA), which first notified him about the opportunity for his students to participate in GIS Day.

 

 

West Park Place Kicks Off Reading Challenge

Students at West Park Place Elementary kicked off their reading challenge with the theme, "Sock it to me with a good book."  The event was a kick-off for the school's 500 book challenge for each student.

 

 

Leasure Elementary Candy Crusade


Did you ever wonder what to do with all that Trick or Treat candy that was just sitting around the house waiting to be eaten?   The 5th grade Enrichment students at May B. Leasure Elementary School decided to do something about it.

For two weeks, students brought in Halloween candy they weren’t going to eat or the candy their parents didn’t want them to eat.  The students decided to donate the candy collected to the Ronald McDonald House, State of Delaware’s Governor Bacon Nursing Home and to the troops serving overseas.  From the first day, candy started pouring in to the homerooms.  100 pounds…200 pounds…300 pounds and finally, 370 pounds of candy collected!  The school ran out of places to put all of it!  The large storage bins were overflowing.

A graph was placed in the main hallway showing the candy corn-shaped tallies from every room.  Ms. Glassco’s 3rd grade class was the top class with 44 pounds collected.  For their “over-the-top” effort, the class was awarded a pizza party.

 

 

Are you a Newark High School Grad?
Join us for the 2nd Annual Happy Holiday Homecoming


The NHS Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2nd Happy Holiday Homecoming.

  • Who:  Newark High School alumni, staff, faculty and friends
  • Where:  Newark Country Club
  • When:  Saturday, December 27 from 7:00-11:00 p.m.

The event includes hors d'oeuvres, carving station, pasta station, dessert and cash bar.  Tickets are $35 with all proceeds benefiting the NHS Alumni Scholarship Fund.  There will be a jukebox for dancing and plenty of opportunities for catching up with classmates and old friends. 

Reservations are now available at:
http://www.nhs-carpediem.com/3/events.htm

Call your friends and plan to meet at the Holiday Homecoming!
 


 

District and City of Wilmington Add a New Wilmington Police Officer Position to Serve as a School Resource Officer to Bayard Middle School


A Memorandum of Agreement is now in place between the City of Wilmington and the Christina School District that assigns a Wilmington Police Officer as a School Resource Officer for Bayard Middle School. 

In addition to meeting basic security needs in and around Bayard School, the School Resource Officer’s duties also include providing a safety education and anti-drug and alcohol program for the school community, acting as a communication liaison with other law enforcement agencies, and referring students and their families to appropriate agencies for assistance when a need is determined.

 

 

Abraham Jones appointed to
NEA IDEA/Special Education Resource Cadre


Congratulations to Abraham Jones, Keene Elementary School.  National Education Association (NEA) President Reg Weaver appointed Abraham to serve as NEA IDEA/Special Education Resource Cadre for a three-year term beginning August 1, 2008.  The Cadre is a group of 26 dedicated Association members, including special education coordinators, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, school nurses, paraeducators, general and special education teachers, and higher education faculty.  The NEA IDEA Cadre is committed to bringing technical assistance, presentations, and dissemination of accurate information on IDEA and other topics to NEA members across the country.

To learn more about the National Education Association, visit:  www.nea.org

 

 

Two Christina Teachers are State Finalists for
Presidential Teaching Awards


Congratulations to Karen Fredricks of Marshall Elementary School and JoAnne Deshon of Downes Elementary School for being chosen as Delaware finalists for the 2008 Presidential Award
of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.  Fredricks is a finalist in Mathematics and Deshon is a finalist in Science.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States.  Enacted by Congress in 1983, this program authorizes the President to bestow up to 108 awards each year.  The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.  Awards are given to mathematics and science teachers from each of the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions.  The teachers are recognized for their contributions to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in mathematics and science.

A national selection committee reviews the state finalists' applications and makes recommendations to the National Science Foundation.  These recommendations are forwarded to the White House. The President of the United States announces the recipients of the Presidential Awards.

In addition to honoring individual achievement, the goal of the award program is to exemplify the highest standards of mathematics and science teaching.  Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.

To learn more about the PAEMST, visit:  www.paemst.org.
 


 

Surprise!  Brader Principal and Teacher of the Year Receive a Special Gift

Brader Elementary School Principal Richelle Talbert, who was recently named Delaware Elementary School Principal of the Year, and Gretchen Wolfe, Brader Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year, received a surprise gift certificate for a hot air balloon ride contributed by parents, students, and staff. They were lured to the surprise presentation by events taking place at the school that evening, and the school community kept the secret from them for weeks. In addition to the gift certificates for a hot air balloon ride, Talbert and Wolfe received a plaque with pictures of Brader students.

 

 

2008 Classified Employees of the Year


Congratulations to the following Christina School District employees, who have been chosen as Employees of the Year for 2008 in the areas of Custodial/Maintenance, Child Nutrition Services, Transportation, Secretarial, and Paraprofessional.

These employees, and the 2008 Teachers of the Year and Nurse of the Year, were recognized at a special Employee Recognition event on November 19 at Gauger-Cobbs Middle School.  Please join us in congratulating these outstanding members of our staff:
 

  • Custodial/Maintenance Employee of the Year:  Joyce Corcoran
  • Child Nutrition Services Employee of the Year:  Michele Hopkinson
  • Transportation Employee of the Year:  James Seaton
  • Secretary of the Year:  Mary Fortuna
  • Paraprofessional Employee of the Year:  Karen Schuele

 

Police Band Performs at Smith Elementary School
 

Photograph:  The First State Force Band, also known as the D.A.R.E. Band, performs for Smith Elementary School on November 14, 2008The First State Force Band, also known as the D.A.R.E. Band, performs for schools throughout the state, and on November 14 they provided a special performance for the students of Jennie Smith Elementary School. The band is made up of State Troopers, County Police officers, and Correctional Officers throughout the State of Delaware. The D.A.R.E. program emphasizes self-esteem, makingPhotograph:  Smith Elementary School students enjoy rock concert good choices, positive behavior and staying drug free.  The band gave a rock concert style performance while communicating these important messages.  The concert took place in the Kirk Middle School Auditorium, and students enjoyed seeing the law enforcement officers perform in their uniforms and promoting such positive messages. Many thanks to the members of the First State Force Band for sharing this important information in such a fun way.
 

 

State PTA Reflections Winners Announced


Delaware State PTA is proud to announce the winners of National PTA Reflections Program Theme Search for the 2010-2011 school year.  Students were asked to interpret this year's theme "WOW" in art categories of dance, music, literature, photography, film and visual arts.  Winners will be honored at the Reflections receptions to be held at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts (DCAA) on April 1, 2009. 

Each state is permitted to send in only 5 entries and Christina School District is excited that this year three winning State entries are from Christina Schools.  All entries will be forwarded to the National PTA where their ideas will be judged against others from around the nation.  Congratulations to all students who participated in this year's event and our three Christina representatives:

Etta J. Wilson Elementary - Region III

  • Mackenzie Fox, Grade 5 - "I Giggle Because"
  • Max Newman, Grade 1 - "Many Colors, Many Kinds"

Joseph M. McVey Elementary  School - Region III

  • David Breyla, Grade 2 - "If I Was In The Jungle"

 

Brader Principal Richelle Talbert Among Those Honored at
Principal Recognition Day


From left:  Mitchell Weiss, Stephanie Smith, Governor Ruth Ann Minner,
Richelle Tablert, Sylvia Henderson, and Scott Reihm
 

Congratulations, once again, to Principal Richelle Talbert November 18, 2008, was designated by Governor Minner as a day to commend the significant contribution that Delaware School principals make in the education of our youth. Governor Minner urged all Delawareans to support the efforts of school principals in their communities. 

On October 28, 2008, The State of Delaware Principals of the Year met with Governor Minner. Stephanie Smith, Middle School Principal of the Year, Seaford Middle School; Richelle Talbert, Elementary Principal of the Year, Brader Elementary School (Christina); Mitchell Weiss, Assistant Principal of the Year, Howard High School of Technology (NCCVT); and Sylvia Henderson, Recipient of the Paul Carlson Award, Ross Elementary School (Milford).

Click here to learn more.

 

 

Positive Behavior Support Programs Enhance Our Schools

 

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) has been successfully introduced into all Christina School District schools as a means of establishing school-wide strategies to reduce inappropriate behavior and establish positive school climates.  Unlike traditional behavioral management, which views the individual as the problem and seeks to address the situation by eliminating the challenging behavior, positive behavior support (PBS) views systems, settings, and lack of skill as parts of the problem, and works to change those elements.  The District’s PBS program is coordinated by Susan Corey, who works with every school to ensure that the PBS standards are met. 

Recent examples of PBS success in our schools include the Feather Store at Elbert-Palmer Elementary School and the PBS Program at Glasgow High School.

At Elbert-Palmer, all students know about the Feather Store and its “proprietor,” Ms. Barbara Griffin.  Griffin, who runs the redirection room, has turned a closet into a school store.  Students earn “feathers”—Elbert-Palmer’s mascot is the peacock—which are paper tickets that are given for good behavior, homework, wearing their uniform, showing respect, being responsible, and caring.  The feathers can then be used like cash in the Feather Store.

Griffin has also “hired” 10 retail clerks to help her manage the store.  The retail clerks work in teams of two to assist student shoppers, organize the merchandise, and help with inventory.  To be chosen as a clerk, students had to write a letter to Ms. Griffith about why they were qualified and how they planned to do in school this year. The retail Photograph:  Glasgow High School students enjoy beauty treatments by Delaware Academy of Beautyclerks earn 10 feathers every time they work in the store, which is a nice incentive, but there are other rewards as well.

“It makes me more caring and responsible and trustworthy,” said one of the Feather Store clerks.

At Glasgow High School, students were recently rewarded for their positive behavior with some unique incentives.  Various businesses, including the Delaware Academy of Beauty, YMCA, and a local movie theater donated prizes for a raffle that included beauty treatments, Y memberships, movie tickets, and 30 days of snacks.  In addition, 30 students who earned 15 PBS tickets—called Fire Cards at GHS because their mascot is the Dragon—were eligible to attend a pizza party.

Phyllis Rubenstein, who organized the PBS activities, said the school had seen a decrease in disciplinary problems since PBS was implemented.  Even things like school announcements are changing, with the emphasis on praising students for meeting expectations.  Now, school staff are working to focus on positive behavior, andPhotograph:  Glasgow High School students put their PBS "Fire Cards" in a drawing to earn prizes “catching” kids doing the right thing, which is proving to be a strong motivational tool.

“Now we are doing something positive.  It has been very well received by kids and the teachers,” she said.

This year, eight schools in Christina earned the designation of PBS “Star Schools” after meeting rigorous criteria and goals developed by the Positive Behavior Support Project in Delaware, which is a joint effort between the University of Delaware’s Center for Disabilities Studies and the Delaware Department of Education.  These schools were Brookside Elementary, Stubbs Elementary, Delaware School for the Deaf, McVey Elementary, Keene Elementary, West Park Place Elementary, Shue-Medill Middle School, and Newark High School.

 

 

Vision 2015 Highlights Three Christina Schools for "Promising Practices"


The Vision 2015 website has indentified 20 schools that are engaged in “Promising Practices” in student learning, and who are demonstrating Vision 2015 recommendations. Among them are descriptions of programs at Kirk Middle School, Gauger-Cobbs Middle School, and Wilson Elementary School. Click on the links below to read more about these innovative and successful programs:

Kirk Middle School AVID Program
http://www.vision2015delaware.org/learn/spotlight/kirk/

Gauger-Cobbs Middle School Distributed Leadership initiative:
http://www.vision2015delaware.org/learn/spotlight/cobbsmiddle/

Wilson Elementary School Literacy Lab:
http://www.vision2015delaware.org/learn/spotlight/etta_wilson/

 

 

More Great Things Happening In Our Schools...


CSD Employee Elizabeth Gibbons Receives her Ph.D.

Leasure Elementary School Principal Linda Ochenrider shared good news about yet another remarkable Christina School District employee.  Elizabeth Gibbons, nationally-certified school psychologist at Leasure, was granted her Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) on November 11 from Temple University.  Well, done, Dr. Gibbons.

Christiana High News & Events...
National French Week: 
To celebrate National French Week (November 5-11), Mrs. Ryan's French students at Christiana High School made colorful posters on France and other French-speaking countries, did reports on French landmarks and French people and made delicious examples of French food which they shared with their classmates.  The International Club also celebrated National French Week with French foods and French music.  The students learned a lot about French culture during this week.

Culinary Arts Students Practice their Skills:  The CHS culinary arts students will practice their new skills by preparing holiday luncheons for the faculty on December 17th. 

FCCLA Holds Annual Food Drive:  The CHS FCCLA will be conducting a food drive to benefit the New Castle County Food Bank.  Contributions will be collected until December 5th.  All canned goods and non-perishable items should be brought to Ms. Sherrena William's room (M-1128).  The FCCLA hopes to collect more than 2,000 items again this year.

FFA has Holiday Spirit Students and staff are encouraged to bring in old sneakers for a newly adopted sneaker drive. All sneakers will be donated to a nonprofit organization where donations will be made into newly wearable shoes for children in Africa. Please drop off any used sneakers, cleats, tennis or any other type of athletic shoes to the AG-Science classrooms.

Annual Winter Craft Show at Glasgow High School
Mark your calendars...Glasgow High School Swim Team will host their annual Winter Craft Show on Saturday, December 13, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Questions, please contact Joy Harms at 302-738-1142.

Culinary Class Brightens the Day of Newark Seniors
Mrs. Zimansky’s Culinary Professional Class at Newark High School provided Halloween Treats for Meals on Wheels on October 31st. The treats were delivered to the Newark Senior Center by NHS students. Culinary Professional is the 3rd level class in the Culinary Arts Pathway at Newark High School, preparing students for careers in the Food Service Industry. Participating students include Lakesha Acker, Marquita Alladin, Yury Bahena, Willie Browning, Jaleel Gardner, Joie Gibbs, Asya Glover, Kawaina Graham, Kara Henry, Ya’Kira Hines, Justin Hurtt-Dunkley, Comfort Imeokparia, Andrea Miller, Michael Moody, Kelsey Morrison, Justin Parker, Amber Potts, Ben Pyle, Taihika Rivers, Sheena Rosser, Xavier Roundtree, Kyesha Spencer, Beri Tata, Janere White, and Latasha Williams.

Bayard Students Attend Career Day at County Courthouse
Students from Bayard Middle School participated in the first Career Day Program held at the New Castle County Courthouse in November.  The students especially liked participating in a mock trial that was part of the event, and look forward to future opportunities to be involved in learning more about careers in the justice and court systems.

McVey Students Participate in RIF Book Distribution
McVey Elementary School recently held its first RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) book distribution of the year.  PTA volunteers and a retired McVey teacher went from class to class inviting each student to choose a free book.  This program is designed to put books in the hands of needy students, and McVey received a $3716 grant to purchase books so that each student will get three books during the school year.  The funding sources include federal funds as well as a contribution from the PTA.  The program also requires a literacy activity in conjunction with each distribution, and students participated in the Pumpkin Poetry Project, where students read and practiced a poem.

Bancroft Elementary Receives Educational Resource Grant
Thanks to librarian Patricia Brown, Bancroft Elementary School has been awarded the Sylvan Dell Publishing Resource Grant. This one-year site license provides access to “flipviewer” technology in both English and Spanish. The license can be used on all school computers and may be placed on secure school websites (if available), enabling students and their families to log in and have access from their homes. Teachers throughout the school are able to project the books in the classroom for easy reading to supplement or to introduce science and math through literature in the classroom.

 

 

Calendar Reminders...


Wednesday, December 10

 

 

 

 

Thursday, December 11
Friday, December 12
Saturday, December 13
Tuesday, December 16
Wednesday, December 17
Thursday, December 18
Friday, December 19
Wednesday, December 24
  • SCHOOLS CLOSED - Winter Holiday
Thursday, December 25 & Friday, December 26
  • SCHOOLS & OFFICES CLOSED - Winter Holiday
Monday, December 29 - Friday, January 2
  • SCHOOLS CLOSED - Winter Holiday
Monday, January 5
  • SCHOOLS REOPEN
 
 
 
 
This message is coming through the csdnews (Christina School District E-News) listserv.  Replies to this message will be forwarded to the Christina School District Webmaster.
 
Christina School District - News for the Christina School District's Parents and Community.  To learn more, visit us on the web at http://www.christina.k12.de.us
 
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail to the Christina School District Webmaster
 

 Christina School District | 600 N. Lombard Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 | info@christina.k12.de.us | 302-552-2600