Christina School District E-News

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• Wilmington, DE 19801
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February 20, 2009    

 
  INSIDE THIS ISSUE...
Christina Board Seeks Volunteers to Serve on Financial Review Committee
Christina Board Names Jim Huge & Associates to Lead Superintendent Search
Maclary Elementary Celebrates the 100th Day of School by Helping Others
Staff Transitions Announced
Governor Markell to Bring "Reality Check" Budget Presentation to Christiana High
School on March 5
Joe Ambrosino Named a "Distinguished Teacher by Delaware Geographic Alliance
High School Senior Athletes Make the News
Bancroft Elementary Receives $30,000 Grant
Marshall Students Participate in the First State Lego League Competition
McVey 4th Grade Class Highlighted in News Journal Article
Pulaski Students Studying Violin and Viola Perform in Lunchtime Concert
Christina Schools Win "Picturing America" Grants from the American Library Association
DSD Speech and Language Therapist Receives Mentoring Award
AP Information Night a Success
New Castle County Orchestra Festival Scheduled for April 2
McVey Fourth Grader to Host Listening Party Featuring His Original Music
District Elementary Science Fair for Grades 3-5 to be Held April 28
Twenty-Two Programs Receive Grants Totaling $87,080
Footloose to be Performed at GHS Friday and Saturday
Newark High PTSA Hosting a "Transition to College" Parent Chat
More Great Things Happening In Our Schools...
Calendar Reminders...
   

 
 

Christina Board Seeks Volunteers to Serve on
Financial Review Committee

 

The Christina Board of Education seeks volunteers to fill positions available on the District’s Financial Review Committee.  The Committee was established by the Christina Board of Education in June, 2006.  The Christina Board established a committee composed of one or more members of the Board and residents of the Christina School District.  The Financial Review Committee works in collaboration with the Board of Education to closely monitor the financial status of the school district and provide ongoing oversight.  The Committee meets monthly to review the District’s revenues and expenditures, and to report the financial status of the District to the Board.  A background in finance is desirable but not required for consideration.  Those appointed will serve a two-year term beginning July 1, 2009.

Interested members of the public are asked to submit a letter of interest and resume by April 30, 2009.  Please mail letter of interest and resume to:

Superintendent's Office
Christina School District
600 N. Lombard Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801


 

Christina Board Names Jim Huge & Associates
to Lead Superintendent Search

 

At the February 10 Board of Education meeting, the Christina Board named Jim Huge & Associates of San Francisco, California to provide superintendent search services for the District.  Mr. Huge was involved in the superintendent search in 2006 that led to the selection of Dr. Lowery as superintendent.  He and his associates will manage the search process, and will be determining dates and times for input sessions involving staff and the community.  More detailed information will be shared as the timeline is finalized.

 

 

Maclary Elementary Celebrates the
100th Day of School by Helping Others

 

Students and staff at Maclary Elementary School held a school-wide food drive to help those in need, as part of their “100th Day” celebration. Elementary schools often use the 100th day of school as an activity involving math, reading, and other skills, but Maclary wanted to extend this effort to include a community outreach activity by collecting food and toiletry items to be donated to the Food Bank of Delaware. Update letters were sent home to parents for several weeks leading up to the 100th day, and the whole school got caught up in the excitement of trying to reach the goal. Students tracked the number of items, made graphs of their progress, and decorated the school with posters advertising the food drive and encouraging participation. The goal for each classroom was to collect 100 non-perishable items by the 100th day of school on February 11. Almost all of the preschool through 5th grade classrooms met this goal, with many exceeding 100 items. A total of 21 classrooms participated, and the school collected a grand total of 2,530 items. Second grade teacher Rita Davis stated that Maclary hopes to make this an annual event to celebrate the 100th day of school.

“Everyone throughout the school really helped with the effort.  The participation of so many Maclary families is what really made it worthwhile,” she said.

 

 

Staff Transitions Announced

 

Daniel Cruce, Assistant Superintendent/Chief of Staff for Christina School District, has been named Associate Secretary of Education/Chief of Staff for the Delaware Department of Education, effective March 2.

Kelli Racca, Director of Planning and Facilities for Christina School District, has been named Interim Assistant Superintendent, effective March 2.  Kelli will continue to supervise the planning and facilities operations of the District, and will handle other duties as Interim Assistant Superintendent throughout this transition period.

Dr. Dan Weinles has been approved by the Christina Board for the position of Supervisor of Accountability and Assessment, effective March 9.  He fills the position vacated by Dr. Pamela Stazesky.  Weinles holds a bachelors degree in psychology, a masters degree in elementary education, and a doctorate degree in urban education, all from Temple University.  Most recently, he has served as a senior research associate for the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition in Philadelphia.  He has also been a Spanish instructor, a project assistant for a project funded by the Excellence in Teaching Partnership Grant, a bilingual elementary grade teacher, and a mental health case manager. He lives in Philadelphia, PA.

 

 

Gov. Jack MarkellGovernor Markell to Bring "Reality Check" Budget
Presentation to Christiana High School on March 5

Governor Jack Markell has been traveling the state since February 11, making his “Reality Check” budget presentations across communities in Delaware.  On Thursday, March 5 he will make a presentation at Christiana High School beginning at 7:00 p.m.  All of the budget presentations are open to the public.  During each presentation, Governor Markell will also introduce Secretary of Education Lillian M. Lowery, Ed.D., to the community.

 

 

Joseph Ambrosino Named a "Distinguished Teacher"
by Delaware Geographic Alliance

 

Downes Elementary School music teacher Joseph Ambrosino has been honored by the Delaware Geographic Alliance as a Distinguished Teacher of Geography.  Ambrosino has collaborated with other educators to develop Downes’ annual Multicultural Night, workingLearn more about Delaware Geographic Alliance with staff and students in promoting the 2008-2009 theme of World Hunger.  Working with each grade level, he incorporated geography, history, culture, and music into the event, and raised awareness of the topic of hunger that we are faced with today, around the world and around the corner.  As part of this project, third grade students researched and collected money for a Heifer International fundraiser, and fifth graders graphed all of the canned goods that were collected throughout the school and made a presentation about what was collected.  Families from the Downes community representing a broad spectrum of cultures exhibited their ethnic backgrounds through books, posters, pictures, costumes, and food.  Ambrosino also organizes the school’s Chinese New Year parade each year, where he again incorporates geography, culture, and music.  An awards dinner will be held in Dover on March 5, where Ambrosino is one of two state finalists, and may be chosen to receive a $500 grant and the opportunity to attend the National Council for Geography Education meeting in fall 2009 San Juan, Puerto Rico.
 

 

High School Senior Athletes Make the News

 

 
High School athletes participated in exciting events in January and early February.  A
tri-meet senior day for swimmers from Christiana, Glasgow, and Newark High Schools brought together swim team members from the District’s three high schools.

Newark Football player Malcolm Bunche signed a full scholarship contract to attend the University of Miami to play football.  And Newark High School’s Brandon Norwood received the Football Player of the Year Award from 1290 Radio-The Ticket.

 

   

 

 

Bancroft Elementary Received $30,000 Grant

 

Learn more about the Delaware Community FoundationBancroft Elementary School is the recipient of a grant from the Delaware Community Foundation in the amount of $30,000 to fund the Readers are Leaders program.  The Readers are Leaders program is a before and after school program focused on fluency and comprehension using the computer program Read Naturally.  Program leaders will participate in a Sharing Reception at the University of Delaware in April, where they will have the opportunity to share information about the program and learn about other innovative programs.

The Readers are Leaders before and after school program serves students in grades 1-3 in the area of phonics, fluency and comprehension.  To complement this program, the grant will provide materials for a home/school component. Read Naturally software is a computer program that increases the phonics, fluency and comprehension skills of struggling readers.  Students are placed in their appropriate reading level and assigned a reading goal.  The computer guides students through the steps of each reading practice session by providing on screen prompts. For the home/school component, students are supplied audio recordings as well as fun, interactive lessons that go home with the student. Students take home
their own CD player and One Minute Reader stories, and the stories can be used independently even if there isn't a proficient reader at home. The program hopes to serve 40 Bancroft students and their families.

 

 

Marshall Students Participate in
the First State Lego League Competition

 

In early December, Thurgood Marshall Elementary School was well represented at the First State Lego Competition. Marshall had two teams of students who represented the schoolLearn more about First State Lego League and worked very hard together as they researched the theme called "Climate Connections.” The students studied weather and its implications and then designed and constructed a model tool from Lego that might be used by climate scientists. Mr. Kaden's team researched the ocean and constructed an ingenious motor-driven crab catcher. This team was awarded the Peer Education Award, chosen as the most educational by all the competitors. Team members were Bradley Kaden, Dietrich Yontz, Morgan McLaughlin, Kenny Weir and Cameron Ross.  Mrs. Ventresca's team researched different types of volcanoes and how their eruptions can affect the climate in which they are found. This team earned the Little Einsteins Award from the judges.  Team members were Zane Shultz, Anthony Puleo and Andrew Perkins.

Click here to learn more about First State Lego League.

 

 



McVey 4th Grade Class Highlighted in News Journal Article

A fourth-grade class at McVey Elementary School taught by Paul Sedacca was the subject of a recent News Journal article about Tri-State Bird Rescue visiting the class.  Sedacca’s students have raised money for the organization, which helps nurture injured birds for release back into the wild. Click here to view complete article from DelawareOnline.com.

 

 

Pulaski Students Studying Violin and Viola
Perform in Lunchtime Concert

On January 30, the Pulaski Strings performed their first private concert of the school year.  The students were excited to share what they have learned since October, when they began violin and viola lessons in Dr. Eva Kiss's class at Pulaski Elementary School in Wilmington.  Students in Mrs. Flowers and Ms. Chieffi's fifth grade classes joined the Strings in the Music Room for this fun, lunchtime recess event.  Brittnie Lopez, Shawn'Nise Gasby, and Melanie Santiago performed on the violin, and Rodnesha Woodland and Kamren Goodwyn on the viola, demonstrating the tunes and instrumental techniques they are working diligently to master with daily home practice.  The girls played American, French, and Eastern European folk song melodies, including "Old MacDonald Had A Farm," "At Pierrot's Door," and "Morning Dance," and brought a moment of warm sunshine to the cold winter day as they plucked their strings to the steel drum syncopation of "Caribbean Island."  The students also demonstrated the bowing techniques they are learning in class.  The Pulaski Strings are looking forward to performing their first public concert in May.
 

 

Christina Schools Win "Picturing America" Grants
from the American Library Association

 

Several schools in the Christina School District have been awarded federal grants by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.  The "Picturing America" grant is a free education resource of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), distributed in cooperation with the American Library Association.

Picturing America award materials include forty images of American art mounted on twenty double-sided, laminated posters for display and classroom use and a teachers resource book.  These materials will be available to the Kirk and Wilson libraries in March and April of 2009, and will become part of each school's library collection.  Congratulations to these schools for being a part of this exciting initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which brings masterpieces of American art into schools and public libraries nationwide.

Schools that were awarded the grant in 2008 or 2009 include Christiana High School, Newark High School, Glasgow High School, Gauger-Cobbs Middle School, Kirk Middle School, Schue-Medill Middle School, Brader Elementary School, Downes Elementary School, Jones Elementary School, Keene Elementary School, Marshall Elementary School, and Stubbs Elementary School.

 

 

Learn more about Creative MentoringDSD Speech and Language Therapist
Receives Mentoring Award

Barbara Jo German, Mentoring Coordinator and a Speech and Language Therapist for Delaware School for the Deaf (DSD), has been recognized with a Mentoring Award by Creative Mentoring. The award was presented at the organization’s annual event in January.

Click here to learn more about Creative Mentoring.

 

 

AP Information Night a Success

 

An Advanced Placement Information Night held on February 12 at Kirk Middle School was attended by 125 8th grade students and their parents interested in learning more about Advanced Placement classes– also called AP classes—available in high school.  The event featured guest speakers, information tables, and AP course information.  The concept behind the AP Information Night was to assist 8th grade students interested in pursuing Advanced Placement courses in high school to learn more about the preparation required to enroll and be successful in AP-level coursework.

 


 

New Castle County Orchestra Festival Scheduled for April 2

 
Student string ensembles from across New Castle County will gather on April 2 for the first annual New Castle County Orchestra Festival.  The festival was developed by orchestra faculty from Brandywine, Christina, and Red Clay Consolidated School Districts.  Each school district’s ensemble will perform, followed by a personal clinic.  The groups will then merge into a unified ensemble for a combined rehearsal clinic run by Dr. Johannes Dietrich, Associate Professor of Music at Lebanon Valley College.  The students will perform three developmentally tiered works for orchestra, including the premiere of a commissioned work by world renowned composer, Erik Morales.  The program will conclude with a combined concert at P.S. DuPont Elementary School.  Participating schools include Cab Calloway School for the Performing Arts, A.I. DuPont High School, Newark High School, Concord High School and Mount Pleasant High School.
 


McVey Fourth Grader to Host Listening Party
Featuring His Original Music

 

Pyerce Lateef Oates, a 9-year-old 4th grade student at McVey Elementary School, will host a Listening Party at the Christiana Hilton on Friday, February 20 beginning at 8:00 p.m.  The concert will feature music from his CD, Humble Beginnings, which features original gospel songs, a classical piece, a wedding song, and a Christmas song, as well as four additional songs by local artists.  Oates has participated in the PTA Reflections Program since Kindergarten and has won two State of Delaware certificates for music.  He has been singing and playing piano for his church since second grade, and has been a frequent soloist at McVey concerts.

 

 

District Elementary Science Fair for Grades 3-5
to be Held April 28

 
The Christina School District’s Elementary Science Fair will be held on April 28 at Downes Elementary School from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  The Maryland Science Center’s “Brain Bender’s” show will be a special attraction. For more information, contact your child’s talent development teacher or email Janice Trainer at trainerj@christina.k12.de.us
 

 

Twenty-Two Programs Receive Grants Totaling $87,080

  

Twenty-two (22) Christina School District programs have received Funds for Children's Literacy Grants from the Delaware Community Foundation.  The total combined financial awards for these programs is $87,080.  The individual awards were funded as follows:
 
School Program Award Applicant
 Bancroft Elementary  Readers are Leaders     $30,000  Natalie Birch
 Brader Elementary  Reading is "Fun"damental     $1,310  Patty Pfeifer
 Brader Elementary  Creating Young Writers
 Through Literature:  Year 2
    $2,250  Heather Maldonado
 Brader Elementary  Reading Centers     $1,000  Richelle Talbert
 Brader Elementary  Supporting Literacy
 Instruction in the 90 Minute
 Block
    $6,900  Gretchen Wolfe
 Brader Elementary  Family Literacy Night     $2,000  Lauren Diamond
 Brader Elementary  ESL Listening Center     $800  Rosa Moyeno
 Smith Elementary  Puppets & Verbal
 Development in First Grade
 and Kindergarten Classrooms
    $2,075  Carol Teague
 Smith Elementary  At Risk Students:  Reading
 Intervention Programs in
 Kindergarten and First Grade
    $3,680  Jamie Isaac &
 Cathy Drew
 McVey Elementary  Vital Vocabulary Enrichment     $9,245  Heather Bordas
 Marshall Elementary  Literacy Work Stations     $1,150  Erin DuBois
 Marshall Elementary  Lakeshore Phonics,  
 Phonemical Awareness &
 Reading
    $1,535  Tina Metcalfe
 Marshall Elementary  Reading A-Z Reading 
 Resource Center
    $1,750  Sherlynn Aurelio
 Marshall Elementary  Flourishing Fluency     $1,760  Kelly Schneider
 Marshall Elementary  Building a Strong Foundation
 Foundations
    $2,620  Moira Snider
 Marshall Elementary  Helping your Child with
 Reading Partners in Print
    $2,000  Patrice Buchanan
 Marshall Elementary  Marshall School Readiness
 Collaborative
    $5,950  Sherlynn Aurelio
 Marshall Elementary  Pathway to Literacy Success     $5,725  Quarles, Shalmers, &
 Rifenberg
 West Park Place Elementary  Reading Counts     $2,605  Anne Feurer
 Keene Elementary  Look!  I'm a Reader and
 an Author!
    $525  Virginia Wald
 Keene Elementary  Keene Kids - Ready to Read     $1,200  Ann Sylvester
 Keene Elementary  1000 Book Challenge     $1,000  Patricia Coverdale
 
The purpose of the Funds for children's Literacy Grant program is to promote and support teacher and school efforts that focus on helping young students become proficient readers.  There is an emphasis on providing services to students who may be dealing with disadvantages such as limited access to print, minimal adult support, or the need for more instruction.  Such support may come in the form of additional reading resources for use in the home and classroom, professional development aimed regarding reading strategies, or providing additional instructional time by extending the day, modifying the school calendar, or providing summer instructional opportunities.
 

 

Footloose to be Performed at GHS
Friday and Saturday

The play Footloose will be performed at Glasgow High School on Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m..  Friday there will also be a Spaghetti Dinner before the show from 5:30 – 7:30.  More information is available on the Glasgow High School website:  www.christina.k12.de.us/glasgow/drama/Footloose/SpaghettiDinner.pdf

 
 

 

Newark High PTSA Hosting a "Transition to College" Parent Chat

 

NHS PTSA is hosting a University/Schools Alliance Parent Chat on the "Transition to College" on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 6 pm in the Newark High School A-Cafe.  This program, open to parents and students from all high schools, provides some great tips on how to make the academic and social transition from high school to college a smooth one. Experts will be on hand to share facts that are relevant, no matter what college your student plans to attend.   Light refreshments will be provided and there is no cost, but attendees MUST pre-register with Catherine Buckminster at clmbuck@comcast.net by February 26th.

University/Schools Alliance is a coalition committed to the prevention of alcohol and drug use among Delaware secondary students.

 

 

More Great Things Happening In Our Schools...

 
CHS Student Government Gearing Up for Another Year of Fundraising 

Christiana High School (CHS) Student Government is gearing up for another year of collecting for a worthy cause.  Pennies for Patients is a way to get children and teens of all ages involved in fundraising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Each participating school is given boxes to collect money or loose change from anyone willing to donate.  As an incentive, each group collecting money will be working towards a party catered by Olive Garden. The group or class that collects the most money within the three week period wins the Pasta Party and second and third place winners win a pizza party. 

 

Christiana High School has raised approximately nine thousand dollars since they first started participating four years ago and have been the top raising high school in the state of Delaware for the last 3 years. Teachers get their classes very involved in the fundraising and students get very competitive, in a good way.  Student Government members Gregg Williams and Ron Phipps work alongside the officers President Sandra Lopez, Vice President Kelly Ryser, Treasurer Jackie Mayhart, and Secretary Diptee Pathak to count the many donated coins and dollars.

 

NHS and CHS Marketing Students Compete in State Conference
Distributive Education Clubs of America
(DECA) from Newark High School and Christiana High School attended the Career Development Conference in Dover recently where they competed against other high school students throughout the state and attended several workshops.  Newark’s team of Christin Knox, Linhai Zhu, and Grace Pinder took Second Place in the overall business-based knowledge questions of the Quiz Bowl.  They defeated in prior rounds A.I. duPont and Polytech.  Concord took first place.  Linhai Zhu won First Place in the Business Services Marketing Series.  Christin Knox earned First Place in the Retail Merchandising Series.  Christin also received a $1,000 scholarship for Johnson and Wales University.  DECA National competitions will take place in May in Anaheim, California.  Congratulations to all students who participated.

Christiana High School also succeeded at the February 12th event.  CHS had a total of six competitors, who were all first time competitors. Congratulations to Nicholas Mullins - 3rd place Automotive Marketing, Ebony Glover - 3rd place Marketing Management, Team of Janet Anikola  and Bianca Goodridge - Participation in Hospitality Management, Team of Keaira Morgan and Isatou Njie – Participation in Business Law and Ethics.

 
CHS Girls Track Team Give Great Effort at Indoor Track Championship
The CHS girls track team participated in the Delaware Indoor State Track & Field Championship on Saturday, February 14 and ran their personal best in the 4 x 200 (1:52.98) relay and the 4 x 400 (4:31.40) relay.  Team members were Kehinde Akojie, Taiwo Akojie, Keyairra Boyce and Adrienne Tingba.  The 4x4 team members were Taiwo Akojie, Ashley Johnson, Monique Lewis and Adrienne Tingba Imair Ashley also threw her personal best in the Shot Put with a throw of 30'6.75" to place 7th overall.  The 4 x 800 meter relay team of Allison Darling, Caitlyn Crew, Ashley Johnson and Ashley Megahan ran 12:27.45.
 
Christiana Boys Wins Delaware Indoor Track and Field Championship
The CHS Boys Track team won six events, sweeping all three relays, en route to the second-largest margin of victory in history.  The following student/athletes received medals at the meet.  The boys scored a total of 93 points for 1st place:  Jordan Asbury, JaiQuann Beckham, Eirc Boyer, Gerald Hornbuckle, Kenneth Lumpkin, Barien White, Darien White and Elijah Williams.

The following student/athletes were scorers in the meet finishing in the top six in the state and alternates:  Jack Barchock, Derin Felder, Ali Jafri, Catlin Lathem, Kellan Turner and Kyle Williams.

Congratulations to all involved in making school history!  The 1st Indoor State Track & Field Championship for CHS.

 
Newark High Student Presented with 2009 Jefferson Award for Public Service
On February 9, Newark Mayor Vance A. Funk presented the city's 2009 Jefferson Awards for Public Service to winners at the City Council meeting.  One of this year's recipient was Min "Sharon" Song a student at Newark High School, who volunteered more than 200 hours of her time at Christiana Hospital during the past two years.  Song also teaches music to middle school students through the Outreach Program and is an active member of the NHS Key Club and National Honor Society. 
 

 

Calendar Reminders...


Thursday, February 19 - Saturday, February 21
Calendar Graphic
Saturday, February 21
  • All State Jazz Performance, Delaware State University, 6:00 PM
Wednesday, February 25
Friday, February 27 - Saturday, February 28
Monday, March 2 - Thursday, March 5
Thursday, March 5
Friday, March 6
Friday, March 6 & Saturday, March 7
Tuesday, March 10
Wednesday, March 11  & Thursday, March 12
  • DSTP Testing
Friday, March 13
Monday, March 16 & Tuesday, March 17
  • DSTP Testing
Thursday, March 19 & Friday, March 20
  • DSTP Testing
Tuesday, March 24 & Wednesday, March 25
Wednesday, March 25
Thursday, March 26
Friday, March 27
  • PK-12 SCHOOLS CLOSED, Professional Development
Sunday, March 29
 
 
 
 
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 Christina School District | 600 N. Lombard Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 | info@christina.k12.de.us | 302-552-2600