The Christina Board of Education voted unanimously on October 13 to amend the 2009-2010 Student Code of Conduct as it applies to Kindergarten and First Grade students charged with Level III offenses. Under the approved amendment to the Code of Conduct, a separate category addressing Kindergarten and first grade students has been added, with revised consequences for a first or second offense. For example, a Kindergarten or first grade student charged with a Level III offense for the first time will
now face 3-5 days out-of-school suspension and referral to school based counseling, but will not be required to be alternatively placed. The recommendation changed the language to read “Possible recommendation
for alternative placement.” As part of the motion to adopt the amendment, the Christina Board made the decision retroactive to the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.  

The Christina School District Student Code of Conduct outlines student rights and responsibilities for grades Kindergarten through 12. A copy of the Student Code of Conduct is given to each student upon school entry. Orientation to the Code of Conduct is held in each school at the beginning of the school year. Many offences and their consequences outlined in the Christina Student Code of Conduct have been determined by Delaware State Code.

The Board of Education has planned a workshop meeting on November 7 to discuss school climate and discipline topics. The Student Code of Conduct and the amendment passed on October 13 are available on the District website at the following link: http://www.christina.k12.de.us/CodeOfConduct

How much do YOU know about the Student Code of Conduct?
The Christina School District encourages parents and students to explore its fun, interactive website about the Student Code of Conduct by visiting www.csdcode.org. The website gives an overview of the important parts of the Code of Conduct that students need to understand by using interactive graphics, animation, and games.  It's like an electronic treasure hunt, and only takes a few minutes to complete. The opening video features students, staff, parents, and alumni from Marshall Elementary School, Christiana High School, Delaware School for the Deaf, and Shue-Medill Middle School.
Click here to get started.

District Clarifies That "Alternative School"
Does Not Mean "Reform School"

One of the most negative aspects of the national media attention the Christina School District received this week was the characterization of its alternative placement program for young students as a “reform school.”  The District does not run a “reform school” and would never use such an outdated and inaccurate term to describe any of its programs. Unfortunately, the term “reform school” was an expression used by the media and others in conjunction with Christina in recent news reports and websites. 

Students in grades K-8 in Christina who are assigned to an alternative placement usually attend the Douglass Alternative School, which provides a more structured version of the regular school environment and offers additional services for students that may include counseling, academic support, and behavior support.  Douglass provides a learning environment that contributes to the holistic development of all students by use of literacy programming, academics, behavior modification and character/social skills development.  This collaborative effort between parents, students and staff helps students transition to a successful future. 

Douglass School principal Harold "Butch" Ingram includes the following statement on the school’s website:  “We teach students who are having difficulty in school how to succeed and that failure is not an option.  Students are taught to be productive contributors to family, community and school.  All understand that ‘Attitude determines Altitude!’  Student learning with high expectations in conjunction with social competence is paramount in the student's development and success.”  

In January, 2009, the Christina Board of Education recognized the Douglass Alternative School administration and staff for the school’s outstanding service to students.  The Wilmington News Journal will feature Douglass Alternative School in an article this weekend, and members of the community are also encouraged to learn more about Douglass Alternative School by visiting the school’s website (www.christina.k12.de.us/Douglass ) and reading about recent activities at Douglass School at the following link: www.christina.k12.de.us/Douglass/News.htm

More than 11,000 Christina Students Pledge Their
Commitment to Excellence

Glasgow High School displayed their student pledges outside the main office and throughout the school.
 

Students in the Christina School District expect a lot of themselves this year, and they are proud to show it.  11,865 students completed an Excellence Pledge at the beginning of the school year, representing 70% of the District's student population.  Parents, teachers, administrators, and staff members were also involved in the Excellence Pledge campaign.

The student pledge states simply: I pledge to work hard in school throughout the year and to strive for excellence in academics, citizenship, and behavior every day. It is my responsibility to make sure that I complete my homework, study hard and come to school prepared, treat others the way I wish to be treated, have high expectations for myself, and understand the Student Code of Conduct.

The pledges helped to kick off Christina Superintendent Marcia V. Lyles’ theme for the year: Expect Excellence: Every day, for every child, in every class. Schools had until October 2 to return their pledge tallies, and the schools and programs with the highest percentages received “Empowering Excellence” prizes. The winning schools were Christiana High School, Gauger-Cobbs Middle School, Downes Elementary School, Gallaher Elementary School, McVey Elementary School, the Networks Program, and Sarah Pyle Academy. 

“We wanted to begin this school year on a positive note, giving students and parents a chance to express their commitment to success,” said Lyles. “I am extremely pleased that so many students and parents showed their support for this effort. We had eleven out of 28 schools achieve a return rate of 90% or higher, and that was very impressive. I hope that this will become an annual tradition.”

Official Groundbreaking Held for the New Delaware School for the Deaf

On October 6, the Christina School District hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Delaware School for the Deaf (DSD) and Statewide Programs. The site for the new school is located next to the current school at 630 East Chestnut Hill Road in Newark. A crowd of more than 200 students, staff, families, and friends gathered on the site to celebrate the occasion. Speakers from the Christina School District included Superintendent Dr. Marcia Lyles, and Christina Board members George Evans, Esq. and David Resler. Delaware School for the Deaf Director Della Thomas then introduced members of the DSD senior class, several of whom performed the school’s fight song, The Blue Hawk Song.

Two special guest speakers provided history and insight into the significance of the new school. Edward Bosso, Dean of the Laurent Clerc Center at Gallaudet University shared his excitement about the project. Bosso had served as Director of the Delaware School for the Deaf for more than 10 years and had also been a District administrator before accepting the position at Gallaudet last year. The featured speaker was Gallaudet University Provost Dr. Stephen Weiner, who praised the state of Delaware for investing in the state-of-the-art school, and shared his personal educational experiences with the audience. Following the speakers, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held at the construction site, followed by a reception. 

The Delaware Legislature has generously supported the construction of a new state-of-the-art school facility that will serve deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind students in Delaware from birth through grade 12. The Delaware School for the Deaf and Statewide Programs is recognized as a national leader in deaf education. The program has evolved over 35 years to meet the needs of deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf/blind students in Delaware. The new facility is scheduled to open in Spring 2011.

All Christina Students Will Receive H1N1 Flu Vaccine Information
Information packets and consent forms will be sent home with every student on Monday, October 19

Delaware Division of Public Health has not yet determined the dates the
vaccine will be available to Delaware students

On Monday, all students in the Christina School District will receive information to take home about the H1N1 flu vaccine. School-age children have been identified as a high risk group. The Delaware Division of Public Health has communicated that vaccinating children at school is one way to ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive the vaccine.  In this way, both children and the school community are more protected from the spread of the disease. Christina, like other districts in the state, has agreed to participate in Delaware’s School Vaccination Program.

The Delaware School Vaccination Program is a voluntary program that requires parent/guardian consent.  No child will be vaccinated without written consent, and consent forms will be provided to parents.  Forms must be reviewed, signed and returned to the child’s school by Friday, October 23, 2009.

Information about the Delaware School Vaccination Program:

• The program is voluntary for students

• The vaccine is free

• Consent forms will be provided to parents and must be returned to the child’s school

• Students with certain health risk factors may be unable to receive the vaccine at school and will be referred to their private provider for immunization 

• School Nurses will serve as school coordinator and liaison to the vaccinating team

Parents will receive a ParentLink phone message reminding them that students will be bringing home information packets from school.

Student Improv Show Tonight will be a Tribute to
NHS Student Noah Hannum '08

Newark High School’s student improv troupe, the Rude Mechanicals, will perform at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16.  A fee of $3 per person will be collected at the door and all proceeds will be donated to the Nemours Partnership for Children’s Health. The troupe is dedicating the performance to Noah Hannum, class of ‘08 who succumbed to a rare form of bone cancer on September 23.  Noah was a member of Rude Mechanicals for his junior and senior years at Newark High School, and was highly regarded by his classmates and teachers.

Christiana High School Agriscience Program Continues its Winning Ways

Four Schools in the Christina School District will be receiving funding and curriculum support for a vegetable garden during the upcoming school year.  Students and staff at Brookside Elementary, Downes Elementary, McVey Elementary and West Park Elementary will soon be able to grow and enjoy the “fruits of their labor” while learning the benefits of making healthy lifestyle choices with food. The District’s team of health partners includes Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids and Delaware Center for Horticulture. These organizations were successful in obtaining a substantial grant from Rohm & Haas to fund these school vegetable gardens.  Meetings about the project will begin this month, and gardens should be planted at each of the participating schools in March. 

October 24 is Make a Difference Day.  This day is a national day of volunteerism sponsored by USA Today.  Elbert-Palmer Elementary School is planning events to improve school climate, and encourage students and families to realize that they, too, can make a difference in other peoples' lives.  The school will host three main projects on Saturday, October 24.  They will be painting a mural, planting a garden, and pledging our commitment to peace by making and planting pinwheels for peace.

Kelly Green, Elbert-Palmer’s Elementary Guidance Counselor said about the planned activities, “By investing time and effort into enriching our school and school grounds, we hope to instill a sense of pride and commitment in our students.  In addition, by creating a beautiful place to work and learn, we are planting seeds of hope in our students' hearts.  Our students will see teachers, families, and community members working together to improve our school thus reinforcing the bonds between school and home.”

The school also will integrate the garden and landscaping projects into the science programs by giving students hands on experiences with the life cycle, trees, insects, and soils. Teachers will be able to provide hands on lessons that reinforce their science curriculum and students will experience first hand the life cycle of a butterfly, the different types of soils and the growth of a plant from seed to plant.

Click here to learn more about Make A Difference Day.

NHS Celebrates Hispanic Heritage

Maclary Elementary School to Host "What In The World?"
Career Awareness Program

Maclary Elementary School will host the Business, Industry, Education (BIE) Alliance’s “What In The World?” career awareness program for their  on Wednesday, October 28, 2009.  “What in the World?” is an interactive program designed to introduce students in grades 3 through 12 to a wide variety of careers in the math, science and technology fields.

 For more than a decade, “What in the World?” program volunteers from the local business community have gone into area schools, bringing with them job-related “mystery objects” designed to spark the students’ curiosity and inspire them to learn more about the skills and education necessary for success in these jobs.  Participation in “What in the World?” broadens students’ horizons by exposing them to unfamiliar occupations and motivates them to explore career options in a whole new way.

Representatives from the following business partners are among those who will be sharing their time and expertise with the students at Maclary Elementary School:

• University of Delaware Cooperative Extension

• Christiana Care Health System

• Brandywine Zoo

• Christina School District Nutrition Department and

• Siemens Medical Imaging.

BIE is currently recruiting volunteers to present the “What in the World?” program in New Castle County.  To learn more, visit our website at www.bie.k12.de.us or contact:  Andrea Majewski, BIE Alliance, 226 West Park Place, Suite 2, Newark, DE  19711; phone: (302)
368-4372, fax: (302) 368-1254, email: amajewski@bie.k12.de.us

Brader and Downes Elementary Schools Participate in
International Walk to School Event

Newark High School Hosts College and Career Fair

• Congratulations to Matthew Roarty and Leslie White who earned all 5's on the 2009 DSTP! 
• Sophomore Monika (CQ) Chawla, is the recipient of the Jefferson Award for September in recognition of outstanding community service at Union Hospital in Elkton, MD.
• Senior Holly Firlein is a National Merit Semi-Finalist.  Senior Jessica Palmer and Anna Dmytrenko have been awarded a Letter of Commendation as they placed in the top 5% of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2010 competition by taking the 2008 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT).  Senior Ryley L. McDuffie is an outstanding participant which recognizes that her score was in the top 3% of 160,000 Black Americans who requested consideration in the 2010 National Achievement Program when they took the 2008 PSAT/NMSQT.
• The NHS Marching Band received an Outstanding Rating at the Bandarama held on October 10 at Marple Newtown High School.  Go Jackets!
• The Brothers and Sisters Union has been quite busy so far this year.  In addition to participation in the Aids Walk Delaware last month, members are planning events in October to raise money for the fight against breast cancer which include a Pink Lemonade and Pink Bake sale.  Pink ribbon cards will be hung in the school showing the names of those people who supported the cause by purchasing any of the pink treats. 
• The Newark Public Library continues to showcase the artwork of many talented Newark High School students.  October featured artists are:  seniors Taylor Davis, Candace Evans, Annie Li, Xiao Li, Katie MacKenzie, John Mooney, Brook Mulhern, Nicole Osman, Carly Patrick, Melissa Reamer, Alex Sadot, Chelsea Stenner, Morgan Sweede; juniors Ashly Culver, Randi Homola, Heeyun Jung, Francisco Lopez, Abby Moss, Xavier Webster, and sophomores Justina Newton, Christina Terranova, and Jon Wolfe.

Calendar Reminders...