30 Christina Four-Year-Olds Attend Preschool in New Pilot Program

“10-9-8-7…3-2-1 Blast Off!” Dr. Marcia Lyles animatedly read Countdown to Kindergarten to twenty preschoolers attending orientation at Leasure Elementary School on October 19 to kick-off their preschool year!   A combination of Title I funding and Preschool ARRA (Stimulus) dollars allowed a pilot program posed by the District’s Early Childhood Leadership Team to come to fruition for 30 four-year-olds who would otherwise not have access to preschool prior to Kindergarten.

Students were selected based on specific eligibility criteria set forth to serve Christina families most in need of early education services for their children.  Recruitment efforts by Nancy Smith, Program Coordinator for ECAP, Christine Buker, Lead Parent Educator for the Parents as Teachers Program, and Adilia Diaz, Family Service Paraprofessional for Preschool, resulted in the successful placement of the students in the new pilot program.  All of the families had been on waiting lists for preschool at several county programs.

“Thank you all very much,” remarked a parent during the orientation session, “Since I was laid off in July, the money I thought I would have to pay for my son’s preschool is gone.  This program is a true blessing to our family.” 

Students will attend a two hour preschool session three afternoons per week until the end of May this school year.  Teachers will be recording baseline data for all students in the areas of social-emotional health, cognition and language abilities, pre-academic skills, and motor control.  At the end of the program this spring, teachers will assess students again to measure growth in all areas of development. 

“The intent is to prove once again that providing children with high quality preschool programming prior to kindergarten does make a difference in all areas of development, not just pre-academics,” states Lisa Lawson, Supervisor for Early Childhood Programs in the district, “The bonus here is that all of these students are slotted to attend Kindergarten at Leasure Elementary School in 2010.”

If the pilot program is successful, the district hopes to offer the program at two additional sites next school year.  “We continuously think of creative ways in which we can serve the maximum number of three and four year olds in Christina,” Lawson says.  “With Superintendent Lyles’ continued support, we are certain this will be a very successful program.”

Two Christina Schools Named State Title I Distinguished Schools
Christina Has Received 5 National and State Recognitions in the Past 3 Years

Young Writers from Smith Elementary and Kirk Middle Schools
Collaborate in a Writer's Workshop

Networks Students Compete in National Agriscience Fair

Great Things Happening at Douglass School

Douglass Hosts Ronald McDonald Character Education Program

On October 27, Douglass School hosted the Ronald McDonald School Program.  The program was entitled “On the Inside.” The program emphasized the importance of good character, and utilized music, magic, state of the art puppets, and audience participation to promote positive character traits.  The group will be returning on February 18, 2010 to do a program on friendship, cooperation and anti-bullying. That program is entitled,”A friendship adventure with Ronald McDonald.”
 

Douglass Students Help 10-Year Old Cancer Patient
Douglass School students recently wrote to a 10-year-old girl named Danielle Bartlette in Richwood, West Virginia who is battling brain cancer.  Listening to the radio on the way to work, a Douglass staff member heard the girl’s wish to receive 1,000 letters, and the students responded by writing to her. Others interested in writing to Danielle may send letters to: 260 Country Club Road, WV, 26261. 

Porter Road Elementary School Picks a New Mascot:  The Penguins

The District’s newest elementary school, Porter Road Elementary, has chosen a new mascot and school colors. The decision was made after a democratic process was undertaken involving nominations and voting by all students.  Principal Richelle Talbert first asked students to come up with some nominations based on what they wanted their school to be and to represent. Many of the students at the new school came from other elementary schools in the district, where they had such mascots as the Brader Tigers, McVey Dragons, Keene Koalas, Marshall Crayon Kids, and Leasure Bears. Classroom teachers talked with students about coming up with a mascot that would reflect the new school, and individual classrooms took votes. Based on that information, each grade level made a selection of their top choice, and teachers used this process to talk about the democratic process of voting and right to vote.  Among the ballot options were penguin, pirate, eagle, bulldog, husky, tiger, and tornado. When the ballots were counted, the bulldog had come in second, but the winner was the penguin.

“Next came choosing what we wanted the penguin to look like,” said Talbert. “We wanted a friendly-looking penguin—like the ones from “Happy Feet” and with a scarf and a hat.” The school’s leadership team chose the school colors –royal blue and gray -- after gathering feedback from students.  Talbert hoped they would be able to create the new logo soon and begin to incorporate it into activities and events at the school throughout the year.

Brookside Elementary Math Carnival Was a Huge Success

Delaware School for the Deaf Hosts Resident Artist from
Delaware Center for Contemporary Art

Thurgood Marshall Students are Phanatic about Reading

On October 6, Thurgood Marshall students received a special treat to kick off the “Be a Phanatic about Reading” program.  Donna Nordmark Aviles, an author from Hockessin, came to Marshall to share her very special books with Marshall students.  Mrs. Aviles has published three books which tell the story of her grandfather, Oliver Nordmark’s, life and his experiences on the Orphan Train. The Orphan Trains were used to transport homeless children who were living on the streets of New York to families in the Midwest. The Orphan Trains ran from 1854 to 1929 and during that time 250,000 children were given new homes.

Mrs. Aviles’ first book, Fly Little Bird, Fly tells of Oliver’s ride on the Orphan Train in 1906. Continuing Oliver’s story, her second book is titled Beyond the Orphan Train and tells of Oliver’s new life.  Mrs. Aviles’ last book, Peanut Butter for Cupcakes tells her grandfather’s story as an adult living during the Great Depression.  Marshall students (and teachers) were fascinated as Mrs. Aviles told the story about the Orphan Trains, and hearing Oliver’s voice on tape really brought his stories to life.  Many of the students received autographed copies of the books and couldn’t wait to begin reading about Oliver.

The  “Be a Phanatic about Reading” program is sponsored by Verizon and was created to motivate students to read.  Students agree to read (or be read to - for younger students) for a minimum of 15 minutes a day. The Phillie Phanatic will make a special visit to the top performing schools.  In order to qualify for a Phanatic visit, teachers report student progress to the Phillies, and schools will be selected for this very special visit.  Teachers will also nominate an ‘Outstanding Reader’ and a ‘Most Improved Reader.’  Winners will be selected and honored at a Phillies Game. Although not all students will be honored on the field, all participants will be listed on a special billboard and will receive a certificate from the Phillie Phanatic, and their families will receive a special ticket discount.        

We wish to thank Amy Selheimer and Kelly Schneider for bringing Donna Aviles and the “Be a Phanatic for Reading” program to our school.  Marshall students are now rounding the bases and scoring homeruns for reading.  We encourage everyone else to pick up a book and read, too!

Click here to learn more about the Be a Phanatic About Reading Program.

Four Newark Seniors are Honored by
National Merit Scholarship Program

Newark High School Senior Holly Firlein has been named a National Merit Semifinalist.  Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT Selection Index scores (critical reading + mathematics + writing skills scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit^® Scholarship Program.  In April following the fall test administration, high-scoring participants from every state are invited to name two colleges or universities to which they would like to be referred by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  In September, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist.   In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 highest scoring students, are notified that they have qualified as semifinalists. To ensure that academically able young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. To be considered for a National Merit^® Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements.

Fellow seniors Jessica Palmer and Anna Dmytrenko have received Letters 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 African Americans who requested consideration in the 2010 National Achievement Program when they took the 2008 PSAT/NMSQT. Congratulations to these outstanding students for their achievements.

Click here to learn more about the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Kirk Student Wins 1st Place Award from Center for Talented Youth

Xander Opiyo, a 6th grade student at Kirk Middle School, received a 1st place award for Verbal Aptitude from Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth on October 25th at their Fall Awards ceremony.  He was the only public school student in Delaware that received an award from 5th-8th grade.  Xander participated in the gifted/talented tests administered by the Center for Talented Youth when he was a 5th grade student at Leasure Elementary.  Since 1979, The Center for Talented Youth has identified the most academically able elementary and middle school students each year from across the country.  Students are tested and the results of those tests give families a better idea of their child’s academic talents. 

Downes Elementary Hosts
Dads for Doughnuts

Downes Elementary School hosted its annual Dads
for Doughnuts event on October 15.  More than 200 students and dads, granddads, and other family members attended this popular event which featured fruit, cereal, milk - and of course, doughnuts.  The Downes community thanks the PTA for sponsoring this event. 

Lieutenant Governor Denn is a Teacher for a Day at Gauger-Cobbs

Lieutenant Governor, Matt Denn spent an afternoon with students and staff at Gauger-Cobbs Middle School on October 16.  The Lieutenant Governor was on a state wide tour completing 10 jobs in 10 days in Delaware’s schools.  In recent days he served as a Paraprofessional, a substitute teacher, a café worker and a maintenance worker to name a few, and on the 16th he had a chance to experience the role of a middle school teacher.  He spent block 3 with Lisa Regler and Block 4 with Tracy Soisson.  He also dropped in the Faculty Lounge during some of the lunches to talk with teachers and visited a few other classrooms to learn more about Gauger-Cobbs.  

Christina Students Participate in Launch of the
Delaware Environmental Institute

Students from Wilson and Porter Road Elementary Schools accompanied Enrichment Services teacher Julia Dooley to the official launch of the new Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN) held on October 23.  The students were presented with a certificate and an award for their class in support of their creative work and continued interest in environmental sustainability, presented by Governor Jack Markell.  The students also had the opportunity to hear lectures by world-renowned scientists, and received a donation to their Polar Fair.  DENIN will support cutting-edge environmental research in areas relevant to challenges facing the state and the nation, and Institute research will inform decision makers by providing the knowledge that can help create sound environmental policies.

Students from Porter Road Elementary School included Oscar Monroy, Ashley Palko, Kaila Nelson, Christina Stevens, Sandra Lopez, Jade Avallone, Andrew McNatt, Vivian Spatz, Brian Sutton, Nate Hollett, Bianca Anaya, Tanhya Resendiz, Eddie McLaughlin, Gessica Scott-Dicesare, Edwin Garcia-Alonso, and Sonny Hampton.

Students from Wilson Elementary School included Karl Stomberg, Davina Wooley, Maitreyi Dave’, Aaron Moriak, Alexandra Brevoort, Lindsey Dillon, Jacob Tims, Hannah Bartholomew, Bryan Spivey, Maddison Tracy, Jack Kelly, and Blaise Glowiak.

Click here to learn more about the Delaware Environmental Institute.

West Park Place Elementary School hosted its first Family Reading Night on October 8.  Parents were presented with a Reading First Workshop on how to help their children become better readers.  Kids were entertained by storyteller Gary Lloyd sharing some American Tall Tales. Then parents and kids gathered together to complete a family reading project, and to enjoy a raffle and refreshments.  Thanks to all who made this enjoyable and instructive night possible.

In October, Sarah Pyle Academy (SPA) students and staff held a SPA Works in the Community Volunteer sign-up Fair.  Each teacher was responsible for facilitating a community outreach project. The fair will provide students with the opportunity to select a project of interest.  In addition students will have an Advisory lesson about the value of giving and sharing their skills and talents and a large group orientation presented by SPA Student Services Team.  Alzheimer Association, Best Buddies Delaware, and Easter Seals, Christiana Care, Exceptional Care for Children, Association for the Blind, and CSD REACH Program are a few of Sarah Pyle’s community partners.  Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition was also on-site to share important information about their organization.

Viking and Yellowjacket Bands Highlight
New Castle County Band Festival

Two marching bands from Christina School District highlight the 2009 New Castle County Marching Band Festival at Tiger Stadium in Greenville on Saturday, November 7.  The performances will begin at 7:00 p.m.  Christina School District bands to be performing are the Viking Band from Christiana High School and the Yellowjacket Marching Band from Newark High School.

Also performing are The Highlanders from Thomas McKean High School in Milltown, the Spartan Marching Band from Saint Mark’s High School in Milltown and the Tiger Marching Band representing Alexis I. du Pont High School in Greenville.  A professional adjudicator will rate and review the performances by each of the bands, and each band will be recognized for their participation following the performances.

This event is open to the public with general admission tickets available at the stadium gate for only $5.00.  Admission for Seniors, Children and Students with ID is $3.00.  Children under 6 years of age admitted without charge. The Tiger Stadium concession stand will be open for this event.

Tiger Stadium is on the campus of Alexis I. du Pont High School, located at 50 Hillside Drive in Greenville, just west of Delaware State Route 52 (Kennett Pike).  For further information, contact Paul L. Parets at 302.651.2626 or pparets@aol.com.

Kudos to Assistant Athletic Director Brian Corey and a dedicated group of Newark athletes, boosters, and alumni who spent a week painting the East gym.  The freshly painted gym includes black and white with yellow accents and thanks to Alan Smith, two six-foot Yellowjacket logos.  These improvements come in addition to the new sound system that was installed last winter in the West gym.  Thanks to boosters David Hall and Mike Reamer, the West gym now has a 'new buzz.'

The Newark High School Nature Society, in cooperation with the Delaware Nature Society (DNS), will host a seminar on Habitat Gardening and Backyard Habitats.  The DNS will provide the basics of habitat gardening and will include information regarding certification of their garden by the National Wildlife Foundation.  The seminar is free and will be held on December 3, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the City County Chambers at the Newark Municipal Building on Elkton Road.  For further information, please contact Robert McDowell at Newark High or via email at mcdowellr@christina.k12.de.us. 

Date:  Saturday, December 12, 2009
Time:  9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where:  Glasgow High School, 1901 South College Avenue, Newark, DE
Benefits:  Glasgow High School Swim Team Fundraiser

Questions? - Please contact:  Marguerite Mahoney
302-731-0484 / mm612star@gmail.com

2009 Craft Fair Crafter Application

Calendar Reminders...