Delaware Chosen as a Finalist for Federal "Race to the Top" Funds

Dr. Marcia Lyles to Join Vision 2015 Leadership

Rescheduling Parent/Teacher Conferences

Due to the recent inclement weather and school closings, schools will reschedule the Parent/Teacher conferences originally scheduled for February 11. Schools will communicate with parents to reschedule the conferences after regular school hours on one of the following three days: Tuesday, March 16, Wednesday, March 17, or Thursday, March 18. For more information, please contact your child’s school.

Adjustments to Schedule for Report Card Distribution

Due to the recent inclement weather and school closings, the District has adjusted the schedule for report card distribution and interim reporting for all schools.

For Grades K-5:

• For Trimester 2, Report Cards will go home March 19.
• For Trimester 3, Report Cards will go home on the last day of school.

• For Marking Period 3, the Marking period will end March 31, and Report Cards will go home April 22.
• For Marking Period 4 in Grades 6-8, the Marking Period will end May 28, and Report Cards will be mailed home June 15.
• For Marking Period 4 in Grades 9-12, the Marking Period will end June 1, and Report Cards will be mailed home on June 16.

When is the Last Day of School?

Newark High School Announces 2009 Scholastic Art Award Winners

From left, front row:  Xiao Li, Heeyun Jung, Teresa Summa, Gretchan Tan; second row:  Chelsea Stenner,
Sarah Brophy, Carly Nieuweboer, Jessica Palmer, Ashley Culver; back row:  Perpetual Baffour,
Javier Bedolla Pantoja, Omar Alghali.  Not pictured:  Jaimie Ermak, Angela Rossignoli

Congratulations to the 2009 Scholastic Art Award Winners.  Their categories and awards are listed below.  Special thanks to Newark Art Teachers Jaime Moore, Diana Rossi, and Karen Yarnall.  The Gold Key winning entries have been sent to New York for the national judging.  The Gold and Silver Key winners were featured on display in the art gallery at Delaware State University in Dover from January 12 to February 13.

Scholastic Art Award Winners
 

Mini Society Teaches Marshall Students about Commerce and Finance

When visitors enter Candy Village, a small “town” located in Linda Willey-Impagliazzo’s classroom at Marshall Elementary School, they are met with a bustling array of entrepreneurs eager to sell their products and services. If you have enough “Sweet Bucks” – the currency accepted in Candy Village– you might buy a homemade brownie, have your nails done at the salon, play a game of chance, pick out a hand made piece of jewelry, have your face painted, or line up to throw a ball at a tower of plastic cups to win a prize. 

“Our students create their own products or services to sell to other students,” Willey- Impagliazzo explains. “Then they do a profit/loss analysis to determine the success of their idea. When we hold another session in April, that helps them determine whether to repeat the same business or modify it to make it more profitable.” 

Everything related to the project is done by students, from electing a mayor to creating the design for the money, to advertising Candy Village to other students in the school. A total of eight classrooms visited Candy Village on February 17, representing students from second through fifth grade. Willey-Impagliazzo has been using the Mini Society approach since 1981, and has received extensive training through the University of Delaware’s Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship, which sponsors workshops on Mini Society. 

“I ask my former students years later what is the most memorable experience they remember from my class, and they always say Mini Society,” Willey-Impagliazzo said. As part of a research project she pursued for her master’s degree, she also learned that 67% of her former students followed careers in the same general area they had explored in the Mini Society project. The goal for this year’s class is to finance a trip to the Franklin Institute, which they hope to visit
in May.
 

Christina Celebrates Music In Our Schools Month

March is Music In Our Schools Month - a time for schools to celebrate how music enriches the lives of all students.  According to the National Association of Music Education, "the purpose of Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM) is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children - and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music.  MIOSM is an opportunity for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community and to display the benefits school music brings to students of all ages."

There are a number of exciting programs offered by Christina's elementary, middle and high schools.  We invite you to support our students and music in our schools by attending:
 

New DCAS Blog!

The current state-wide testing system, DSTP, will be replaced
in 2011 by a new system, the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS).  Post questions about the new
Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS) at the District's newest blog:  http://christina-dcas.blogspot.com/

Keene Elementary School Celebrates Award-Winning Students

Keene Elementary School’s winner of the National Geographic Bee, fourth grader Brian Klingler, was invited to participate in the State Geography Bee to be held in April.  Brian will be competing against students in grades 4–8.  In order to qualify for the state bee, he obtained a qualifying score on the school finalist’s test in January.  Another Keene student, third grader Sumana Murugan, entered a poster contest on the topic of Financial Literacy. Denise Hall, her Enrichment teacher, offered the entry to any student who was interested.  As a member of a council for economic education, Ms. Hall was quite surprised to get a phone call from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to announce that Sumana had won the regional elementary level division.  Her poster will now be sent to the National Contest, scheduled to be judged later this month.  Congratulations to these outstanding Keene students!

Christina Students Continue to Respond to the Tragedy in Haiti

Students and staff at Shue-Medill Middle School held several fundraisers to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti recently.  Students sold charm pops, had a "Hat Day" for students and a "Jeans Day" for teachers, and collected $1,000.05.  The money will be sent to CARE for the Haiti Relief Fund to purchase food, water or tents for needy families.

The students at Downes Elementary School were moved by what happened in Haiti.  They decided to look in the newspaper to find a way they could help in a more direct way in lieu of collecting money (which they also did).  They read that a group (Shoes2Share) would be collecting shoes and hygiene items and delivering them directly.  The students liked that idea so they contacted them and found a local collection center at the 1614 Fitness Center located on South College Avenue, right in Newark.  Mrs. Schwartz made a school wide announcement and the school also held individual classroom shoe drives.  The response was terrific and students and their families filled the collection barrel twice at the fitness center.  The people there were amazed at the generosity of the students and their families.

The students also held a Hat Day that  raised $90.25.  This was organized and promoted by the 3rd grade classes.  University of Delaware Physical Therapy held a “Jeans for Haiti Day” and raised $215 for Downes to donate.   A parent, Sasha Quintana, organized this event. Both donations were made to the American  Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.

Fifth graders also wanted to do something special for Haiti Relief. With so many young children orphaned and injured, rooms 210 and 211 decided to help the babies of Haiti.  Over the course of two weeks, they collected boxes of diapers, formula, jars of baby food, baby wipes, and other baby essential materials.  All donations were donated to Pack the Bus and were to be given to hospitals and orphanages in Haiti.  

Marshall Students Celebrate Famous Black Americans

Mrs. Tillie Madric’s third grade class at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School presented a wonderful Black History program for Marshall School students, parents and faculty.  Each student presented a biography of a famous Black American in honor of their contributions to society.  Songs about the Underground Railroad were sung, excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech were recited, and many other noted Black Americans were featured.  Among them were Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, and Eddie Murphy, to name a few.  Thurgood Marshall, for whom our school is named, was also celebrated.  Marshall Student Alexia Neal even sang a solo.  The most impressive part of the performances was that all of the students memorized their parts, and not one student used notes.  The Marshall community is extremely proud of Mrs. Madric’s third-graders for their hard work and to Mrs. Madric for coordinating a thoroughly enjoyable performance.  Bravo!! 

Bancroft Hosts Family Math Night

On February 18, Bancroft Elementary School held the first of four Family Math Nights.  The evening was sponsored by Bancroft, The Center for Economic Education, and JP Morgan Chase. Families participated in activities led by Bancroft teachers that focused on the key economic concepts of saving and spending.  The activities also reinforced important computational math skills.  Every child who attended also received a book, compliments of JP Morgan Chase.  A few lucky families won home supplies, groceries, or a piggy bank full of change.  They earned these gifts after making the most accurate estimate of the total cost of the items.  The evening ended with a pizza dinner.  The many inches of snow on the ground couldn't keep our Bancroft families from coming out and sharing in a great evening!

Spelling Bee Results for
Bancroft, Elbert-Palmer, and Stubbs Elementary Schools

The results are in for Bancroft, Elbert-Palmer and Stubbs Elementary School students who competed in their school spelling bees.  For Bancroft,  Grade 4/5 contestants were:  Aniyah Baird, Talia Colon, Nacear Hill, Chaka Hollis, Davien Johnson, Jasmine McIntosh, Miracle McNeil, Ronyell Robinson, Desi Rogers, Deairhius Tiller, Devon Whye and Lonja Wilson.  The winner for Bancroft was Ronyell Robinson, and the first runner up was Talia Colon, both Grade 4 students. 

Elbert-Palmer Grade 4/5 contestants were: Marquise Clemment, D’Myr Hackett, Shantae Hall, Theo Johnson, Kelvin Maldonado, Wayne Roane, David Salinas, and Tahlib Watson.  Palmer’s winner was Kelvin Maldonado and the first runner up was D’Myr Hackett.

Stubbs Grade 4/5 contestants were:  Nahshon Archie, Kalila Boyce, Ke’Shia Clay, Dante Cooper, Tajmne Cooper, Raquan Jordan, Jayvonne May, Destiny Savoy,  Daisey Tate and De’Sean Tindell.  The winning speller from Stubbs School was Kalila Boyce and the first runner up was De’Sean Tindell. 

The school champions were eligible to attend the New Castle County Championship in the Scripps Spelling Bee on February 27.  The Bancroft, Palmer and Stubbs students were very excited to participate and everyone performed at their highest level.  Congratulations!

Second Annual New Castle County Job Skills Competition
Set for March 25

The Delaware Department of Labor/Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and New Castle County School Districts are presenting the second annual Get S.E.T. New Castle County Job Skills Competition on March 25.  Get S.E.T. is a competition developed to promote transition and employability skills for high school special education students age 16-21 with cognitive and intellectual disabilities.  One hundred students are expected to participate in Get S.E.T. this year - up to 34 of whom will come from Brennen School (Delaware Autism Program) and Networks School for the Entrepreneurial Sciences.

Business people from the community and instructors from participating school judge the competition representing actual job and employment situations.  Each student will participate in three events.  Medals will be awarded for the top three competitors for each category and all students will receive an official Job Olympic certificate.

The event will be held at Junior Achievement of Delaware.

Gung Hey Fat Choy!
Downes Elementary Celebrates Chinese New Year!

On February 19, the students at Downes Elementary School rang in the Year of the Tiger with a parade that featured musicians from Mr. Ambrosino’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th general music class.  Some members of the “Year of the Tiger Performing Ensemble” played recorders, others accompanied on percussion instruments such as gongs, wood blocks, and recycled metal pipes to create the music for the parade based on traditional Chinese styles.  In addition to the music, other performers improvised a dragon dance featuring an 8 foot red and gold dragon and its entourage that included a handler, fire bearers (waving red scarves to represent flames), a fan bearer (to keep the dragon cool along the way) and the dragon “pooper scooper” (to add a bit of comedy to the festivities).  Art students from Ms. Beck’s art classes created lanterns and other traditional decorations for the hallway.  Two students painted a lifelike tiger banner to lead the parade. This unit incorporated music, visual art, dance, reading, and geography. To prepare for the dragon parade, we read books, listened to music, studied maps, and found research on the Internet to discover how and why Chinese American communities celebrate the lunar New Year.

Christiana High School to Present "Sweet Charity"

The Christiana Viking Players will present “Sweet Charity” Friday, March 5, Saturday, March 6, Friday, March 12, and Saturday, March 13 at 7 PM.  A cast of 40 students have been hard at work since early December practicing lines, dance steps, entrances and exits.  A live pit band comprised of students, faculty members, and alumni will back the performers. Tickets are available at the door: Adults - $7,  Students w/ ID - $5, Seniors - $5,  Under 5 yrs old are free with adult purchase . 

For further information contact Connie Smith, smithc5@christina.k12.de.us or 454-2123, Ext. 12299.

Bead Show and Art Gallery Walk March 25th

Please join the Networks student artisans as they showcase their collection.  All jewelry is handcrafted and each framed piece is custom.  A variety of items will be for sale:  jeweled vases and glassware, bracelets, watches, earrings, necklaces, bookmarks, framed art and much more.  Light refreshments will be served.

High School Students Participate in Track & Field State Championship
On February 20, the 44th Indoor Track & Field State Championships were held at the University of Delaware with CSD high school students capturing several awards. 

The Christiana High School girls team placed 6th overall with a total of 23 points and the boys team placed 11th overall with a total of 16 points.  The following athletes were medal winners at the meet:  Taiwo Akojie, Kehinde Akojie, Keyairra Boyce, Adrienne Tingba, Jack Barchock, Marquise Berry. 

The girls 4x200 relay ran their fastest time of the year to place 2nd with a National qualifying time of 1:45.59.  Jack Barchock was impressive with a throw of 50'6.50" to place 1st in the Shot Put and qualify for the 2010 National Scholastic Indoor Championship which will be held in New York City on March 12, 2010.  The girls 4x200 relay team will also be competing in New York City on March 11, 2010.

The Glasgow High School team had a strong showing earning several medals.  Congratulations to Delesha Conquests, 1st place 55 meter hurdles, Leshon Collins, 1st place 55 meter Dash, 1st place 200 meter Dash and 3rd place Long Jump, Courtney Marks, 6th place overall Shot Put, and Gabby Coleman, personal best record 800 meter dash.

Thanks to all participants for their great effort!

Newark High School
The Brothers and Sisters Student Union Club (BASSU) at Newark High School hosted a Black History Dinner and "History within the Community" Program on February 23 in the A-Cafe.

The NHS Chapter of the Business Professionals of American (BPA) competed at the State Leadership Conference in Dover on February 25 and 26.  The following students will represent Newark:  Michael Bashkow, austin Biaselli, Senator Black, Michael Halfen, Rahul Patel, Tyler Prusisz, and Justin Reamer.

West Park Place Elementary School
Have you noticed that many West Park teachers wear jeans on Fridays?  It's more than just a "casual day" at work.  Teachers pay a dollar each week to wear jeans.  Then the money is sent to Emmaus House, a local homeless shelter.

Bayard Middle School
Kudos to the AVID Students and staff for coordinating and supporting the Heavenly Hats Annual Drive!  Bayard received a Community Service Award and trophy for being the State Winner in this initiative.  Anyone wishing to wear their favorite hat to school paid $1.00.  The homeroom with the most student participation received a free ice cream social in November.  The school collectively raised $185 toward this worthy cause.  The Heavenly Hats Foundation collects and distributes brand new hats of all kinds to those heroes of all ages who lose their hair due to the treatment of cancer or the many other medical conditions which may cause hair loss.  Since the beginning of 2001, Heavenly Hats has distributed more than 450,000 brand new hats to hundreds of hospitals and clinics across the United States.

Bayard Middle School was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the Frederick and Marlene Malek Foundation.  This fund will give 53 Bayard students the opportunity to visit the National Constitution Center on May 7th.

Viking NJROTC Drill Team Places 5th in Multi-State Event
Christiana High School’s NJROTC Drill Team gave a great overall performance at the Glasgow High School Invitational Drill Meet on January 30.  The Unarmed Regulation Drill Team commanded by Senior Eric Bozarth placed third in competition.  Senior Rudolfo Rivera commanded the Armed Inspection team which placed third and the Armed Regulation Drill Team which took a second place among the 10 teams participating.  The color guard teams, under the command of Senior Dylan McCaughan, placed in both of their events.  The Unarmed team took a third and the Armed Team did a fantastic job and won first place.  Dylan McCaughan, Eric Bozarth, Henry Hamilton, and Marcos Rivera worked very hard to win those two color guard trophies on Saturday. Although Christiana’s teams did not compete in two of the events that make up the overall score, the Viking NJROTC Drill Team still came in 5th Overall.  Drill team coach Sergeant Major Gary Arnold lauded the team’s efforts. Assisting, senior instructor CDR Bruce Shumway noted “To have this team place in five different events in competition against school from three different states is quite an accomplishment.”

Community Events

West Side Youth Baseball League Planning Meeting, March 11
Open to all Community Members

Delaware Family Expo, Saturday, March 6
The Delaware Family Expo will offer first state families an opportunity to discover resources that will strengthen, enlighten, encourage and entertain their children and families at the daylong expo.  The Expo is designed to provide area consumers with one stop access to the most local, state and national companies and organizations that specialize in children's products and services.

Calendar Reminders...