News & Announcements

Get the latest Downes news from Shark Bites. You can also read news from the Parent Information Center of Delaware.

Girls On The Run – January 1, 2012
MusIQ Club – December 22, 2011
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation – December 19, 2011
New Counselor Starting Nov. 30 – November 30, 2011
Child Nutrition School Lunch Program – July 6, 2011
Downes Wins Bronze Medal from Alliance for a Healthier Generation – June 12, 2011
Ms. Hudson Named Teacher of the Year – April 7, 2011

Girls On The Run

Downes will once again be a site for the Girls On The Run Program. The program is for girls in grades 3rd - 5th.

Girls on the Run program combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the program are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development. This positive youth development program which combines an interactive curriculum and running to inspire self-respect and healthy lifestyles in pre-teen girls. The core curriculum addresses many aspects of girls' development - their physical, emotional, mental and social being. The lessons provide the girls with the tools to make positive decisions and to avoid risky adolescent behaviors. We are looking for girls in grades 3-5 to participate in the program. The practices will run on Mondays and Fridays from 3:00-4:15p.m. here at Downes for approximately 10 weeks.

Participants of Girls on the Run® and their families choose a program fee based on family income. Girls participate equally in the program, regardless of the fee their family selects. The actual out of pocket cost to the GOTR program is approximately $155 per girl for the twice per week, ten week program. This $155 covers the full cost of one child’s participation. The following scale is provided for families to choose what they believe they can afford, with the realization that by contributing as much as they can afford, families are helping realize the vision for all girls to participate. Families who have the ability to and are interested in supporting the program beyond the $155 will have an opportunity to sponsor additional girls as well on the participant registration form.

Scholarships are available to families at all income levels if unable to pay the fee associated with that income level. Please contact Melissa Rice with questions regarding scholarship eligibility.

Family Income Program Fee

$150,000 + $175.00

$65,000-$149,999 $165.00

$50,000-$64,999 $110.00

$30,000-$49,999 $55.00

$19,000-$29,999 $30.00

$0-18,999 $12.00

Included in the fee price are:

lessons conducted by certified GOTR® Coaches
official GOTR T-shirt
5k race registration and celebration event

Holly Ariff has volunteered to be the head coach but we still need assist coaches. Please e-mail Holly if interested at the following address: hollyariff@yahoo.com and Sandy Hudson at: hudsons@christina.k12.de.us. I will send home flyers on this program the first week of February. Online registration for this program will begin on Monday , February 27th. The fee for the program is based on family income. http://www.girlsontherun.org/ theprogram.html you can read more about the program if you click on the link.

MusIQ Club

MusIQ Club is a unique opportunity to provide your child with a comprehensive, affordable and fun instrumental (piano) music education. In MusIQ Club children ages 4 and up learn to read music, play piano with both hands, improvise and compose. The MusIQ Club program uses interactive computer software and digital piano keyboards to develop and perfect skills. For details, download the flier here. To register, go to www.smusicstudio.com.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

On Monday, December 19 the students of Downes Elementary School participated in "Penny Wars" to earn money for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The Specials teachers were asked to suck on a lemon slice and have their picture taken. These pictures were on display during lunch periods on that Monday. Students were to vote for their favorite "lemon face" by putting coins in a container with that picture on it. Oh what fun they had voting!!! The Specials teacher with the most money in their container will win a tee shirt with their picture on it and a box of Lemonhead candy just for being such a good sport!!!

We also "Decked the Halls" with paper lemons with names of people who donated money also for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The paper lemons were mounted on a very large paper lemon and put on display in the main hallway. Between both fundraisers we collected $500.00 for such a worthy cause.

A big thank you goes out to the Downes Elementary School K-Kid's Club, our volunteer club, for all of their hard work to make this fundraiser the success that it was. Also a big thank you to all of you who donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

New Counselor Starting Nov. 30

In addition to Mrs. Jeandell, the district is providing a school counselor to implement the school violence prevention curriculum, Second Step. In an effort to reduce inappropriate behavior in the school, Mrs. Moran, our new counselor, will work with students in grades 4&5 and share strategies on character education. Students were previously receiving this training from Mr. Muhammad, but now Mrs. Moran will assume these duties and allow Mr. Muhammad more time to work as our time out interventionist.

Child Nutrition School Lunch Program

Child Nutrition has compiled a summary of its services. Read more about meal benefits, nutritional requirements, complete meal policies, PINs, prepayments, charging meals, allergies, and wellness policies.

Principal Denise Schwartz welcomes you aboard the H.R.R. Downes: Honesty, Respect, Responsibility

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