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Education in the First State
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Science comes alive for students at overnight camp
Seventh graders from Cape Henlopen's Mariner Middle School take part in Residential Environmental Education at Cape Henlopen (R.E.E.C.H.), the park's two-day, overnight program open to all Delaware students. (Photos)
When a group of
Mariner Middle School students visited Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes earlier this month, they were not there to lay on the beach or enjoy the park's renowned bike trails. Instead, the seventh graders had come to measure trees, learn how to use a sediment core to compare soil conditions, and study how salt marsh grasses produce detritus - or decaying material - for other plants and animals to eat.
These real-world experiments were intentionally planned to coincide with the Mariner students' unit on watersheds, allowing the students to apply what they were learning in the classroom to real-world situations to master the academic content more deeply.
The activities are part of the Residential Environmental Education at Cape Henlopen (R.E.E.C.H.), the park's two-day, overnight program open to all Delaware students. Since 1998 R.E.E.C.H. has allowed students an opportunity to investigate the diversity of local ecosystems and to learn hands-on how different factors in the real-world impact Delaware's coastal wetlands.
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Bank at School teaches financial management
North Star Elementary first-grader Turner Bowersox counts out his change as he makes his weekly bank deposit at school with Torie Saunders, Bank at School representative for New Castle County School Employees Federal Credit Union. (Photos)
First-grader Turner Bowersox empties a sandwich bag of coins onto the table and counts out his money: four quarters, five dimes, a nickel and eight pennies.
"A dollar sixty-three," he declares before signing his deposit slip, grabbing a sticker and yelling "Next!" as the classmate behind him moves up in line.
So goes the weekly deposits at
North Star Elementary in the Red Clay Consolidated School District.
For children such as 7-year-old Turner, the Bank at School program provides an opportunity to learn about financial management --- and it solves some storage challenges, too.
"You can go back and get your money and you can see it so you don't have too much money in your piggy bank," he said.
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'Getting to Zero' graduates find success in college
From top and left to right: Lake Forest alumna Sara Hernandez, Mount Pleasant alumna Sydney Nye, Cab Calloway alumna Nicole Mejia and Brandywine alumna Terri George.
In 2013 the Delaware Department of Education launched its Getting to Zero initiative, which helps students identified as "college ready" - those who score a 1550 or higher on their 11th grade SAT - apply and transition to college and other post-secondary education programs. For most students, Getting to Zero is a series of school events that includes College Application Month, financial aid nights and College Signing Day. It also may include targeted communications and supports to ensure students apply, enroll and show up for their first day of college. Some students who are income-eligible also receive college application fee waivers. Before the launch of this initiative in 2013, only about 82% of these students applied. The goal of the program was to get the number of students who are college-ready but don't pursue post-secondary options to zero. For the past two years, the program has met this goal.
This spring we asked "where are they now?" about some of the students this initiative has helped over the past two years. Here are four of their stories:
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School nurses support student health, learning
Caesar Rodney School District's Susan Hoffman is president of the Delaware School Nurses Association.
May 11 was National School Nurse Day. In recognition of our Delaware school nurses, we recently interviewed Susan Hoffmann, current President of the Delaware School Nurses Association. Nurse Hoffmann shared her story and how school nurses support the educational success of students across the state.
School Nurses have been required in Delaware public schools for over 50 years. Has school nursing changed over this time?
Most definitely! School nursing in the 21st century is very different than the 1960's. One example is IDEA and the inclusion of all students in the least restrictive environment. In the case of children, who are medically fragile or have complex medical needs, the oversight and care by the school nurse is essential for them to attend school. There has also been in increase in the number of children living with life threatening chronic health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and food allergies. The school nurse, as the medical expert in the school, provides direct care and collaborates with teachers, parents and physicians to make plans to address the student's health needs during the school day.
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Appoquinimink member named National Mother of Year
Michelle Wall, an Appoquinimink School Board member, was named National Mother of the Year by American Mothers Inc. She celebrated the honor with her family and school community during a ceremony at Silver Lake Elementary earlier this month.
Appoquinimink School Board member, Michelle Wall, has always been involved in leadership and community service. The mother of two daughters - Ann Stewart, 10, and Ruby, 7 - she was balancing a full schedule as a Girl School troop leader, MSquerade event chair for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, weekly parent volunteer and PTA member at
Silver Lake Elementary, and more when she decided to run for Appoquinimink School Board in 2015.
"The main reason I ran for school board was because I am an involved parent. I want more parents to get involved in our district to support our teachers and advance the success of our students," Wall said.
For Wall, her main responsibility as a mother means that she is intentional in how she chooses to spend her time. She only takes on what she knows she can commit to, and she often focuses on efforts that also support her family.
"In the process of raising my daughters I have learned that if I desire to raise strong independent women who will be active community leaders, then I need to model this behavior for them," she said.
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Other Good News in Delaware's Public Schools
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