InsIde ThIs IssueState Test Q & A …....................... Page 2 Referendum Information .... Pages 4 & 5 School News …................... Pages 3, 6, 7 Announcements …....................… Page 8 Sample Ballot ….......................... Page 8

Inspired to Learn....Prepared to Achieve....Ready to Succeed!

Red Clay RecordFebruary 2015 A Publication of the Red Clay Consolidated School District

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDWilmington, DEPermit No. 564

POSTAL CUSTOMER

Operating Tax Referendum Feb. 24, 2015

upcomIng Board of educaTIon

meeTIngs

February 18, 7 p.m., Brandywine Springs

March 18, 7 p.m., Brandywine Springs

April 15, 7 p.m., Warner

May 13, 7 p.m., Warner

prIorITy schools plans approvedWarner and Shortlidge Grades to be Reconfigured

The Delaware Department of Education (DOE) has approved improvement plans for the district’s three Priority Schools that include reconfiguring the grades served at Warner and Shortlidge elementary schools. In a statement released Feb. 4, 2015, DOE said the plans were approved after a review by the department and national experts, and that DOE will continue to work with the district on finalizing the plans. The plans were sub-mitted to DOE after being approved by the Red Clay Board of Education at its January meeting. Called a “community campus” model, plans call for Shortlidge to serve grades K-2 and Warner to serve grades 3-5 beginning in the 2015-2016 school year. Rationale for the change includes an ability for the district to concentrate services and supports for the students in the two schools, with the goal of raising student achievement. The community campus model is the most sweeping change contained in improvement plans developed for Warner, Shortlidge and Highlands elementary schools by a team of stakeholders at each school. Teams began meeting shortly after an announcement in September that the three schools had been named “Priority Schools” by the Delaware Department of Education. Citing low academic achievement, DOE announced that six Wilmington schools – including three in the Christina School District – would be named “Priority Schools” and receive additional funding for improvements under their direction. Schools that do not make academic gains face closure, being named a charter school, or being taken over by a private educational management company. Teams for each school held numerous planning sessions and public information meetings. At the December school board meeting, the teams presented highlights of their improvement plans. The plans contain a number of “big ideas” on ways to raise student achievement at the schools and address the needs of the whole child, includ-

ing extended instructional time, an infusion of new technology, small group learning, increased training for staff and a partnership with the Uni-versity of Virginia Partners for Leaders in Educa-tion. Individual school plans can be found on the district website here. Families in all three schools will be receiving a letter home shortly which ex-plains the process and where they can get more information.

a message from The referendum sTeerIng commITTee Parents in Red Clay have strong voices! As parent leaders, we have been working with the district to ensure we have a successful referendum on February 24. We have been pounding the pavement to make certain all par-ents are aware of the referendum and the importance of getting out and voting. A referendum can fail because of apathy: people can sometimes believe their vote is not important. We assure you every single vote counts! Our

district has done an outstanding job managing our finances but after 7 years it is time to ask for an increase. This referendum is about making sure our schools have the resources they need. A vote in favor of the referendum is a vote for all students. As parents we know our children are the ones with biggest stake in the outcome of this vote. Students deserve smaller class sizes, modern technology and up to date curricu-lum. They deserve to be educated in schools that are safe and have supports with classroom behavior. Students deserve not just the basics, but after school activities and sports and enhancements to their educational experience such as talented and gifted, arts and academic clubs, just to name a few. Please help us ensure that our chil-dren are able to benefit from all of these opportunities and ensure Red Clay continues to be the outstanding district that will define our community and determine our chil-dren’s futures. Please vote on Tuesday Feb 24, 2015. Polls are at every Red Clay School from 10 am to 8 pm. Please email us with any questions at redclayreferendumcommittee@gmail.com We look forward to seeing you at the polls! Yvonne Johnson and Nate Schwartz- Co Chairs Red Clay Referendum Steering Com-mittee

VOTE! Polls Open

10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Every Red Clay School

(except Central)

Pep Rally Feb. 23, 2015 John Dickinson

High School 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Page 2 Red Clay Record February 2015

sTudenTs To BegIn TakIng new sTaTe TesT In sprIng Beginning after Spring Break in April, Red Clay students will begin taking a new, more rigorous state test called “Smarter”. (Schools will send home specific testing schedules) We thought our families may have some questions and are providing this Q & A: What is new and what are the new assessments called?• Instead of DCAS Reading and Mathematics tests, students will begin taking Smarter

English Language Arts and Mathematics tests this spring. • The state is calling its group of assessments DeSSA for Delaware System of Student As-

sessments .• This includes the new Smarter English Language Arts and Mathematics tests, as well as

DCAS Science and Social Studies, PSAT, SAT, ACCESS (for English Language Learners) and the state’s alternate testing for students with severe disabilities. It also includes some optional assessments.

Why is my child taking new assessments this year?• New standards and assessments are part of our district’s plan to help all students grad-

uate high school prepared for success.• The Smarter Balanced Assessment System is a key part of implementing the Common

Core State Standards and preparing all students for success in college and careers.• The Smarter Balanced assessments provide an academic checkup for students by mea-

suring real-world skills like critical thinking and problem solving. In addition, they pro-vide real-time information during the year to give teachers and parents a better picture of where students are succeeding and where they need help.

• These assessments will replace existing tests, and offer significant improvements over tests of the past, including new types of questions and performance tasks that require students to apply a variety of skills to complete complex tasks that will prepare them for college and the workplace.

• Colleges are participating in the development of these assessments, with the goal of rec-ognizing student scores on the grade 11 assessments as evidence that students are ready for introductory college courses and can be exempted from non-credit remedial courses.

Is this a different kind of test than given in the past? • In some ways yes and in other ways no. The test will consist of a computer adaptive

section and a performance task for each subject. Red Clay students are familiar with computer adaptive testing from DCAS and NWEA MAP that was done in the district before DCAS. However, types of responses on the computer adaptive part of the test and the performance task are new for our students. There will be more writing and there is a research component that uses listening skills.

Is this test more difficult than the current assessment?• Yes, but we have been preparing for this in our classroom instruction. Students are

being asked to read more complex fiction and non-fiction texts across all subjects, not just English. Then they will use evidence from the text to answer questions, make infer-ences, and present persuasive arguments. In mathematics, students will be doing more multi-step problems and application to real-word situations. They will have to explain how they got their answers.

• In the classroom over several years now, we have been doing close reading with text-dependent questions and asking students to use evidence from their text to support their answers. In mathematics, we have been giving students more performance-type assessments. Resources are available for teachers to support their instruction.

What will the assessments cover? • The Smarter Balanced assessments measure real-world skills in English and math, such

as analytical reading, persuasive writing, and problem solving.• In addition to providing composite scores in those two subjects, score reports will pro-

vide information on student performance in the following areas:• English: reading, writing, listening, and research• Math: concepts and procedures; problem solving and modeling/data analysis;

and communicating reasoning• Parents can access complete Practice Tests in English and math for grades 3 through 8

and 11 at http://www.smarterbalanced.org/practice-test/.

When will parents receive results from the Smarter Balanced assessments? What kind of report will parents receive on student progress?• Since the written part of the test must be hand-scored by trained scorers, final results

will not be immediate. The Department of Education expects reports to be mailed to parents in August.

• Score reports will include an overall score for English and math and results for particu-lar topics such as reading and writing. In addition, the reports will include an “achieve-ment level” for each subject that groups scores into one of four categories. Students scoring at levels 3 or 4 appear based on the test results to be making appropriate prog-ress toward college and career readiness.

• The achievement levels were developed with extensive input from teachers, college faculty and parents. Teachers who work with English language learners and students with disabilities were included to help ensure that the achievement levels are fair and appropriate for all students.

• In addition to achievement levels there will also be sub-test scores, called claim scores. For ELA, scores will be reported for reading, writing, listening, and research. For Math-ematics, scores will be reported for concepts and procedures, problem solving/ model-ing/ data analysis, and communicating reasoning.

• Teachers and parents can use the score reports, along with other evidence on student performance such as course assignments, to develop a comprehensive picture of where students are thriving and where they need additional support.

How will the scores change with the new assessments?• The new content standards set higher expectations for students. And the new tests

are designed to assess college and career readiness using these content standards as a benchmark. This means that expectations for student achievement are higher than they used to be.

• As a result, it is likely that fewer students will score at the higher achievement levels on the assessments, especially the first few years. Results should improve as students have more years of instruction based on the new standards.

Does this mean that students will not perform as well as they did previously? • No. It’s important to keep in mind that the tests have changed and are measuring dif-

ferent things—such as whether students are developing critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

• These results do not mean that schools are performing worse or that students are learn-ing less. The scores represent a new baseline that provides a more accurate indicator for educators, students, and parents.

• Our schools are working to make sure that students can meet the challenge of these new standards and succeed in high school and beyond.

How have schools been preparing students?• Classroom activities and class tests prepare students for the content and depth of knowl-

edge required by these tests. • We also provide opportunities for students to become familiar with the test format. • Students in Red Clay are already familiar with computerized tests and some tools such

as highlighting, strikethrough, scrolling, and using a mouse. Yet they need more prac-tice with other skills such as keyboarding to type out their written responses.

• Therefore, in the months of February and March students will take practice tests, in-cluding performance tasks in each subject. Students with special needs who have test accommodations will also get to practice using those.

How can parents prepare their child for these tests?• Suggestions for everyday activities that keep parents involved, informed, and engaged

are: • Read with your children• Review and discuss their homework• Communicate with their teachers• Attend school and public meetings • Learn about the standards and how they affect your child’s education and

school • Look through your child’s backpack each afternoon

• Some testing specific suggestions coming from PTA include: • Discuss the new tests with your child. Make sure he or she is not scared or

anxious going into the new tests. With an older child, explain that the new as-sessments were created to help him or her better prepare for college and career.

• Explain to your child that the tests will initially be more challenging. Tell your child you have high expectations and that you are there to help every step of the way.

• Review test results with your child. Bring the teacher into the discussion as needed.

• Provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home and make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast before a test.

Where can people get more information?• Red Clay Assessment Internet Page http://www.redclayschools.com/pages/RedClay/

Parents_and_Students/Assessment/Delaware_System_of_Student • Delaware’s DeSSA portal http://de.portal.airast.org • Smarter Balanced www.smarterbalanced.org • DelExcels coalition (DOE, DSEA, Delaware PTA, Rodel) www.delexcels.org

February 2015 Red Clay Record Page 3

BalTz offers menTorIng and coffee house programs

Baltz is one of 11 schools in Delaware that utilizes the services of Connecting Generations, through their Creative Mentoring Program, to provide mentors for their students. Creative Mentoring trains and supports Baltz’s volunteer mentoring program that matches adults from the community with students at Baltz. Baltz students have benefited from these caring and supportive relationships for many years. This year one of the mentors, Karen Beare, was recognized for her outstanding commitment to her numer-ous mentees. Over the years she has developed deep sustainable relationships. Some of the mentee/mentor relationships that began in elementary have carried over until high school graduation. She has gone above and beyond to further support a need of a mentee by connecting with the Big Brother/Big Sister Program so she could see her mentee outside of the school day. Each year she reconnects with her mentees and helps them in various ways that aid their success in school and in gaining valuable skills for life. She was recognized as an Outstanding Mentor for 2014. In addition the Baltz staff would like to thank all of our mentors over the years for their commitment to their Baltz mentees. On December 16, 2014, Christiana Personti’s 3rd grade class held their first successful Coffee House. Thanks to 2nd grade teacher John Chancey’s fabulous idea which he has been implementing for the past two years, Christiana Personti’s students impressed their family and friends with poetry readings and story performances. The stories, written by Mo Williams, included but were not limited to Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, The Duckling Gets a Cookie, and The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog. Coffee, hot chocolate, and refreshments baked by the Red Clay bakery were served. The students worked very hard to make this an event they were proud of. Christiana Personti was impressed by the hard work of her students and the support of all the families that were able to attend. Her students have already started practicing for their next Coffee House that will be held in February.

marBrook’s Three r’s and cool cluBs

PBS has come to Marbrook! Marbrook Dol-phins are practicing their three R’s (Ready, Re-sponsible, and Respectful) throughout the day and celebrating their success. Students are “caught” keeping self to self, using walking feet, raising a silent hand, and using appropriate voice levels. They use their accumulation of Dolphin Dollars to spend extra time with teachers, participate in special events, or collect a treat. The pride they have for their positive behavior is truly evident on their smiling faces. To encourage students even as they travel to and from school, teachers “adopt” a bus to build stronger relationships. Culminating whole school activities involve festivals and car-nivals that provide students, staff, and parents an opportunity to celebrate. After school, 90 Marbrook students partici-pate in clubs such as Odyssey of the Mind, Bricks 4 Kids, Lego League, and Science Club. Science Am-bassadors from Wilmington Charter mentor Mar-brook students while exploring the field of science. Odyssey, Bricks and Legos let the students explore their curiosity as they build, problem solve and engineer new ideas. In the coming weeks, Girls on the Run will begin yet another season, welcom-ing many girls to the world of running and physi-cal fitness. Girls will become strong teammates as they support each other through the process. The 5K on Wilmington’s Riverfront this spring will al-low all participants, buddies and families to reach their goals.

BrandywIne sprIngs sTudenTs parTIcIpaTe In The phIladelphIa zoo’s

“Unless Project”

Jill Szymanski’s 5th grade class and thirty-six of Justine Wood’s 8th grade science students at Brandy-wine Springs School are participating in the Philadelphia Zoo’s “Unless Project.” The purpose of this project is to provide students with an authentic learning experience to rethink recycling in order to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. This year, the Philadelphia Zoo has specifically asked students to examine how climate change is affecting the animals of our planet and to advocate for those animals by encouraging their community to change how and what they recycle. In addition, the zoo has challenged students to share their ideas for change with as many people as possible and collect data along the way. The project kicked off with a 5th and 8th grade joint Skype session with workers from the Philadelphia Zoo and was followed by a field trip to the zoo to meet with a zoologist. Students attended a class where they learned how climate change is disrupting the natural balance of the ecosystem and the impact it is having on populations of organisms around the globe. Students were able to ask questions and visit with the animals at the zoo to strengthen their understanding of the importance of preserving the world’s eco-systems. Since the field trip, the students have worked collaboratively over the past eight weeks brainstorming ideas to encourage new recycling habits and to change how the school community and families view their role as global citizens. The 5th and 8th grade students have focused their efforts on changing the habits of their classmates by creating a school-wide movement to ban plastic bags and plastic water bottles. Szymanski’s 5th grade class created the slogan “Baggies and Bottles Be Gone!” and are asking their K-8 schoolmates to pledge to use reusable bags and bottles. In addition, they are asking their classmates to increase the types of items they recycle. In order to present their ideas for rethinking recycling, the students have created several venues for sharing information with the school and the wider community. At the school level, the students will share what they learned at the zoo and through research, along with their ideas for change, through a Power Point presentation to their fellow K-8 schoolmates. Students will create public service announcements through Ed TV which will be broadcast through Verizon and Comcast. The PSA’s and Power Point will also be linked to the Brandywine Springs Project Unless Face-book page. The culminating activity will take place on February 19, 2015 at Brandywine Springs. The students have organized an “Environmental Night” where classmates and their families are invited to attend to learn more about recycling, climate change, and the environment. Fami-lies will have the opportunity to play games, make crafts, and listen to stories. In addition to running the event, Ms. Szymanski’s and Ms. Wood’s students will also organize a “recycled” shoe drive where families can drop off a pair of shoes to be recycled or reused.

red clay celeBraTes

‘I love To read’ monTh wITh naTIonally

recognIzed auThors

February is ‘I Love to Read’ month. Red Clay elementary schools will be celebrating by hosting seven nationally recognized authors. One author will spend a day at each elementary school. During the day, authors will present their stories and talk to students about the joys of writing and reading. Librarians, reading teachers, art teachers and music teachers will build the excitement for the au-thor visit by reading stories, sharing the author’s background, drawing related pictures, and singing songs. In order for families to share in the celebration, there was an evening Author night and book sign-ing event scheduled on February 5, 2015 from 6:30 – 8:00 at Brandywine Springs School. All authors participated. The program began at 6:30 in the au-ditorium followed by book signing in the lobby. Books were available for sale and students brought their own books for signing.

Page 4 Red Clay Record February 2015

referendum 2015: BuIldIng BrIghTer fuTures

a message from The superInTendenT Dear Red Clay Community: You will soon be asked to make an impor-tant school funding decision that will impact all of our students, in all of our schools. I urge you to vote on Feb. 24, 2015 in the operating tax ref-erendum. As you may know, Red Clay is seeking a 35-cent operating tax rate increase, to be phased in over three years. At its height, it will cost the average homeowner an additional $23 per month in school taxes. We do not come to the community with this request lightly. A referendum is the only way a school district has to raise local revenues. Our last operating referendum was in 2008, when we estimated an increase would last four years. With precise budgeting, careful spending, and

cost-cutting, we stretched the funding for seven years, even while the num-ber of our students continued to grow. Operating funds pay for the people and programs in our schools. They fund classroom teachers and keep our class sizes smaller, fund after school activities and sports, reading specialists, arts and music programs, library and classroom materials, police officers and security measures in our schools and on our buses. They pay for the special programs Red Clay is highly re-

garded for, and so much more and the very things we are in danger of losing. A referendum is not just about staying where we are, however. With the increase, Red Clay will implement a one to one computer program for grades 3-12, leveling the playing field and preparing our students for college and beyond. For our youngest grades, we will have classroom devices suited to their learning development. We will replace our math curriculum district wide, support a writing program and enhance the Talented and Gifted pro-grams in all of our elementary schools. We have been fortunate to have the support of our community in the past. Together we have built a unique system of schools that offers programs to fit the needs and dreams of our students, from an arts school, a science school, to International Baccalaureate and multiple career pathways. We strive to anticipate and provide programs that will best prepare our students - your children – for a productive and successful life. We are truly honored by the trust and continued support of our school district by a community that believes in strong schools focused on academic achievement for all children. Thank you for your continued support. Please remember to vote on February 24 – polls are open from 10 am to 8 pm.

Sincerely,

Dr. Merv Daugherty

frequenTly asked quesTIons:Why is a Referendum needed? What went wrong?Nothing went wrong. A referendum is the cycle of funding for public schools in Delaware. Distircts are funded by a combination of state and local funds. Local funds are raised from near-fixed property taxes based on 1983 assess-ments. Red Clay’s last operating Referendum was in 2008 so the district has been operating on the same revenues since that time. By state law, a Refer-endum is the only way a district can increase local operating funding.

Didn’t Red Clay just have a Referendum?Red Clay held a Capital Improvement Referendum in 2012 for the renova-tion and construction of buildings. Red Clay operates 28 buildings of vari-ous ages and conditions. Facility improvements and modernization are a continuous and ongoing effort for buildings that serve over 16,000 students on a daily basis. Capital improvement funding is completely separate from operating funds and referendum dollars cannot be combined. Capital proj-ects are funded by 20 year bonds. Because new debt is added as old bonds expire, the FY15 tax rate for debt service is the same in 2014 as it was in 2008.

Who will benefit from the Referendum? This Referendum is about every student in every grade at every school. A technology device might be different for a 1st grader than a high schooler, but each student will be provided equipment that is best suited to meet their needs. Similarly, someone interested in arts vs. STEM or International Bac-calaueate might be at different schools, but all will have modernized math books and opportunities to participate in after school programs.

What happens if we don’t pass the Referendum?Districts must maintain a balance of funds at the end of the year to meet financial obligations through the summer and receipt of taxes in October. Without a Referendum, cuts must be made to ensure a positive available bal-ance starting next year. The projected cuts needed to maintain a positive balance total $9 million or 15% of the operating budget. These cuts include critical programs that have been added since the 2008 referendum includ-ing additional teachers and Reading Specialists, library and performing arts funding, middle and high school sports and after-school enrichment pro-grams at all grades, sworn school resource officers, assistant principals, and the alternative placement program. Cuts of this magnitude would impact every school, every staff member and every student.

Are the proposed cuts scare tactics?No, when Red Clay was unsuccessful in passing a Referendum in 2007, $8 million in cuts were implemented across the district. Many students and parents remember the impacts of these very real cuts. The District was able to restore the cuts after passing the Referendum in 2008.

How has the district managed its budget?Since 2008, the district budget has increased 2.18% annually. However, at the same time student enrollment has increased by over 10%. Budget ex-penditures per student have increased 1.12% per cent since 2008. Each year, the district has trimmed expenditures to maintain low budget growth. This includes energy efficiency programs, cost containment efforts and consolida-tion of services. The 2008 operating referendum was intended to last 4 years and the district was able to stretch it to 7 years.

How much with the Referendum cost? What will the increase cost me?The Referendum is phased in over three years. By the end of 2018 the tax increase would be 35 cents per $100 of assessed value. For an average home in Red Clay, it equates to $280 or $23 per month. Specific property tax assess-ment information can be found at http://www.nccde.org/parcelview. The total increase in funding from the referendum is $15.5 million.

How will the money be tracked? Can funds be redirected?The Community Financial Review Committee was formed in 2007 to review district budgets and monthly financial reports. After the 2008 referendum, the Committee closely tracked referendum expenditures by project, ensur-ing all funds were spent according to the Referendum plan. Funding in this Referendum would be provided for the items identified and would again be tracked by the CFRC. The recent major capital improvement program simi-larly provides detailed monthly reporting. The first three major projects (Cab Calloway theater renovations, AI duPont High school renovations and Con-struction of Cooke Elementary School) are all on budget and on schedule.

How are students attending charter schools impacted by the Referendum? All Red Clay students, whether they attend traditional public or charter schools, benefit from the Referendum. Students at charter schools are sup-ported by the taxes of their home district. When expenditures per pupil in-crease, the receiving charter schools received a similar percentage of addi-tional funding.

Who is eligible to vote?Any US citizen who is 18 years of age or older and a resident of the Red Clay district as of February 24, 2015. You do not have to be a registered voter to vote in a Referendum.

Do I have to own property to vote?No, so long as you live within Red Clay and are 18 years of age and a US citizen.

February 2015 Red Clay Record Page 5

whaT happens If IT doesn’T pass?

District funds are based on 1983 tax assessment values. Red Clay’s last op-erating tax referendum was in 2008. Since then, state funds have been cut while student enrollment has grown by 10 percent. Without a tax increase, the impact across the district will be significant and include an estimated $9 million in cuts. This is roughly 15 percent of the operat-ing budget and would impact every school, staff member and department. To give you an idea what the cuts represent, below is a partial list of what the district may lose if the referendum fails:

• After school sports and activities at the middle and high school levels• Reading specialists and classroom teachers; class sizes would increase• Arts and music programming• Library and classroom materials• School resource officers (aka - police officers at the high schools)• Assistant Principals (who manage discipline issues at each school, among a

host of other responsibilities)

an esTaBlIshed fInancIal Track record…• Successfully stretched last operating referendum for 7 years • Red Clay Community Financial Review Committee established in 2007. Verified need for referendum

and amount. • Limited district spending and budget growth – average 1.12 percent local per pupil growth since 2008 • Implemented efficiencies and cost cutting initiatives including energy savings• Eliminated administrative office lease, moved to Baltz Elementary School • Delivering 2012 Major Capital Improvement Plan on schedule and on budget

red clay operaTIng Tax raTe

comparIson:Brandywine: $1.559

Christina: $1.420Red Clay: $1.226Colonial: $1.206

referendum 2015: BuIldIng BrIghTer fuTures

whaT wIll IT fund?

• Every child in every school will benefit with new technology and curriculum materials, such as a new math program

• An infusion of new technology devices, hardware, training and bandwidth. Av-erage 1:2 ratio of devices per student, with a 1:1 ratio for 3-12th graders

• Continued high priority initiatives such as reading supports and behavior inter-ventionists

• School safety measures such as camer-as in schools and on buses and State Po-lice officers in middle and high schools

• Operating cost increases (staff and pro-grams) The last increase was approved in 2008

• Continued funding for classroom teach-ers, keeping class sizes smaller

• Expanded learning opportunities for students: Talented and Gifted pro-grams, STEM, International Baccalau-reate, and Literacy initiatives

• After school sports and athletics • After school clubs and enrichment op-

portunities, such as Lego League, Math League, and Odyssey of the Mind

Page 6 Red Clay Record February 2015

Jaguar prIde showIng aT skylIne

Jaguar Pride is a new mentoring and development program at Sky-line this year. Activities focus on improving academics, growing socially, and succeeding with in-school behavior. The program aims to develop positive relationships between students and administrators. The Assis-tant Principals and Student Advisors have taken the lead on this pro-gram, with students being nominated by their teachers. Each 6th grader in the program commits to staying after school once a week for Jaguar Pride. For 7th and 8th graders, meetings are during school time. Whatever the grade level, Jaguar Pride leaders work closely with families. A major goal is to develop a set of ongoing, open relationships that help students succeed. Service is another key part of Jaguar Pride. Jaguar Pride Students have already been involved in several projects, such as helping to pre-pare Skyline for our Open House in December. Jaguar Pride students will play a pivotal role as student leaders in both our 9th Annual Relay for Life and our Black History Month activities. Students have already shown real progress, based on the increased opportunities for positive interactions outside of the standard classroom setting that are the essence of this program. As one important example, school leaders believe that this program is part of the reason that sus-pensions at Skyline have dropped by 32%. By providing opportunities for involvement and encouragement, we have seen our Jaguar Pride students become more connected to Skyline in a positive way and the entire community has benefited.

lewIs sTudenTs To parTIcIpaTe In young consumer program

Lewis Elementary fifth grade students will be participating in Shop-Rite’s Young Consumers Program. With help from the Kenny Founda-tion, the students will visit ShopRite and find out how to incorporate math in real world situations. They will learn to budget money while balancing a healthy diet. In this pic-ture students are learning how to stack cups as a way to help improve concentration and focus.

h. B. sTudenT uses TalenT To help oThers

From the time he started middle school, Suneil Harzenski, a seventh grade student at H.B. du Pont Middle School knew he enjoyed working with his hands to create objects from clay. He learned quickly and excelled at perfecting advanced techniques. Now, just a year later he is thinking about selling his pottery and giving his earnings to help other children. During Art Club and then during seventh grade art classes Suneil learned how to center clay on a pottery wheel from his art teacher, Colleen Zufelt. He started making straight open bowls, similar to what his peers made but knew he wanted to advance. He watched a demo and learned to change shape, a difficult task for a young, inexperienced student. Su-neil was always concerned with perfecting his form and asked to stay after school whenever he could to practice his technique. Colleen Zufelt said, “Suneil learned very quickly. By visually watching he gets it – he’s a natural.” She commented that she never had a student, a child or adult who caught on so fast and learned advanced techniques. His style of trimming creates levels or terraces to his forms. Zufelt said Suneil developed his own way of throwing, standing up and putting his whole body into it. This year he won two Gold Awards in the Regional Scholastic Art Com-petition sponsored by Delaware State University for middle and high school art students. His work will be on display, along with other winners at Delaware State University in Dover until February 7th.Suneil wants to continue to help others in his community by selling his pottery and donating the money he makes. He hopes to start small, through word of mouth. His pots will be on display in the district office and at a spring art show at H.B. Middle School. In addition, art teacher Colleen Zufelt hopes to be able to display some of her students’ including Suneil’s pieces at the Hockessin Library. Future plans in-clude the creation of a website link.

caB calloway sTudenT Team named naTIonal wInner In

verIzon app challenge A high school student team from Cab Calloway School of the Arts has made the list of Best in Nation in the third Verizon Innovative App Chal-lenge, a national competition in which students design a mobile application concept that addresses a need or problem in their local schools or communi-ties. As a national winner, the team from Cab Calloway received a $20,000 cash grant for the school to further develop or support a program in science, technology, engineering and math, the so-called STEM subjects. The student team designed an app concept called VirDoc which gives the user the ability to dissect and interact with a well-rendered cadaver. Cab team members described their entry in a video posted on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/112775598 To be named one of the Best in Nation winners, the Cab Calloway team first won the Best in Region. In total, 90 teams of creative middle and high school students from across the country advanced to the regional phase of the judging process, and 24 teams, including Cab Calloway, competed for the title of Best in Nation. Cab Calloway Dean Julie Rumschlag congratulated the team of students who designed the winning app. “I’m thrilled that our students have earned this recognition. I’m proud of their creative thinking and delighted that they are developing ideas for extending their learning. Their app facilitates student understanding of human physiology.” The Verizon Innovative App Challenge was created by Verizon in part-nership with the Technology Student Association in response to a critical need to inspire student interest in science, technology, engineering and math. Student interest and proficiency in STEM has been stagnant in the United States, especially among women and minorities, although 80 per-cent of all jobs over the next decade will require STEM skills. Currently, 3 million STEM jobs are unfilled in the U.S., and occupations related to STEM are projected to increase to more than 9 million by 2022. More than 90 percent of the winners from last year’s Innovative App Challenge expressed interest in pursuing STEM careers after learning cod-ing and launching their winning app in the Google Play store. Roughly 70 percent reported increased creativity, teamwork and communication skills, and content knowledge. “This contest has exposed students to new skillsets such as learning to collaborate, negotiate and best of all problem solving,” said Bonnie Metz, director of state gov-ernment affairs for Verizon. “We can’t wait to see which of these creative con-cepts will become actual working mo-bile apps that can help make a differ-ence in local com-munities.”

February 2015 Red Clay Record Page 7

charTer school ouTreach programs wITh rplc and caB

Over the years, The Charter School of Wilmington has developed an outreach program with the hope to make a difference in the Red Clay community. CSW President, Dr. Samuel Paoli, states “Giving back and serving others is an expectation at CSW. I am proud to say we have made outreach a big part of our school’s culture.” The two programs he is quick to reference are the Buddy Program and the Science Ambas-sadors. The Buddy Program, led by Mrs. Eileen Voltz and Mrs. Dawn Vega, is a partnership with Richardson Park Learning Center where a CSW student becomes a mentor/buddy to an RPLC student. With 100% of RPLC students participating, the program is a win-win for both schools. The mission of the Science Ambassadors, led by Ms. Cheryl Potocki, is for CSW students to share their interest in mathematics and science with elementary school students within the Red Clay School District and the City of Wilmington. This year, CSW has partnered with Cab Calloway who will be providing the “art” piece of the program. Dr. Paoli encourages any elementary or middle school interested in partner-ing with CSW to contact Ms. Donna Urban at durban@charterschool.org to discuss.

dIckInson young men read To elemenTary school sTudenTs

Young Men’s Empowerment Initiative debuted at John Dickinson High School for the 2014-2015 school year. Its goal is to reach out to young men in the school who could benefit from lessons on accountabil-ity, responsibility, leadership, and community building. Throughout the year, students in the class have had opportunities to attend leadership seminars at locations like Delaware State University and the Dover Air Force Base. In November, the group of young men, along with members of the school’s chapter of Communities in Schools, was able to apply what they have learned by participating in a national effort to support literacy and mentoring called 100 Men Reading. During the event members of the YMEI class read to students from kindergarten through fourth grade in various schools around the county including Warner Elementary, P.S. DuPont Elementary, and Stubbs Elementary. The participants in the reading event were recognized and given cer-tificates of appreciation at the January school board meeting. Students who participated were Deanthony Broadnax, Jorge Cortez, Shalir Flem-ming, James Freeman, Dalton Griner, Jonathan Hernandez, DeAndre’ Jackson, Donte Picciotti, Hasan Presley, Israel Rivera, Alex Santiago, and Gus Thomas. YMEI teacher Dionie Lum and CIS advisor Ronnell Page were also recognized at the school board meeting.

conrad sTudenTs vIew chIna sTudy aBroad agreemenT

Governor Jack Markell showed Conrad students Jimmy Caputo, Brieana Patrick, Madison Northshield, and Fidel Rodriguez an agreement signed with Wanxiang Group, China’s largest auto manufacturer. According to the agreement, the company will provide $450,000 to pay for all-expense-paid trips for 24 students and four teachers from Delaware to study in China for four weeks in the summer of 2015. The students shown, who have taken 3 to 4 years of Chinese, used their language skills to greet a large audience gathered for the signing. In order to apply for the study abroad program, students must have taken at least two years of Chinese and maintain a specified grade point average.

rIchey InTroduces paws program

This school year Richey staff and students were introduced to the Richey PAWS program. This is an incentive program that recognizes and reinforces positive behavior in students.

PAWSPractice safe behaviorAct responsiblyWork cooperativelyShow respect

Students are given PAWS tickets for following the PAWS expectations. The students can then “cash in” the tickets for school-wide and classroom incentives. (Bunny Bashes, Fun Fridays, Movie Days, etc.) The Richey Morning Motto and posters located throughout the school remind the chil-dren of the PAWS expectations daily. Richey started the year off with a PAWS Pep Rally the first day of school. There were some exciting incentives happening in December to promote the Richey PAWS Program! On December 5, Richey hosted its first PAWS Movie & Popcorn Day. The students were able to take a break and enjoy a movie and popcorn in the cafeteria. The students really seemed to enjoy themselves! On December 19 there was a raffle drawing for a new bike. Students spent 5 PAWS to purchase 1 raffle ticket. We are pleased to announce that kindergarten student, Logan M., won the new bike! There are many more exciting PAWS incentives planned for the remainder of the school year.

Thank you to Councilman Joe Reda, William Bell and New Castle County for the approval of Delaware Military Academy’s grant

request of $2,500.00. These monies will be used to continue enhancing the safety and security of the DMA campus.

These gentlemen have been great friends and supporters of DMA and your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for caring about DMA cadets and staff!

Page 8 Red Clay Record February 2015

Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids com-posed a three- minute video to pay trib-

ute to Mr. Corbin, Shortlidge Academy’s community garden guardian at the PTA

Meeting on January 7, 2015. He was pleasantly surprised with his recogni-

tion and humbly accepted the award. A group photograph was also taken with Mrs. Lindsay Lancaster (HFHK) and

Ms. Rose Nelson – the PTA President.

Red Clay College Fair By their junior year of high school, at the latest,

students must start the college application proces. Are you ready?

Let us help by introducing you to counselors from regional colleges and universities!

FREE and open to the public!

John Dickinson High School onThursday, March 12, 2015 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Our College Fair will provide an opportunity for you to meet college admissions counselors. During the event, counselors will provide

presentations on financial aid, scholarships, the College Board SAT, and the college application process.

John Dickinson High School is located at 1801 Milltown Road, Wilmington, Delaware, 19808.

For more information call 302-552-3700

applIcaTIons open unTIl aprIl 1 for aIhs

early college academy Applications are being accepted until April 1, 2015 for the Early College Acad-emy at Alexis I. duPont High School, approved by the Red Clay Board of Education at its December meeting. Graduates of the program could potentially begin their college careers with as many as 28 college credits, said Principal Kevin Palladinetti. The “Early College Academy” is a partnership with Wilmington University (WU) that offers WU classes to AIHS students. It differs from other dual enrollment classes in that students would follow a scripted sequence of classes. If enrolled all four years in the “Early College Academy,” students can earn enough college credits while still in high school to save up to $10,000 if they were to continue their education at Wilmington University. Students can enroll in the program in the fall 2015. AIHS anticipates 30 to 50 students enrolling in the program in its first year. Palladinetti said the school selected courses that would be highly transferable to Wilmington University and other colleges. He and a team traveled to Ohio to view similar programs in high schools there. Supporting data for the program presented by the AIHS team showed that students who complete college credit while in high school require less remediation, have higher Grade Point Averages and earn more credits in college. Research by the College Board also found that students who participate in dual enrollment classes are more likely to attend a 4-year school after high school, have a smaller decline in grades from high school to college, and have a higher likelihood of persisting in college.

moTe offers numerous programs

At Anna P. Mote Elementary School, our teachers and students work hard to be successful every day. We have met Adequate Yearly Progress this year because of our dedication to quality instruction and encouraging our students to do their best every day in the classroom. Further, our days continue past the traditional school hours. We offer a wide variety of after school activities that interest many different types of students. We offer an academic program to assist students who need extra support in reading. Teachers at all grade levels work with students on the Common Core skills they are struggling with. They create lessons that are both instructive and fun. Students enjoy spending time after school working to become better at reading. Two other programs we offer are Odyssey of the Mind and Lego League. Students from kindergarten to fifth grade work on solving problems in creative ways. These programs encourage students to think out of the box as they create presentations on a variety of problems. Team members learn to work as a team and to be as creative as possible. We are looking forward to competing at the local level, and hope to progress to the state competitions! One of the biggest programs at Anna P. Mote is the spring musical. Students in grades 3rd through 5th work with Marla Knieste to prepare a musical that will be presented in the spring. This year, our musical is Aladdin! Additionally, other students and teachers are working on costumes, props, background and technical support. We are all excited to see the final product on April 21st!

mr. corBIn recognIzed aT shorTlIdge