Education in the First State |
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Three schools receive Delaware Wraparound Services grants |
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Students at Kuumba Academy Charter School engage in afterschool enrichment programs that promote social and emotional wellbeing to support the whole child (more pics).
Three Delaware schools have been awarded Delaware Wraparound Services Initiative grants from the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE).
As recommended by the Redding Consortium for Educational Equity, this competitive, one-time grant provides $4.5 million to districts and charter schools serving extraordinary percentages of children living in poverty. Funding is designed to support programs offered before school, after school and during summer months that also include health services like emotional wellbeing care and behavioral health assistance.
The following schools received funding.
- The Bancroft School – Christina School District ($958,000)
- The Bayard School – Christina School District ($1,238,000)
- Kuumba Academy Charter School ($1,416,855)
The goal of the Delaware Wraparound Services Initiative grant is to establish or expand community learning centers that provide students with academic and non-academic opportunities as well as high-quality preventative health care and mental health assistance when schools are not in session.
“It is essential that we address the needs of the whole child as we work toward better student outcomes. It is also important that we build positive learning experiences that help our students connect their learning to the world around them. We are so excited to provide both enrichment and extra learning time for our students,” Christina Superintendent Dan Shelton said.
Schools may contract with third parties to operate some or all of the programs.
For Kuumba Academy Charter School, the grant provides funding to expand its already successful afterschool and summer enrichment program with Wilmington’s Community Education Building (CEB). An additional 160 students will be able to access the enrichment program’s academic tutoring, career readiness, counseling, arts education and social emotional programming designed to help low-performing students meet achievement standards in reading and mathematics.
Kuumba is also partnering with ChristianaCare to establish a student-based health center that will provide onsite preventative care, mental health, and acute care services for all 637 Kuumba Academy students.
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Welch Elementary named Delaware's first Purple Star School |
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Students and educators from Major George S. Welch Elementary School stand alongside Delaware Governor John Carney earlier this month as he signs a document proclaiming April as the Month of the Military Child. The Month of the Military Child was established in 1986, recognizing the contributions and personal sacrifices children make as members of military-connected families.
Major George S. Welch Elementary School in the Caesar Rodney School District is Delaware’s first Purple Star School, recognized for its commitment to supporting the unique educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children.
“Military-connected children often face challenges, from parent and caregiver deployment to frequent school transitions as their families’ military stations change,” Governor John Carney said. “The Welch school community has prioritized providing the extra supports these students need and should be proud to be named Delaware’s first Purple Star School.”
April is Month of the Military Child, a national recognition of the sacrifices military-connected children make so their families can serve our country.
“Taking care of military children is integral to caring for the Dover family,” said Col. Matt Husemann, 436th Airlift Wing commander. “Welch Elementary and the Caesar Rodney School District are awesome, and we are thankful for all they do for the Dover AFB family. Being named a Purple Star School further demonstrates the dedication of the amazing faculty and staff as they provide an outstanding education in harmony with supporting military families’ unique situations.”
Last year the Delaware General Assembly passed Senate Bill 117 to create the Purple Star School recognition, joining the National Purple Star Schools Program. To be designated a Purple Star School, a district or charter school must designate a staff member as a military liaison to: identify military-connected youth, serve as a contact between the school and their families, determine appropriate school services for the children and help coordinate school programs relevant to military-connected youth. In addition to participating in training on how to support the military-connected families with the specific challenges they face, the liaison also must conduct school-wide professional development to inform all staff of the unique needs of military-connected students and available resources.
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Mohamed: Value students as extraordinary individuals |
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Editor's note: The following guest piece was written by Lauren Mohamed, a music teacher at Smyrna School District's Sunnyside Elementary School and Smyrna School District’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.
Growing up, I always felt a calling to be a teacher. My father worked for 35 years as a high school and middle school band director and my mother was everything from an elementary music teacher, to principal, to a 5th grade classroom teacher. What truly instilled this love of teaching, however, was the grocery store. We couldn’t walk in without a former student excitedly running up to one of my parents and saying “Hi Mr. and Mrs. DeLong! Do you remember me?” And both of them always did. These students were from all different walks of life but the reaction was the same. They wore their gratitude on their face and I knew I wanted to have that kind of positive impact on someone’s life.
Going into my first day of school as a brand new educator, on paper, I was ready. Between the inspirational posters, PowerPoints with cute clipart, and heels that I would absolutely regret wearing by lunch, I was as prepared as I could be. I made it through the first weeks of school fairly unscathed but by that point I was scraping the bottom of my bag of tricks. However, I quickly began to discover the importance of talking to the kids and getting to know them as individuals. I made sure to always greet every student by name, smile, ask them about their weekend and really listen to their answers. I started to eat lunch with students, find out their hobbies, chat in the hallway, and teach them hand-clapping games at recess. I even attended recitals and games outside of school when I could. I had lessons that horrendously flopped but the relationships saved me. They were my life raft in a sea of choppy new waters and I clung to that. Students became excited to be in my room not necessarily because I was going to have an extraordinary lesson but because I valued them as extraordinary individuals.
When we think back to our favorite teachers, we don’t often remember them for what they taught us but rather how they made us feel. Were we important? When we spoke, were they listening? Building strong bonds with my students has allowed me to increase curricular rigor, promote educational engagement and increase the number of students who participate in both choir and grade level programs. In a related arts setting, students often enter our classroom with predetermined expectations of whether they’ll like the material or not. Enter…Ezekial.
Ezekial was this adorable, quiet kindergartener with autism. The first day he walked into my room, I could tell he felt overwhelmed. Between my microphone, the wall of puppets, and my flair for the dramatic, I could sense a bit of apprehension. The very first thing I do each year with kindergarten is a train movement song. I greet them in the hallway with a big smile and a train whistle and we go explore the music room. As soon as he heard the train whistle he perked up! The remainder of class however, I noticed a shift in his excitement. He became more reserved and reluctant to participate no matter what I did to encourage him. That afternoon, as I was helping him into his car, I introduced myself to his mom and told her how excited he got over the train whistle. She then informed me that he loves trains and wants to be an Amtrak conductor when he grows up! So the following week, when his class lined up outside my room, I announced that I would not be the train conductor this week but Ezekial would. He went to the front of the line smiling ear to ear, looked back and hollered “all aboard!” and proceeded to lead his classmates until the end of the song. The kids cheered and for the remainder of our time together he participated happily. When the students returned to class they couldn’t wait to tell their teacher about Ezekial.
As educators, it’s the moments that aren’t penciled in our lesson books that fill our hearts most. Whether it’s showing up at a student’s ball game to cheer them on, connecting over a shared interest, or even bonding over a train whistle, our students deserve to know that they are valued beyond their academic achievement. So the next time you are at the grocery store and a student runs up to you, remember that you made them feel loved, respected and heard and that’s all some kids really need.
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Delaware students awarded full-ride merit scholarships |
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Congratulations to this year's merit scholarship awardees! Merit scholarships are competitive scholarships awarded by DDOE to students for their academic performance, participation in school activities and service to the community.
Students may apply for Delaware merit scholarships in their senior year of high school. All four awards are renewable. Three of the programs are memorial scholarships that honor state legislators and provide full tuition, fees, room, board, and books at the public colleges in Delaware.
Ashley Cooke of Appoquinimink High School in the Appoquinimink School District has received the B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship, which is given in honor of the former Speaker of the State House of Representatives. This scholarship is awarded to one student each year enrolling full-time at the University of Delaware. Cooke will major in biomedical nursing.
Cierra Holmes of Seaford High School in the Seaford School District received the Herman M. Holloway, Sr. Memorial Scholarship, which honors the first African-American State Senator in Delaware. This scholarship is awarded to one student each year enrolling full-time at Delaware State University. Holmes will major in nursing.
The Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship, in honor of the former Speaker of the State House of Representatives, is awarded annually to one full-time student at the University of Delaware and one full-time student at Delaware State University who are majoring in the humanities or social sciences. (Preference is given to political science majors.) Margaret Livingstone of Middletown High School in the Appoquinimink School District is the recipient of the Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship at University of Delaware. She will major in political science. Jasmine Gray of POLYTECH High School in the POLYTECH School District is the recipient at Delaware State University. She will major in psychology.
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I was so excited when I received the notification for earning this award, and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity! In the fall, I will be attending the University of Delaware as a part of the Honors program while majoring in nursing. I love helping others and giving back to my community, which is why I believe nursing will be a great fit for me. This scholarship will be a major help for my family and I in covering the many costs of college, and I cannot wait to see what U of D has to offer! - Ashley Cook, Appoquinimink H.S.
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Words cannot describe how honored I am to have been awarded the Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship. I intend to use this award to major in Political Science with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Delaware, so that one day I can become an attorney in the area of family law. I cannot wait to further my education at the collegiate level, and cannot thank the Delaware Department of Education enough for their generosity. - Margaret Livingstone of Middletown High School
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Earning this scholarship is truly an honor and blessing. This scholarship means a lot to me because it will allow me to achieve my educational goals without having to worry about covering the costs of my education, and for that I am thankful. It is also meaningful to me because I’ve worked hard in my school and community, and earning this scholarship is a result of that.
I am planning to pursue a degree in nursing. I chose nursing because of my interest in healthcare and my desire to help others. I would like to work in underserved areas to be able to make a difference in others’ lives by providing healthcare to those in need. - Cierra Holmes, Seaford High School
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Receiving this scholarship enables me to pursue my dream to attend a post-secondary school, as well gives me the confidence to succeed academically. I plan to major in psychology with a concentration in pre-med, with plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant. The reason behind a psychology major is the versatility the major offers, and the abundant career opportunities available to assist and aid individuals, in an often underestimated field of study. - Jasmine Gray of POLYTECH High School
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Help us show our appreciation for Delaware's great teachers |
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National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 2 to 6 this year. Now more than ever families are aware of the incredible work and talents of our teachers. Help us show appreciation for the great educators in your lives. Send shoutouts to School.Appreciation@doe.k12.de.us. Include:
- Name of the teacher you want to celebrate
- Message you would like to share
- Optional: Short videos, photos or student drawings
Shoutouts will be shared using the hashtag #IloveDEteachers on Facebook (@DEDeptEducation), Twitter (DEDeptofEd) and Instagram (@DEDeptEducation). Thank you again for your shout-outs to Delaware teachers!
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Delaware Department of Education | www.doe.k12.de.us
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