Marmolejo named DASP’s Assistant Principal of the Year
Cantwell's Bridge Middle School's own Kelyn Marmolejo was in for a surprise when she found out she had been named the Delaware National Outstanding Assistant Principal 2023-24! Marmolejo was chosen by the Delaware Association of School Principals to represent the First State in the national assistant principal of the year program. She celebrated this achievement with some of her former mentors as well as Superintendent Matt Burrows and Deputy Superintendent T.J. Vari.
Senator Tom Carper visits Teacher of the Year Cory Hafer!
Senator Tom Carper stopped by Middletown High School to meet with Delaware's Teacher of the Year Cory Hafer. Sen. Carper learned about Hafer's journey to becoming a teacher and what excites him most about the field. He also talked to some of Hafer's students and learned more about our district's Engineering Pathway. Thank you, Sen. Carper, for the visit!
Throughout the month, our schools will be hosting events and other important initiatives for Black History Month. OPEN THIS STORY to learn more about what is happening at each of our buildings. Please note, this will be updated throughout the month as new events and initiatives are added.
Shannon Strosser named 2023 Teacher of the Year in Health Education
Please join us in congratulating Middletown High School’s Shannon Strosser on being named the Eastern District’s 2023 Teacher of the Year in Health Education! SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators) awards teachers from each of the six districts a Teacher of the Year award. Eastern District is one of six districts of SHAPE America and consists of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Open this story to read more.
Do you know a classroom teacher who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? Now through February 11, we hope you'll submit names for ASD's Teacher of the Year award, a program that honors outstanding educators in pre-k through the 12th grade at every school. Students, parents, colleagues, teachers, and community members – everyone who lives in the district, teaches, or attends school here can participate. Please take a moment to make a recommendation and submit the nomination form by February 11, 2024.
'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' opens February 8 at AHS
"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" opens soon at Appoquinimink High School's Theatre! You have four chances to see the musical, which is based on the comic strip "Peanuts" by Charles M. Schulz. Performances are at 7 p.m. on February 8, February 9, and February 10, and at 2 p.m. on February 10. More than 40 AHS students are participating on and off stage as actors, set carpenters, stage managers, crew, technicians costumers, and front-of- house team members. This is a 90-minute show suitable for all ages. There will be ASL interpretation available at the performance on Friday, February 9. Open this story for more information and a ticket link!
Louis L. Redding Middle hosts ‘You Belong Day’
Just before winter break, Louis L. Redding Middle, in partnership with Ed Leadership 8 and the University of Delaware Women’s Basketball Team, hosted "You Belong Day!" The event served to celebrate our students for the wonderful and unique gifts they bring to our schools, communities, and each other. Students engaged in a collection of different activities focusing on building friendships and communications between our middle schools. Activities included stations in the gym and classrooms for crafts and socialization activities.
You’re Invited — Join the Appoquinimink School District's Success for All Committee!
The Success for All Committee aims to live our commitment to equity by accelerating opportunities in an environment without barriers, boundaries, or limits. Comprising diverse voices from parents, students, and community stakeholders, the committee collaboratively works towards fostering an inclusive school community.
As a committee member, you will have the opportunity to:
- Contribute to discussions and initiatives focused on equity within our district community.
- Share valuable perspectives that help shape the vision and direction of the Success for All Committee.
- Collaborate with other members to implement strategies that support the success of all students.
Meetings will be held quarterly (once per marking period), alternating between in-person and virtual sessions. You can expect approximately four meetings per year. Each meeting typically lasts about 1-1.5 hours.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact deangello.eley@appo.k12.de.us
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, members of our district office and Board of Education attended the second annual MLK Day Breakfast hosted by NAACP - MOT. This was a wonderful opportunity to learn and hear from keynote speaker, Dr. Vilicia Cade, superintendent of Capital School District.
Maya Zhao wins CTE Poster Contest
February is Career and Technical Education Month, and to help celebrate, the Delaware Advisory Council on Career and Technical Education (DACCTE), along with partners from the Department of Labor and Department of Education hosted a CTE poster contest to help share how Career and Technical Education is an integral part of our educational system and economy. The featured winner of the contest is Maya Zhao, from Louis L. Redding Middle. Despite being the only 8th grader to submit artwork in the contest — all other participants were high school students — Maya was named the winner. Way to go, Maya, for a job well done.
ASD Engineering Fair
In early January, we held our Engineering Fair, where Middletown High School, Odessa High School, and Appoquinimink High School Engineering Design and Development teams presented their final solutions. Each team gave a short presentation detailing how they developed their solutions. Our student's creativity and innovative thinking skills were on full display at the fair, from a product to help fold your clothes to an updated beach cart to biodegradable food packaging. Kudos to all of our students for a job well done and to OHS whose inaugural class of seniors presented for the first time at the fair!
2023 All State Band and Orchestra Results
Congratulations to all of our students who were named to the 2023 All State Band and Orchestra! All students, along with their specialty and school, are listed below.
Junior Band:
- Jonah Carrington, Baritone Saxophone – Everett Meredith Middle School
- Oliver Hemphill, Trumpet – Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
- Analia Lemus, Trumpet – Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
- Breanna Reb, Trombone – Louis L. Redding Middle School
- Ethan Rich, Baritone Saxophone – Appoquinimink High School
- Matai Rouse, Trombone – Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
- Omisha Royal, Flute – Alfred G. Waters Middle School
- Brayden Stafford, Trumpet – Everett Meredith Middle School
- Elise Ziegler, Flute – Middletown High School
Senior Band:
- Matthew Achenchi, Trumpet – Middletown High School
- Matthew McMahon, Trumpet – Appoquinimink High School
- Gabriel Spinazzola, Bari Saxophone – Odessa High School
- *Enoch Timmons, Trombone – Odessa High School
- *Eliana Wang, Mallets – Middletown High School
Jazz Band:
- Jason Byrne, Trumpet – Middletown High School
- Gabriel Spinazzola, Bari Saxophone – Odessa High School
All State Orchestra:
- Menuha Chitipolu, Violin, Alfred G. Waters Middle School
- Leonard Dong, Violin, Alfred G. Waters Middle School
- Guarika Goel, Viola, Alfred G. Waters Middle School
- Elissa Kouemeni, Viola, Odessa High School
- Daniel Longfellow, Cello, Middletown High School
- Brandon Peirce, Cello, Odessa High School
- Violet Sullivan, Viola, Appoquinimink High School
- *Enoch Timmons, Trombone – Odessa High School
- Minh Vu, Cello, Odessa High School
- *Eliana Wang, Mallets – Middletown High School
*Denotes dual acceptance into All State Senior Band and All State Orchestra
The 2023 All State Choir results were released in late 2023. You can find that listing here.
Students deliver powerful speeches at Project Soapbox event
Thirteen 7th graders from all four of our middle schools took to the stage to deliver moving speeches in the district's second annual Project Soapbox Mainstage Event! Project Soapbox is our 7th grade civic engagement public speaking project that invites young people to write and deliver a speech on issues that affect them and their communities. These speeches ranged from preventing ocean pollution to reducing medical insurance costs to supporting mental health to the gender wage gap. Two of our Spanish Immersion students wrote and delivered their speeches in Spanish and translated their speeches into English for the audience to read. A special to the civic partners who provided feedback after each speech — they were State Rep. Sherae'a "Rae" Moore, Dr. Dana Thurston, and Appoquinimink School Board Members Nichelle DeWitt and Tashiba Graham.
The next Appo Families Connect is February 1
The next in our ongoing series of Appo Families Connect workshops is Thursday, February 1. These workshops aim to facilitate discussions about important topics that impact our students and families. These events are open to all families. Please note: the next two workshops will take place in person at the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center in Odessa at 6:30 p.m. Click here for more information.
Upcoming Events/Meeting Reminders
- 6 Feb. — School Board meeting, 7 p.m. at the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center, 118 S. Sixth St, Odessa. Tune in virtually by clicking here.
- 8-10 Feb. — AHS Spring Musical, 7 p.m. on 2/8, 2/9, 2/10 & 2 p.m. on 2/10 at AHS
- 19 Feb. — Schools / offices closed – President’s Day
- 22 Feb. — TES 3rd Grade Concert, 6:30 p.m. at EMMS
- 23-24 Feb. — LGE Spring Musical, 7 p.m. on 2/23 & 3 p.m. on 2/24
- 28 Feb. — Conferences: Gr PK-8, evening only
- 29 Feb. — No school for Gr PK-8: conferences
- 29 Feb. — AHS Leap Day Cabaret, at 7 p.m. at AHS
- March — Delaware’s “March for the Arts” Month, Music in our Schools Month, and Theatre in our Schools Month
- 1-2 March — OHS Spring Musical, 7 p.m. at OHS
- 3 March — AHS Theatre Dept.’s “Star for a Day” Workshop Gr 3-5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at AHS
- 3-9 March — National School Social Worker Week
- 8-9 March — OHS Spring Musical, 7 p.m. at OHS
- 15-17 March — MHS Spring Musical, 7 p.m. at MHS
- 1 March — No school for students / high school staff PD Conferences: Gr PK-8
- 6-7 March — Conferences: Gr 9-12, evening only
- 10 March — Daylight Saving Time beings