Alison Suiter is our 2026 Teacher of the Year!
Please join us in congratulating Bunker Hill Elementary School's Alison Suiter on being named our district's 2026 Teacher of the Year. After honoring all 21 building-level TOY winners with a special dinner at Odessa High School's Performing Arts Center, Bunker Hill Elementary School's Alison Suiter was named our 2026 TOY! Suiter will represent our district in the state-level TOY program, the winner of which will be named later in the year.
Ali has been a dedicated teacher at Bunker Hill Elementary for six years, tremendously impacting the school community. As a teacher leader, she has served as math lead and an induction coach, hosted methods and student teachers, and participated in multiple district-level committees.
Her commitment to fostering a positive classroom environment ensures that every student feels supported and engaged. Through creative and high-quality instruction, Ali finds innovative ways to meet the needs of all her students, making learning meaningful and exciting.
Grow Your Own – Appoquinimink School District awards 27 Teacher Contracts
Appoquinimink School District continues to lead the way when it comes to creating a pathway for future teachers. ASD is once again honored to award 27 graduating seniors with offers of employment to return to ASD after they’ve graduated from college! All students who graduated from the Education & Leadership Pathway also received offers to immediately begin substitute teaching within the district.
This program is part of a “Grow Your Own” initiative launched first in ASD. This program is designed to create a teacher pipeline that will help combat the growing teacher shortage, coupled with the rapid growth of the MOT region.
Celebrating our amazing teachers!
It's no secret — we have the best teachers here in Appoquinimink School District. We can't say enough how amazing our teachers are, and while we hope they feel appreciated every day they are in our buildings, our schools went the extra mile during the first week of May for Teacher Appreciation Week. Be sure to visit our schools' social media accounts to see how our schools celebrated — there were taco bars, swag giveaways, and handwritten notes of appreciation from administrators and students. The picture above is our Class of 2026 building-level Teacher of the Year winners.
ASD earns “Best Communities for Music Education” designation for 10th consecutive year!
Please join us in congratulating our music teachers as our school district has once again been recognized with the Best Communities for Music Education designation! This award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts and schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment to and access to music education.
This designation showcases our district’s commitment to access to music education and continued growth. Earning this for the 10th consecutive year is a testament to the dedication of our amazing staff.
Appoquinimink earns top spot from Niche
For the 9th consecutive year, Appoquinimink has been named the #1 School District in Delaware by the independent education ranking service Niche.
The Niche rankings include data for more than 90,000 public schools, 30,000 private schools, and 11,000 school districts nationwide. While traditional rankings rely almost exclusively on metrics like test scores and academic performance, Niche’s rankings combine user input — ratings from current students, alumni, and parents — with quantitative data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities, extracurricular activity opportunities, and more.
Summit Campus Construction Update
At the April School Board Meeting, the Board of Education voted on the naming of the new middle school and high school at the Summit Campus. The School Board chose Summit Bridge Middle School and Summit High School as the names. The School Board is also responsible for selecting the mascot and colors for the high school. The School Board selected the “Summit Aviators” for the high school mascot with the colors of navy blue, silver, and gray. The mascot and colors for the middle school will be selected at a later time by the school leadership team and the district.
The groundbreaking for the middle school and high school will be in mid-June soon once summer has started for our students. The site work will continue for the next several years. The middle and high school will share a “core” that includes the cafeteria, auditorium, and library – exactly like Cantwell’s Bridge and Odessa High at the Fairview Campus. This allows for huge cost savings and also greatly impacts the school culture of the two buildings, as we’ve seen at the Fairview Campus.
One important update we want to share is the timeline for the completion of construction. Based on the way funds are being allocated, the middle school and high school, as well as the elementary school on Green Giant Road (the Board selected the name Green Giant Elementary School at its April meeting), will all open in Fall 2029. We know our hope was Fall 2028, but unfortunately, that won’t be possible based on the annual distribution of funds for these projects. We do want to emphasize that we looked at many different avenues to have the projects completed by Fall 2028, but there isn’t a way to do so.
When the project to complete the Summit Campus was first submitted to the State for approval, there was an early childhood center in the proposal. While that project was not approved by the State for the April 2024 referendum, please know our district is committed to advocating for the building because we know there is great need.
We are so excited to watch the campus take shape and can’t wait to share updates in the months and years ahead.
Safety Information for Families – Senior Games
The following communication was shared with all ASD families on April 28, 2025.
Dear ASD Families,
As we approach the end of the school year – especially for our seniors – we want to once again ask our students and families for their support surrounding senior games.
In particular, we’re referencing the game referred to as “Senior Water War” or “Senior Assassin.” The game involves high school seniors targeting classmates with water or sometimes Nerf guns. The winner of the game is the last person who wasn’t sprayed.
On the surface, we understand that this seems like a fun game for students to play during their last few months of school. The challenge is the growing prevalence of fake or toy guns that are manufactured to look like real, authentic weapons. Many of those toy guns no longer have any of the traditional markings, such as the orange tip.
Police departments across the country have issued strong warnings about the senior assassin game and the general use of fake weapons because of the risk they pose when bystanders witness or report activity and law enforcement respond.
Additionally, this trend is especially concerning in our district because of the proactive safety measures we have in place surrounding our sports facilities and now all of our school perimeters as well.
As you know, our district began implementing additional layers of security in August 2023. It started near our athletic events, but has since grown.
One of these additional layers of security is artificial intelligence embedded in camera streams to detect weapons. This artificial intelligence, known as ZeroEyes, detects weapons, and sends the images to the ZeroEyes Operation Center (ZOC) which is staffed 24/7/365. The experts at ZOC then verify the threat and dispatch alerts to local first responders in as fast as three (3) to five (5) seconds from detection.
Last year, we had several false alarms with ZeroEyes as a result of senior water games that were taking place around Cavalier Stadium and Everett Meredith Middle School. Thanks to the community’s support in our April 2024 referendum, we’ve now increased the number of camera feeds that have ZeroEyes embedded.
I am once again asking our families to please talk to your children about the use of fake weapons, particularly anywhere near school property. We are committed to ensuring the utmost safety of our schools. As part of that commitment, we now have state-of-the-art technology in place to ensure we are able to respond as quickly as possible to an incident. With that technology in place, we simply can’t have anyone on our campuses using fake weapons, even as part of innocent play. We need to make sure our students understand how dangerous these situations can be.
The safety and security of our students is our top priority, always. Partnering with our families is necessary to ensure our students understand expectations to ensure our students and schools remain as safe as possible.
Respectfully,
Matt Burrows, Superintendent
Silver Lake celebrates 10 years of Leader in Me
Day in and day out, Silver Lake Elementary School is working to empower learners and leaders. This year, not only did the school host its annual celebration of its recertification as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School, SLE also celebrated its 10th anniversary as a Leader in Me school! This year’s Leadership Day was centered around the core values of BEE-long to Our Community, BEE-lieve in Growth, and BEE a Leader.
LGE's fifth graders showcase their STEMpathy
Fifth graders put their knowledge of empathy and STEAM on display at Lorewood Grove Elementary's STEMpathy Showcase. LGE students partnered with the University of Delaware’s student-run organization, Assistive Medical Technologies, to modify power wheels to better fit the needs of four families. Each family worked with a class of fifth graders and AMT to outline a problem and design a solution, which AMT’s students then brought to life. The showcase also featured a special dedication to LGE’s Hope Doyle for her 33 years of service to education and a proclamation presentation by Cynthia Marten, Delaware’s Secretary of Education, to AMT, Doyle, and the LGE STEMpathy program. Huge thank you to Matthew Garcia and Jaiden Lindsay from OHS and AHS for creating a slideshow that accompanied the presentation. Last, as a district, we cannot thank Kendra Rosner, LGE’s STEAM Coordinator, enough for being the driving force behind the STEMpathy!
Celebrating our students and their service
Earlier in the month, we held a special signing day for our seniors who are choosing to enter the workforce or serve in the military after graduation. This ceremony provided students and their families the opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication they have shown throughout their time at our schools. Please join us in congratulating these students on their achievements and those to come!
Profile of a Graduate — Financially Savvy
We are committed to the success of our graduates, and a hallmark of this commitment is the completed Profile of a Graduate.
The Profile of a Graduate ensures all students who learn in Appoquinimink School District have the knowledge, skills, and mindsets needed for the future. The Profile of a Graduate was created in collaboration with our students, staff, families, local community, and other stakeholders. This cumulative effort helped create the final profile.
We are committed to ensuring all Appo families have a thorough understanding of this important work.
That work will continue over the coming weeks and months - in this newsletter, in our school communications, and throughout our communication channels such as our website and social media.
The Profile of a Graduate has six focus areas:
- Academically Ready
- Life Ready
- Future-Focused
- Workplace Ready
- Civic-Minded
- Financially Savvy
This month, we’re highlighting Financially Savvy.
Within each of these areas, there’s additional detail about what this means for each student. We encourage all families to learn more here.
While this concludes our monthly spotlights of the six areas that make up Profile of a Graduate, we have more information, including student testimonials, to come!
Celebrating their next steps
It's that time of year — when we sprint toward graduation! In May, our high school has been celebrating the Class of 2025 with Decision Day! Seniors who have committed to a college, university, trade school, the military, or are still undecided were treated to school assemblies. Please join us in congratulating the Class of 2025 on all their many achievements!
Work-based learning in action!
It's been a busy year for our seniors. In the past few months, students have been hosting capstone presentations. These events are the culmination of work-based learning, an educational strategy that provides students with real-life work experiences where they can apply academic and technical skills to develop their employability.
At the capstone presentations, students provide a brief explanation of their journey through the capstone project process. From identifying a problem to working with their mentors and teachers to develop a solution, to creating the presentation, these events showcase just how much work our students put into their studies and the real-world knowledge they gain from their experiences.
Keep scrolling to see photo galleries from our recent capstone presentations.
Odessa High School FFA Organization hosts its second annual Ag Day!
Ag Day invites about 750 Old State Elementary students to experience a range of agricultural, environmental, and community-based learning opportunities. This event is organized by Odessa High School's FFA students, who assisted industry professionals in running a variety of educational workshops throughout the day.
We (AHS) are the champions!
Please join us in congratulating the Appoquinimink High School Indoor Color Guard and Indoor Percussion for winning the Region 9 Championships in their groups!
Aliha Waheed wins Arbor Day Poster Contest
Please join us in congratulating Aliha Waheed, the winner of the Delaware Forest Service's Arbor Day Poster Contest! Aliha was the New Castle County winner in the kindergarten division. She attends Cedar Lane Early Childhood Center.
Instrument Walkabout introduces students to our music programs
These pictures are from Instrument Walkabout — an event that invites third and fourth graders, and their families, to learn about and try out the instruments offered through our district's music programs!
Sensory Friendly Field Day is fun for all
Appoquinimink Preschool Center held a Sensory Friendly Field Day, designed to support and engage all learners with a variety of inclusive and fun activities! Students participated in events such as soccer, parachute play, flying scarves, jumbo bowling, and more. To ensure a supportive environment, there was also a sensory break tent available for any student who needed a calm, quiet space.
The day also featured representatives from Special Olympics, who were on-site to cheer on our students and present medals to each participant as part of their Young Athletes program! We'd also like to thank all of the parents who volunteered at the event and helped make it a success!
Your move, Bunker Hill Elementary
Bunker Hill Elementary School has been engaging in some development with its school-wide Chess Club! The club was founded in 2023 with an introductory family event to measure interest. That initial meeting saw more than 100 in attendance, and the club was started with 14 members. Now in its third year, the club has grown to 28 students in grades 1-5 who meet twice a month to practice and improve their chess skills. The club even boasts a past chess club student who travels internationally to compete and is nationally ranked!
Second graders design board games at Lorewood Grove
For the past two months, our second graders have been on an incredible journey—one that transformed their love of reading into a hands-on, creative design challenge. Tasked with taking their favorite books and reimagining them as playable board games, these young innovators combined storytelling, problem-solving, and artistic skills to bring their literary worlds to life.
The project began with students selecting books that inspired them—whether a beloved picture book, an adventurous chapter book, or a classic fairytale. From there, they dove into analyzing their stories, identifying key characters, settings, and plot points that would serve as the foundation for their game mechanics. Would their game be a thrilling adventure where players race to solve a mystery? A cooperative challenge where teamwork was key? A strategic quest through a magical world? Each student made these decisions thoughtfully, ensuring their game captured the essence of their chosen book.
As they progressed, students explored different game design elements such as movement rules, chance vs. strategy, and interactive components like spinners, dice, and action cards. They worked through the engineering and design process—sketching ideas, building prototypes, testing with peers, and revising their designs based on feedback.
Finally, after weeks of hard work, creativity, and collaboration, the second graders proudly unveiled their board games at the Board Game Design Showcase! First-grade classes and second-grade families were invited to step into a room filled with colorful game boards, handcrafted pieces, and eager young designers ready to explain their work. Visitors had the chance to play, ask questions, and experience firsthand the passion and effort behind each game. The event buzzed with excitement as students watched others engage with their creations, celebrating the joy of both storytelling and game-making.
This showcase not only highlighted their dedication but also reinforced valuable skills—critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and perseverance. Most importantly, it showed these young learners that their ideas and creativity can lead to something tangible, something they can share with others.
From page to play, our second graders have proven that books don’t just tell stories—they inspire new ways to experience them.
Bubbles for Autism at Crystal Run Elementary
In recognition of April's designation as Autism Acceptance Month, Crystal Run Elementary School participated in a Bubbles for Autism event that served as a joyful way to embrace diversity within the school community and raise awareness for individuals with autism. Students were asked to consider that each bubble represents the unique and wonderful individuals who make up our community!
Spring has sprung in OBL's garden
These pictures are from Olive B. Loss Elementary School's spring harvest garden party! With the addition of the school's garden, students are learning how to grow their produce, how to prepare what they've grown, and all about nutrition from vegetables! It's good eats for wise Owls!
Internet Safety presentation is June 9 and 10
As we head into Summer and students leave the classroom, we recognize that teenagers may be spending more of their day online. We as a community are all committed to ensuring the safety of our students, both at school and at home. Many families have expressed that they are worried about their child’s safety online.
To help support these families and our school communities, Alfred G. Waters Middle School is partnering with Ms. Kristina Bensley. Ms. Bensley is the Deputy Attorney General of the Delaware DOJ and is the Commander of the Child Predator Task Force. She will be presenting information about risks posed to children online, recommended steps you can take to protect your child, and what to do if your child has been impacted by unsafe or unwelcome internet behavior.
We invite you to join us on either June 9 or June 10 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Alfred G. Waters Auditorium to hear her speak and deliver critical information for parents/guardians. Although this presentation is targeted towards middle school parents within the Appoquinimink School District, all who are interested are welcome to attend. If you plan on attending, please RSVP here.
EMMS creates “Her Space”
Through a partnership between Middletown (DE) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and Everett Meredith Middle's Girls With Goals Club, Meredith Middle now has a special space for girls to obtain hygiene products and feel supported, empowered, and strong!
EMMS and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members held a ribbon cutting for "Her Space." In the space, girls can obtain hygiene products — from tissues to Chapstick to deodorant. They can leave supportive messages for each other or have questions answered while remaining anonymous. This is the first Her Space in our district, but there are plans to create more in our other middle schools.
Career Day at Cantwell's Bridge
These pictures are from Career Day at Cantwell's Bridge Middle School! Each year, we invite industry leaders to speak to our middle schoolers. The presenters answer questions like why they chose their jobs, what schooling they had to obtain, and what an average day looks like in their profession. Thank you to the professionals who attended and are helping to inspire our students as they begin to consider potential careers.
Eleven Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School students named Promising Young Writers
Special Olympics teams compete in bocce tournament
Special Olympics DE and the Phillies invited DE Unified Champion secondary schools to the 2025 Bocce at the Ballpark tournament at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Teams from Louis L. Redding Middle School, Alfred G. Waters Middle School, Appoquinimink High, and Middletown High School represented the Appoquinimink School District. Middletown High School went undefeated and won their bracket!
Middle school sports spring season continues
Please join us in congratulating Everett Meredith Middle School's girls and boys track teams on bringing home the win at our district's track championship!
At our district middle school volleyball championship, Everett Meredith Middle School's boys team also came in first place! Please join us in congratulating the team on its 2-1 victory!
Speech, language, and hearing support in our schools
Celebrating our school lunch heroes
Superintendent Matt Burrows paid a visit to Olive B. Loss Elementary in honor of School Lunch Heroes Day! These pictures are of Dr. Burrows and Principal Jenine Thomas helping serve lunch.
These are a few pictures of some of our awesome school nutrition staff as we celebrate School Lunch Hero Day today. Thank you to our amazing and dedicated school nutrition staff who prepare and serve delicious meals to our students each day. We appreciate you!
School Nurse Appreciation Day
These pictures are from Superintendent Matt Burrows' visit to Brick Mill Elementary to thank Aimee Hastings for her contributions in support of our students. Hastings is a high-needs float nurse, meaning she services many of our schools, and a diabetes support nurse.
Upcoming Events & Meeting Reminders:
2 June AHS Senior Award - 6:30 PM at AHS
2 June TECC Kindergarten Concert - 5:45 PM & 7:00 PM at EMMS
3 June Last day Grade 12
3 June AHS Senior Parade - school day event
3 June MHS Graduation Parade - 9:00 AM
3 June CBMS 6-8th Grade Choir Concert - 7:00 PM at OHS
3 June CLE Choir Concert - 6:30 PM at AGW
4 June AHS Graduation Practice - school day event
4 June OHS Graduation Practice - school day event
4 June OHS Performing Arts Awards Ceremony/Banquet - 7:00 PM at OHS
4 June TES 1-2nd Grade Concert - 5:45 PM (Grades 1), 7 PM at OHS
5 June AHS Senior Graduation Practice/BBQ - school day event at AHS
5 June LGE Spring Choir Concert - 6:30 PM at LGE
5 June EMMS 6-8th Grade Choir Concert - 7:00 PM at EMMS
4-5 June MHS Graduation Practice - school day event
5 June MHS Senior BBQ - 11:00 AM at MHS
5 June OHS Senior BBQ - 11:00 AM at OHS
6 June Last day PreK
7 June High School Graduation
9 June PreK conferences - End of Marking Period 4
10 June PreK conferences
10 June School Board meeting, 7 p.m. at the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center, 118 S. Sixth St, Odessa. Tune in virtually here.
12 June Last day Grade K-11
13 June Weather contingency day (students)
16 June Last teacher day
17 June Weather contingency day (teachers)
19 June Schools/offices closed - State/Federal holiday