Redding Middle School throws surprise celebration for Sarah Leonard, PLTW National Gateway Teacher of the Year!
It's not easy to plan a surprise celebration. It's even more difficult to plan a party (and keep it a surprise) in a school. But the team at Louis L. Redding Middle School did just that for their national-recognized teacher Sarah Leonard! On Thursday, LLRMS surprised Leonard with a presentation in the auditorium and a special lunch to celebrate her being named Project Lead the Way (PLTW) National Gateway Teacher of the Year! As its website states, PLTW "motivates, prepares, and supports teachers as they strive to make every child in every grade STEM-successful." The organization helps develop curriculum and support teachers as they engage students in learning STEM. Several members of the PLTW team attended the surprise presentation for Leonard including David Dimmett, president and CEO of PLTW. Leonard also was honored with a special proclamation delivered by Rep. Sherae’a "Rae" Moore. The PLTW team also did a classroom visit, so they could see Leonard in action in her classroom. The event concluded with a reception in LLRMS's library.
Rolling out the blue carpet for Cedar Lane Elementary School
As we shared in September, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 356 schools as the 2024 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools – just two schools – including our very own Cedar Lane Elementary – received the award in Delaware this year.
This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups. Cedar Lane was recognized as one of the "Exemplary High Performing Schools." National Blue Ribbon Schools utilize effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.
The pictures and video above are from a pep rally hosted by Cedar Lane Elementary School in celebration of the school being named one of Delaware's 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools!
The pictures above are from Principal Dr. Shelby Gordon and Assistant Principal Dr. Gina McKinney's visit to Washington, D.C. with Superintendent Matt Burrows to celebrate CLE's designation as a National Blue Ribbon School!
Huge congratulations to our FFA students!
All three high schools and two of our middle schools had students travel to Indiana for the 97th annual National FFA Convention and Expo, and you better believe our students shined! Of note, Odessa High School’s agronomy team placed fourth in the nation — that’s the highest any team from Delaware has ever placed in the history of the event! Three of Appoquinimink High School’s students earned an American FFA degree, showing a member’s dedication to their chapter or state association. Middletown High School’s nursery landscaping team earned a silver emblem and the school’s meat evaluation team earned a bronze emblem. That’s just a few highlights — there’s much more to celebrate!
Appoquinimink High School:
AHS American Degree recipients: Keeley McCormick, Kyle Gares and Tara Wingate
- As the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization, the American FFA Degree shows an FFA member’s dedication to their chapter and state FFA association. It demonstrates the effort FFA members apply toward their supervised agricultural experience and the outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement they exhibited through their FFA career
AHS Silver Emblem Dairy Evaluation team: This team, three of which being first year FFA members, worked hard and represented Delaware well at the National level. Team members Irelynn Becker, Anna Heckscher, and Isabella Linsmeier received silver individuals, while Kendalyn Watson received Gold.
Middletown High School:
MHS Bronze Emblem Meat Evaluation team: Ashton, Owen, Brooke, and Madi were all Bronze Individuals.
MHS Silver Emblem Nursery Landscape team: Tori, Mia, and Delaney earned Silver individual rankings and Ethan earned Gold!
Odessa High School:
OHS Agronomy: Fourth place in the Nation, and all four students ranked as Gold in their proficiency and were awarded Industry Certification. Team members included: Joseph Delaney - 9th Individual, Kalena Diaz, Nate Sutton, and Zach Binnie.
- Students identified crops, seeds, insects, diseases, and equipment used in crop production. They evaluated soils, analyzed plant growth factors, and made management recommendations for real-world scenarios in pest control, crop rotation, and nutrient management. Critical thinking and precision were key to this science-based competition.
OHS Horse Evaluation: Gold Medal Team, Industry Certification Awarded
- Competitors assessed horse conformation and performance, ranking horses based on physical characteristics and movement in categories such as hunter under saddle, halter, and Western pleasure. Students also defended their choices through oral reasons and completed a team problem-solving exercise focused on horse care and industry issues.
- Natalie Holdren (Gold) , Cierra Smith (Silver), Olivia Orndorff, (Silver), Paige Piascinski (Silver)
OHS Floriculture: Silver Medal Team, all four ranked as Silver Proficiency
- Students identified various flowers, plants, and tools, completed a hands-on floral arrangement, and were tested on their knowledge of plant care, pest management, and the floriculture industry. They also participated in customer service role-plays to demonstrate skills essential for careers in greenhouses, retail, and floristry.
- Amelia Orndorff (Silver), Giada Mancuso (Silver), Faith Downs (Silver), Lizzy Handlin (Silver)
OHS Livestock Evaluation: Bronze Emblem Team
- Participants evaluated cattle, sheep, goats, and swine, ranking them for breeding and market potential. They defended their rankings with oral reasons and completed a written exam on livestock production and management. Teams also handled a team scenario involving real-world decision-making in livestock management.
- Jake Macolley (Silver), Gunner Whitehead (Bronze), Savannah Timney (Bronze), Meka Galbraith (Bronze)
Bronze Emblem Food Science team: Abbie and Meaghan earned Bronze individual rankings, Alyssa earned Silver and Alex earned Gold!
OHS Poultry Evaluation: Bronze Emblem Team
- Students inspected and evaluated live poultry, carcasses, and eggs based on USDA standards, and judged ready-to-cook products. They were tested on their knowledge of biosecurity, poultry production, and management practices. The event also included a team activity that simulated real-world poultry production challenges.
- Hope Dunn (Silver), Jonah Kan (Bronze), Jackson Wills (Bronze), Makennah Bell (Bronze)
OHS FFA in the USA: Kalena Diaz, Jonah Kan, and Alex Stanbery-Taylor
- Our students had the unique opportunity to participate in the FFA in the USA program, an immersive experience highlighting the world of public relations and news media. Led by media expert Nicole Pence, students explored the many facets of storytelling, journalism, and communication strategies within agriculture. Through hands-on activities and tours, they learned how effective PR connects communities to the ag industry and how to amplify their voices as future leaders. An unforgettable experience that showcased the power of media in agriculture!
OHS FFA for All Experience: Ferdinand Agyapong, Rory Whitehouse, Alex Stanbery Taylor, Brenna Mahoney
- At this year's National FFA Convention, our students participated in the FFA for All program, an exciting, interactive experience focused on fostering inclusion and belonging. This hands-on event gave members the opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate diversity in agriculture, ensuring everyone has a place in FFA. We're proud to be part of a movement that empowers students from all backgrounds to grow, lead, and thrive in our organization!
Middle Schools:
Tyler Ginn competed in the Spanish FFA Creed LDE at the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo this October. The FFA Creed is a speech that outlines the organization’s values and beliefs regarding the industry of agriculture, FFA membership, and patriotism. Students participating in the Spanish Creed LDE must perform the entirety of the speech and answer questions all "en Español"! Tyler was a Bronze Emblem Finalist in the Spanish Creed LDE.
Members from the EMMS and AGW FFA chapters who placed first in their respective statewide CDE's were also given the opportunity to attend the National FFA Convention. These students participated in leadership workshops, attended General Sessions, completed a community service project, and explored the College and Careers Expo.
EMMS students who attended the expo: Tyler Ginn, Yuvika Gujja, Alexandra Jones, Jordan Kerr, Delilah Schilling, Audrey Serajose, and Liana Yetsko. EMMS’s FFA advisor is Taylor Nuneviller.
AGW students who attended: Haley Castelli, Gabby Yaiser, Paige Green, and Allea Dobrowolski. AGW’s FFA advisor is Allison Wheatley.
Friends of Appoquinimink donate funds to purchase light board for MHS theatre
A huge thank you is in order to Friends of Appoquinimink, a nonprofit fundraising group that raises money to support the district and referendum efforts, which recently donated nearly $17,000 for the purchase of a light board and touchscreen monitors for Middletown High School's theatre department. Stage equipment like lighting consoles tend to have about a 10-year lifecycle — MHS's former equipment was more than 20 years old. A light board is an electronic device used in theatrical lighting design to control multiple stage lights at once. Having industry-standard equipment like this in our high schools not only ensures a well-executed show but also helps teach our students how to use equipment they will encounter at the college level or in professional theatres. When we reduced the ask in our second referendum (approved by our community in April), we had to make the difficult decision to cut some of the funding that would have covered the purchase of this type of new equipment. We cannot thank the Friends of Appoquinimink enough for their fundraising efforts. The majority of the cost of this purchase was fundraised at the Friends of Appoquinimink golf outing, held over the summer.
Susan Sappington and Shellee Wong are named Delaware STEM Educator Award recipients
Please join us in congratulating Odessa High School's Shellee Wong (Xueli Wang) and Appoquinimink High School's Susan Sappington, along with Anthony Reid, Dave Maloney, and Tom Becker on being named this year's high school Delaware STEM Educator Award recipients!
The teachers, all of whom are participants of the Delaware Mathematics Coalition's Leadership Coaching Lab community, have been instrumental in making progress in our efforts to build a stronger and more inclusive pathway to math education! Funded initially by a seed grant provided by the Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education, the initiative is focused on helping to address the math teacher pipeline shortage which has reached crisis levels in recent years. These teachers' efforts, both within and outside the classroom, continue to inspire students, colleagues, and leaders across the state!
Our next Appo Families Connect workshop is December 3, 2024!
You’re invited to attend our next Appo Families Connect workshop, which will focus on Child Development. In this information session, we’ll explore essential topics to support your child’s growth and well-being. You can RSVP to the workshop here: https://bit.ly/decemberRSVP.
As a reminder, all Appo Families Connect workshops begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center (118 S. Sixth St. Odessa).
More upcoming workshops (next calendar year) are:
February 6, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. — Mental Health:
- We invite you to attend our workshop on mental health, where we’ll discuss strategies to support your child's emotional well-being and resilience.
March 13, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. — Spring & Summer Strong:
- Spring and summer breaks are great opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment. Let’s explore ways to also keep the brain engaged and maintain momentum for academic growth.
Our high school marching bands continue to bring home awards!
It's been a busy past few months for our district's marching bands. Between practices and competitions, the hard work of our students continues to show — all three high school marching bands brought home awards from the Atlantic Coast Champions!
Appoquinimink High School was named the Bronze Medal Group 3 Open Champions. Marching Band Director Ryan Mosely commented, "The Jags had their best run of the season and placed in the Top 3 in Group 3 for the first time. The Jaguars also have the distinction of being the highest-scoring band from Delaware at the Atlantic Coast Championships. Also, AHS Senior William Estrada won the $2,500 group 3 scholarship!"
Middletown High School came in sixth place overall, and came in third place in color guard, and won best percussion!
Odessa High School brought home a first place win in percussion, third place in color guard, and fifth place overall (92 at the championships in their first "Open Class" season. Also, Senior Kiara Jackson was awarded a $1,900 scholarship!
A Profile of a Graduate
As we shared in September, our district is 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.
In the coming weeks and months we’ll continue to dive into the six focus areas that encompass the Profile of a Graduate, including:
- Academically Ready
- Life Ready
- Future-Focused
- Workplace Ready
- Civic-Minded
- Financially Savvy
Stay tuned for more information about each component, including the methodology and impact.
High School Preview Night offers a glance into the high school experience
Making the jump from middle school to high school can be intimidating, but that’s where High School Preview Night comes in to help. In November, all three of our district’s high schools held their preview nights, offering current eighth graders the opportunity to tour their future high school, meet staff, learn about pathway offerings, and meet current high schoolers. Thank you to all the families who attended and thank you to our staff who put in the work to ensure the preview nights were a success!
We have independent galleries for each high school preview night on our website, here. These are just a few selects from the three events.
School Choice window now open
January will be here before you know it! As a reminder to our families school choice applications for the 2025-26 school year will be accepted from November 4, 2024, until January 8, 2025.
The State of Delaware's "school choice" law provides students with the opportunity to move within and between districts to attend the public school of their choice — when capacity is available. Open this story to learn more! Please note: ASD continues to experience rapid growth with many buildings at academic capacity.
These pictures are from our district’s Immersion Information Night — thank you to all the families who attended the event!
Stand By Me Financial Services for Families
ASD has worked alongside the financial planning group Stand By Me to deliver information about the FAFSA, scholarships, and future planning to our students and families. Stand By Me representatives held FSA ID Creation workshops (needed to complete the FAFSA) and a scholarship assembly in October in connection with each school's Launch into Your Future celebrations. They are now returning during the first two weeks of December to assist our seniors with completing the FAFSA application.
However, parents will also need to create an FSA ID and will need to complete a portion of the FAFSA application. In order to support our families, Stand By Me holds free Zoom sessions; follow this link to sign up if you believe you would like an expert to guide you through the process.
Additionally, if you are also seeking out scholarship information, please follow this link to the DE Scholarship Compendium. This resource is a guide to all local, regional, and state scholarships offered to our students.
Happy Thanksgiving from Brick Mill Elementary School!
A school tradition, Brick Mill Elementary School invited families to enjoy a Thanksgiving lunch with their students. These pictures were taken on Thursday, November 21. Thank you to all the families who attended!
Jerzy Wlock is our October Transportation Employee of the Month
Please join us in congratulating Jerzy Wlock, driver of bus #212, on being named our October Transportation Employee of the Month! Wlock drives for Everett Meredith Middle School, Townsend Elementary School, and Townsend Early Childhood Center. One of his favorite activities is transporting our athletes to their sports events! Wlock has a daughter in the Spanish Immersion program at TES and a daughter in the pre-K lab at Odessa High School. He also was a presenter for the Transportation Department's school bus safety pilot program at TECC.
Celebrating our School Psychologists
National School Psychology Week was celebrated this year from November 11 to 15. We wanted to take a moment to thank our school psychologists for the invaluable work they do each and every day! The work they do is not limited to one single week in a year, and neither should the appreciation we show them. We are extremely proud of the team of school psychologists we have in our district. Please join us in thanking them for everything they do to ensure our students thrive at school, at home, and in life.
Staff and students wear blue to show their support on World Diabetes Day
These pictures were submitted by staff who wore blue in honor of November 14 being World Diabetes Day. Please join us in giving special kudos to our school nurses who coordinated this show of support!
November Board of Education Recognitions
Amanda Wlock, pictured center, is recognized as a BEATS Maker during the November 12 Board of Education meeting. Wlock is the media specialist at Odessa High School. She is pictured with, from left, Executive Director of Human Resources Ed Small and Superintendent Matt Burrows.
Madison Parrott, an orchestra teacher, is recognized with a BEATS Maker award during the November 12 Board of Education meeting. She is pictured with, from left, Executive Director of Human Resources Ed Small and Superintendent Matt Burrows.
Susan Sappington, a math teacher at Appoquinimink High School, is recognized with a BEATS Maker award at the November 12 Board of Education meeting. Pictured, from left, are Executive Director of Human Resources Ed Small, Sappington, Shellee Wong (who nominated Sappington for the BEATS Maker award), and Superintendent Matt Burrows.
Jennifer Wilson-Messick, a second-grade teacher at Silver Lake Elementary, is recognized with a BEATS Maker award during the November 12 Board of Education meeting. Messick is pictured, from left, with Executive Director of Human Resources Ed Small and Superintendent Matt Burrows.
Pictured above are students who placed in the top 10 at the district's middle school cross country championship. These students were recognized for their achievements at the November 12 Board of Education meeting.
Pictured above are students who placed in the top 10 at the district's middle school cross country championship. These students were recognized for their achievements at the November 12 Board of Education meeting.
Olive B. Loss Elementary School enjoys a garden harvest
It was good eats at Olive B. Loss Elementary School when these pictures were taken during the school's garden harvest lunch! For years, OBL had an empty courtyard in the center of the school. Thanks to some grant funding and the support of Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids, last spring, OBL was able to get a vegetable garden established in the courtyard — given its location, the space is a gardener’s paradise where you don’t need to worry about critters getting to the produce other than birds. The garden now helps students learn about nutrition, plant science, and a little bit of patience as they watch the seeds they planted turn into something they can eat. In October, the students were able to harvest leafy greens and enjoy a well-deserved lunch!
Olive B. Loss Elementary’s Erin McCullin rings the bell!
Anyone who has worked in an office long enough knows it to be true, your coworkers often become friends or like family who are there for you through the highs and lows of life. This year, Erin McCullin, a second-grade teacher at Olive B. Loss Elementary School, has certainly experienced some lows, but, we are happy to report that on November 1, she completed her final round of chemotherapy is and now cancer-free!
In her own words, McCullin said of this year:
I’ve been battling breast cancer since January 2024. My OBL family has been so supportive, and I’m extremely grateful for everyone I work with. I just finished my last round of chemo on November 1, 2024, and rang the bell. My school planned an entire school Pink Out Day, and supported me with t-shirts, bells, signs, balloons, flowers, hugs, well wishes, and so much love.
I’m extremely lucky to work with the most wonderful people in the world. I’d love to recognize each and every one of them. OBL is a wonderful place to work. I love my OBL family and the OBL community with all my heart.
Harry Potter and friends make the rounds
One of our favorite aspects of promoting our district’s theatre productions has to be when the cast of those shows dress up in character and visit our elementary schools. Just in time for Halloween, Harry, Ron, and Hermione from the cast of Middletown High School’s production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child traveled around the district (most likely on brooms, but we can't officially confirm this) and visited some of our elementary schools! At each school they visited, the cast read to students, answered questions, and handed out candy. These pictures were taken at Brick Mill Elementary, Bunker Hill Elementary School, and Silver Lake Elementary.
Drone Legends donates $4,000 kit to Lorewood Grove Elementary!
It was an exciting fall day at Lorewood Grove Elementary School! Scott Buell, the founder and CEO of Drone Legends, stopped by for the day to hang out with our 1st-2nd graders! Drone Legends is an organization that helps educators teach STEM and CTE by showing students drone technology up close and in use! In working with Kendra Rosner for over a year now with integrating the Drone Legends STEM Fundamentals curriculum, Scott decided to gift Lorewood Grove with the Little Legends Kit, valued at over $4,000! He came in and taught the students how to use the curriculum as well as Mrs. Rosner. In the end, he stayed to use his large drone to capture and film the costume parade for the school that took place! We are so grateful to have positive and meaningful community relationships like this in our district!
Norfolk State University choir performs at Middletown High School
Launch into Your Future Week aims to help get high school students thinking about life after they graduate. Whether it’s a career in the military or attending a college or university, there are plenty of options available to our students and plenty of experience to be had. That’s where Norfolk State University’s visit comes into play — seeing the school’s choir perform helps show our students that the extracurriculars they had in high school can continue well into college and even land them a career. During their visit, members of the choir provided insight into university life for our students and the music programs offered at the school through discussion and a Q&A session.
Thank you to the Delaware Symphony Orchestra for visiting our schools
On Friday, October 25, students from the Appoquinimink, Middletown, and Odessa High School orchestras participated in a workshop with members of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. During the workshop, students worked with DSO to improve concert music, technique, and other complex musical skills. Students also had the opportunity to play alongside DSO members and with their peers across the district. Thank you to the Delaware Symphony Orchestra for working with the ASD orchestras!
Eighth graders visit Delaware State University
Our students have been out and about this month — eighth graders had the opportunity to participate in a tour of Delaware State University. This tour helped teach students about post-secondary education and helped them get a feel for campus life!
Celebrating our administrative professionals
On Wednesday, November 20, Superintendent Matt Burrows visited Appoquinimink Preschool Center and Everett Meredith Middle School to thank both schools’ front office staff for the work they do every day to support our students and their families. Anyone who has worked in education knows it’s the administrative professionals who ensure our schools are running smoothly — we can’t thank our front office staff enough for all they do!
Remember to tune in and cheer for Tina Finch on December 2
Be sure to mark your calendars for Monday, December 2, when the Delaware Department of Education will announce the 2025 Educational Support Professional of the Year! We’ll be cheering for Tina Finch, school secretary at Bunker Hill Elementary School, who is our district’s nominee this year for the ESPOY award. The ESPOY program recognizes outstanding service by school employees who provide direct or indirect services to students and their families. Employees considered for the award include paraprofessionals, custodial staff, secretaries, nutritional staff, information technology staff, school- and district-employed bus drivers, and school- and district-employed bus aides.
Thanksgiving Break reminders!
AHS hosts its second annual movie night
On Wednesday, November 20, the Youth to Eliminate Loss of Life (“YELL”) Club at Appoquinimink High School held its second annual Drive-Up Movie Night. The 54-member club is sponsored by SN4C (Southern New Castle Counties Communities Coalition), a subdivision of CADCA, a national nonprofit organization focused on prevention.
The Drive-Up Movie Night, organized by Brianna Sherman-Blanding and Aarya Patel (AHS, class of 2024), is easily the largest outreach activity run by an ASD YELL Club. It requires significant funds and a considerable time commitment from students, who begin submitting facility requests in the summer and follow up by writing, crafting, and editing multimedia ads, as well as producing short promotional commercials. This culminates in a six-hour event that includes setup, screening, and cleanup, with the help of the AHS athletic director and custodial and facilities staff. The current club leaders — Prerna Guduguntla (class of 2025), Hannah Abubakari (class of 2025), and Mahika Gujja (class of 2026) — also successfully facilitated a partnership with the Middletown Police Department to ensure the free event was safe and supervised for all AHS Jaguars who attended. Under the supervision of Charlene Taylor and SN4C Prevention Specialist Tamson Livanov, approximately 110 students attended the event.
Upcoming Events/Meeting Notices
5 December - CBMS 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra Concert - 7:00 PM at OHS
5 December - AGW 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert - 7:00 PM at AGW
5 December - EMMS 6-8th Grade Band Concert - 7:00 PM at EMMS
5 December - LLRMS 6-8th Grade Choir Concert - 7:00 PM at LLRMS
9 December - MHS Winter Instrumental Concert - 7:00 PM at MHS
10 December - Education Showcase - all day, all schools
10 December - School Board meeting, 7:00 PM at the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center, 118 S. Sixth St, Odessa. Tune in virtually by tapping here.
10 December - AGW 6th Grade Band, Choir, Orchestra Concert - 7:00 PM at AGW
10 December - CBMS 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert - 7:00 PM at OHS
10 December - EMMS 6-8th Grade Orchestra Concert - 7:00 PM at EMMS
11 December - AGW 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra Concert - 7:00 PM at AGW
11 December - LLRMS 6-8th Grade Band Concert - 7:00 PM at LLRMS
12 December - AHS Winter Choir Concert - 7:00 PM at AHS
12 December - CBMS 6th Grade Band and Orchestra Concert - 7:00 PM at OHS
17 December - AHS Winter Instrumental Concert - 7:00 PM at AHS
17 December - MHS Winter Choir Concert - 7:00 PM at MHS
18 December - OHS Winter Choir Concert - 7:00 PM at OHS
18 December - CLE Winter Choir Concert - 6:30 PM at AGW
18 December - BME Winter Choir Concert - 6:30 PM at BME
19 December - AGW 7th & 8th Grade Choir Concert - 7 PM at AGW
19 December - LLRMS 6-8th Grade Orchestra Concert - 7:00 PM at LLRMS
19 December - CBMS 6-8th Grade Choir Concert - 7:00 PM at OHS
19 December - EMMS 6-8th Grade Choir Concert - 7:00 PM at EMMS
23 December- 1 January - Schools/offices closed - Winter Break
2 January - Schools reopen
January is National School Board Recognition Month