January 2026 ASD Family Newsletter Keep scrolling for the people-places-things making news in our district!

At our January Board of Education meeting, we recognized people and organizations in our community that helped us support 43 families and two students this holiday season with donations, meals, and gifts. The list of donors recognized at the meeting is: Tony Immediato, Cheryl Apparicio, Contracting Plus (Rudy Sutton), Joanne Watson, St. Joseph Church, ASD Transportation, Ginny Simpkins, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Atlas Volleyball Club, Bayberry Community, Real Life Community Church, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Connection Church, Blackbird Community Center, Anita Richards, Michelle Mac-Williams, Neighborhood House, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Gamma Alpha Rho Zeta Chapter, Alexander Hackett, Mia Rose Bridal Shop, and Middletown High School Represented by Gail Moyer.

Pictured above are students from Alfred G. Waters Middle School who were recognized at the January 13 meeting for having been selected to participate in the Delaware All State Choir Festival. Students auditioned in November and will participate in the festival from March 5-7. Students from AGW who were selected to participate in Junior Choir are: Gabrielle Devine, Brooklynn Dhakal, Ipsita Lad, Ava McDermott, Shradhanjali Mishra, Mia Novellino, Archisha Pandey, Jiya Patel, Kylie Pollard, Sienna Powell, Molly Rash, and Alexandria Snyder. Please note that not all students listed may have been in attendance at the January meeting.

Pictured above are students from Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School who were recognized at the January Board of Education meeting for having been selected to participate in the Delaware All State Choir Festival. Students auditioned in November and will participate in the festival from March 5-7. Students from CBMS who were selected to participate in Junior Choir are: Rosemary Behm, Aria Bradley, Adelina Daniel, Jordan Fitch, Leah Killian, Madison Lynch, Christopher Oakes, and Dorian Watts Jr. Please note that not all students who are listed could be in attendance at the January meeting.

Pictured above are students from Appoquinimink High School who were recognized at the Board of Education meeting for having been selected to participate in the Delaware All State Choir Festival. Students auditioned in November and will participate in the festival from March 5-7. Students from AHS who were selected to participate in Senior Choir are: Kailyn Burke, Julian Dickenson, Silvana Garzon-Quintero, Alexandra Jones, Blake Karpinski, Gabriel Kunkel, Paul Lapierre, Samuel Lebowitz, Siddharth Sharma, Jacob Shockley, Eesha Swaminathan, Harper Whiting, and Annie Ye. Please note that not all students who are listed could be in attendance at the January meeting.

Pictured above are students from Middletown High School who were recognized at the January 13 Board of Education meeting for having been selected to participate in the Delaware All State Choir Festival. Students auditioned in November and will participate in the festival from March 5-7. Students from MHS who were selected to participate in Senior Choir are: Delaney Frydl, Favor Kuria, Angelica Rodriguez, Jane Shaffer, Cambria Sturtevant, and Jamie Zelo. Please note that not all students who are listed could be in attendance at the January meeting.

Pictured above are students from Odessa High School who were recognized at the January Board of Education meeting for having been selected to participate in the Delaware All State Choir Festival. Students auditioned in November and will participate in the festival from March 5-7. Students from OHS who were selected to participate in Senior Choir are: Larissa BonJorno, Aubrey Free, Meghan Gettings, Jordan Hayes, Julianna Schechter, and Sean Young. Please note that not all students listed may have been in attendance at the January meeting.

2026-27 Proposed Calendar: Survey Now Open!

The Appoquinimink School District’s Calendar Committee presented its proposal for the 2026-27 Academic Calendar at the January 13, 2026, Board of Education Meeting. A public comment period is now underway. Open this story for a copy of the draft calendar and the link to submit comments.

Get your tickets now for 'Anything Goes' on stage at Middletown Theatre!

Get ready to set sail at Middletown High School with Anything Goes, the classic Cole Porter musical bursting with big laughs, fast-paced chaos, and unforgettable music. Aboard a glamorous ocean liner from New York to England, stowaway Billy Crocker is determined to win the heart of heiress Hope Harcourt — despite her engagement to the delightfully odd Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. With the help of bold nightclub star Reno Sweeney and the hilarious “public enemy” Moonface Martin, the ship explodes into a frenzy of disguises, mistaken identities, tap-dancing, and over-the-top comedy. Romance runs wild, the schemes keep coming, and in this show… anything truly goes!  You can purchase tickets here!

Pathway ambassadors visit our middle schools in time for pathway selection

Ahead of pathway selection time for eighth-grade students, high school pathway ambassadors visited our district's four middle schools to help students narrow down their options! You can see our pictures from the presentations at Everett Meredith Middle School and Cantwell's Bridge Middle School on our website.

• EMMS
• CBMS

Our pathway ambassadors did a phenomenal job explaining their pathway experience, what they plan to study, or what jobs they plan to pursue after high school, and what the average day looks like as a high school student in each pathway.

We also had two LCCE ambassadors from Appoquinimink High School visit a Foundations class, where they spoke about their experiences participating in our Life-Centered Career Education pathway. Kudos to the AHS students for delivering a great presentation, and the CBMS students for being amazing listeners! You can see more pictures here!

To learn more about our pathways, visit https://appoccr.com/pathways. 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Attend ASD's College and Career Readiness Night – February 5

Event Details:

• Thursday, February 5 at 6 p.m.
• Virtual Webinar with Live Q&A
• You can find the link to register here
• For rising 9th – 12th graders

Event Agenda:

• How your high school schedule impacts the college admission process
• Learn about AP, Dual Enrollment, and Articulated Course offerings
• Learn how AP and Dual Enrollment courses connect to the high school scheduling process

Workforce Readiness Fair is March 11, 2026

Appoquinimink School District is hosting its Workforce Readiness Fair on March 11, 2026, at the Delaware Technical Community College Terry (Dover) Campus. An experience unique to our district, all students participate in this interactive event that connects students with local business partners to build essential career skills, including networking, interviewing, and workplace professionalism. The Fair is the largest educational event hosted by our district, with more than 1,000 11th graders from our three high schools (Appoquinimink, Middletown, Odessa) participating.  If you are an industry partner interested in participating in the fair, please click here. 

Senator Blunt Rochester’s team visits Odessa High School

We'd like to thank U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester's team for taking the time to visit Odessa High School on January 22. The senator's team toured some of OHS's career and technical education (CTE) classrooms, as well as learned about our district's work-based learning programs and supportive services for students with disabilities. We are always more than happy to show the amazing things that happen in our schools every day! 

Four Appoquinimink educators named Partners in Education grant recipients

The Delaware Retired School Personnel Association recently announced the 2025 grant recipients in the Partners in Education grant program, with four Appoquinimink educators benefiting from the grant.   “The Partners in Education program not only celebrates excellence in teaching but also invests directly in Delaware’s educational future by empowering teachers to realize their visionary ideas and inspire the next generation of learners,” said DRSPA President Denise Schwartz. “We continue to be deeply impressed with the creativity and dedication of Delaware teachers.” These grants, each ranging up to $1,000, provide essential resources for projects that enhance classroom learning — such as reading initiatives, STEM innovation, and creative arts accessibility. DRSPA received 39 grant applications. A committee reviewed and assigned a point value based on criteria for each grant. The highest scores were awarded the funding. From our district, the winners are:

• Christine Curcuru, a social studies teacher at Alfred G. Waters Middle School. Curcuru received $325 to benefit the project, Game On: Gamifying Civics and Economics.
• Miriannys Velasquez Zabala, a kindergarten Spanish Immersion teacher at Townsend Early Childhood Center. Zabala recieved $935.06 to benefit project, Learning Spanish Culture Through Play.
• Devon Scaramazza, a science teacher at Odessa High School. Scaramazza received $660 to benefit the project, Cross Disciplinary Learning in Anatomy and Physiology to Increase Literacy.
• Alexa Slavin, a fourth grade teacher at Townsend Elementary, who received $1,000 for the project, Unlocking the Joy of Reading Through a Novel Study.

You can learn more about DRSPA here.

Thanking our constables!

On January 9, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we visited Everett Meredith Middle to express our thanks to the school’s constable, Tiffany Honesty-Moore. We are grateful for our team of constables and school resource officers, who keep our students safe and help build positive communities in our schools! 

January is National Board Recognition Month!

January is School Board Recognition Month — a time to thank our five-member Appoquinimink Board of Education for their commitment to serving their community. School board members serve as trustees for our district. They set policy, approve educational goals and curriculum changes, and act on recommendations of the superintendent of schools. Please join us in thanking our Board for all they do in support of our students. For more information about the Board, click here​​​​​​​! 

Have you considered running for the Appoquinimink School Board?

In Appoquinimink School District, all School Board seats are at-large. There are two seats up for election this year. School Board members set up and approve educational goals and policies; are active in recognition, special events, and advocacy efforts; help address the impact of growth in our community; and have fiscal responsibility for approving the annual budget. Candidates wishing to run must register with the New Castle County Board of Elections by Friday, March 6, 2026, to appear on the ballot. This is a four-year, unpaid position. To run, you must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the U.S. and Delaware, and a resident of the Appoquinimink School District. School Board members set and approve educational goals and policies; are active in recognition, special events, and advocacy efforts; help address the impact of growth in our community; and have fiscal responsibility for approving the annual budget. The 2026 School Board election will be held on May 12, 2026. You can find more information here: https://elections.delaware.gov/school/index.shtml

Middletown (DE) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. helps clear out lunch balances

Please join us in thanking the Middletown (DE) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta for their generous donation of $2,818, which will be put toward clearing out lunch balances for students who receive free and reduced meals. We can’t thank our community enough for their steadfast support of our students. 

Join the Appoquinimink Foundation!

Connect with the Foundation here: https://www.appofoundation.org/volunteer!

You're Invited! Appoquinimink Foundation's Membership Meeting is February 19, 2026

The Appoquinimink Foundation is hosting a Membership Meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2026. At this meeting, you'll learn more about the Foundation and how you can join this important effort. The Appoquinimink Foundation was formed in 2010 to innovatively and independently support the educational goals of the Appoquinimink School District. MEETING INFO:

• DATE: Thursday, February 19
• TIME: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• LOCATION: Board Room in the Marion Proffitt Training Center

INFO: Click here to RSVP for the event (scroll to the bottom of the page to find the RSVP section)

Next Appo Families Connect workshop is March 19!

Our Appo Families Connect Parent Council Sessions are open to all and hosted by our Special Education team in partnership with Appo Families Connect. The next session is scheduled for March 19, 2026, at Louis L. Redding Middle School. The topic is Child Development and Supporting Children with Disabilities. You can find more information on our website!

Appoquinimink School District Adult Education Center

Whether you want to start a new career, earn more money, or go to college - getting a high school diploma or GED is a great first step toward your goal! Our adult programs are convenient, affordable, and nationally accredited.  The Adult Education Center's programs include:

• English as a Second Language
• Adult Basic Education
• GED
• James H. Groves Adult High School

You can find more information on our website, here!

2026 Preschool Interest Information

The Preschool Programs in Appoquinimink School District are a popular option for families with a child/children ages 3-4. However, space is limited. ​​​​​​​That is why it’s important to pay attention to the registration dates and process. Returning Families:

• A form to re-enroll will be supplied by your school and should be returned by February 6, 2026.

Staff Families:

• A link to the District Staff Preschool Interest Form will be live from February 13 – February 27, 2026.
• Check back on February 13 for the link!

Members of the ASD Community:

• A link to the Preschool Interest Form will be live from March 2 – 16, 2026.
• Check back on March 2 for the link!

You can read more about the process here. 

Summer camp registration opens soon!

Appoquinimink's talented staff have planned a summer full of fun activities – nature, sports, learning, play, science, performance, art, music. We'll extend the learning that takes place during the school year by giving children the opportunity to be innovative and discover new interests in a supportive environment. Students will meet new friends, have fun, learn new things, and develop their talents. 

• Registration for Summer 2026 opens on February 6 and closes on June 5
• Early Bird Registration: $115/camper/session through May 1
• Registration rises to $125 after May 1

You can find more information on our website, here!

Upcoming Events & Meeting Reminders

• February is National Career and Technical Education Month
• 2-6 February - National School Counseling Week
• 2 February - No school PreK-12; Grade 12 Virtual Day Staff PL day
• 5 February - Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment Night - time TBD, at MHS
• 5-7 February - All State Jazz - school day event, out of district
• 10 February - School Board meeting, 7 p.m. at the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center, 118 S. Sixth St, Odessa. Tune in virtually here.
• 16 February - Schools/offices closed - State/Federal holiday
• 12 February - Student Voices Showcase - 5:30-7:30 p.m. at LLRMS (in the auditorium)
• 17 February - Chinese New Year Market - 4 p.m. at CBMS
• 20-22 February - MHS Spring Musical: Anything Goes - 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20-21 and 2 p.m. Feb. 21-22 in MHS's theatre. You can find ticket info here!
• 19-21 February - All State Orchestra - school day event, Louis L. Redding Middle School
• 25 February - OHS Tri-M Induction Recital - 6 p.m. at OHS
• 27-28 February - AHS Spring Musical: How To Eat Like A Child - 7 p.m. on Feb. 27-28, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Feb. 28 at AHS