This message was emailed to all of our Appoquinimink families earlier in December:
Dear ASD Families and Staff,
The official start of winter is upon us! With that in mind, we wanted to review our Appoquinimink School District Snow Day Procedures.
Process for Determining Conditions
Every winter storm brings its own unique set of challenges. Factors like snow accumulation, road conditions, cold temperatures, and visibility are all important considerations when deciding if we will call for a late start, early dismissal, or closure of our buildings.
Behind each decision is a balance of educational and safety priorities, first-hand observations, and weather forecasts.
Update Your Contact Information Now
To ensure that your family receives important notices, please contact your student’s school with any changes to your home, work, or cell phone numbers and email addresses.
If a weather-related announcement is needed, automated calls and emails will be sent to everyone in our system.
First Snow Event
The first snow day of the year will result in a day off for all students.
Any Additional Snow Events
If we require additional snow days throughout the year, online learning will then begin. This will begin as asynchronous and will move to synchronous if multiple snow days need to occur.
Your child’s school will communicate the schedule that will be in effect when a snow day is called. Our preschool programs will also receive communication directly from their schools regarding snow day plans.
A Note for Families
If you feel weather conditions make it unsafe to send your student to school, we will respect your decision to keep your child home that day.
Be advised that your student will be responsible for any missed homework or tests and must bring in a signed note from a parent/guardian the next day.
The following message from Dr. Matt Burrows was emailed to our Appoquinimink families earlier in December:
Dear ASD Families and Staff,
I'm writing this communication to share information about a cell phone pilot program that will begin in the new year at Appoquinimink High School.
This pilot program will take place thanks to funds from the Delaware Department of Education. Many school districts across our state – and even throughout the nation – have implemented cell phone policies to improve student engagement, participation, and outcomes. We know technology impacts the learning environment, and collectively we’re all determining how to limit cell phone usage to improve the learning experience for our staff and students.
Our district’s cell phone pilot program will roll out beginning in January at Appoquinimink High School. The pilot will take place through the remainder of the school year.
Beginning in January, the classrooms that are participating in the pilot program at Appoquinimink High School will begin using Yondr cell phone pouches during their class periods. These pouches lock and unlock with a special tool that will be available in each classroom. Students will receive their pouch when they enter the classroom and will immediately lock their phone into the pouch. At the end of the class period, students will unlock their phones before leaving for their next class or period.
As part of our pilot, students at AHS will still have access to their phones before school, after school, during class changes, and during their lunch period. We feel this is important for our high school students as they begin to learn how to manage their time and how to effectively use technology. Some of our students may have multiple classes that will be part of the pilot – other students may have none.
We have created a special section on our website that outlines our plan for the pilot program, has links to research about the impact of cell phones in schools, and includes other key resources. This website will continue to be updated as we finalize the procedures around the pilot. Once the pilot is complete, our teams will analyze the data and make recommendations for future school years.
We are grateful to the staff and students at AHS for their participation in this pilot program to help shape our procedures as we look to the future. Staff and families – be on the lookout for additional communication in the coming months regarding the pilot program and recommendations moving forward.
MHS Football is 3A State Champions!
The Middletown High School football team is now the 3A State Champions after a stunning victory over top-seeded Salesianum High School on Friday, November 29, 2024.
The 3A State Championship victory was a stunning comeback - the MHS Cavaliers were behind 18 points at halftime.
But that didn't stop the Cavaliers from digging in and coming back to tie the game - forcing overtime. In overtime, MHS took the game 30-27! Needless to say, the crowds roared following the touchdown that ended the game.
Check out the Middletown Cavaliers Football Facebook page for photos from the amazing game!
Here are a few highlights from this amazing season the MHS Cavs shared on their team Facebook page:
- Victories against out-of-state opponents (NJ &MD)
- Trips to Ohio State, Penn State, West Virginia
- Practiced at the University of Maryland
- Pasta parties
- Club Bill
- Undefeated against MOT-area opponents
- Won the Harvest Bowl
- Team season GPA 3.14
- Semifinal appearance (14 out of 15 years)
- State Final appearance (11 out of 15 Years)
- Thanksgiving practice
- State Champions (9x)
Celebrating Sarah Leonard from Louis L. Redding Middle!
This video is a recap of the special and surprise presentation Louis L. Redding Middle School organized for Sarah Leonard!
Leonard is Project Lead The Way's National Gateway Teacher of the Year! You can read more about Leonard and PLTW here.
Congratulations to Sharon Livingstone, DSEA’s Education Support Professional of the Month for December!
Sharon Livingstone, a paraprofessional at Middletown High School, was in for a big surprise when she found out she is the Education Support Professional of the Month for DSEA! Livingstone received a surprise recognition in mid-December to thank her for the invaluable work she does every day in support of her students. Livingstone helps students with disabilities develop practical life and job skills. She also coaches unified sports and volunteers her time with the MHS marching band and indoor color guard.
Education Showcase wows
One of our proudest traditions at Appoquinimink School District is our annual Education Showcase. Every second Tuesday in December each of our buildings proudly showcases the incredible, award-winning, forward-thinking educational activities that are taking place throughout our schools.
There's a lot of information here because our athletes achieved a lot in the fall season! Keep reading, and visit our website, to learn about high school sports — including community service events — all high school post-season honors for players and coaches, team GPAs for each sport, and a recap for middle school sports.
The 2024 fall sports season was a banner year for the Appoquinimink School District, highlighted by championship titles, playoff runs, and standout individual performances across multiple sports- at the high school and middle school level.
Our student-athletes are setting a remarkable example by excelling not only in their respective sports but also in academics and community service. Balancing the demands of practice, games, and rigorous coursework, these young individuals demonstrate exceptional time management and dedication. Beyond their achievements on the field and in the classroom, many student-athletes actively participate in community service projects, using their platform to give back and inspire others. Whether organizing charity drives, mentoring younger students, or volunteering for local causes, they embody the values of teamwork, leadership, and compassion, making a lasting impact both within and beyond their communities.
Profile of a Graduate
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.
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 focusing on Academically Ready:
- Thinks, reads, and writes critically
- Understands and applies mathematical concepts
- Understands science and appreciates the arts
- Listens actively
Within each of these areas – there’s additional detail about what this means for each student.
Next month, we’ll continue our series and share more about what it means for students to be life ready.
Why Attendance Matters
Below is a message from Dr. Matt Burrows that was emailed to all families earlier in December:
Dear ASD Families,
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break. It’s hard to believe we’re now in the last month of the calendar year and just a few weeks away from our winter break.
I want to take a moment to thank our families for attending conferences last week with your child’s teachers. As we finish the first marking period of the school year, meeting with teachers is crucial to ensure our students are where they should be and creating a path forward if needed.
As a district, we are constantly analyzing and reflecting on our student data – similar to the work that takes place at each of our student conferences. This includes diving into academic, behavioral, and other key indicators that we know impact student success.
With that in mind – I think it’s imperative that we focus on student attendance.
There’s no question that there is a direct correlation between regular student attendance and student achievement. This topic is now heavily studied at the state and federal level and all indicators confirm that a missed day of school is a lost opportunity to learn.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more days in a school year – and this includes both excused and unexcused absences. While 10% may sound like a lot of school to miss, that equates to just two or more absences per month. National research continues to show that chronic absenteeism rates remain historically high, especially compared to absenteeism rates prior to the start of the pandemic.
It’s important to note all absenteeism, whether chronic or below that threshold, still has an enormous impact on our students. When students aren’t in class they miss opportunities to learn which can compound over time. Even in our youngest learners, there is clear data to show absences impact outcomes.
Our goal through the remainder of this school year is to partner with our families to analyze attendance and work together to do everything we can to ensure our students are at school.
We do understand there are times when students will not be in school. We greatly appreciate the diligence of our families who keep their children home when they are ill; however, we also know there are opportunities for many of our students to miss fewer days through the school each year.
Our principals and teachers will continue this important conversation through their family newsletters and other communications. We know this will require everyone to work together to achieve this goal. I want to thank our families in advance for your continued partnership.
Middle schoolers plan for their future
Ahead of the holiday break, eighth graders from each of our district’s four middle schools have attended a pathway assembly at their school. These assemblies offer students a closer look at the 24 paths available to them when they enter high school, and give them the opportunity to talk with current high schoolers about each pathway.
Delaware National Guard visits Middletown High School
Members of the Delaware National Guard visited Middletown High School on December 3 to speak with students about the benefits of enlisting like tuition assistance.
All State Choir Results
Listed below are the Appoquinimink School District students who were accepted into the Delaware All State Choir following their auditions on Saturday, November 23, 2024. These students will participate in the Delaware All State Choir Festival from March 6 through March 8, 2025, with concerts occurring on March 8, at Dover High School (Junior Choir at 4 p.m., Senior Choir at 7 p.m.). The choirs will be directed by Jodi Coke (Junior Choir), Maria A. Ellis (Senior Mixed Choir), and Reagan G. Paras (Senior Treble Choir).
All State Band and Orchestra auditions will occur on Saturday, January 11, 2025. More information about Delaware All State Music Ensembles is available via the Delaware Music Educators Association website, www.delawaremea.org.
Junior Choir:
- Alita Baptiste, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
- Corbett Hahnert, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
- Samuel Lebowitz, Alfred G. Waters Middle School
- Brianna Lockwood, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
- Madison Lynch, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
- Mia Novellino, Alfred G. Waters Middle School
- Mason Prak, Alfred G. Waters Middle School
- Emma Shapiro, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
- Malia Shelton, Alfred G. Waters Middle School
- Journey Stewart, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
- Ryan Vitsorek, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
Senior Choir:
- Hannah Abubakari, Appoquinimink High School
- Kailyn Burke, Appoquinimink High School
- Mallory Creveling, Appoquinimink High School
- Julian Dickenson, Appoquinimink High School
- Aubrey Free, Odessa High School
- Delaney Frydl, Middletown High School
- Silvana Garzon-Quintero, Appoquinimink High School
- Meghan Gettings, Odessa High School
- Avery Hamill, Middletown High School
- Jordan Hayes, Odessa High School
- Alexandra Jones, Appoquinimink High School
- Paul Lapierre-Arana, Appoquinimink High School
- Laasyasri Pabathi, Appoquinimink High School
- Vienna Pasquarello, Appoquinimink High School
- Marina Pregel, Middletown High School
- Ricki Rice, Appoquinimink High School
- Angelica Rodriguez, Middletown High School
- Gian Royer, Appoquinimink High School
- Julianna Schechter, Odessa High School
- Siddharth Sharma, Appoquinimink High School
- Jacob Shockley, Appoquinimink High School
- Cambria Sturtevant, Middletown High School
- Eesha Swaminathan, Appoquinimink High School
- Sean Young, Odessa High School
- Jamie Zelo, Middletown High School
6ABC films segment on Odessa High School marching band
6ABC stopped by Odessa High School on Friday to film a segment with Odessa High School bands! Kudos to our students for giving an amazing performance — they kept performing even when it started snowing!
OSE and AGW Foundations teams present on growing functional skills at national convention
Please join us in congratulating our Foundations program team members from Old State Elementary School and Alfred G. Waters Middle School! Their abstract was selected as a featured presentation at the American Speech and Hearing Association convention in Seattle, Washington over the first weekend in December. Their presentation focused on addressing functional skills (life/pre-vocational skills) alongside the academic curriculum as early as first grade for Foundations scholars and in an organized, formalized way using a collaborative model (with a team of occupational therapists, special education team members, speech-language pathologists, and physical therapists).
“The fact that our abstract was selected for a presentation at a national conference was such an honor. Little did I know back in July when we got the notice of selection that this would be the start of such a significant professional journey,” noted Meredith L. Bailey-Orr, speech-language pathologist at Old State Elementary and Alfred G. Waters Middle School. Bailey-Orr was joined at the convention by Karina Randazzo, Gretchen Hannah, Erin McClain, and Josh Derrickson.
Four administrators graduate from Governor’s Institute of School Leadership
Please join us in congratulating Kelyn Marmolejo, Nell Jean, Lia McCallister, and Amanda Conley for graduating from the Governor’s Institute of School Leadership (GISL)! GISL is a partnership between the Delaware Governor’s Office, the Department of Education, the University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development, local Delaware school districts, and Delaware public schools. GISL is a collaborative response to the need for continual support and development of leaders at all levels within public education. It acts upon the benefits derived from intentional and collaborative district, university, and government partnerships. Marmolejo, assistant principal at Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School; Jean, now principal of Middletown High School; and McCallister, assistant principal at Old State Elementary, all completed the Assistant Principal Academy. Our own Dr. Amanda Conley graduated from the Executive Leadership Academy — Dr. Conley is our district’s director of Safety, Security, and Operations.
Shanda Watson is our November Transportation Employee of the Month
Please join us in congratulating Shanda Watson on being named our November Transportation Employee of the Month! Watson is a third-generation bus driver — her family has been in the bus business for decades! Watson has a son who graduated from Appoquinimink High School. She is a proud driver for Middletown High School and adores her students at Cedar Lane Elementary and Cedar Lane Early Childhood Center. She also transports our district's athletes to and from meets.
Save the date for our Job Fair!
You’re invited to our Appoquinimink School District Job Fair! More information is to come, but for now, save the date for Saturday, February 8, 2025. The fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Crystal Run Elementary School, 1470 Aviator Way, Middletown.
We are interviewing and hiring for an array of positions:
- Teachers
- Paraprofessionals
- Transportation drivers and aides
- School nutrition workers
- Immersion and world languages
- Multilingual Learners
- Special education
- Career and technical education (CTE)
- And much, much more!
We hope to see you there!
Three Cavaliers sign letters to play at the college level
We celebrated three Middletown High School seniors who signed letters of commitment to play their sport at the college level on December 4. Those students were Grady Anderson, Jacob Glass, and Kira Brown. Families, friends, coaches, and other special guests were invited to help these athletes celebrate their athletic achievements thus far, and those to come.
Grady Anderson — baseball, Widener University
Grady is a pitcher for MHS's varsity baseball team. He's played on the varsity team for three years, and he was First Team All-Conference his junior year. The team also was the Blue Hen Conference Flight A Champions in 2024.
Grady's coach, Fran Clark said: "Grady Anderson is one of the fiercest competitors that I have coached on the baseball field. His dedication to his craft has made him not only our #1 in our pitching rotation but is one of the best pitchers in the state. Whenever we have a big game, Grady is the one we want on the mound. His leadership and competitive nature have earned the trust of his coaches and his teammates. It’s been a pleasure being able to watch Grady grow and excel at his craft. There’s no doubt that he will be just as successful at the next level."
On choosing Widener, Grady commented: "I have chosen to attend Widener because it is an opportunity for me to continue playing baseball at a higher level and I look forward to meeting new people and my new teammates."
Jacob Glass — lacrosse, Hood College
Jacob is a close defenseman and a long stick midfielder on the varsity lacrosse team — he's played varsity for three years. Jacob was Second Team All-Conference in 2024, as well as a 2023 and 2024 Academic All-Conference athlete. Jaco & the team were the 2023 Flight A Conference Champions as well.
Jacob's coach, Cole Crawford said: "Jacob has been a part of our lacrosse program going on four years now, becoming a valuable part of our defense line. His versatility allows him to play any and all roles in our team's defensive playing. He is a team leader on and off the field and this is only a small part of what makes him a valuable player. We can't wait to watch Jacob grow even more this spring and continue to the next level at Hood College. Congratulations Jacob!
On attending Hood College, Jacob said: "I look forward to attending Hood College to further my academic career in business management and to be part of the Hood Blazers lacrosse team. Coach Brad Barber and the team took the time to get to know me and welcome me to the team. I look forward to a great season with them."
Kira Brown — swimming, Salisbury University
Kira swims freestyle and breaststroke and has been on the varsity swimming team at MHS for four years. Kira's achievements include: top five at States, Academic All-Conference, Second Team All State, and she holds numerous school records. The team was Flight A-Blue Hen Conference Champions, as well.
Kira's coach, Sandra Prather, said: "Kira is kind, hard-working, and motivated. She is a real leader on the team."
On choosing to attend Salisbury, Kira said: "I really just fell in love with the school during my visit. As soon as I visited and met everyone, I knew right away that this was the place for me."
Slime time at Crystal Run Elementary School
It's not easy being green, but Crystal Run Elementary School's Don Davis and Danielle Rash were up to the task when they got covered in green slime in the epic conclusion to their school's weeklong boosterthon fundraiser! These pictures were taken during the school's slime time on Friday, November 22.
Students create glow art gallery for families to enjoy during conferences
Budding artists at Bunker Hill Elementary School, with help from their art teacher Holly Schwalbe, created a Glow Art Gallery for parents to enjoy at conferences held ahead of Thanksgiving break. Each grade level created pieces for the gallery: first graders created pout pout fish with airdry clay, second graders created jellyfish using oil and pastels, third graders freehanded or used a reference picture to create sea life, fourth graders created paper fish, and fifth graders used papier-mâché or crepe paper to create jellyfish! Please join us in congratulating the students and Schwalbe for a job extremely well done!
December Board of Education Recognitions
The Board of Education recognizes the girls' volleyball team at Alfred G. Waters Middle School after they won the district's volleyball championship. The team members are: Abigail Bench, Braylon Bullock, Adeline Girvin, Rithvika Gottumukkala, Alanna Herfindahl, Mahika Hiremath, Kylie Imbriale, Peyton Kane, Alysse Kennedy, Caroline Keznor, Madison Logan, Leah Mattson, Grace Overby, Kaviyaa Selvaraj, Kaneesha Sharma, Morgan Stewart, Sean Volpe, and Jill Holdren.
The Board of Education recognizes the field hockey team at Cantwell's Bridge Middle School after they won the district's middle school field hockey championship. Members of the team are: Heidi Anderson, Lily Bauer, Brenna Buckson, Ceira Callahan, Lidia Carroll, Averi Coats, Julia Doherty, Gianna Gambino, Ava Hall, Reagan Hensel, Emerson Joy, Olivia Linus, Aubrey Martin, Madison Maurer, Emma McIlroy, Pia Modi, Vivian Ocalagan, Ellie Parag, Reese Reed, Emme Sahrhage, Audrey Sechrist, Julia Smith, Lucia Spino, Isabella Viola, Gina Aruanno, Brooklyn Dodd, and Tina Harvy.
Pictured second from left, Sarah Leonard receives a proclamation celebrating her being named Project Lead the Way's National Gateway Teacher of the Year. The proclamation was delivered by Rep. Sherae'a “Rae” Moore, pictured second from right. Also pictured is Principal Leah Anderson-Copher, Leonard's principal at Louis. L. Redding Middle School, and Superintendent Matt Burrows.
Odessa High School's marching band is recognized by the Board of Education for its achievements during the fall 2024 season of competition. OHS came in first place in percussion at the TOB Atlantic Coast Championships competing in the Group 3-Open.
Middletown High School's marching band is recognized by the Board of Education for its achievements during the fall 2024 season of competition. MHS came in first place in percussion at the TOB Atlantic Coast Championships competing in the Group 2-A.
Appoquinimink High School's marching band is recognized by the Board of Education for its achievements during the fall 2024 season of competition. AHS was named the Bronze Medal Group 3 Open Champions.
Mark your calendars for our upcoming Black History Education Workgroup
You are invited to our Black History Education Workgroup! This event will be held in person from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on January 30, 2025, at the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center, 118 N. Sixth St. Odessa. We hope you will consider joining this important conversation! At the event, we will:
Shape the conversation and keep the MOT community informed about the latest developments and initiatives under HB 198 (you can learn more about HB 198 here).
Offer an opportunity to address key topics, answer questions, and engage in meaningful discussions regarding the implementation of Black History Education.
Provide a platform for gathering community feedback to ensure our strategies are effective and aligned with the needs of those we serve.
Next Appo Families Connect workshop is February 6
The above pictures are from our Appo Families Connect workshop held on December 3. Each Appo Families Connect workshop focuses on a different topic that impacts our students and families — December’s topic was child development.
The next workshop is February 6, 2025. We will focus on supporting 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. All Appo Families Connect workshops begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held in person in the Board Room at the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center, 118 S. Sixth St., Odessa.
Save the date for Girls in Sports Day
More information is coming soon!
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Coming Events & Upcoming Events
23 Dec.- 1 - Jan. Schools/offices closed - Winter Break
January is National School Board Recognition Month
2 January - Schools reopen
9 January - National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
14 January - School Board meeting, 7:00 PM at the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center, 118 S. Sixth St, Odessa. Tune in virtually by tapping here.
14 January - OHS Winter Instrumental Concert - 7:00 PM at OHS
15 January - BHE Winter Chorus, Advanced Band, & Strings Concert - 6:30 PM at BHE
16 January - AGW ITS Jr. Induction - 5:00 PM at AGW
16 January - TES Winter Choir Concert - 6:30 PM at EMMS
17 January - B+ Dance - time TBD at AHS
20 January - School/offices closed - State/Federal holiday
23 January - High school exams full day
24 January - High school exams full day End of Marking Period 2
27 January - No school PreK-12 - staff grading day
31 January-1 February - LLRMS Drama Production - 6:30 PM on 1/31 & 3 p.m. on 2/1 at LLRMS
