Matt Burrows, Ed.D.Superintendent

B O A R D

Norman AbramsRichard Forsten, Esq.Shawn RoheMichelle WallKelly Wright

A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

Tony J. Marchio BuildingMarion E. Proffitt Training Center

P R E S C H O O L

Age 3-4

Appoquinimink Preschool Center Brick Mill ECC

E L E M E N T A R Y

Early Childhood Centers | KindergartenBrick Mill ECC Cedar Lane ECCSpring Meadow ECCTownsend ECC

Grade 1-5 Schools

Brick Mill ElementaryBunker Hill ElementaryCedar Lane ElementaryLorewood Grove ElementaryOld State ElementaryOlive B. Loss ElementarySilver Lake ElementaryTownsend Elementary

S E C O N D A R Y

Grade 6-8 Schools

Alfred G. Waters MiddleCantwell’s Bridge Middle Everett Meredith MiddleLouis L. Redding Middle

Grade 9-12 Schools

Appoquinimink HighMiddletown HighOdessa High

A D U L T C O N T I N U I N G E D U C A T I O N

James H. Groves High

Tony J. Marchio Administration Building | apposchooldistrict.com 313 South Fifth Street, PO Box 4010, Odessa, DE 19730-4010 | 302.376.4128

Superintendent’s December 17 UpdateIn this newsletter, I share important information about the people-places-events making news in our District. The guidance presented here will be supported by detailed information from your child’s building administrators and teachers. Communication at all three levels happens on a regular basis.

A Referendum Thank You!I’d like to thank our parents, staff, School Board and volunteers for your support at the polls on Tuesday. Our community approved the no tax increase referendum by a margin of 2,992 to 106 – that represents a 97% approval rate. Your votes mean that we will receive State support and can move forward with the massive renovation and expansion project at Louis L. Redding Middle. Your collective efforts have ensured that a school with a proud and important history will have an exciting future as a modern 21st century learning center. Look for more news in the coming year about timelines, design & construction milestones for this project.

2022-23 Proposed CalendarThe District’s Calendar Committee presented a proposal for the 2022-23 Academic Calendar at the December School Board Meeting. A public comment period is now underway. Please be sure to review these dates and reach out with any questions or concerns to Calendar Committee Chair Ray Gravuer. • DRAFT 2022-23 Calendar• The public comment period closes: February 2, 2021Approval Process. Step 1: The Calendar Committee will report back to the School Board at the next two regularly scheduled Board Meetings, when they will share the comments received during this period, and discuss any changes or revisions stemming from the input. The meeting will be streamed live on the ASD YouTube channel and archived there for later viewing.Step 2: After discussion at the February 8, School Board Meeting, a vote to finalize the 2022-23 calendar is expected. The approved calendar will be posted to school and district websites. A notice will be placed on our Facebook page, and copies of the calendar will be shared with parents and staff via automated messaging. Some highlights: » Grade 9 Open House = Aug. 30 @ 6:00 p.m. » Meet the Teacher Events

• Grades KG and 6 = August 31• Grades PK and 1-5 = September 1

» 1st Day of School• Grade KG, Last Name A-L = Sept. 6 / Grade KG, Last Name M-Z = Sept. 7• Grades 1-9 = September 6• Grades PK and 10-12 = September 7

» Parent Conferences: • High Schools = October 12-13; February 22-23• Grade PK-8 = November 21-22; February 15-17

» Winter Break: December 23-January 2 » Spring Break: April 7-16 » Class of 2023 Graduation: June 10

• Middletown @ 1:00 p.m. / Appoquinimink @ 3:00 p.m.

Transportation ReportDirector of Safety, Security and Operations Tom Poehlmann delivered the monthly transportation update at the School Board Meeting. To provide context for the discussion, he began with the following review. » ASD is currently 20 drivers short. » Since the start of the school year:

• 5 drivers have completed training and have been assigned a route.• 5 driver candidates are currently in training.• 8 drivers have resigned since August.• Advertising has yielded 54 inquiries to date, but most did not follow up with applications.

» Parents have responded to our request for help by bringing their children to school. We have 4,000 fewer students riding a bus this year; and have become expert at maximizing school bus ridership.

• We are down from 120 bus contracts in 2015 to 90 in 2021. » Bonuses of up to $4,200 are being offered to new drivers; but a major sticking point remains the reimbursement

rate offered by the State. » We continue to meet with elected and appointed officials who have the decision-making power to address

compensation issues.

The Transportation Committee’s recommendation for 2022-23A move to a three-tier transportation schedule has been proposed: » Tier I: Grades KG-5 School Day = 7:40 a.m.-2:20 p.m.

Grade PK School Day = 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free, after-care support would be available at school from 2:20-3:20 p.m. for Grade PK-5 students. » Tier II: Grades 9-12 School Day = 8:30 a.m.-3:10 p.m. » Tier III: Grades 6-8 School Day = 9:20 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

The proposal would greatly reduce, but not entirely eliminate, the driver shortage. The current deficit of 20 bus drivers would be reduced to two if enacted today. Out of necessity, most other districts in Delaware and Tri-State area have moved to a three-tier transportation schedule.We continue to investigate solutions to the challenge: » The Transportation Committee will meet in February and March to analyze the costs associated with district-

owned school buses and will offer a report at a Board Meeting later this Spring. » Ownership of buses would not resolve the issue of driver recruitment/retention or the State compensation

formula for transportation services; and would result in assets the District must purchase, store, manage, maintain and repair.

A public comment period is now underway. After reviewing the Board presentation (below), please reach out with questions, concerns or comments to 3TierBellTimes@appo.k12.de.us.• Transportation Presentation

Delaware STEM Council Honors MHS TeamIn November, the Delaware STEM Council recognized an interdisciplinary team of educators from Middletown High School: Gene Beitman (Co-Captain Math Educator), Matt Juck (Co-Captain Science Educator), Atilano “Ati” Rodriguez–Math Educator and Dave Wessell–Science Educator with their STEAM Team Award.For eight years now, the group has participated in the Delaware Interdisciplinary STEM Citizen Science Project, where, together with other secondary school teams from across the State, they develop sustainable STEAM lessons and practices for Delaware High Schools. The experiments are designed to: 1) Expose promising students to cutting-edge investigative processes, 2) Encourage collaboration between STEAM educators, and 3) Utilize student feedback to refine NextGen lessons for use back in the classroom. The project represents a public-private school partnership supported by the Delaware Department of Education and the University of Delaware. Top teaching teams take part in professional development annually; then they brainstorm, design, test and refine creative challenges combining science–technology–engineering–art–mathematics in a multi-month process that includes testing with high school students at University of Delaware’s Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering (ISE) Lab. Explained Co-Captain Gene Beitman, “When this initiative began, I was interested in bringing hands-on, college-level opportunities to our special education population. I wanted them to see potential fields of study/career prospects that they may not have otherwise known. While that happened, our staff was also exposed to other teaching strategies, ideas and schools. Collaborating with other teachers/schools along with the faculty at the University of Delaware has allowed us to expand on our own ideas and create some new ones. In the end, everyone involved gained invaluable exposure and experience to the benefits of STE(A)M education. I’m very grateful to have been along for the ride!”• View an album of photos from an MHS-designed STEM challenge, Rock You Like A Hurricane.• Watch the awards ceremony, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ6t0q9pj74&t=6s.

Four phases of development• The process begins in mid-winter, when teachers gather at University of Delaware’s ISE Lab for a workshop

where they learn new techniques, network and begin discussing ideas.• From winter-spring, teams meet at their home schools to formulate a dynamic lesson.• In the summer, students from the participating schools receive an invitation to be a part of a free, one-week

Summer Academy at the University of Delaware’s ISE Lab. » At UD, students participate in two 90–minute challenges each morning. After sharing feedback with the

team presenting the experiment, they returned to their respective districts (around 11:30 a.m.), while teachers spend the remainder of the day reflecting and revising lessons as needed.

» In order to provide more students with an opportunity to participate in the popular program, different students are invited each year.

• At the end of the Summer Academy, each team shares copies of the lesson plan(s) they’ve developed and refined – forming a portfolio of new lessons that can be shared with colleagues and used throughout the year.

Ad hoc members come on and off to meet the particular demands of each year’s challenge, however, the core of the MHS team has remained together, growing stronger and more innovative each year. This continuity and camaraderie enhanced the teams’ ability to create and deliver meaningful STEAM lessons back at Middletown High and share them with colleagues.As the winning team, Middletown High received a $1,000 check, funds Co-Captain Matt Juck said they will use to expand the Schools’ 3-Dimensional Design and Printing capabilities.For more information contact Matthew.Juck@appo.k12.de.us or Gene.Beitman@appo.k12.de.us.

Appoquinimink Construction Report

Everett Meredith Middle School• Brickwork has been applied to the front of the

building and is proceeding in the back.• The roof has been completed in sections A and B.• Windows are in on the far side of the building.• Drywall underway inside the building (work will

move from sections B to A).Middletown High• The skylight over the main stairwell has been

installed. It is a sealed unit, which will eliminate leaks. • The first floor ventilator is in, we should see

completion by early Spring.• A cooling tower to help the geothermal

system run more efficiently, and save money, is in place.

Crystal Run Elementary• Site work is underway. A construction

entrance has been established.• Storm retention ponds are being built.• Prep work has starting on the school’s

concrete pad.• Bid submissions are being evaluated.

Look for more information next month.

It’s Teacher of the Year Nomination Time• Nomination Form• The last day to submit a nomination is January 28, 2022If you know a great classroom-based or virtual teacher, we hope you’ll nominate him/her for Teacher of the Year honors. We’ll be accepting online submissions from now through January 28, 2022. During that time, you can nominate as many educators as you’d like. Younger students can have a parent help them with the form. Every teacher nominated will receive a congratulatory letter, public acknowledgment, and the satisfaction that comes from knowing their talent and commitment have been recognized by a parent, student, colleague or community member. One teacher will be selected to represent each school. We’ll make a public announcement in the Spring about our building and district-level Teacher of the Year Ambassadors so you can help us celebrate them. Once selected by the building selection committee, the district honoree will be chosen based upon: 1. Demonstrated ability to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn;2. Exceptional skill and dedication as a teacher in the Appoquinimink School District;3. Garnering respect and admiration from a broad spectrum of students, parents, and colleagues, and;4. Demonstrating a strong ability to foster excellence in education as evidenced by ongoing contributions to the

improvement of student learning and the learning environment.

Reminder: Virtual Academies are a “Choice” Option for 2022-23Remote learning for the 2022-23 school year will be available at programs supervised by Lorewood Grove Elementary (KG-Grade 5) and Cantwell’s Bridge Middle (Grades 6-8). Acceptance will occur through a lottery process. More information about these programs is available on our website under the CHOICE button.Reminders:• The “choice” application period began November 1, and will close on

January 12, 2022. • Acceptance is based on academic capacity at the locations

requested. • Apply here, https://www.schoolchoicede.org/Apply/Appo.

December 15: The Biggest Signing Event of the 2021 School YearOn Wednesday, Middletown High hosted a National Letter of Intent signing ceremony for seven student athletes who committed to continue their athletic careers in college. Over half the group are going to Division I schools – including quarterback Braden Davis, a scholar-athlete who is considered the hottest recruit from a Delaware High School this year. We’re proud that 6 abc was there to cover the event, and a number of print and online publications including the Delaware News Journal ran stories.Signing a National Letter of Intent (NLI) is an honor for our players, their families, coaches and the entire school community – and is typically accompanied by a generous offer of scholarship assistance. At Middletown High, we celebrated Will Austin (Baseball), Zakary Sophy (Baseball), Riley Geiger (Field Hockey), Morgan Nolte (Volleyball), Tomiwa Durojaiye (Football), Kody Harris-Miller (Football), and Braden Davis (Football). For a brief bio of each athlete and information about where they’ll be going, open this story.

Congratulations to Middletown High, Class 3A Football ChampionsOn Saturday, December 11, Middletown High captured the first DIAA Class 3A title with an exciting 28-22 win against Smyrna at the University of Delaware. The game made front page news on media outlets up and down the state. You can read the News Journal’s coverage here. Don’t miss the fantastic photos from WILLIAM BRETZGER/Delaware News Journal.

School Board Meeting RecapThis month’s School Board meeting was live and livestreamed on December 14. The session is available to watch on ASD’s YouTube channel, http://bit.ly/AppoYouTube-2021. We’ve created a directory with timestamps to help you follow along. Note: School Board Meetings do not include an open Q&A period, but we have created an email address: SB-Questions@appo.k12.de.us to ensure that we’re in touch with your concerns.Timestamp• 18:13 Recognition: FFA National Convention Attendees & Winners• 35:59 Monthly Financial Report / Internal Accounts Report• 37:36 Personnel Report / Administrative Contract Renewals & Extensions for school year 2022-23• 41:40 Calendar Committee Report: 2022-23 Academic Calendar DRAFT• 1:02 Construction Report: Meredith Middle, Middletown High, Crystal Run Elementary• 1:20 Transportation Update/Recommendation for 2022-23• 1:59 Meeting concludes

“Test to Stay” ReminderThe “Test to Stay” Program provides an alternative for students who have been exposed to the COVID virus and would previously have been required to quarantine at home. Students in the “Test to Stay” Program will receive an antigen (rapid) test in the evening before every school day Sunday through Thursday for 7 days following a known exposure to COVID-19. The antigen tests will involve a quick and easy nasal swab. The swab will be done by the student or, if assistance is needed, by trained clinical staff.To be eligible to participate in the “Test to Stay” Program, students will first need to be registered for our current In-School Testing program. Please open the Parent Message where you will find interactive links to the forms that must be completed and a second attachment with answers to frequently asked questions.

Holiday MessageAs we approach Winter Break – December 23 through January 2 – I want to thank you for being part of the Appoquinimink family and wish you happiness for the coming year. Now is a time to relax and recharge, gather with family and friends to honor cultural customs, and celebrate the feeling of community that we all share. Best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy new year.

Matt BurrowsSuperintendent