Photo: Lyla Jones, a second-grader from Brandywine Springs Elementary School in Wilmington, is the winner of the Arbor Day School Poster Contest.

DOVER, Del. (April 13, 2023) – Lyla Jones, a second-grader from Brandywine Springs Elementary School in Wilmington, is the overall winner of the Delaware Forest Service’s annual Arbor Day School Poster Contest. This year’s competition attracted almost 7,600 entries from more than 70 schools. The theme – “Trees Are Terrific…In All Shapes and Sizes!” – highlights how a diverse community forest is a healthier forest that attracts a variety of wildlife and is more visually stimulating. The complete gallery of winners is at de.gov/arbordaypostercontest

Since 1872, Arbor Day has been observed as a special day to plant trees and celebrate their many benefits!  

The poster contest is designed to increase knowledge about trees and forests while helping students learn about the direct impact of trees on community health and well-being. Trees not only provide beauty but help shade streets and schoolyards while also creating habitat and food for wildlife. Awareness of the difference between tree species helps in selecting the proper tree to plant in a given location based on site conditions, temperature and soil.

The poster contest was open to all K-5 public, private, homeschool, after-school, and other organized youth groups.  Posters are judged on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression. Each winner receives a gift card, a tree-themed book, and a tree planting at their school.  Twelve winners are selected, one from each county, in four grade categories: kindergarten, grades 1 and 2, grades 3 and 4, and grade 5. All participating classes receive free loblolly pine seedlings delivered to their school, just in time to celebrate Arbor Day!

The 12 winners are invited to the annual State Arbor Day Celebration, hosted by Governor John Carney and scheduled for April 29.

For questions and more information, contact: Ashley Melvin, Trainer-Educator  ashley.melvin@delaware.gov

 

New Castle County

Kindergarten: Susanna Sanford, Brandywine Springs Elementary, Wilmington 

Grades 1 to 2:  Lyla Jones, Brandywine Springs Elementary, Wilmington 

Grades 3 to 4: Hillary Shen, North Star Elementary, Hockessin 

Grade 5: Easton Parker, Heritage Elementary, Wilmington 

 

Kent County

Kindergarten: Zadriyan Marshall, Booker T. Washington Elementary, Dover 

Grades 1 to 2: Kylie Clark, Smyrna Elementary, Smyrna 

Grades 3 to 4: Eliana Oberdick, W. B. Simpson Elementary, Wyoming 

Grade 5: Audriana Friday, W. B. Simpson Elementary, Wyoming 

 

Sussex County

Kindergarten: Henry Hearn, St. John’s Preschool, Seaford 

Grades 1 to 2: Julian Spitzer, Lord Baltimore Elementary, Ocean View 

Grades 3 to 4: Evelyn Maloney, Epworth Christian, Laurel 

Grade 5: Sage McMahon, Rehoboth Elementary, Rehoboth Beach 

Gallery of Winners  **** (click on image to view high-resolution file)

New Castle County

---

Kent County

---

Sussex County

---

Last month the Delaware Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) hosted a middle school state conference that provided students with the opportunity to participate in workshops exploring career technical education opportunities and career technical student organization-aligned competitions.

Twenty-two students from active FCCLA middle chapters medaled during competitive events. Those results are listed below. Workshops were hosted by State President/Student Director Jessica Argueta and Roundtable Life Skills.

For more information on Delaware FCCLA, please contact Michael Hill-Shaner, Delaware FCCLA state director, at Michael.hillshaner@doe.k12.de.us.

 

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

The following guest column was written by Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick.

 

As data continues to emerge and be dissected, it is apparent that the pandemic has had long-lasting impacts on our students. Impacts that are directly affecting student success in critical areas such as basic reading skills, math problem solving, and personal self-regulation. Anyone working in schools and classrooms today can attest to the fact that needs are high.

 

Even though Delaware educators, school leaders, and state officials have intensified their support for school communities by focusing on providing more mental health resources and increasing learning loss recovery efforts, too many of our students are still struggling from past disruptions and school building closures. Our efforts are not yet enough to produce timely results for every student in every school in Delaware.

 

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores released this past fall directly represent the current academic situation of Delaware’s fourth and eighth grade students. In mathematics, Delaware’s NAEP scores experienced their largest decline since 1969.  In reading, scores dropped greater than nearly every other state. When comparing pre-pandemic to post-pandemic results, these NAEP scores align with our 2022 state assessment scores. Most devastating are the results among students of color, students with disabilities, and students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

 

Swift recovery from this learning loss is vital to the future of students, families, our communities, and our state.  Knowing that, Delaware schools immediately began to develop programs and leverage community partnerships to maximize support for students and families. In March 2020, every Delaware district and charter school began receiving significant federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding to aid school communities. District and charter leaders solicited public feedback on how best to use the funds. Plans were developed and posted online on every district and charter website, outlining how the money is being applied in school communities across the state.

 

When diving into the programs that originated from this work, one sees a number of model evidence-based strategies at work. High-dosage tutoring is now used in many Delaware schools to provide students with one-on-one and small group tutoring at least three times a week (or about 50 hours a semester). Several districts and charters also now offer extended learning opportunities geared toward addressing students’ unfinished learning through high-quality afterschool and summer programs.  In fact, in 2022, every district and nearly every charter in Delaware organized some type of summer extended learning opportunity, and most have started planning this year’s offerings as well.

 

Since we know that academic success requires a whole-child focus beyond the core curriculum, school districts throughout the state are using restorative practices to address students’ social and emotional needs. Restorative practices apply evidence-based tools and strategies to promote inclusiveness, healthy relationships, and problem-solving throughout the school day and beyond. Research shows these practices not only positively impact social-emotional success but also directly correlate to student academic success.  Students who are able to self-regulate can better attend to the task of learning.

 

Around all of this work, the Delaware Department of Education maintains the same expectations for each district and charter school while also providing necessary supports, such as guidance for selecting and implementing high-quality instructional materials.

.

• All students must engage in truly rigorous learning.
• Every student should have an opportunity to participate in summer experiences, either through the student’s school or a community partnership.
• Extended learning programs must be structured based on best practices with measurable student outcomes.

 

In turn, state agencies and community organizations are continuing partnerships that further help districts and charters meet these goals. The Governor’s Summer Fellowship will double its offerings this year, giving Delaware high school students real-world experience in education, community, and government. This program leverages community-based organizations already doing great work reaching children who need the most support. The fellowship students are also working across these community organizations to tutor some of our state’s younger, most at-risk students.

 

Just as Delaware’s educational losses did not occur overnight, we know recovery won’t happen overnight. We also know we can’t best support students in silos. Students and families can’t do it alone. Schools can’t do it alone. Community-based organizations can’t do it alone. And government can’t do it alone.

 

If we want to truly heal Delaware students, we must work together. We must acknowledge there is an urgency to this work. We must not only continue to utilize the systems that are currently in place but continue to ratchet them up and focus directly on each individual student. How are we measuring needs?  What are we doing to directly target each individual student? Are we using data to drive instruction on a daily basis in every classroom?  Are we differentiating for student needs with solid instruction and practices? What does the student need to learn right now that will make an immediate difference?

 

There is by no means an easy fix.  It requires boots on the ground and a multitude of student supports in place.  However, I fully believe that as a state with such a wealth of caring educators, dedicated leaders, and committed community members we can handle the task.  We have to. The cost of allowing an entire generation of students to struggle in our educational system is too great. Delaware students need us. All of us.

 

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

NEW CASTLE (Oct. 10, 2022) – As part of its strategic plan to make access to services easier for Delawareans across the state, the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) will begin a critical community engagement phase in which the public can weigh in on the kinds of changes they want to see. For years, DHSS has heard about the difficulty Delawareans have in accessing and navigating such services such as general assistance, emergency assistance services, food benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), emergency housing, Medicaid, and more.

“Hearing from the community about their experiences with receiving services is a priority for the department,” said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. “As we embark on improving services and ensuring those services meet the needs of Delawareans across the state, it is critical that we learn about the current experiences and potential solutions from the community. This important project will help DHSS create a service delivery system that is easier to access, more integrated, and works for all.”

Earlier this year, DHSS launched its “Reimagining Service Delivery” initiative to research, create and implement improvements on how services are delivered. This DHSS effort is part of Governor Carney’s Family Services Cabinet Council (FSCC). The FSCC’s goal is to integrate service delivery across the state and make it easier for families and individuals to get the support they need. As a first step, DHSS partnered with Social Contract, a Wilmington consulting firm, to understand the service delivery experience from staff at DHSS’ 15 State Service Centers. Additionally, Social Contract has researched service offerings and their purpose, funding sources, and eligibility requirements.

Secretary Magarik said DHSS seeks to enhance services from the perspective of the clients. To do this, DHSS and Social Contract will host community engagement sessions across the state beginning this month. There will be interviews, focus groups, listening sessions, and more. The goal is to hear about people’s experiences with state services, which will be used to make those services more effective for all.

Secretary Magarik said DHSS hears the need for improvement. “The department is committed to making important changes in service delivery that meet the needs of Delawareans,” she said.

To facilitate these changes, DHSS needs input from the community. Delawareans are asked to complete a short online survey by Nov. 1 to share their experience with receiving state services. Through the survey, residents also can let DHSS know if they want to participate in future community engagement sessions. For questions about the engagement sessions and survey, please email StateServiceCommunity@delaware.gov

To learn more about the project and the community engagement phase: https://de.gov/community.

DOVER, DE (Sept 22, 2022) ­– The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is sharing upcoming opportunities for individuals to get vaccinated against the monkeypox virus (MPX). The current case count for MPX in the state is 35, including 23 cases in New Castle County, three cases in Kent County, and nine cases in Sussex County. Delaware continues to offer vaccinations to people at a higher risk of exposure.

Vaccine eligibility is being expanded to include all gay, bisexual and transgender or nonbinary persons having sex with men, or females having sex with gay, bisexual, non-binary, or transgender males. Delaware is also expanding vaccine eligibility to health care workers who are providing direct patient care to confirmed/suspected MPX cases in areas such as Emergency Departments, urgent cares, Federally Qualified Health Centers, DPH clinics, STI/HIV or sexual health clinics, and those at occupational risk such as laboratory staff that handle MPX specimens. 

Recent data show the risk of MPX to exposed health care workers to be low even when use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is incomplete.  However, to ensure the greatest level of protection against MPX, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends health care staff wear PPE consisting of gown, gloves, eye protection, and an N95 (or higher-level) respirator while caring for patients with suspected or confirmed MPX.

Vaccines remain available to those at highest risk including:

• Persons known or presumed to be exposed to someone with MPX in the last 14 days
• Certain individuals who have sex with men and who have had multiple sex partners within the past 14 days
• Those living with HIV or who are receiving HIV PrEP
• Immunocompromised persons (including those with cancer, solid organ or stem cell transplants, those taking immunosuppressive therapy, and individuals with autoimmune disease)
• Those treated for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the last six months
• Individuals traveling to an area with community spread of MPX cases.
• Those engaging in high-risk activities, including sexual practices, that increase exposure to MPX, such as:
  • Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and have had multiple, or any, anonymous sexual partners in a social network experiencing monkeypox activity, this includes meeting partners through an online website, digital application (“app”), or social event (e.g., a bar or party)
  • Transgender women or nonbinary persons assigned male at birth who have sex with men
  • Sex workers (of any sexual orientation/gender)
  • Staff (of any sexual orientation/gender) at establishments where sexual activity occurs (e.g., bathhouses, saunas, sex clubs)
• People who fall into any of the identified high-risk categories who are also experiencing homelessness or incarceration

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not encouraging vaccination against monkeypox for the broader public or for everyone who is sexually active. Individuals should be aware that the vaccine, a two-dose series given 28 days apart, is not considered effective until two weeks after the second dose. Those at higher risk should continue using preventive measures and reduce engaging in high-risk behaviors both prior to, and after, vaccination to reduce the chance of continued spread of MPX in the community. 

Eligible Delawareans may also receive monkeypox vaccinations at: 

• Newark Urgent Care – Visit NewarkUrgentCare.org to view eligibility requirements and schedule an appointment. Vaccine clinics are on Thursdays, and there is no cost for the vaccine.
• Beebe Healthcare: Individuals can schedule an appointment at beebehealthcare.org/online-scheduling. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
• DPH clinics: Individuals can call the MPX hotline at 866-408-1899 for a screening evaluation. Walk-ins at DPH clinics will not be accepted. Monkeypox vaccinations at DPH clinics will continue to prioritize individuals at highest risk, as a result of confirmed or potential exposure to someone with MPX. As a result, your appointment may be scheduled a few days out.

Signs and Symptoms 

The symptoms of MPX are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. Symptoms usually start within three weeks of exposure to the virus. Most people who contract MPX will develop a rash, and some will develop flu-like symptoms beforehand. The flu-like symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, sore throat, cough, swollen lymph nodes, chills, or exhaustion. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they usually will develop a rash one to four days later.

If you suspect you are experiencing any symptoms associated with MPX you should immediately:  

• Contact your health care provider and discuss your symptoms and concerns.
• Self-isolate until all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
• Avoid being intimate with others.
• Make a list of your close and intimate contacts in the last 21 days.

It can take three to four weeks for all symptoms to fully heal. While there is no specific treatment for MPX, antivirals can be prescribed, though they are not always needed. To learn more information about monkeypox, please visit de.gov/monkeypox. DPH posts MPX case and vaccine data on the website along with resources for the general public, and provides a separate page for medical providers.

DPH launched a hotline for individuals with questions or concerns about MPX. The hotline number is 866-408-1899 and is operational Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Questions may also be emailed to DPHCall@delaware.gov. Both the hotline number and email address share staff with the COVID-19 Call Center. To learn more about MPX prevention programs and resources, visit de.gov/monkeypox.

# # # 

 

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), a division of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is a nationally accredited public health agency recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for its outstanding dedication to driving change through innovation. DPH is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

 

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind, or speech-disabled can contact DPH by first dialing 711 using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free; to learn more about how it works, visit delawarerelay.com.