2019 Delaware Arbor Day School Poster Contest

The Delaware Forest Service’s Arbor Day School Poster Contest is now accepting entries from Delaware students in grades K to 5 in all private, public, charter, and home schools. Winners will be selected from each county in the following grade categories: K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5. Awards will be presented at the State Arbor Day Ceremony with Governor John Carney. Winners also receive a tree-themed book, a poster reproduction on fine art canvas, and a free tree planting ceremony at their school. The Delaware Forest Service also distributes free pine seedlings to participating classes on a first-come, first-served basis.

The annual Arbor Day Poster Contest is designed to teach students about forests and forest resources. Participating in the contest is a way to learn more about the role of trees in our state and their direct impact on the health and well-being of Delaware residents.

This year’s theme – “Trees Are Terrific…in Cities and Towns!” – is designed to increase knowledge about the benefits of trees in our communities. While many people plant trees to provide fruit, beauty, or shade, the benefits of trees – especially in cities and towns – go far beyond those things. Trees are invaluable assets that provide numerous social, environmental and economic benefits such as lower energy costs, cleaner air and water, and increased property values.

2019 THEME
“Trees are Terrific…in Cities and Towns!”

CRITERIA
Posters will be judged on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression.

DEADLINES
Deadline to register: March 15, 2019
Deadline to submit posters: March 29, 2019

Rules and guidelines for teachers: 2019 Poster Guidelines and Rules

To register and request seedlings: 2019 Poster Contest Registration Link

Check out the previous year’s winners:

For more information, email: Ashley Melvin

Woodbridge FFA takes first in forestry career development event

CAMDEN, Del. — Woodbridge High School’s FFA took the top spot at the 2018 Forestry Career Development Event (CDE) held in Camden, Delaware this week. Middletown took second place, followed by Smyrna and Sussex Central. Woodbridge now goes on to represent Delaware at the 91st Annual FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis from October 24 to 27, 2018. For the first time, the 2018 challenge included eight middle and high school teams competing in separate events at the same location. Smyrna Middle School’s FFA took first place among middle schools, beating out Alfred G. Waters Middle School (Appoquinimink), Everett Meredith Middle School (Appoquinimink), and Millsboro Middle School. More photos are available (see below) or on Flickr.

The forestry event was held at Kent County’s Brecknock Park under the direction of Delaware Forest Service education specialist Ashley Melvin, who oversaw the competition for her tenth time. The challenge is designed to measure student knowledge in six separate skill areas: identification of trees, forest pests, and diseases, equipment and mapping, timber stand improvement, compass and pacing, board-foot volume estimation, and an individual written examination.

The National FFA Organization considers itself the “premier youth organization dedicated to preparing members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.” According to FFA, members are driven by the organization’s foundational motto: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” The goal is to prepare students to “support and contribute to future sustainability in farming, science, medicine, and business alike.” The National FFA organization provides leadership and personal growth opportunities through agricultural education to more than 650,000 student members belonging to 8,500 local FFA chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.

Southern Delaware School of the Arts student wins Arbor Day Poster Contest

Amelia Meyer, a fifth-grader at the Southern Delaware School of the Arts in Selbyville, won the Delaware Forest Service’s 2018 Arbor Day School Poster Contest, beating entries from more than 3,200 students in 43 classes. “Trees Are Terrific…and Perfect for Pollinators!” was the theme chosen to highlight the important role of trees in the health of pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The annual contest is open to grade K to 5 students in all Delaware public, private, charter, and home schools. Winners were selected from each county in the following grades: K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5. Posters were evaluated on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression.

View the complete 2018 Arbor Day School Poster Contest winners (with links to high-resolution images).

2018 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners

New Castle County Winners

Kindergarten – Jade Munoz-Martinez – Academia Antonia Alonso, Wilmington
Grades 1-2 – Makalani Collins – Jennie Smith Elementary, New Castle
Grades 3-4 – Madison Butts – Heritage Elementary, Wilmington
Grade 5 – Chase Puszkarczuk – Heritage Elementary, Wilmington

Kent County Winners

Kindergarten – Audriana Friday – Mcilvaine Early Childhood Center, Magnolia
Grades 1-2 – MaKenna Barclay – Nellie Stokes Elementary, Dover
Grades 3-4 – Gianni Coblentz – Hartly Elementary, Hartly
Grade 5 – Jacob Simons – WB Simpson Elementary, Wyoming

Sussex County Winners

Kindergarten – Michael Foracre – Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary, Laurel
Grades 1-2 – Yojana Garcia-Lopez – Mispillion Elementary, Milford
Grades 3-4 – Samantha Geidel – Southern Delaware School of the Arts, Selbyville
Grade 5 – Amelia Meyer – Southern Delaware School of the Arts, Selbyville

Winners will receive their awards from Delaware Governor John Carney at the Delaware Forest Service’s Arbor Day Ceremony in Dover on May 4, 2018. Each winner receives a tree-themed book and a print reproduction of their poster on fine art canvas. Thanks to corporate sponsor Delmarva Power, a free tree planting ceremony will also be held at each winner’s school. In addition, every participating classroom receives free pine seedlings for all participants. Once again this year, students from the Middletown High School FFA Chapter and senior volunteers from the Modern Maturity Center in Dover are wrapping thousands of seedlings to distribute to schoolchildren statewide.

Check out the previous year’s winners:

For more information, email: Ashley Melvin, Delaware Forest Service Education Coordinator

Important Weather Information

School Closing Information System – Review a real-time listing of school closures from across the state of Delaware.

School Closing E-mail Registration Website – Subscribe to e-mail, text, and/or voice message notification of school closings and other school status.

School Closing Information by Phone – A voice activation system which provides school closing and other school status.
The toll free number is 877-831-7215.

Emergency and Adverse Weather Advisory – Read the latest information for state employees from the Human Resource Management Office.

State of Delaware BlackBoard Connect Closing/Delay Notification Registration – This service will allow you to sign up to receive information updates and advisories for Delaware State Government Employees.

State of Delaware BlackBoard Connect “How to Register Guide” – View instructions on how to sign up with BlackBoard Connect to receive advisories for Delaware State Government Employees.

Live Traffic Cameras – Take a look at where the traffic is heading and have a bird’s eye view of the clear paths to get you where you need to go.

Online Subscription Service – Receive DelDOT press releases, scheduled travel restrictions, and real-time travel advisories via e-mail.

DelDOT’s Snowplow Tracker – available on the DelDOT mobile app or on their website.

Subscribe on News.delaware.gov – sign up to receive emails when state agencies like DelDOT, DEMA, or the Governor’s office post press releases about weather announcements.

When the weather turns especially hazardous, Delaware has a three-level system of driving warnings and restrictions. Drivers should know the three levels and what they mean.

The levels are found in Title 20 of the Delaware Code, Subsection 3116(b)(12) and may be put in effect by the Governor during a State of Emergency for all or parts of Delaware based on conditions.

Level 2 Driving Restriction: essential personnel include those who are necessary state personnel or those who provide healthcare services, food deliveries, and fuel deliveries during a state of emergency in both public and private industries.

Level 3 Driving Ban: includes first responders, some state employees (i.e. policemen, utility workers), people the governor has approved through executive order and operator of snowplows or debris removal equipment that have been hired by the state or private interests.

Governor Carney Joins Operation Warm to Deliver Winter Coats to Delaware Students

Operation Warm is donating up to 10,000 coats statewide; Delawareans can visit de.gov/schoolclosets to help

SEAFORD, Del. – More than 470 West Seaford Elementary School students went home for winter break a little warmer on Thursday, because of the gift of a new winter coat.

The coats are among thousands being provided to Delaware students thanks to a partnership between Governor John Carney’s office, the Delaware Department of Education and nonprofit Operation Warm.

Secretary of Education Susan Bunting joined Governor Carney at West Seaford Elementary Thursday afternoon to distribute the coats.

Winter Coats for DE students

“Preparing our students for success in school and life often means we need to meet more than their academic needs,” said Governor Carney. “This is another way to support our children and their families so they can arrive in our classrooms ready to learn. I am thankful for partners such as Operation Warm that help us meet these important needs.”

Operation Warm officials said they were eager to support Delaware’s need, and donated the coats at no cost to Delaware taxpayers.

“When the Governor approached us with the need to support 10,000 Delaware students, we knew we had to fulfill the challenge,” said Dick Sanford, Founder and CEO of Operation Warm. “Operation Warm has provided new coats to millions of children across the country, but the children of Delaware hold a special place in our hearts. This is where we served our first group of students nearly 20 years ago. Thanks to our generous partners, we are thrilled to be able to provide up to 10,000 brand new coats to help improve the lives of young children across the state.”

HOW TO HELP: Delawareans can visit de.gov/schoolclosets to learn how to help students in high-needs schools.

Operation Warm delivered other coats this week to Brandywine School District’s Harlan Elementary, Cape Henlopen School District’s Milton Elementary, Capital School District’s Towne Point Elementary, Christina School District’s Stubbs Elementary, Colonial School District’s Castle Hills Elementary and McCullough Middle, Indian River School District’s Georgetown and North Georgetown elementary schools, and Lake Forest School District’s Lake Forest South Elementary. Additional schools will receive coats in January.

Winter Coats for DE kids In August, Governor Carney announced an initiative to stock basic-needs closets in 45 high-need Delaware schools.

Delaware’s basic needs closets provide elementary and middle school students across the state with increased access to free products designed to meet students’ needs so they can effectively participate in class. Each school’s basic needs closet has been stocked with products identified by districts and charter schools as essential to the wellbeing of their students, including hygiene products, school supplies, clothes, and more.

Delaware healthcare institutions and businesses statewide helped fund the closets, including Christiana Care, Bayhealth, Nemours, Incyte, Nanticoke, and Beebe Health Systems, as well as Cover Rossiter, EDiS, and Drinker Biddle. Delaware partnered with the nonprofit First Book to purchase the basic needs products at a reduced rate, as a part of the First Book First State partnership. Operation Warm was able to provide new winter coats thanks in part to funding from partners Good Samaritan Inc. and Welfare Foundation Inc.

For students such as those at West Seaford Elementary, Operation Warm’s efforts mean they now have a brand new, well-fitted coat that will keep them warm as they wait for the school bus or play outside.

“Our students come to us with many needs that affect their ability to learn,” said David Perrington, Superintendent of the Seaford School District. “Our schools need community partnerships such as this so we can support them in and out of the classroom.”

###

Click here for photos from Thursday’s event.