Two Students to Represent Delaware at National Science Camp

Two students will represent Delaware at the 61st National Youth Science Camp.

Arya Gupta, a junior at Red Clay Consolidated School District’s Charter School of Wilmington, and Kati Li, a senior at Newark Charter School, will attend the camp from June 29 to July 20 in the mountains of West Virgina.

Gupta is the co-founder of International Genetically Engineered Machine Team, which will be competing at the 2024 Grand Jamboree in Paris.  Gupta is the co-founder of Women’s Empowerment Club and a student leader in the Youth Environmental. She also is a member of the Charter School of Wilmington Swim team and YMCA junior nationals swim team. She has 230 community service hours at many different organizations including the Brandywine Zoo, Multiplying Good, Sojourners’ Place, Spanish National Honor Society, CAB SMArt Summer Camp.

Li, a National Merit Scholarship finalist, has volunteered since 2020 for Delaware Diagnostics Lab. She was a paid summer chemical engineering intern at the University of Delaware.  She has held several leadership positions such as vice president and outreach director of Apollo: Youth in Medicine, state secretary and state treasurer of Delaware Technology Student Association, and Multicultural Club president. She participated in the First Tech Challenge Team 18739-ITNH. She also is a member of Business Professionals of America, Science Olympiad and HOSA. She also is an accomplished violinist.

Hosted in Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia since 1963, the National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp) is a residential science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) program designed to honor and challenge some of the nation’s rising leaders and provide them with opportunities to engage with STEAM professionals and participate in exciting outdoor activities. Typically, two delegates are selected to attend camp from each state and the District of Columbia.

 

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


Three Delaware Schools Named 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today recognized 353 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023, including three schools in Delaware. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups on assessments.

The Delaware schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools were:

  • Bear – Olive B. Loss Elementary School, Appoquinimink School District.
  • Newark – Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, Christina School District.
  • Ocean View – Lord Baltimore Elementary School, Indian River School District.

“This prestigious award recognizes the hard work of these school communities’ students, families, staff and leadership to support the success of all students,” Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said. “Congratulations. May we learn best practices from these exemplars that can support other schools across our state.”

See U.S. Department of Education release for more information.

Photographs and brief descriptions of the 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available at https://www.nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/.

 

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


Delaware BPA Students Bring Home Honors from National Conference

Last week 235 Delaware students were among about 6,500 middle-level, secondary-level and post-secondary level business students from 25 states, Puerto Rico, China, Haiti, and Peru who participated in the 2023 Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference held in Anaheim, California.

Students demonstrated professionalism during the conference and competed in 52 events in the categories of: management, marketing and communications, digital communications and design, management information systems, business administration, and finance. Delaware also had one student, Cara Huang, campaign for the Executive Officer Leadership Team.

Presentation of the BPA Cares Awards, Ambassador Torch Awards, service awards, and scholarships took place on Friday at the National Honor Awards Ceremony.  You can watch the live stream at www.thinkcybis.com/bpa-live/.

Students were recognized on Saturday at the Middle Level/Secondary Awards Finale.  You can watch the live stream at www.thinkcybis.com/bpa-live/.  Find a list of Delaware’s Top 10 winners below.

Special thanks to Delaware BPA’s Gold Sponsor, JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) and Board of Director Chair Rich Jester.  JPMC Managing Directors Glen McFarlane and Jamal Brown provided a $1,500 award to the 1st place Website Design Team from Newark Charter High School – Kinga Gul, Alanna Denault, Natalie Keach and Srujan Yamali and the $1,500 McFarlane Scholarship to Jennae Overton.

Thank you to sponsors, Mike Stanley of Wildwich Food Truck and Rob Schumacher of Schuprints Screen Printing for contributing to the purchase of state flags for all Delaware delegates.

BPA is a career and technical student organization for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. For more information, please visit the BPA web site at www.bpa.org or contact Dr. Lisa Wilson, Delaware BPA state advisor, at lisa.wilson@doe.k12.de.us.

Top 10 awardees: High school

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Top 10 awardees: Middle School

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


12 Schools Honored For Students’ Academic Achievement

Secretary of Education Mark Holodick commends 12 schools from across the state for their students’ growth and progress toward English language proficiency.

 

Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center in the Woodbridge School District is among a host of U.S. schools that have been named a 2022 National ESEA Distinguished School for the extraordinary success of their students. The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA), formerly the National Title I Association, has been selecting examples of superior, federally funded school programs for national recognition through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools program (formerly the National Title I Distinguished Schools program) since 1996.

 

The 2022 National ESEA Distinguished Schools will be honored February 1-4, 2023, at the 2023 National ESEA Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

 

Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center, which will receive $11,500 as a financial award, also is among 10 Delaware schools named a Recognition School for Excellence in Serving Special Populations for the growth and progress toward English language proficiency that their multi-language learners made during the 2021-2022 school year. The students showed exceptional growth toward meeting proficiency on ACCESS tests.

 

The nine other Recognition schools each will receive an $8,000 award, a certificate and a banner to hang in their building.  Two schools also are being recognized as Schools of Continued Excellence and will receive a certificate and a banner. Schools of Continued Excellence are schools that have qualified as a Recognition School for the second consecutive year so are ineligible for the Recognition award this year.

 

“Congratulations to our multi-language learners and the families and educators whose support helped them make the gains that have earned their schools this recognition,” Holodick said. “This is a celebration of their entire school communities.”

 

 

2022 Recognition Schools

  • Academia Antonia Alonso, Charter School
    • School Leader – Mercedes Alonso
  • Austin Baltz Elementary School, Red Clay Consolidated School District
    • Principal – Amy O’Neill
  • Claymont Elementary School, Brandywine School District
    • Principal – Tamara Grimes-Stewart
  • Harry Eisenberg Elementary School, Colonial School District
    • School Leader – David Distler
  • Laurel Elementary School, Laurel School District
    • Principal – Matt Brady
  • Lewes (formerly known as Richard Shields) Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District
    • Principal – Kimberly Corbidge
  • Pleasantville Elementary School, Colonial School District
    • Principal – Renee Griffith
  • West Seaford Elementary School, Seaford School District
    • Principal – Laura Schneider
  • Kathleen Wilbur Elementary School, Colonial School District
    • Principal – Elizabeth Howell
  • Woodbridge Early Childhood Center, Woodbridge School District
    • Principal – Dane Sears

 

 

2022 Schools of Continued Excellence

  • Blades Elementary School, Seaford School District
    • Principal – Kirsten Jennette
  • Rehoboth Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District
    • Principal – Doris Person

 

 

More information about all National ESEA Distinguished Schools is available on the NAESPA website: www.ESEAnetwork.org

 

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


DPH Announces 23rd National DEA Prescription Drug Take Back Day For Delaware

*Editor/Reporter note: We originally stated that five DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back locations would be offering Overdose Response Training and Narcan distribution to the public; there are only two – Milford and Middletown. We also erroneously stated that there are 23 locations currently participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back event; there are 22. 
 

DOVER, DE (October 25, 2022) – Delaware will hold its 23rd National Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2022. Delawareans can discard their expired or unused medications at locations statewide between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. There will also be overdose response training with free Narcan available at select locations. 

Organized nationally by the DEA, Prescription Drug Take Back Day is operated locally by the Division of Public Health (DPH). The biannual event is aimed at reducing the risk of prescription medications being diverted for misuse and has resulted in nearly 100,000 pounds of medication being collected since 2010. Properly discarding unused medications through this event is an important ongoing activity in the effort to address the nationwide opioid epidemic. Doing so reduces the risk of addiction by keeping prescription medications out of the hands of people who may misuse, abuse, or divert them, and helps reduce the risk of drug overdoses. 

“The Drug Take Back Days are a convenient way for Delawareans to remove expired, unwanted or unused medications from their homes, and dispose of them safely and securely,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik. “These collection events and the permanent medicine drop-off sites across our state also are critical to reducing the potential for misuse, abuse or diversion, and, thereby, reducing the risk of people overdosing or dying. We all can do our part by removing unnecessary medications from our homes.”

According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, many misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from home medicine cabinets. A total of 4,645 pounds of unneeded medication was collected at 27 Delaware locations on the last Drug Take Back Day event on April 30, 2022.  

In addition to the sites participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day activities, there are permanent medicine drop-off locations available year-round. In addition to medicine drop-off sites, DPH and community partners also distribute Deterra bags (medication deactivation bags) to use at home. For a list of permanent collection sites and how to get a free disposal bag, visit www.helpisherede.com/understanding-addiction/safe-drug-storage-and-disposal 

The medications to be disposed of at the Take Back Day locations must be in a container such as a pill bottle, box, blister pack, or zipped plastic bag, with personal information removed. Liquid medications must be in their original containers. Besides medications, vape pens and e-cigarettes will be collected if the batteries are removed. There are 22 locations participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back event currently. You can find the list of locations here: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday. 

To further enhance overdose prevention and education efforts, two of the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back locations (Middletown and Milford police departments) will also be offering overdose response training and Narcan distribution to the public. It is recommended that anyone who has an opioid prescription or has friends and/or family who use opioid prescriptions or illicit drugs receive this training and the overdose reversal medication, Narcan. For other community trainings and where you can get free Narcan go to: https://www.helpisherede.com/overdose-prevention. 

For more details about the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, visit https://helpisheredrugtakebackday.gatsbyjs.io/drug-take-back-day. 

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction in Delaware, call DHSS’ 24/7 Crisis Hotline to be connected to treatment and recovery options. In New Castle County, call 1-800-652-2929. Or in Kent and Sussex counties, call 1-800-345-6785. For free 24/7 counseling, coaching, and support, as well as links to mental health, addiction, and crisis services call the Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE. To search online for treatment and recovery services in Delaware or nearby states, visit HelpIsHereDE.com. 

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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. 

 

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.