Delaware names Warner Elementary as state Green Ribbon winner

Red Clay Consolidated School District’s Warner Elementary School is Delaware’s 2018 Green Ribbon award winner, becoming the state’s nominee for the national award.

The Green Ribbon program recognizes schools for exemplary achievement and considerable progress in three areas: 1) reducing environmental impact and costs; 2) improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and 3) providing effective environmental and sustainability education by incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), civic skills and green career pathways.

Warner went from a school that did not recycle at all to a school that has placed recycling as a top priority amongst its students and staff:

  • Every classroom now has a recycling bin for paper, plastics, and aluminum. On a weekly basis, the school recycles about 130 pounds of classroom “trash.”
  • The school upgraded its Styrofoam lunch trays to recycled paper trays and now recycles all the milk jugs in the lunch room.
  • All third-graders visit the Delaware Solid Waste Authority to learn about recycling and conservation.

“This is a crucial first step in our student’s knowledge of the importance of recycling. The students gain the knowledge needed to make changes within their school and community to help save the planet,” the school wrote in its application.

Warner also made facility changes to be more efficient in its water usage:

  • Automatic toilets and sinks help reduce water usage.
  • Refillable water bottle stations replaced water fountains.
  • The school went from using 318k gallons in May 2011 to 146k gallons in May 2016.

The school has sought and won multiple grants and awards to support its efforts to become an eco-friendly building, including:

  • The Energy Star award for 2008-2013.
  • A grant from the Delaware Valley Green Building Council in 2015.
  • A vermiculture (worm composting) kit that is used in the science curriculum.
  • Funding in 2013 from the Triangle Neighborhood Association to start a school garden, which now produces hundreds of pounds of vegetables a year. The vegetables are used in the school’s kitchen and served to students. Neighbors also are invited to harvest from the garden.

Secretary of Education Susan Bunting lauded the entire Warner community for its efforts, particularly the students who have taken ownership of this work.

“The students lead the recycling efforts in the building,” Bunting said, noting Warner’s Green Team of students are chosen through grade-level writing prompts to educate their peers and staff on the importance of recycling.

“These students are leading by example,” Bunting said. “They and the rest of the Warner student body, their families, the faculty and staff and their neighborhood partners deserve this recognition for their achievements.”

State officials will honor Warner at a ceremony later this spring. The U.S. Department of Education will name national winners next month.

 

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


Public invited to community conversations on early learning

The Delaware Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning invites early learning providers and program representatives, families, and other community members to join community conversations about early learning across the state.

The sessions, planned for evenings this spring in all three counties, will cover topics such as childcare licensing, Purchase of Care and Delaware Stars, the state’s quality rating system for early childcare.

“We want to hear from people who are doing this important work day in and day out to educate and support children and families,” said Kimberly Krzanowski, executive director of the Office of Early Learning. “These conversations are an opportunity for us to learn about how current efforts are supporting programs and opportunities to engage in how we could do things differently.”

Each session will include:

• Belvie Herbert, social services administrator, Purchase of Care, Department of Health and Social Services
• Dr. Kimberly Krzanowski, executive director, Office of Early Learning, Delaware Department of Education
• Kristy Sheffler, director, Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, Delaware Stars
• Betty Gail Timm, administrator, Office of Child Care Licensing

The meetings will be held in four locations throughout the state:

Wilmington
6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 17
Carvel State Office Building
820 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

Camden
6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 8
Delaware State Police Troop 3
3759 South State Street
Camden, DE 19934

Georgetown
6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 9
Georgetown Public Library
123 West Pine Street
Georgetown, DE 19947

Bear
6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 22
Delaware State Police Troop 2
100 Lagrange Avenue
Newark, DE 19702

Registration is not required.

 

Media Contact: Alison May (302) 735-4006


Public feedback sought for Delaware State Report Card

The Delaware Department of Education is seeking online public feedback on data visuals that will be used in the Delaware State Report Card.

The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires public reporting on schools. The Delaware Department of Education is developing the Delaware State Report Card to replace the current School Profiles site to meet these requirements.

In October, the Delaware Department of Education hosted five community conversation meetings throughout the state to provide background about the Delaware Report Card and to solicit revision recommendations for how educational information and data will be shared with the public. Now the department needs additional feedback on data visuals. Data visuals along with guiding context, business rules, and specific data points will help provide a more comprehensive, accurate and transparent picture of state, district and school performance to the public.

The survey can be accessed through the DOE School Profiles – Stakeholder Engagement page or directly through this link. The survey will close on March 1.

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


19 schools recognized for students’ academic achievement

UPDATE: Learn more about the winning schools here.

Schools from all three counties have earned honors for their students’ academic achievements.

The Delaware Department of Education on Tuesday named 15 schools 2017 Recognition Schools, two of which also were designated as National Title I Distinguished Schools. Each school will receive an $8,000 award. Funding for the awards comes from the state’s School Improvement funds. Additionally, there are four Schools of Continued Excellence that were honored as Recognition Schools last year and had outstanding performance again this year. These schools are not eligible for a financial award again until 2018.

“I congratulate the students, educators and families whose hard work and support led to these achievements,” Secretary of Education Susan Bunting said. “These school communities have provided educational programs and created school cultures that allow students to thrive. We must learn from what is working well in these buildings and replicate these successes across our state.”

National Title I Distinguished School awards are presented by the National Association of State Title I Directors. Recognition School awards were created by legislation passed by the Delaware General Assembly in 2009. The awards are given (a) to schools whose students are performing at an exceptionally high level, particularly those schools with large percentages of students coming from low-income households and (b) to schools that have succeeded in closing the achievement gap for students such as low-income students, students from minority groups and students with disabilities.

The winning schools have discretion in deciding how to spend their award money to benefit their students and school as a whole. As in years past, each school will appoint a committee (with administration, teacher, support staff and parent representation) to determine how the award will be used.

Two of the schools are National Title I Distinguished School awardees chosen for exceptional performance. National Title I Distinguished Schools are Title I schools that met national criteria and have not been Title I Distinguished school awardees in the past two years.

Recognition Schools are chosen for exceptional performance and/or closing the achievement gap.

Schools that have received state awards during 2016 and continue to qualify for Reward or Recognition School distinction in 2017 are named Schools of Continued Excellence to recognize their sustained accomplishments. They will be eligible for funds again next year if they meet the Reward or Recognition School qualifications.

 

The 2017 winners are below:

 

National Distinguished Title I Schools and Recognition Schools
• Allen Frear Elementary School, Caesar Rodney School District
• South Dover Elementary School, Capital School District

 

Recognition Schools
• H. O. Brittingham Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District
• Brookside Elementary School, Christina School District
• Forwood Elementary School, Brandywine School District
• Georgetown Elementary School, Indian River School District
• Georgetown Middle School, Indian River School District
• William B. Keene Elementary School, Christina School District
• Lake Forest Central Elementary, Lake Forest School District
• Lake Forest South Elementary, Lake Forest School District
• Maple Lane Elementary School, Brandywine School District
• Mispillion Elementary School, Milford School District
• North Smyrna Elementary School, Smyrna School District
• Positive Outcomes Charter School, Camden
• Selbyville Middle School, Indian River School District

 

Schools of Continued Excellence
• W. Reily Brown Elementary School, Caesar Rodney School District
• Lake Forest East Elementary, Lake Forest School District
• Lake Forest North Elementary, Lake Forest School District
• Jennie E. Smith Elementary School, Christina School District

 

Pictures are available online.

 

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


Statement from Delaware Department of Justice re Caesar Rodney High School photo incident

This type of conduct is abhorrent and the school should certainly pursue disciplinary action. Based upon information presented to the Delaware Department of Justice today, there is insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges at this time.  DOJ will assess the results of the full investigation, including police reports and interviews, and any additional evidence that may be gathered before reaching a final conclusion on charging.