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Important Dates:

08/25 Grade 5 Back-to-School Night 6:00pm-8:00pm

08/26 Grades 9-12 Back-to-School Night 6:00pm-8:00pm

08/27 Grades 5 & 9 Report to School

Grades 6-8 Back-to-School Night 6:00pm-8:00pm

08/28 All Grades Report to School

09/04 Labor Day: Schools Closed

09/07 Labor Day: Schools Closed

09/25 Professional Day: Schools Closed

Welcome Delmar families to an exciting new school year in Wildcat country. After our summer of

transition, I hope you have the opportunity to read this first edition of the 2015-2016 Wildcat

Quarterly which features the many new faces of our Delmar Administrative Team as well as the

many services that our district provides:

Page 2: Superintendent: Charity Phillips

Page 3: Chief Operations Officer: Jeannette Steele

Page 4: Middle School Principal: Andy O’Neal

Page 5: High School Principal: Lisa Morris

Page 6: Middle School Assistant Principal: James Hesen

Page 7: High School Assistant Principal: Nick Reece

Page 8: Guidance Director: Ilah Preston/ Wellness Center: Cindy Madden

Page 9: School Nurse: Sally Irwin & Kelly Burton

Page 10: Food Services: Terri Addlesberger

Wildcat E-News Volume 4, Issue 15 August 2015

WELCOME BACK WILDCATS!

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Academic Highlights:

Through our outstanding bi-state educational system, one of the measures of our joint success across both states is the

culminating achievement of our high school students who have benefited from the educational opportunities provided by

the staff at Delmar Elementary, Delmar Middle, and Delmar High Schools. In this vein, we enter a new school year

excited about our US News and World Report’s 2015 ranking of high schools in the state of Delaware. Of the 38 high

schools in Delaware, Delmar Senior High School is ranked 2nd. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced

Placement® course work and exams. The AP® participation rate at Delmar Senior High School is 31 percent. Delmar

High School students take AP® exams to earn college credit and demonstrate success at college-level course work. U.S.

News ranked schools on college readiness and calculated a College Readiness Index based on exam participation rates

and percentages of students passing at least one exam. The index determined which types of medals (gold, silver or

bronze) were awarded to top-performing schools, and Delmar’s Index was 23.4 earning it a Silver Medal ranking. For

more information about AP course offerings or our Wilmington University Dual Enrollment opportunities, please contact

our Delmar Guidance Department at 302-846-9544.

New Pre-AP Springboard Program:

To support our students continued success in AP coursework, a team of Delmar Middle and Delmar High School teachers

collaborated on a AP Incentive grant in which they were awarded $45,000 to support student tutorial services, to provide

experiential hands-on opportunities to explore AP curriculum, to expand Guidance Counselors’ support services to AP

students, to enhance the AP Chemistry laboratory, and to engage cross-district and digital collaboration as well as

professional development among AP teachers throughout the state and country. With this grant, this fall, we are

piloting our first AP Springboard program in the 7th grade to get a jumpstart on preparing students for the rigor of

advanced coursework in high school. For more information about this program, please contact Lori Smith or Jennifer

Spear at Delmar Middle School.

Federal Parent Notification:

Finally, as part of a federally-mandated, annual notice, please note the following:

Delmar Middle School, operates as a Title I School, and as a recipient of these federal funds, the school is required to

acknowledge, support and agree to improve student achievement, as well as ensure that all students have the

opportunity to become confident, self-directed, and life-long learners. Additional information about Title I is also

available on the district website at www.delmar.k12.de.us under the “Parents” section. In addition, as a parent, you

have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child. If you ask for

certain information about your child’s classroom teachers, federal law requires the district to give you this information

in a timely manner. If you want information about Parents' Right to Know, please contact the district office or visit the

DDOE website at http://www.doe.k12.de.us.

Finally, federal complaint procedures for any Title I concerns can also be found on the district website and on the

Delaware Department of Education website. Parents are encouraged to become involved in their child's education and to

schedule regular meetings with any teacher or administrator throughout the school year. Among the many opportunities

to contact school staff, please find email addresses via links on the district website and please communicate regularly

with your child’s teachers as you and your child monitor Home Access Center and your child’s academic performance.

In closing, on behalf of the Board of Education and the Delmar School District I would like to thank you for all of your

support of our bi-state school system and our students’ pursuit of excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts.

Thank you, in advance, for sharing your children with us every school day as our staff will dedicate our daily efforts to

ensure that your children have the opportunity to explore their interests, develop their skills, challenge their minds, and

become college and career ready to pursue their dreams.

Message from the Superintendent - Charity Phillips

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School year 2015-2016 will be a busy one for the Facilities Department and the School Finance Office. We

have many projects that will be starting this year. The State Treasurer’s office and the State Office of

Management and Budget have approved the district’s Bond package for the state (80%) and local (20%) share

of the funds approved through the March 2015 referendum. The following items were approved for funding

by the Department of Education and the FY 16 State Bond Bill:

Roof repairs

Exterior coating and caulk repairs

ADA compliance adjustments

Keyless entry

Provide concrete rear student waiting area

Rear canopy

Locker room facility adjacent to athletic facility

The district has begun the process of designing the athletic facility and hiring an architect to make our vision

a reality. A meeting was held with all involved parties to discuss what the facility should house. We

anticipate the new facility being ready for the 2017 football season. The balance of the projects will be

completed as time allows over the next two years.

In addition to the above Major Capital Improvement projects, there are Minor Capital Projects also being

completed during the summer months. The following projects will be completed before the beginning of the

school year:

Lighting updated in front of the school

Nurses office and Wellness office renovations

Repair, sealing and striping of all parking lots

Repair and painting of current locker rooms

Creation of new ticket area in the lobby

I’d like to thank all of our support staff for their hard work this summer getting the school ready to open.

There are many projects the custodial staff completes during the summer months when there are not stu-

dents in the building: classrooms are reassigned; offices are moved; repairs are done; floors and carpets are

cleaned and general maintenance is done around the school. The office professionals spend the summer

closing out the previous year and getting ready for the new year, assisting with grant writing and budgeting,

providing support for hiring new staff members, placing material orders for the teachers for the next year,

preparing rosters and enrolling new students - just to name a few things. Our IT department is busy all

summer updating our devices and getting the classrooms set up with technology for the coming year. And

our guidance office is always busy providing support to students and parents over the summer.

This next school year should be a year of change physically, as well as administratively!

Message from the Chief Operations Officer - Jan Steele

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Hello Delmar Families,

It is hard to believe the long and hot days of summer are about to end and the start of another school year is right around

the corner. Soon, students will once again be filling the classrooms, hallways and athletic fields for the start of the 2015-

2016 school year.

The start of a new school year always seems to be exciting and busy for not only school staff and students but for parents

as well. Getting back into the routine is not easy the first few weeks, but as several days pass and then a few weeks,

things seem to be back to normal again, and it seems as though we never left for summer vacation.

Our district and middle school would like to welcome the addition of several new staff members to our middle school

team.

James Hesen – Assistant Principal

Ryan Shockley – 5th Grade Social Studies

Mark Throm – 6th Grade Math

There will be several opportunities to meet our new staff prior to the school year beginning and during the year. Below

are some important dates and reminders as we prepare for the new year.

Tuesday, August 25 (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m). – 5th Grade Back to School Night

Thursday, August 27 – First day of school for 5th Grade students

Thursday, August 27 (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) – 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Back to School Night

Friday, August 28 – First day of school for 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade students

Monday, August 31 – Start of middle school fall sports

Friday, September 4 – School Closed

Monday, September 7 – Labor Day School Closed

During the first few weeks of September, all middle school students will be participating in Math and Reading MAP testing

to measure growth over the course of the year. Students will be using higher order thinking skills not only in core subject

areas but in all classes as we implement Common Core State Standards. Common Core State Standards build on the best

of existing state standards and provide clear and consistent learning goals to help prepare students for college, career

readiness and life. The standards clearly demonstrate what students are expected to learn at each grade level, so that

every parent and teacher can understand and support their learning.

These Standards are:

Research and evidence based

Clear, understandable and consistent

Aligned with college and career expectations

Based on rigorous content and application of knowledge through higher-order thinking skills

Built upon the strengths and lessons of current state standards

Informed by other top performing countries to prepare all students for success in our global economy and society

There will be many extra-curricular opportunities for our students at Delmar Middle School. Students will have the chance to participate in numerous after school clubs such as our Multicultural Club, Science Club, and Culinary Club, just to name a few. As mentioned earlier in the article, middle school fall sports will begin on Monday, August 31. Sports offered during the fall season include: field hockey, boys soccer, football, cheerleading and new to our school this year will be

girls volleyball. All sports schedules and information can be found on our website at http://wildcats-sports.com.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of summer and we look forward to seeing all of our students, parents, and families in just

a few weeks as we begin another exciting year at Delmar Middle School.

Message from the Middle School Principal- Andy O’Neal

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As the summer comes to an end and many of you may be trying to get in that last vacation or squeezing in the last hours

working your summer job, I would like to welcome you to the start of a GREAT 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR! As we begin a new

year, I am honored to take the position of High School Principal. I am looking forward to seeing many of the students

return this year to continue their education at Delmar High School as sophomores, juniors and seniors. I am also excited

to welcome our new freshman as well as some NEW staff members to the wildcat family.

This will be my 23rd year in education with 12 of those years right here at Delmar High School. I have enjoyed working at

Delmar High School as a math teacher and recently as the Assistant Principal. And this year, I am looking forward to

working with the students, parents and community as the High School Principal.

AP/Wilmington University Info:

We were just recently rated the #2 high school in the state of Delaware by US News and Report earning us a silver medal

rating nationwide based on our participation in Advanced Placement coursework and exams.

In Advance Placement courses, students are able to experience the rigors of college-level studies while they still have the

support of a high school environment. AP Courses offered at Delmar High School: AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP English

Literature, AP US History and AP Art History. Students taking AP Courses will be expected to take the AP exam(s) in May

2016. AP exam cost is $91 per exam. Dates for the AP exams are: AP Chem – Monday, May 2nd, AP Art History – Tuesday,

May 3rd, AP English Lit – Wednesday, May 4th, AP US History – Friday, May 6th, and AP Stats – Thursday, May 12th.

Wilmington University Early College Program is an arrangement between Delmar High School and Wilmington University

which provides students with opportunities to simultaneously earn High School Credits and College Credits. Delmar

teachers who have been approved by Wilmington University as adjunct professors will teach WU classes at Delmar High

during the regular school day. Wilmington University Classes offered at Delmar High School: WU English 121, WU Math

310 (Calculus), WU Science 251 (Biology), and WU Photography. A Delmar student who successfully completes a WU class

will simultaneously earn Delmar High School and Wilmington University credits (3 college credits per course with a “C” or

better). Wilmington University courses do have a fee of $160 per course with an additional $25 registration fee (one-time

fee per year). Payment for course must be received by Monday, August 31st, 2015. Checks should be made payable to

Delmar High School. Payment can be brought into the school office during summer hours.

Important Dates for the beginning of 2015-16 school year

Aug 27th – All 9th Grade students report to school

Aug 28th – All students report to school

Aug 31st – Sept 3rd – MAP Math Testing

Sept 8th – Sept 11th – MAP Reading Testing

Sept 16th – Freshman Chipotle’s Night

Sept 25th – Professional Day – No School for Students

Oct 2nd – Interim Progress Reports Distributed

Oct. 12th & Oct 13th – High School Picture Days (Students will go from Social Studies Classes)

Oct 14th – PSAT Day (Gr. 10th – free/9th & 11th grade can pay to take PSAT)

Oct 15th – Junior Class Quarter Auction

Oct 16th – Professional Day – No School for Students

Oct 24th – Homecoming Parade, Football Game and HS Dance

Oct 26th – 30th – College Application Week

Nov 2nd – NJHS/NHS Induction

Nov 9th – Marking Term 1 Report Cards Distributed

Nov 16th – 20th – American Education Week

Nov 18th – Parent Conference Night – 10 minute conferences in HS – scheduled in advance

We will be launching a NEW look to our Delmar website soon. Be sure to look for more information and updates on the

Principal’s Page of the Delmar website.

I hope everyone enjoys the last few days of their summer and is ready to start a new school year.

Message from the High School Principal - Lisa Morris

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Welcome to Wildcat Country! My name is Mr. Hesen and I am the Middle School Assistant Principal. I earned my bachelors and masters degrees from Salisbury University and began working in the private sector in Washington, DC. Eventually, when I came to my senses, I began teaching social studies at Wicomico High

School where I was also an assistant track and field coach.

In 2010, I began teaching U.S. History at James M. Bennett High School. At JMB I was also the district coordinator for Maryland History Day, a state competition geared for students to create historical projects based on their own interests. I was also the advisor to the school’s National History Club, Student Government Association, and coordinator of the Delmarva Oral History Project, a showcase of collected histories from residents of Delmarva. In 2014, I completed my Administrator I endorsement at Salisbury University and became the Dean of Students at Salisbury Middle School. There, I worked with student leaders

to improve school climate and to reduce referrals and bullying.

My wife, Jennifer, and I live in Salisbury with our children: Gage, Grace, Gavin, and Grant. In my spare time I love playing golf, football, spending time with friends and families on the beach, and watching our kids grow

up.

A few things to be aware of this school year:

Dress Code

Take pride in your appearance each day during the school year. Please make sure to abide by the Dress Code located in the Student Handbook. Parents and guardians, please review the Student

Handbook with your student(s).

Bullying

Under no circumstance will bullying be tolerated at Delmar Middle School. If a student feels as though they are being bullied by anyone they must contact guidance immediately. Please view the Student

Handbook for options and consequences for bullying and reporting.

Attendance

Be on time to school and to class. Have all of your materials for school and class packed up the night before school so you don’t have to rush out the door. If you are not on time in school or class, you

cannot learn effectively.

Cell Phones

Cell phones in use or in plain sight during the school day (7:45-2:56) will be confiscated and turned into administration. Parents must pick up the cellular device in the main office as per the

communication and device policy in the student/parent handbook.

Delmar parents and students, I am looking forward to a great year at Delmar Middle School! If I can be of any

assistance or if you have any questions, you can reach me at james.hesen@delmar.k12.de.us.

Enjoy the remainder of your summer!

Message from the Middle School Assistant Principal - James Hesen

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Welcome back to the 2015-2016 school year! This is my first year at Delmar School District and I am thrilled

to be joining this great community. I was born and raised in North Carolina, then traveled to Harrisonburg,

Virginia where I received my bachelor’s degree from James Madison University. After JMU, I moved to

Charleston, South Carolina and began coursework for a Master’s degree in teaching. In 2005 I started

teaching middle school science in Charleston. In 2013 I received my Master’s in secondary administration, and

was an assistant administrator for the 2013-2014 school year. Sports have been a large part of my life since

an early age so I decided to start coaching in 2007. I coached varsity swimming and JV and varsity basketball

at a large high school nearby for eight years.

My wife’s family is from Milford and we moved in the summer of 2014 with our two children: Spencer (3) and

Anna (1). I taught science and coached the varsity swim team at Sussex Academy Charter School in

Georgetown last school year. I am excited about the opportunity to start my professional career as a school

administrator at Delmar high school.

Everywhere I go I hear nothing but praise for Delmar School District and its dedication to helping each

student reach their individual potential. I will do my best to support all students, staff, families, and

community members of Delmar. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you

may have.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR:

DRESS CODE:

All students should take pride in their appearance.

The dress code is in effect during the instructional day and during activities outside the school day when

students are representing the school.

Remember polos (collar shirts) should be SOLID in color (orange, navy, white, or grey). No stripes or

plaids.

Pants or shorts that touch the top of your knee should be khaki style in tan or navy.

Please review the details of the dress code policy in the student/parent handbook.

CELL PHONES:

Any electronic communication device seen or heard by a school employee during the hours of 7:45am -

2:56pm will be confiscated and turned over to the administration.

Discipline consequences will be followed in the code of conduct for electronic device violations.

Refusal to turn over communication devices when asked for by a staff member will result in an out of

school suspension. Please refer to the communication device policy in the student/parent handbook for a

complete list of consequences.

TARDY POLICY:

Students cannot learn if they are not in class.

We value all instructional time and ask that your child miss as little instructional time as possible. It is

important that your child gets to school and class on time, prepared, and ready to learn.

Please refer to the updated tardy policy in the student/parent handbook.

MY PERSONAL CHALLENGE TO ALL DELMAR STUDENTS AND STAFF:

As a coach, our team motto was: “Get better every day.” It can be physically, mentally, emotionally, or

socially. I challenge each of you to engage in some activity every day that allows you to better yourself in

some capacity. Go Wildcats and good luck this year!

Message from the High School Assistant Principal - Nick Reece

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Hello from the Guidance Department. We are currently working on schedules and excited about the new

school year. If you are in grades 5 – 8 please refer to the school’s website for a list of supplies needed for the

year. Grades 9 – 12 will be given a list the first day of school.

Some things to look forward to this year are PSAT and SAT testing for all students in grades 10 and 11. The

Delaware Department of Education pays for all students to take the PSAT in grade 10. Students in grades 9 and

11 can opt to take the test if they wish however; they have to pay for the test. Look for information to come

home on cost and date of test. Also, students in grade 7 enrolled in an accelerated math or English classes

have the opportunity to take the PSAT for the purpose of Academic Challenge eligibility. Students in grade 11

will have the opportunity to take the SAT. This is also paid for by the Delaware Department of Education.

Students in grades 8 – 12 will be completing their Student Success Plans, also known as Career Cruising. The

students will be given a user name and password. Parents please keep watch for your password and username

that will be mailed home so that you may view your child’s interest. This program provides information about

careers, colleges, scholarships, and much more.

Mr. Dickerson will be working with students in grades 11 and 12. Mrs. Hudson is excited about working with

our Middle School students in grades 5 – 7 and Mrs. Preston will split between middle and high schools

overseeing students in grades 8 – 10. Mrs. Harrington can also answer many of your questions or guide you to

someone that can.

Message from the Guidance Director - Ilah Preston

Welcome back Wildcats!

All students in grades 6-12 can are invited to become members of the Wellness Center.

The Wellness Center is a Health Suite in the school separate from and in addition to the school nurses and

guidance counselors. Services offered include sports physicals, diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses and

injuries (including prescriptions if needed), nutritional counseling, mental health counseling and educational

programs focusing on healthy life choices.

For students (minors) to access services their parents/legal guardians must enroll them. Registration forms are

available on the school website (go to District Offices-Health & Social Services-Wellness Center) and in the

Wellness Center. Parents may select which services they would like their student to receive. Return the

completed registration form and a copy of your insurance/Medicaid card to the Wellness Center and your

students will have access to the services you have selected.

Recently Delaware enacted legislation that Delaware insurance companies and Medicaid reimburse for

Wellness Center services; however, that legislation also directed that no charges be passed on to students or

their families so no visit charge, deductable or copays are charged for any student visits. You may receive an

EOB from your insurance provider indicating your child was seen but you will not be billed for any costs not

covered by insurance. All students are eligible to be seen regardless of their insurance status.

Parents and students are always encouraged to stop by or call (302-846-0303) the Wellness Center with any

questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you and your child!

Cindy Madden, MSN, FNP-BC (Nurse Practitioner)

Victoria Cromer (Administrative Assistant)

Wendy Polk, RD LDN (Registered Dietician)

Message from the Wellness Center - Cindy Madden

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The nurses would like to welcome all of our students and parents back to another school year. The nurse’s

office has moved over the summer. We have switched offices with the wellness center. However, our phone

number, fax, and services remain unchanged. The nurses are looking forward to the new office set-up to help

provide optimal wellness to facilitate your child’s health and learning here at Delmar.

The nurses’ office would like to remind parents to return the emergency data sheet as soon as possible. This

information is vital to ensure that we have your information needed for contact and any emergency contact

information in case you are not available. Also included on this data sheet is your permission for the nurses to

administer stock over the counter medications such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, and cough drops to your student

during the school day.

Furthermore, at the start of each school year, the nurses require that any prescription medication or non-

stock over the counter medication (such as cough syrup or cold remedies) be brought in by a parent or

guardian in the original container. When you bring in the medication, the nurses have a school form for you

to fill out and sign. As a reminder, this form is also needed for self-carry medications such as quick relief

inhalers or epi-pens.

As the school year starts, the nurses will be reviewing your student’s medical record for completeness. If by

chance, we are missing record of any State of Delaware required immunizations, we will notify you by letter.

Starting in the next school year there will be minor changes to the State requirements for entering 9th

graders. Stay tuned for updates from our office.

Lastly, this fall, the nurses will conduct routine health screening. All students in grades 5 through 9 will have

scoliosis screening (back checks) completed. Further, for students enrolled in 7th and 9th grade, we will have

vision and hearing screens completed. If the nurses have any concerns regarding your student’s health

screens, you will be notified by letter or phone call.

As always, we are looking forward to caring for your student’s this year. The nurses are available in person,

by phone, or email during the school day. Please contact us with any of your student’s health concerns or

needs. We are looking forward to a new school year!

Kelly Burton RN, BSN

Sally Irwin RN, BSN

Message from the School Nurse’s - Sally Irwin & Kelly Burton

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Welcome Back!!

The beginning of the school year can be an exciting and hectic time. Often during the first two weeks there are com-

plaints about students not having an adequate time to eat because the lines are so long. Please be assured this problem

will resolve itself quickly as they become familiar with the Café set up and procedures. If after two weeks your student

is still having adjustment issues please contact us and we will try to help out!!

Free & Reduced Meals (FARM):

If you have students returning to this district you will have a 30 day grace period with the same benefit you had last

year. This 30 day period allows you enough time to submit a new application. A NEW application must be submitted by

September 30th of each school year. If we do not have a new application on file your student's will be charged full price

for meals beginning October 1st and charges will accumulate until the new application is received and processed. You

will be held responsible for paying any charges incurred.

Monitoring your account/Payment methods/Account balances:

The district has a partnership with www.myschoolbucks.com. You can register your child/children by using their student

ID number. This service allows you to track student purchases, set balance reminders, and put money on student

accounts. There is no charge to monitor and set reminders; however, there is a small fee to add money to accounts.

The best method for adding money to a student account is paying by check. While we accept cash, we cannot track

it. Our cashiers do the best they can to properly credit every student account; however, errors may occur. If you send

cash with your student there is NO method to determine if the money has inadvertently been put on another ac-

count. With check payments if there are any issues we simply track your check number.

Purchases:

In order for your student to purchase such things as snacks or extra entrée items the District policy states that they must

first purchase a meal unless they bring a bagged lunch from home. There are five components that make a meal: milk,

fruit, vegetable, grains, and meat.

The student must have three of these five for the cashier to count their purchase as a meal. Once the meal requirement

is met the students may purchase any additional items without restriction. We only restrict student purchases at your

direction. You can call the Foodservice office at any time to discuss your student account (s) .

Student Allergies:

Please provide the nurses with a doctor’s note detailing any student food allergies. The nurses will share this infor-

mation with the Foodservice department and we will note the allergy on the student account so that our staff can help

your student avoid any items detrimental to their health. You are also welcome to come in to our office to discuss your

student’s allergy.

Bringing lunch from home:

Although we do not monitor lunch brought from home we do have some restrictions. Students are not permitted to bring

soda of any description and fast food is not to be delivered. If your student forgets their lunch and you must deliver, it

will be the student’s responsibility to retrieve it from our busy front office ladies as they often do not have the time to

deliver it!!

I hope I have covered all the important information you need to have a great start to the school year. If you need further information please do not hesitate to call me @ (302)-846-9544 x148 or e-mail teresa.addlesberger@delmar.k12.de.us.

Message from Food Services - Terri Addlesberger

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