Superintendent’s April 2 Update Last week, school started to regain its sense of normalcy. Our hybrid learners, who comprise 60% of ASD’s overall enrollment, were finally back in the classroom four days a week. For staff, it was “safe, steady, ready.” They did a terrific job of solving challenges as they arose. Parents shared an overriding sense of relief that we were back. As for the kids, there was no doubt that they were happy and excited to be back in the classroom. Our students have proven themselves to be great at masks, social distancing and hand sanitizer. We are a healthy learning community with <1% of active COVID-19 cases. As a result, requests to transition from virtual to hybrid learning are growing daily. The State’s cap of 23 students/bus is currently the biggest hurdle we face in bringing more students back for in-school learning. We’re trying to resolve the challenge through ongoing discussions with officials at the Department of Public Health and the Governor’s Office. In the meantime, the Transportation Department is working to secure more drivers and routes. We are enormously grateful to ASD families who, after deciding to return to in- school learning, have helped us bridge the transportation gap with ride-share groups and/or changes to their work schedule so that they can transport their child(ren) to school. Antigen Testing is expanding to all ASD Schools This winter, 75 Delaware Schools were approved by the Department of Health to participate in a program that provided rapid-result, coronavirus screening at school. Using a diagnostic tool called an antigen test, school nurses were able to evaluate the results of a nose swab in as little as 15 minutes. A growing number of medical experts, including the CDC, say that antigen tests could help schools keep the virus in check as more students return to the classroom. In Appoquinimink, PK-K and High School buildings participated in the program. Families were surveyed in advance and provided their consent for testing, which took place at least once a month. Having the ability to quickly determine if an asymptomatic member of our learning community is positive is a game changer. If a student or staff member tests positive, s/he will be told to isolate at home and follow up with a PCR test within 48 hours. In the meantime, school nurses will begin the process of contact tracing. When we return from Spring Break, I’m happy to share that we will be expanding the screening program to all 18 schools. Families who wish to have their child tested on a regular basis are asked to read this introductory letter and sign this consent form. Note: Participation is voluntary. If you have questions or need more information, please contact the nursing professional at your child’s school. ASD’s COVID-19 case rate as of April 2, 2021 Active Cases Quarantined <1%% of Hybrid students (28/6,483) 1% of Hybrid students (104/6,483) <1% of Staff providing Hybrid instruction (12/1,496) 1% of Staff providing hybrid instruction (16/1,496) April 13: School Board Meeting Agenda items include, but are not limited to: y Elementary Feeder Pattern Proposal–supports the opening of Crystal Run Elementary y 18-Month Expanded Learning Opportunity Plan, and y Sleep Study/Start Times Discussion, y Construction Update. The session will be live streamed over our YouTube channel, http://bit.ly/AppoYouTube-2021. For a complete agenda, CLICK HERE. Note: School Board Meetings do not include an open Q&A period, but we have created an email address: [email protected] to ensure that we’re in touch with your comments, questions and concerns. Please submit your questions as soon as possible so that the superintendent and/or other presenters can attempt to address the matter in the context of the meeting. The Legendary MHS Plant Sale starts April 24 Whether its flowers, herbs, ground cover, hanging baskets, or vegetables; you can count on Middletown High School’s annual plant sale to showcase our community’s favorites. The sale will be happening on Saturday, April 24, from 9:00-2:00 AND Saturday, May 1, from 9:00-12 noon – rain or shine – in the Greenhouse at the school. Gardeners will have an opportunity to select from a wide variety of attractive, affordable specimens grown from seed or plug by the school’s FFA students who are learning plant care, greenhouse management, agribusiness and much more! For a complete plant list, CLICK HERE. The plant sale is the FFA’s biggest fundraiser. Forty students are actively involved. Monies raised from the sale help offset costs for our students to attend state and national FFA conventions and workshops, and funds new and innovative updates to the greenhouse too! Make sure the MHS greenhouse is your place for your annual spring gardening needs! IF YOU GO When: The Plant Sale is happening on 2 Saturdays – April 24 from 9:00-2:00 / May 1 from 9:00-12 noon Where: The Greenhouse and Barn parking lot, 120 Silver Lake Rd., Middletown Payment: The Plant Sale is a cash & carry event, no pre-orders. Checks can be made out to Middletown High School For updates: Follow us on social media: Middletown FFA (Facebook) and @mtownffa (Instagram) Now-April 30: Support our Young, Local Artists at their Group Show You’ll be amazed by what Middletown High’s Advanced Placement Art students were able to accomplish during the 2020-21 school year as they worked to compile their Senior Portfolios. A variety of mediums will be showcased in an exciting, 80-piece show that includes drawing, painting, digital art (computer- generated, photography) sculpture, fiber and ceramics. The show will be on display throughout the month of April at the Odessa Bank Building located at 201 Main Street in Odessa (next to Cantwell’s Tavern). Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10-4:30, and Sunday from 1:00-4:30. 2021 Featured Artists: ​​Sophia Bonfigli, Nadia Breakie, Reanna Birch, Kasey Lee, Ben Gossert, Ahmyah Little, Ciera Islar and Kaitlynn Christy. About AP Studio Art: The Advanced Placement Studio Art course is a college-level art making and portfolio development experience. AP students engage in an ongoing dialogue with their teacher and peers to examine their art-making process. Students discuss and evaluate their work, explore new ideas to strengthen its content, and study the work of experienced artists. Demonstrations of new techniques are presented on an individual basis to further a student’s art making. Over the course of the year, a portfolio of work – demonstrating inquiry through art, and the skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas by means of sustained investigation – is developed. In the Spring, students publicly exhibit their best work (a body of 10 pieces that reflect the student’s own ideas, skills and learning) before submitting their portfolio for evaluation to the College Board. After graduation, this diverse group will embark on post-graduate studies in Fine Art, Art Therapy, Biochemistry, Nursing and one student will be entering the US Coast Guard. April 12-30: Help your favorite school win $1,250 in the Clean Streams Campaign DID YOU KNOW? Pouring cooking grease down the drain pollutes our streams, creeks and rivers. The fats and oils harden in pipes, causing them to clog. Running hot water doesn’t help. Eventually the fat congeals and causes blockages. The blockages create sewer overflows that introduce harmful bacteria into our waterways. This month, ASD Schools are partnering with New Castle County Government to educate our families and friends about a better way to dispose of kitchen grease – by putting it in the trash! We’re part of a friendly competition to see what NCC School can collect the most online pledges to stop putting grease down the sink. Winning schools earn cash prizes of up to $1,250. We’re proud that one of our schools – Olive B. Loss Elementary – has been the top vote-getter in their division for two straight years. Will they three- peat, or will another ASD School get more pledges this year?! Please help us raise awareness by sharing this story. Any adult resident in NCC can vote for any school when they take the pledge. y Pledge/Vote Here beginning April 12: https://www.greatschoolscleanstreams.org/. WHAT YOU CAN DO: y Trash that fat! Let kitchen fats cool in a container – such as a used soup can – and throw it away in the trash. Wipe or scrape excess oil from pots and pans into the trash. y Catch the yuck. Place a strainer in the sink drain to catch food scraps and other solids. y Support our schools. Residents who “take the pledge” online to stop putting grease down the sink can then vote for their favorite school. Winning schools earn cash prizes. Prom Dreams Giveaway Event: April 14 at 4pm High School Proms are returning this year – another sign that, little by little, our world is returning to normal. AHS Seniors will celebrate at Deerfield Country Club on May 20. MHS will hold their Senior Prom at the Chase Center on June 3. Local fairy godmother Irene Smith has organized “PROM DREAMS,” a formal wear giveaway, to make sure the stress of finding money for clothes and accessories doesn’t stop a student from making memories that will last a lifetime. The event will be happening at 4:00pm on Wednesday, April 14 at VFW Post 3792, 5695 Summit Bridge Rd., Townsend, DE 19734.