Capital School District is excited to announce that we are seeking
nominations from you for Educational Support Professional of the Year! Parents, students, staff and the community can nominate a paraprofessional, secretary, custodial/maintenance staff, child nutrition worker, district-employed bus driver or bus aide! You can nominate anyone in our 13 buildings including the District Office. We encourage nominations for employees who are active in our district and community, work directly or indirectly with students and other teachers and who are dedicated, knowledgeable and promote positive, supportive and professional images in our school environment and community. The deadline is Sunday, May 2! You can nominate someone at
https://www.capital.k12.de.us/esp2021
Work is in progress to the storm-damaged William Henry Middle School! Dr. Sylvia M. Henderson, our Interim Superintendent, and Mr. Ade Kuforiji, our Interim Assistant Superintendent, met this morning with Mr. Elliott Hardin, Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds, and RYJ, the general contractor and construction management company tasked with restoring William Henry Middle School. The group toured the building to review the current status and to briefly discuss next steps. The work includes replacing walls, ceiling tiles, lighting, technology and other items that were damaged from the storm. “Our main focus currently is ensuring that the school is operational by fall”, said Dr. Sylvia M. Henderson. “We will keep you updated as the work continues to move forward and will be certain to share photos along the way!”
(Left to right) Interim Assistant Superintendent Mr. Kuforiji, Building and Grounds Supervisor Mr. Hardin, RYJ’s Mr. Dean Johnson and Interim Superintendent Dr. Henderson. Mr. Johnson points to items that will be worked on to make the school operational again.
The meeting included a visit to the WHMS library to view the work that needs to be done there.
Mr. Mark Johnson, Dr. Henderson, Mr. Hardin, Mr. Dean Johnson and Mr. Hardin stand near the RYJ sign at William Henry Middle School.
The work in progress gets a “thumbs up” from Dr. Henderson!
Mr. Mark Johnson and Mr. Dean Johnson with Mr. Elliot Harding, Dr. Henderson and Mr. Kuforiji
Mr. Dwayne Henry is the 21st Century Site Coordinator at East Dover. “I grew up in Capital School District graduating from Dover High School in 2013. While at Dover High School, I was a 2nd Team All-State soccer player my senior year. I pursued my Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Administration at Methodist University graduating in 2017 and was also on the soccer team all 4 years.” After college, Mr. Henry was a substitute teacher before finding a role in the 21st Century Program. “Since starting this role at East, I have helped the program grow and flourish while providing as many opportunities and life lessons as possible to the students who have attended. In my spare time you can find me coaching on a soccer field in Dover and in Middletown giving back to the youth and providing opportunities for them to grow as soccer players and as leaders.”
Mr. Henry’s Impact Statement - “I am most proud of making the 21st Century an appreciated program at the school. My first year, there weren’t a lot of students staying after school in the program. By the start of my second year, we had over half the school (130 students) staying after school each day, participating in the program. Last year, we were able to arrange transportation for our special needs students. The immediate impact I’ve seen is the program growing from serving 110 students my first year to over 200 in last year’s summer and school program. The long-term goal of these efforts would be for the majority of the students and staff at East Dover to participate in the 21st century program during the year. I would also like for students to participate in a STEM, arts, sports or leadership pathway during their time in 21st Century. A lot of social injustice was going on when our summer program was about to begin. We called our summer program “Slamming Towards Success” to motivate our students to be the driving force to influence the future. Our students were able to learn more about their community and current events that were happening. They were also able to look at careers, leadership, decision-making, financial literacy and college.”
Principal Shani Benson decided to become a principal to scale her impact. “I started out on the teacher track and took a turn into the corporate world,” she said. “I realized that being in education was where my passion was and went back to school to complete my teaching degree.” Getting to combine those two skill sets has been helpful, she told us, as she strives to be the best leader she can be for North Dover Elementary.
“Work ethic is important,” she said. “I set goals and chip away at them slowly.” She admits that she has a hard time sitting still, so she is constantly working to improve. She strives to set an example for her children, who
are the driving force for her. “I am currently working towards a doctorate, which has been a lifelong goal. I truly believe having a growth mindset has pushed me to achieve the goals I set.”
When asked what motivates her during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Ms. Benson said, “Keeping students and staff safe is of the utmost importance. It is imperative that we create a haven for students here that allow them to feel supported, welcomed, valued and cared for. They have many needs, especially during this uncertain time. This motivates me to ensure those needs are met with the dynamic team we have at North.”
Principal Benson wants every student to know how special he or she is. “Every single one of them has a gift and it is our job to help them discover some of their talents. I also want them to know they are loved and welcome. Helping them become engaged, productive citizens of this wonderful community is extremely important to North.”
Spring is here and with it the wonderful opportunity for South
Dover Elementary School to have a vegetable garden! Founder and CEO of Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids, Dr. Thianda Manzara, with the help of Executive Director Lydia Sarson “veggie-cated” South Dover students by giving lessons about gardening and teaching them how to plant vegetables in the garden boxes created by adult volunteers in March . The children planted cold weather vegetables including spinach and lettuce, arugula, cilantro and radishes. Late April after the vegetable harvest, the students will have the chance to eat what they have grown! What a terrific and enjoyable experience for all! The lessons our students learned provided valuable skills for the children to take with them for future use. For more information about Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids, visit
https://healthyfoodsforhealthykids.org/
Students in Ms. Rouse’s Class at South Dover Elementary School listen to Dr. Manzara as she explains how to plant vegetables.
Garden boxes created by adult volunteers earlier in March.
Students in Ms. Rouse’s class planted spinach and lettuce.
(Left to right) Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids’ Executive Director Lydia Sarson and Founder/CEO Dr. Thianda Manzara
South Dover 3rd Graders water the garden.
They saw some growth after only a few days!
On Monday, March 29, East Dover teachers hosted a drive-thru literacy and math event. Each student received a goodie bag which included a grade-level appropriate book that had reading and math activities to go along with it. All students received the Gail Gibbons book 'From Seed to Plant', a pack of flower seeds for planting, and the recipe to make dirt dessert along with all the ingredients to make it! The weather was perfect, and the teachers showed spirit by wearing the same pink shirt; "Readers, Leaders, and Mathematicians Bloom at East Dover”!
Teachers and staff at East Dover Elementary School at the Drive-Thru Literacy and Math Event
Math instructional coach Erica Richard gives a student a specially prepared bag for the event.
Ms. Murray, Instructional Coach, give a goodie bag to a student during the drive-thru event.
East Dover Elementary Principals - from L to R: Associate Principal Jennifer Christman and Principal Julie Giangiulio in their pink shirts!
Mr. Brian McCrae and Mr. Dwayne Henry at the Literacy and Math event!
This student made and enjoyed her dirt dessert of which the ingredients were in her bag from the Literacy and Math event!