Weekly Email
Sent Thursday, December 11th
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Charter Ranked #42 and in Top 10 List of Best Charter Schools
Congratulations to our students, parents, faculty and staff for being ranked number 42 among the top 100 high schools in the nation. We will be featured in the December 15 issue of the magazine.
We were also ranked #9 on the list for the Top 10 Charter Schools in the country.
Charter's Revised Mission Statement
As part of the Middle States process, we are reviewing our mission, vision, principles and beliefs. Charter's faculty, staff, parents, students and Board members were involved in this process. We are pleased to reveal our revised mission statement
The mission of The Charter School of Wilmington is to engage highly motivated high school students with an interest in math and science by providing a challenging college preparatory curriculum in a safe, friendly and nurturing environment that integrates practical learning opportunities, sets high expectations, develops social responsibility and promotes a global perspective.
Board Governance Committee Meeting Tonight
A Board of Director's Governance Committee is meeting, tonight, Thursday, December 11 at 6:00p.m. in Room 312.
The purpose of this meeting is to review and further develop the ten goals that were identified during the Committee's initial meeting.
Calendar Change: Noon Dismissal on December 19
There will be a noon dismissal on Friday, December 19, due to a faculty meeting. This was not posted on the original school calendar.
Homeland Security Visits Charter on Monday - Parents Invited
Michael Smith, Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary of Science and Technology for the Department of Homeland Security, will be speaking to our students on Monday from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the theater. He will show and talk about some of the current and near future projects by DHS. In his words:
" Our projects include: Levees/dams strengthening & rapid repair; counter improvised explosive devices (C-IED); tunnel detection; tunnel protection; new transportation (airports) screening technologies; 3-D "tracking" of firefighters in buildings; new self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for firefighters and EMTs; unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) counter-MANPAD (shoulder fired anti-aircraft missile); cargo container screening technologies; explosion resistant airline baggage containers; and less than lethal law enforcement containment tools."
Charter parents are invited to attend!
Volunteer Needed to Film Boys Basketball Games
The boys basketball team is in need of someone to film their games. This could also count towards service hours. Please email Kevin Kelly at kkelly@charterschool.org if you are interested or see Coach Haley if you come to a game.
Digital Recorders and Digital Cameras Needed
If you are trading up for a new digital camera or digital recorder for the holidays, or have an extra one at home collecting dust, we have students who can use them. We have a photography class and our physics class can use the recorders.
Please drop your gifts off to the Main Office with a name/address and we will send you a thank you letter so you have a record for your tax donations.
Final Payments for Jan. Ski Trip Due
This is a reminder that the balance ($239) for the January ski trip to Killington and Okemo is due by December 12. Please have checks (made out to CSW)or cash turned in to Mr. Messinger by the end of the week.
Also if you have not discussed room assignments with Mr. Messinger, you need to do so ASAP!
Interested in serving as a CSW Board Parent Rep?
The CSW Board revised its Bylaws in November to allow a second Parent Rep director. The Parent Association will provide a single nominee to the Board at its January meeting, to serve through September 2009. At last week's PA meeting the assembly voted to have the PA Officers select a nominee by mid-December, in order to meet the advance notice requirement (which occurs before the January PA meeting).
Second Notice: If you are a parent or guardian of a CSW student and would like to be considered for this Board position, please let us know! Send your resume/bio to henry.clampitt@verizon.net, along with the name of your student(s) and your indication for which of the four Board committees you wish to serve on: (i) Board Governance; (ii) Strategic Planning and Development; (iii) Finance and Compensation; or (iv) Academic Excellence and School Affairs.
We have received quite a few resumes already. When our nominee is confirmed we will publish the name in the next regular CSW email. Note that Board Committees can also have non-Director members, so interested parents have additional possibilities to participate with the CSW Board.
SAT practice
Back to Basics is offering a free SAT practice test on Jan. 10 at 8:30 a.m. at their Wilmington office. Space is limited. Students must register no later than Dec. 29. For more information, call 594-0754.
Financial Aid Workshops
Representatives from college financial aid offices will provide information about applying for state and federal financial aid and review the 2009-2010 FAFSA filing process. All sessions are open to the public and free of charge. The following dates are still on the calendar: Monday, Jan. 12 at Middletown HS, Wednesday, Jan. 14 at William Penn HS. All programs begin at 7 p.m. Attendees will learn how colleges determine your financial need and about federal, state and institutional grants, scholarships, work study and loans. Don’t forget that some colleges will ask the family to complete the CSS/Profile which can be completed now on www.collegeboard.com.
PSAT results
All sophomores and juniors will receive their PSAT results on Monday, Dec. 15 in homeroom. Assemblies will be held sixth period for juniors and seventh period for sophomores to explain their score reports. All students will receive their test booklets back so they can go home and review their test with the correct answers. This is an excellent way to review for the SAT. All test takers will then be eligible to log onto www.collegeboard.com and enroll at no cost for www.MYROAD.com.
Scholarship for Juniors
The Discover Card Company offers scholarships to juniors only. Their deadline is January 31 and focuses on leadership, community service and obstacles overcome in life. Log onto www.discovercard.com/tribute for more information.
Scholarship for Senior Boys
The William H. Heald Trust funds scholarships annually to boys living in New Castle County who will attend the U of DE. The amount varies from $3,000 - $4,000 and is renewable annually. The scholarship committee takes into account the following factors: financial need which includes tuition, books, room and board; academic record, recommendations and extracurricular activities. Families who are not certain that they may qualify financially can log onto www.fafsa.ed.gov and complete the FAFSA Forecaster on the left side of the page. Interested students must write to the address stated below prior to January 1 and request an application.
William M. Lafferty, Esquire
The William H. Heald Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 1347
Wilmington, DE 19899-1347
Attention Parents of Seniors
All requests for transcripts with college application deadlines up until January 10th should have been turned in to the Guidance department by now. Receipt of such transcripts by the college deadline will not be guaranteed if students do not meet our timeline requests. Also, please be aware that guidance counselors are not in the office during the winter vacation and that they will return to the office when school resumes on Monday January 5th.
Student Science Ambassadors Needed In January and February
Winter Session after school mentors are needed for the Science Ambassadors program. We will be mentoring on Mondays in January and February on 1/5, 1/12, 1/26, 2/9 and 2/23. Interested students should come to Room 331 and see Mrs. Potocki for a permission slip.
Adult Drivers Needed to Drive CSW Students to Prestige Academy
Adult drivers are needed to transport our students to Prestige Academy on these days 1/ 5, 1/12, 1/ 26, 2 / 9 and 2 / 23. Pick up at Charter is at 3:00 pm. and we will leave Prestige at 4:30 pm. to return to Charter by 5:00 pm. Interested parents should contact Ms. Potocki at cpotocki@charterschool.org
More Science Fair Judges Needed
We need additional judges for the Charter Science Fair on January 9. If you already volunteered, confirmation emails will be sent out shortly. Volunteers are needed to judge projects and interview students from 2-6:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. If you can share your time with us, email Mrs. Beenu Gupta at bgupta@charterschool.org. We promise you will be amazed at the projects you will see!
School Sportswear and Merchandise for Sale
Don’t forget you can still purchase Charter Sportswear, blankets and hats.
Shannon Matthews Memorial 5K on Dec 13th
In 2004, Shannon Matthews, a member of Charter’s coaching staff, died from kidney failure waiting for a transplant. He was 37. Shannon was a graduate of Wilmington High School and one of the fastest young men in Delaware as a high school athlete. In college, he was one of the top sprinters in the U.S. Returning home with a kidney ailment before he could complete college, he continued to work with the sport he loved for the next fifteen years. Shannon coached many athletes and teams to championships here in Delaware, but more dearly – athletes and teams from his alma mater, Wilmington High School which later became The Charter School of Wilmington and Cab Calloway School of the Arts. We honor Shannon’s life and work with a memorial 5K run/walk and provide a scholarship for someone who would like to coach this sport in the future. Please help us honor this great coach next Saturday, December 13 at 9:30 AM by participating in this run\walk.
Official Charter Force Football Fan T-Shirts Available
Looking for a great holiday gift? Why not give an official Charter Force Football
Fan t-shirt? These are the blue shirts with white lettering that everyone was wearing at the home games this year. T-shirts come in Medium, Large, XL, XXL and XXXL and are $15.00 a piece. If you are interested in purchasing a shirt, just send an email to Sherry Lyons at tapeantypeinc@aol.com with the quantity and size. Shirts will be delivered to the school for pick up. Please include your student's homeroom # in the request. Checks should be made out to CSW Boosters. Thank you and happy holidays!
New Board Officers Announced and January Meeting Date
We have three new Board members at Charter: Robert Fry, Ph.D., a DuPont Representative, Brian Magee, our Verizon representative and Keith Wing Ph.D., a DuPont representative. To learn more about our new members, you can visit our website.
Our next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 27, starting at 6 p.m. in Room 321. There is no December meeting scheduled due to the holidays.
Please check our Board of Directors page on the CSW website to see the latest meeting minutes and approved policies.
Middle States Public Notification: Notice of Evaluation for Candidacy for Reaccredidation
The Charter School of Wilmington is scheduled to be evaluated for accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools.
An evaluation visit has been scheduled for November 3-6, 2009.
The Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools will accept comments from those with first-hand information regarding The Charter School of Wilmington’s ability to meet the Middle States Standards for Accreditation. These comments will be considered in the course of the evaluation. The Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools Standards for Accreditation can be viewed at
http://www.css-msa.org/pdfs/Standards_for_Schools_with_Indicators.pdf
To be considered, comments must be in writing, include the printed name, address, and telephone number of the writer, and must be signed by the writer. Anonymous comments will not be considered.
Comments must be received not later than 30 days prior to the first day of the visit by the Evaluation Team and must be mailed to:
Executive Director
Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Comments may be sent via email to: info@css-msa.org
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