English
English Department Philosophy
The Charter School of Wilmington’s English Department believes that….
Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and collaboration promote innovation.
An ethical learning environment develops good decision making, habits and virtues.
Cultural awareness is important to appreciate unique differences within an interconnected and multicultural world community.
Motivation can be fostered by setting high expectations, inspiring each other and celebrating success.
Respect for each other’s challenges, beliefs, rights, and property builds honor and self-esteem.
Life-long learning is essential for mastery and success in a changing, highly technological world.
Diverse experiences and community outreach build social responsibility.
Schools excel through partnerships among faculty, students, administration, parents, business leaders and the broader community.
The Charter School of Wilmington’s English curriculum is designed
To prepare students who are broadly educated in the humanities.
To help to prepare students who are technologically literate.
To prepare students who are able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
To prepare students who are firmly grounded in character development.
The Charter School of Wilmington’s English Department is committed
To encouraging our students to be life-long readers, writers, speakers, listeners, critical thinkers, and problem-solvers.
To providing students with quality instruction that appropriately challenges students while creating a climate that honors appropriate risk-taking.
To assisting students to articulate their thoughts clearly, both orally and in writing.
To supporting the development of adept and sophisticated communication in a variety of forms and technologies.
To demonstrating that writing is a process – one that ultimately galvanizes students to think more clearly and deeply about a topic.
To instructing students in appropriate research techniques to avoid plagiarism, especially the correct use of MLA guidelines as outlined in the seventh edition handbook.
To helping students use literature to understand their world and themselves. Students at every grade and phase level should expect to read literature that will challenge and engage them.
To offering a broad range of fiction and non-fiction texts that engender an appreciation for English’s complexity and create an enduring fascination with literature’s rich expression of the human experience.
To fostering the humane spirit which can result from immersion in critical discussions about literature.
English Department Members
Basquill, Rosemary
English Teacher **
651-2727 ext 330
rbasquill@charterschool.org
Benzing, Mauricette
English Teacher
651-2727 ext 328
mbenzing@charterschool.org
Bruno, Dan
English Teacher
651-2727 ext 156
dbruno@charterschool.org
Chandler, Karima
English Teacher
651-2727 ext 324
kchandler@charterschool.org
Ciamaricone, Ariana
English Teacher
651-2727 ext 326
aciamaricone@charterschool.org
Fleetwood, Sarah
English Teacher
651-2727 ext 332
sfleetwood@charterschool.org
Hollstein, Jennifer
English Teacher
651-2727 ext 334
jhollstein@charterschool.org
Mervine, Mark
English Teacher
651-2727 ext 320
mmervine@charterschool.org
English Challenge Test
The English department carefully phases each incoming student by individually examining both the student’s reading and language scores on the entrance test and the student’s writing ability demonstrated by the entrance essay.
We are solely concerned with proper phasing, as admissions is not our purview.
The English department’s challenge test exists to give the department more data for the best English phase placement for an incoming ninth grader. Sometimes the test scores and the writing ability on the entrance essay suggest different phase placements, so we request an additional assessment set up through the Admission’s Director.
English Courses
Students at The Charter School of Wilmington are required to take four years of English but are also offered a variety of other electives all with an advanced curriculum.
English Courses
2025-2026 Course Selection Book (contains course descriptions)
Scope and Sequence
9th grade = English 9 (option of phase 3, 4, or 5)
10th grade = English 10/British Literature (option of phase 3, 4, or 5)
11th grade = English 11/American Literature (option of phase 3, 4, or 5)
OR
AP English Language (phase 6)
12th grade = English 12/World Literature (option of phase 3, 4, or 5)
OR
AP English Literature (phase 6)
English Course Offerings
English Field Trips
Reading Lists
Why We Read
Suggested Reading – Links
also