Caravel Academy

Caravel
f Excellence in Educati
36 Years o
on
NOTES
Founded in 1979
VOLUME XXXV NO. 1 CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2015
S
tandardized tests are valuable
because they allow an opportunity
for consistent comparison. Schools
participating in standardized
testing programs are all
given the same tests with the
same guidelines. Offering a
standardized test ensures that
everyone is using the same
measuring stick. Caravel
is then able to see how we
compare to other schools and
the national norm.
Standardized Testing at Caravel
Students in grades nine through eleven take the PSAT
standardized test in October. Read more on p.2.
The score analysis data is
valuable for teachers and
administrators to reflect on the
success of the curriculum. It also helps to identify weaknesses
and strengths in the curriculum. Teachers are then able to
make adjustments to ensure the students are receiving the
best education possible. In addition, standardized test scores
I
prove valuable in helping to ensure
proper student placement. They also
serve as tools to determine a child’s
growth across many
years, for the same testing
format is used from year
to year. Because of all of
this, Caravel Academy
offers
two
different
standardized tests to help
evaluate the students and
the curriculum.
Each spring in grades
one
through
eight,
Caravel administers the
Comprehensive Testing
Program also known as CTP. We often refer to these as the ERB
as they are developed by the Educational Research Bureau.
These tests assess areas such as reading, listening, vocabulary,
writing, and mathematics.
See Standardized Tests page two.
From the Headmaster
would like to thank staff, parents and students for a great start to the new school year. We were able to start after Labor Day,
which is my preference, but it was a very late start this year causing a longer summer break. No one has complained! This has
moved our yearly schedule back a week with the end of marking periods, midterm exams, and finals, a week later than usual. Our
graduation, usually the first Wednesday in June, will now be June 8, which is the second Wednesday.
We have made considerable updates to facilities during this past summer with new lighting and ceiling tiles in the classrooms of
the Lower School, as well as the 300 wing, library and chorus room. Renovations also occurred in all rest rooms located in the
same areas plus the 500 wing. Air conditioning and heating issues were also addressed in several areas needing improvement in
delivery.
Our staff initiative this year will be to map our curriculum. The Middle States visiting team commended our school on many
aspects of our course of study, learning environment, and academic culture at Caravel Academy. Their report recommended a
thorough review of our curriculum through curriculum mapping. Curriculum mapping is the meaningful process of documenting
what is taught. Mapping has a positive impact on all courses as it brings the curriculum into focus and provides an opportunity
for reflection and collaboration to review the curriculum. This process will allow us to determine gaps and repetitions across
grade levels, departments, and divisions. We look forward to working on curriculum mapping to continue Caravel’s outstanding
academics.
As we move forward for a successful school year, I want to recognize the leaders of our support organizations that work very
hard to assist your students and our school. They help to sustain the momentum, and I appreciate all of their efforts along with
the hard working members of their groups. These leaders are Mr. Tim Derr, president of the BUCS; Lori Keith, president of the
PTC; and Jane Sullivan, president of the Music Boosters. Have a great rest of the school year.
Donald C. Keister, Jr.
standardized tests (continued from p.1)
CARAVEL ACADEMY
MISSION STATEMENT
Caravel Academy, a private
college preparatory school,
upholds the values of honesty,
personal integrity, and good
sportsmanship. Our mission is
to inspire students to develop a
love of learning and empower
them to become self-sufficient
adults through effective and
challenging instruction, extracurricular activities, and a wide
range of experiences in a safe
and supportive community.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Mrs. Dorothy Peoples, President
Mrs. Carol Manubay
Verbal and quantitative reasoning are part of the test starting in grade three. In addition,
Algebra is evaluated for those students who are taking Algebra in either seventh or
eighth grade. The school typically receives the score analysis data in the summer, and
the staff is able to review the data immediately. Parent reports take a little longer to
develop and distribute, so parents receive their children’s scores usually in October.
More information on how to interpret these reports can be found on RenWeb under
Resource Documents.
In the fall, students in grades nine through eleven take the National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test or the PSAT as it is most often known. This test assesses reading,
writing, and mathematics. Students and parents usually receive their score analysis in
late December. At this time, the staff also receives the results. Even though this test is
designed to assess eleventh graders, it is excellent practice for the students in preparing
for the SAT and is useful in evaluating the student and the curriculum. For these
reasons, we administer the test all three years. More information on how to interpret
these reports can be found in the score report received by each student.
Finally, while we do consider these tests to be very valuable, we also understand they
are just one moment in time. We always encourage the students to do their best, but
because unforeseeable circumstances can impact the scores, Caravel always considers
the whole child when evaluating the student. While standardized test scores present a
fairly accurate picture of our curricula’s success, it is important to note that they are
merely one of the many assessments used to evaluate our students’ achievements.
Alison L. Harper
Director of Curriculum
Mr. Paul Manubay
ptc events for everyone
Mr. Harrison Peoples
Mr. Robert Peoples
Mr. Thomas Peoples
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Mr. Don Keister, Jr.
Headmaster and
Principal of the Middle School
Mrs. Tara Heuschkel
Principal of the Upper School
Mr. John T. Smith II
Principal of the Lower School
Mrs. Wesley Davidson
Director of Early Childhood Program
Mrs. Kristina Tulowitzki
Director of Guidance and
Admissions
Mrs. Alison L. Harper
Director of Curriculum and
Instruction
PAGE 2
T
he PTC (Parents and Teachers of
Caravel) is proud to host the following
events:
Santa Shop – Mon, Nov. 30, to Thurs,
Dec. 3. This is a Caravel tradition that
the kids look forward to every year. The
Lower School Library is transformed into
Santa’s Workshop where the students
shop for gifts for their families. Here they
find great selection, reasonable prices,
and gifts for everyone on their list. Parents and Grandparents, this is an event
where we need a lot of help to assist the
younger students manage their money and
purchases. Some parents sign up for the
time their child shops, or they sign up for
other classes (so the gifts are a surprise). Come in for 30 minutes, a few hours or the
day, the choice is yours. We appreciate
any time you can spend with us.
Harlem Wizards vs Caravel Faculty
Sat., Jan 9 – This is the must attend
event of the year. Come out for trick
hoops and ally oops with the legendary
Harlem Wizards vs our Caravel faculty,
VOLUME XXXV NO. 1
•
including Mr. Carney as our coach.
Tickets will be on sale before and after the
holiday break.
You’re also invited to attend PTC meetings
held on the third Wednesday every month
(except December and summer months) at
7 pm in the Lower School Library. You can
follow us on Facebook: www.Facebook.
com/groups/CaravelPTC. Thank you for your continued support!
Lori Keith, PTC President
CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
early education center
W
elcome to a new school year. It is absolutely wonderful
to see our returning students, and we welcome 84 new
families to our Early Education Center this fall. The hallways
are already adorned with amazing art work, and the children
have settled into their routines beautifully!
This year we welcome, Miss Lexi Stanley and Miss Alexis
Vasaturo to our EEC faculty and staff team. Both ladies
graduated from Caravel Academy in 2010 and have returned
“home” to be a part of our Caravel Family in a different
capacity. Miss Stanley is teaching our preschool students
in the Blue Room, and Miss Vasaturo is assisting in the Red
Room with Pre-K.
During In-service days, I took the opportunity to meet with
each grade level in order to review and update the current
curriculums being implemented in the EEC. I look forward
to watching our students “bloom” in all areas of development
throughout the school year. In addition to cognitive, fine
motor, gross motor, and language skills, we take great pride
in instilling good character in our students in order to enhance
their social/life skills.
Mrs. Staman and Miss Vasaturo listen attentively.
I am looking forward to a fabulous year together! As always,
thank you for sharing your children with us. We strive to
provide our student body with a well-rounded, sound, and
enjoyable school experience on a daily basis.
Mrs. Wesley Davidson
Director, Early Childhood Program
Miss Stanley begins a lesson with the students in the Blue Room.
music boosters
T♫ Pancake Breakfast
he Music Boosters have many exciting events planned for this year, and we need your help to make fundraising a success.
November 21st 8am - 10am at the Applebee’s in Glasgow – Purchase your tickets now to help
support the Music Boosters as we raise funds to help our high school musicians get to Disney World in the spring. Contact Janie
Sullivan ([email protected]) for additional information.
♫ Launch Trampoline Park, November 24th, 4pm - 8pm. Please come out and jump to support the Caravel Music
Boosters. Don’t forget to bring a flyer.
♫ Become a Member of the Music Boosters, PTC and Bucs Athletic Association – Please remember to send in your annual
memberships(s) for our three main fundraising organizations. You can find the membership form on Renweb, under Resource
Documents, 2015-16 Membership.pdf.
For more information check out our website at http://www.bucsmusicboosters.com/special_events.html
and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/camusicboosters/
There will be more exciting events in the beginning of 2016. Please stay tuned, and thank you for your support!
Jane Sullivan, Music Boosters President
VOLUME XXXV NO. 1
•
CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
PAGE 3
first grade activities
I
t is hard to believe how quickly time has flown since we walked
through the doors of our first grade classrooms in September.
First graders now are busy becoming independent and working
hard each day to develop new skills.
In Reading, we are focusing on phonics, vocabulary development,
and fluency. As we explore various genres of literature, we are
discussing story elements such as characters, setting, problems,
and solutions. We are exploring the traits of good writers in
our Write Traits books like Ideas and Organization as well
as incorporating the Conventions of using capital letters and
punctuation marks appropriately.
In Math, we are working on addition and subtraction strategies
and developing problem solving skills. We are learning graphing,
estimating, and practicing “mental math.” Each week, we learn
new math vocabulary words.
In Social Studies, first graders have discussed Families, the Fall
Season, and Harvest. They are learning to appreciate diversity of
small communities like our schools and also the larger world in
which we live. With the holidays coming up, we will learn about
various cultures and traditions around the world and become
familiar with where various countries are on the map and globe.
This year, first graders will be piloting a Foss Science
Program. This is a hands-on physical science experience with
an introduction to STEM. The module we’ll work with first is
called Sound and Light. We are excited!
We all agree learning is fun in First Grade!
Your First Grade team:
Mrs. Nancy Bailey and Mrs. Rachel Ashton
Mrs. Ruth Bishop and Mrs. Lauren Dillon
Mrs. Sue Zebley and Mrs. Sandy Lober
Second grade expectations
O
ur second graders are making the transition from first grade
and learning all about the new expectations and the increased
need for the skills of independence. Setting the bar higher always
seems to motivate them into trying new things all on their own! It doesn’t take long for them to feel confident about themselves. We have enjoyed so many things already with the Book Fair
and our trip to the Filasky Farm. We are looking forward to
the months ahead in celebrating Thanksgiving and the winter
holidays. We welcome families who celebrate different holidays
to come in and share with the children. Learning about a new
culture or tradition is always fun. Keeping a close connection between home and school is vital to
your child’s success. Keep updated with Renweb and newsletters
sent home. Lastly, with the dress code we all look very much
alike! Please be sure to label your child’s attire. As always, we
are available to answer your questions and/or concerns. We are
looking forward to a fantastic year.
Mrs. Kim Dietrich/ Mrs. Amy Hopkins
Mrs. Carla Perna/ Mrs. Tina Cooper
Mrs. Michelle Weldon/ Mrs. Kristen Dawson
We are full swing into our reading anthology and are working on
the skills of comprehension, learning how to make an inference,
draw conclusions, and how to express ourselves in writing. In
Math we are learning about place value and money. Helping at
home with reinforcing real life experiences with money is always
more fun. Have your child count out exact amounts for Pizza
Day, bake sales, or something that they would like to purchase at
the cafeteria. Giving learning a purpose is our goal. Our writing lessons surround the six traits of ideas, organization,
voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions.
Developing moral character and learning to think more about the
world around us has us working on respect, responsibility and
the month of November’s trait – caring.
PAGE 4
VOLUME XXXV NO. 1
Second graders snap and clap hands to a beat while reciting
numbers in French. Mrs. Cisar believes that rhythms help them
to remember the numbers in French.
•
CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
third grade events
G
rade three teachers and assistants would like to welcome
everyone to another exciting school year. We have been
enjoying our time getting to know students and are looking
forward to a great year together.
The boys and girls have been working hard and have settled
nicely into a good routine
during our first marking
period. With the arrival of
fall and its cooler weather,
everyone has been ready
to learn and eager to do
well. Of course Book Fair,
Picture Day, and Spirit
Week all helped to add a
little excitement to the early
part of the school year.
Third grade has been
taking a look at many new
topics in class – place
value and larger numbers,
story structure, main idea
and details, sentences and
writing skills have all been covered in our first units. Students
have done well and have discovered that many of the skills
covered in class will be useful to them in years to come.
Students are also anticipating their first field trip of the school
year. The Gibbon’s House tour at Hagley Museum is always
a fun one. This trip’s activities allow students to experience
how families lived at the DuPont Powder Mill about 150 years
ago, and most students come away from the trip with a greater
appreciation for all of the modern conveniences of the 21st
century.
We also want to give a big Caravel welcome to our new third
grade teacher Mrs. Jen Frazier. She is doing a great job, and
we look forward to working with her as part of our third grade
team.
In closing, we want to thank everyone for a great start to the school
year. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions
or concerns as we progress throughout the school year.
Mr. Martin Joines/ Mrs. Karen Swank
Ms. Kristin Bergner/ Mrs. Carol Elswick
Mrs. Jen Frazier/ Mrs. Valerie Strobel
Order your 2016 Little Bucs Yearbook by November 13, 2015
(for grades pre-K through grade 4)
“Color Outside the Lines”
◊Twelfth Edition of Little Bucs yearbook
◊ Exclusive coverage of Preschool, Kindergarten, and
Lower School
◊ All portraits, candid photos and backgrounds in brilliant
color
◊ Classes and Caravel traditions are featured
◊ Delivery in May, just in time for autographs
and celebrations
Holidays and Traditions
Field Trips
To order your Little Bucs yearbook, please complete the following information:
Student First Name and Last Name (please print):
_____________________________________________________________
Parent name and phone number: __________________________________________
Teacher and homeroom number or Preschool room color:_______________________________
Number of yearbooks requested : ___________ Cost $30.00 for each Little Bucs yearbook
Total amount enclosed: ________________
Make checks payable to Caravel Academy.
Please give this form and payment to your homeroom teacher or the Finance Office.
All orders must be received by November 13, 2015.
VOLUME XXXV NO. 1
•
CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
PAGE 5
fourth Grade experiences
lS tech Bytes
G
reetings from the fourth grade! It’s hard to believe that we are heading into
the second marking period. We have really enjoyed watching the progress
of our students. They have really settled into switching classes and writing down
homework assignments on their own.
In Reading, the students just completed their first unit in their textbooks. They have
also finished reading their first novel. The students love the idea of reading and
look forward to it everyday.
Do you know the difference between plant and animal cells? Our fourth graders
do! They spent the first marking period working on the classification of organisms.
The students are now learning about the human body and how it works.
In Social Studies, the students are working on their mapping skills and will begin
studying the United States with New England and the Middle Atlantic regions. As
a fourth grade team, we plan to visit Fort Delaware, Kalmar Nyckel, Iron Hill and
Old New Castle to learn about Delaware History.
We are focusing hard on writing and learning the 6 + 1 traits in writing. The students
have spent the month of September working on the trait, “Conventions.” They are
now preparing for their colonial book reports. Along with presenting their reports,
the students dressed up as their colonial person and sat down to a Thanksgiving
Feast. This was a great way to bring learning to life!
We are enjoying all of our students and look forward to a great and productive year.
Mrs. Sharon Hunter/ Mrs. Kellie Melba
Mr. Craig Carney/ Mrs. Karen Neihaus
Mrs. Sue Vasaturo/ Mrs. Kathy Schlecker
S
tudents returning to the Lower School will
no longer see the big, old COW! We have
a new COW! A much smaller cow that will
allow each student access to the cart IN the
room versus OUT in the hallway! The new
COW is filled with gently used MacBook Airs
replacing the Dells! How exciting! Thanks
to Mrs. Tait, the Dells will be cleaned up and
relocated to the Lower School Library! I am
very proud of the students in the Lower School
because, they took really good care of the
Dells, and although a bit aged, the Dells will
work nicely in the library for Internet searches
along with word processing needs.
So far the
students
are
continuing to
be diligent with
safety
rules,
handling our
“new” laptops
very well, and
safeguarding
a healthy future. The iPads are in full use
with all the grades, but mostly the first
Fourth graders learn lessons in Delaware
history on a field trip to Fort Delaware.
graders. The Macs will be introduced soon to
first grade. Mrs. North is a tad nervous but
staying positive because very few workboxes
have fallen onto the floor by “accident” or a
“mystery!”
The Lower School students will continue to
learn about Computer Science covering topics
like Parts of the Computer, Digital Citizenship,
Computer Programming, Operating Systems,
and Standard Software. Each class will use
either a laptop or iPad once a week. Looking
forward to a great techy year! Keep hugging that
device for safe travels!
Mrs. Diana North, MED
Lower School Technology Teacher
PAGE 6
VOLUME XXXV NO. 1
•
CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
middle school news
New Teachers and New Students Adjust
to Middle School Routines and Activities
M
iddle school students are off to a great start this year. We
have several new teachers including Mr. Michael Jones,
who is the middle/upper school librarian and teaches library
skills; Mr. Richard Orlando, who teaches seventh and eighth
grade science, Mrs. Caroline Romeo, who teaches middle
school social studies. I met with 38 new middle school students
during H periods to help them feel comfortable with their new
school and to introduce them to some of the many activities that
are offered.
Sabrina Wang is a new student
in Mrs. Erne’s homeroom. She
likes Caravel and likes to spend
time with her new friends.
The fifth graders are getting accustomed to their lockers and
enjoying the additional freedom of walking to classes with
friends and not walking in lines. We now have grown to four
sections in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
There are many activities available to our middle school students.
Students participate in sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse,
baseball and softball. There are also many other activities such
as Book Club, Science Olympiad and Math Olympiad.
Here are some comments from the two fifth graders about their
first two weeks in middle school.
Gabrielle Lonie said, “ It is fun!”
Michael Jones said, “ It’s a lot of homework. It’s kind of fun!”
Let’s make this a wonderful year here at Caravel. I think we are
off to a great start.
Beverly Gollicker
Middle School Coordinator
New students Yasthika Ashokkumar, Kunal
Visuanathan, and Michael Jones have made many
friends already at Caravel. Yasthika likes science; she
is also learning to play piano and leaning computer
code. Kunal especially likes social studies and math.
Michael enjoys the freedom of walking independently in
the hallways. He is leaning speed and agility in the after
school class with Mr. Wiley.
middle school student council
I
f you walked down the 300-wing, 400-wing, or 500wing in September, you may have noticed many of
the creative posters and signs for the MSSC (Middle
School Student Council) officer candidates. This year
we had fifteen prospective candidates in the race! On
September 25th, the candidates delivered their speeches
to the Middle School. They spoke on their plans for their
positions. In the end
the races were close.
The officers this year
are:
President,Chase
Guyton;
Vice President, Nick
Burch;
VOLUME XXXV NO. 1
•
Secretary, Russell Roberts;
Treasurer, Yode Famodu; and
Historian, J.J. Bryda.
With the help of the officers and the homeroom
representatives, our student council plans on having
a great school year and some fun dances to attend!
We encourage all of the middle school students to get
involved and to tell their officers and their homeroom
representatives of any ideas they may have for the school
year. Our first school dance was Friday, October 23rd,
and there are more dances to follow!
Meghan Delp
Social Studies Instructor
Middle School Student Council Advisor
CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
PAGE 7
Middle and Upper School Math
C
alculus and Statistics AP Scores – Mr. Flickinger and
Dr. Cheadle – Last year fifteen students earned a passing
grade of 3 or above on the AP Calculus test. They are all
eligible to receive 4 to 8 credits of college calculus.
In AP Statistics – Fourteen out of nineteen students received
a grade of 3 or above on the AP test, with five students earning
a 5, making them eligible to earn 3 college credits in Statistics.
The number of students in the course has grown over the last
two years. This year, 23 students are enrolled in the class.
Dr.
Cheadle
is
pleased with the
increased enrollment
in the statistics class
and the performance
of the students on
the AP Statistics
exam.
Math League –
Mrs. Olmstead. This
year’s Math League
will be represented
by seven ninth graders and eighteen students in grades 10
through 12 in four competitions with local high schools.
Caravel Academy Engineering Club – Mrs. Boedeker
and Mr. Orlando. Our seventh and eighth grade students have a
new opportunity to apply math and science skills in a hands-on
environment. The Engineering Club has the goal of introducing
students to the profession and its skills. Students work in
teams to solve design and construction challenges requiring
creative solutions in a limited amount of time. Students will
listen to presentations and participate in demonstrations given
by engineering students and professionals. The advisers are
excited about the interest in the club and hope that it will help
students to maintain or develop an interest in STEM-related
fields.
Math and Science Olympiad – Mrs. Erne and Mrs. Keever.
These clubs are working together to enhance students’ critical
thinking skills that include not only
finding solutions to problems, but
seeing the process and design of
solutions. These clubs will start in
early December and will continue until
spring. Clubs are actively seeking four
high school students to assist, for which
they will be offered service hours.
Mr. John Flickinger
Math Dept. Chair
T
he old adage goes, “Teachers who love teaching, teach
children to love learning.” This could not be more relevant
for the Social Studies Department at Caravel Academy. The
2015 – 2016 year boasts newly hired professionals, teachers
filling new rolls and others constantly cultivating perfection in
their classes and subjects.
Mrs. Caroline Romeo is new to Caravel, teaching seventh
and eighth grade social studies. She has been a teacher for
seventeen years. In that time, she has enjoyed working with
all age groups and teaching about everything having to do with
social studies. Her favorite time period is the Renaissance and
World War II. Students should expect to do lots of projects
and be very creative in
Mrs.
Romeo’s
class.
For example, they are
asked to use the internet
to find definitions of
urban,
suburban
and
rural and then look for
photos of cities that fit
these definitions. After
preparing a PowerPoint
slide, they will email it to
her for evaluation.
Ms. Meghan Delp’s fifth graders will be developing their
skills in research. They will begin working with computers and
books to gather information for various projects. By the end
of the year they will be well on their way to future historians!
In Ms. Delp’s sixth grade Social Studies, students will be
exploring ancient civilizations. One of the areas to be studied
is Ancient Egypt. During this unit, students will participate in
a mummification process of an apple, similar to the process the
Egyptians used to mummify.
Mrs. Kristen Caldwell
will be teaching seventh
grade World Geography
and
eighth
grade
Civics. The Geography
class just worked on
a project that required
students to assume
the role of location
analysts to determine
the best locations and
design for dog parks or
sports stadiums. In Civics, students enjoyed learning about
the Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials and wrote thoughtful
reactions to that intriguing and awful time. Students are looking
forward to writing their own Declarations of Independence!
Mr. Chris DeLaney
Social Studies Department Chair
Congratulations to the 2014-2015 seventh
and eighth grade Math Olympiad winner,
Akhil Rao.
PAGE 8
middle school social studies
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CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
upper school social studies
M
rs. Carolyn Mack will now be
teaching eleventh grade American
History as well as AP World and AP US.
In eleventh grade American History,
most of the units will be project-based
with students picking the material from
the textbook on which to focus and
research. They will then present the
material to the other students through
shared Google written materials and in
class oral presentations. Students are
encouraged to use their laptops both
for research and for creating innovative
presentations. The classes will also be
using shared documents and Google
Forms to analyze primary sources to get
a deeper understanding of eras covered in
the textbook while also practicing the sort
of critical reading skills necessary for the
new SAT.
Mrs. Stacie Garber is another new
addition to the Caravel family. She
holds master’s degrees in American
Political Science, Economic Education
and Entrepreneurship, and International
Relations. This year she will be teaching
ninth grade European History and
Sociology. She also will be working with
the Youth in Government team in the
spring as their adviser and the
Drama Club.
along with his wife, Mrs. Heather
DeLaney.
We can only hope to continue the legacy
of excellence that Mrs. Anderson
instilled into the CSG.
Mr. Chris DeLaney
Social Studies Department Chair
Mr. Chris DeLaney will be
teaching Advanced World
History,
Psychology,
and
Military History utilizing
Caravel’s one to one initiative
to its fullest. The use of this
technology along with the
advent of Google Drive helps
students stay up to date with
all material required for each
course. This year, he will
also be serving as the Caravel
Student Government’s Co-Lead Adviser
scores on Standardized tests in english affirm high performance
T
he English Department is continuing
its focus on vertical alignment
across the language arts and literature
classes in both writing and reading.
With an emphasis on extensive writing
and revision and close reading analysis,
the department seeks to
provide students extended and
engaged timed practicing and
improving their rhetorical and
literary abilities with a goal
of every graduating senior
writing and analyzing at an
introductory collegiate level.
As a result of our students’
dedicated efforts, their scores
last year on standardized tests
were among the highest ever.
76 students scored an average of 44.3 on
Writing Skills (8.5 points higher than
the state average and 5.8 higher than the
national average) and 43.8 on Critical
Reading (5.8 points higher than the state
average and 3.5 higher than the national
Middle School ERB results
PSAT Results
Every October, students in grades nine
through eleven complete the PSAT, an
exam intended to determine the abilities
of juniors as they prepare for the SAT
their senior year. On last year’s PSAT,
every grade level achieved mean scores
higher than the state and national mean.
In the class of 2018 (last year’s freshmen),
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•
the national average). In the class of 2016
(last year’s juniors), 83 students scored
an average of 51.5 on Writing Skills (8
points higher than the state average and
6.8 higher than the national average) and
51.5 on Critical Reading (6 points higher
than the state average and 5.3 higher than
the national average.).
average). In the class of 2017 (last year’s
sophomores), 88 students scored an
average of 50.4 on Writing Skills (12
points higher than the state average and
10.9 higher than the national average) and
50.1 on Critical Reading (9.2 points higher
than the state average and 8.5 higher than
CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
Middle school students, who take the ERB
over the course of several days every May,
experienced similar success. In grades five
through eight, student averages by grade
improved in all English/Language Arts
categories, including Verbal Reasoning,
Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension,
Writing Mechanics, and Writing Concepts
& Skills. As a strong example, last year’s
eighth graders who have been at Caravel
since at least sixth grade experienced a
marked increase in scores from their sixth
grade year to their eighth grade year,
improving by ten points, nine points, six
points, eight points, and seven points in
each respective category.
See English Scores page ten.
PAGE 9
english scores, cont. from p.9
caravel student government
T
AP Placement Scores
he Caravel Student Government is proud to welcome Mr.
DeLaney and Mrs. DeLaney as the new CSG co-advisors!
With the help of Mrs. Roarty, in her third year as the CSG
assistant advisor, they have started out strong and have done a
fantastic job leading the group.
As a final indication of our students’ success, Advanced
Placement scores in both AP English classes show 100%
success. AP courses intend to assess students at a collegiate
level, with students considering meeting that standard when
earning a three, four, or five on the AP exam at the year’s end.
In AP Language and Composition, offered in eleventh grade,
71% of students earned a five, and 29% earned a four. In AP
Literature and Composition, offered in twelfth grade, 62% of
students earned a five, 31% earned a four, and 7% earned a
three.
CSG’s 2015-2016 officers: President Jasnoor Hundal, Vice
President Nicole Czechowicz, Treasurer Nicholas Schaefer,
Secretary
Hayley Whiting,
Historian Jenna
Whiting,
and
Sergeant at Arms
Brinda Vaidya.
These
six
officers plan and
organize
over
thirty events with
the help of the
CSG executive
committee,
which meets every Wednesday during H period.
Ms. Jessica Love
English Dept.Chair
New Student Orientation took place on Thursday, September
3, with plenty of food, fun, and games. In total, 55 students
attended. Existing high school students met with new high
school students, giving them tours and answering questions
about the school.
Hayley Whiting, CSG Secretary
Mrs. Valentine directs discussion during AP British Lit. class.
spirit week and homecoming
S
pirit Week ran from
Monday, October 12, to
Friday, October 16. High
school students voted on
the
homecoming
theme
of Halloween, which was
incorporated into a Spirit
Week dress day, spirit walls,
and the homecoming dance
decorations. Middle and high
school students expressed
their school spirit by dressing
for the following dress days:
Caravel Spirit Day, Sweatpant
and Sweatshirt day, Class
Color Day, Halloween Day,
and Sports Jersey Day. On Wednesday, October 14, teams
formed by some of the junior and senior girls participated in the
much anticipated Powder Puff football game, which was won by
the seniors. At halftime, freshmen and sophomores competed in
tug-of-war, which was won by the freshmen. The homecoming
PAGE 10
game was on Friday, October
16, and ended the week on an
exciting note.
The CSG organizes the voting
among the upper school
students for the Homecoming
Court. Congratulations to
the following members of
the 2015-2016 Homecoming
Court:
Freshman Prince Kieran Pyle
and Princess Chloe Jackson,
Sophomore Prince Mandela
Montgomery and Princess
Maia Bryson, Junior Prince
Kofi Bempong and Princess Meghan Bailey, Senior Prince
Chase Corbitt and Princess Emily Holmes, and Senior King
Lucas Partlow and Queen Meghan Hartzell. The court was
presented at the halftime ceremony during the homecoming
game and again at the homecoming dance.
VOLUME XXXV NO. 1
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CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
csg fall fundraisers support community service
T
he CSG Fall Fundraiser was distributed on September 11 and concluded on September 28. The only means of raising money
for the CSG, this single fundraiser supports the many CSG school and community service projects held every year. Thank you,
and congratulations to the top sellers, who received Toys R Us or Visa gift cards. The top sellers were (pre- K -3rd) Aloni Smith,
Ryan Howell, and Samantha Goodwin; (4th – 8th) Sofia Kerner, Riley Hearn, and Matt McDowell; and (9th – 12th) Jessie
Ziolkowski, Mia Alexander-Oliver, and Alyssia Roselle. A huge thank you goes out to all of the Caravel families who participated
in the CSG fundraiser.
The first community service event for the CSG every year is a food drive for the Food Bank of Delaware. The CSG places collection
boxes around campus and asks Caravel families for food donations. It has been a Caravel tradition to hold a stuffing drive, but since
the Food Bank of Delaware had an overflow of stuffing donations this year, the CSG will be collecting boxed or bagged mashed
potatoes to help the community during the Thanksgiving season. Last year, 2,270 boxes of stuffing were donated. The CSG hopes
the 2015 Mashed Potato Drive will meet or exceed last year’s record!
Hayley Whiting, CSG Secretary
middle and upper school technology report
C
omputer
Science
at
Caravel
Academy is growing strong! This
year is already off to a great start! We
are currently in our third year of the 1:1
Laptop Program and both the students
and staff are moving into a state of
comfort having the technology available
during all classes. The laptops are being
utilized more often during the day for
normal classroom activities such as notetaking and accessing research information
online. According to one student, Bryce
S., “Having the laptops in the classroom
has made taking notes and sharing notes
much easier.” Another student, Nick T.
has also said that most of his textbooks
are now online, which makes it easier
and lighter to travel during the day. No
forgetting the book for class any longer. We are also gearing up for the annual
Hour of Code in the Lower and Middle
School classes. This event will take place
during the week of December 7 – 11. The
week is set aside to introduce computer
programming to students and is in honor
of Grace Murray Hopper, a pioneer in the
field of computer programming. If you’d
like to learn more about who she was
you can at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/
databank/entries/btmurr.html.
than the required 9th grade Computer
Applications II class, there were few
students taking any other Computer
Science classes. Two changes took place
last year, which has had a tremendous
impact on the number of students taking
these classes. The first change was to
remove the Computer Applications II
class; this was replaced with a Microsoft
Office Specialist class. The main focus
of this class is a focus on Microsoft
Office Applications: Word, Excel and
PowerPoint. The other change was to not
make Computer Science a requirement for
freshman and allow them to choose which
class they wanted to take. As a result,
the number of students taking Computer
Animation alone has grown from three
students to nearly 30 this year. The Web
Design class, which we were able to have
for the first time last year, has nearly
doubled in enrollment from last year. I
do foresee continued growth in this area. Students Elect More Classes
One other phenomenon that seems to
be occurring this year is the number of
students who take, not one but two or
three computer classes during the school
year. This is something that I noticed with
a couple of students last year. However,
this year the number of students who are
choosing to take more than one Computer
Science class has nearly doubled.
Changes in Course Selection
Another area that has seen a significant
increase is the number of students who
are engaging in Computer Science classes
in the Upper School. In the past, other
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CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
See TECHNOLOGY REPORT page 12.
PAGE 11
technology report, cont. from p.11
Caravel technology excels in the state
I am happy to report that Caravel Academy is one of the few
high schools in this state that has two things going for it as far
as Computer Science is concerned. First, we are one of the few
schools statewide with a specific requirement for Computer
Science for graduation. Most schools have a technology
requirement, with that requirement often being earned as part of
the student’s math or social studies credit. This is one of the areas
that does make the school shine brighter than others. Secondly,
we are one of the few schools that treat Computer Science, as
it’s own curricular area. The focus on this as its own curricular
area is vital in the world that we currently live and work in. The
technology is so infused in our daily lives, and helping the students
to become masters of this aspect of their lives will only help them
to achieve more as they continue to grow and develop. Finally,
we are one of a small list of high schools nationwide that offers
Advanced Placement Computer Science. Currently there are
approximately 42,000 high schools nationwide, of those only
2,100 offers the Advanced Placement course to students. We
are anticipating increasing our Advanced Placement Computer
Science course options next year with the inclusion of Advance
Placement Computer Science Principles, which is a new class
being offered by the College Board beginning in the 2016 – 2017
school year.
halloween events
T
he traditional Halloween parades were held on October 30.
Children from the Early Education Center dressed in their
costumes and walked through the halls of the school in the
morning. In the afternoon, the students in the Lower School
performed
the
same
routine. Following the
parades, everyone in the
EEC and Lower School
enjoyed parties in their
homerooms.
During the parades, the
older students gathered
in the halls to cheer the
children as they passed by.
Afterschool computer/ technology offerings
Finally, there is one further area that needs to be mentioned,
afterschool computer/technology offerings. Currently, we have a
good number of students engaged in either Coding Club or Lego
League. Mr. Boland is the advisor for Lego League in which
the students program motorized Lego robots across a specific
chartered course. Students attend the Lego League Competition
and have a terrific time during their meetings. Mrs. Laise advises
Coding Club and there are three different levels. The third grade
participants meet weekly until mid-January and participate in
the curricula from Code.org. Fourth grade club will begin in
February and also participate in the curricula from Code.org. The
Middle School Coding Club meets every other month, for two or
three days per week after school. Middle School Coding Club is
participating in CS-First from Google. This group will be able
to complete four different club focuses this year. We began with
Art in October; the following clubs will focus on Game Design,
Social Media and wrap up with Storytelling. All of the Coding
Clubs are currently full and the students are having a fun time
learning about computer programming.
PAGE 12
Mrs.Veronica Laise
Technology Dept. Chair
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CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
spirit week and homecoming
Sports J
ersey D
ay
P
e
p
R
a
l
l
y
Powder-Puff Game
King and Queen
Freshmen-Sophomores
duel in Tug-of-War
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CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015
PAGE 13
Caravel Academy fall sports
Coaches’ reports and more photos will appear in the next issue of caravel Notes.
PAGE 14
VOLUME XXXV NO. 1
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CARAVEL ACADEMY NEWSLETTER • WWW.CARAVEL.ORG ▪ OCTOBER 2015