Indian River School District

Lt. Gov. Matt Denn and John Hulse from the Delaware Department of Education were at John M. Clayton Elementary School near Frankford this week, celebrating with the school their National Distinguished Title I Award and their state Recognition School award.

Two Millsboro candidates are competing for one seat on Indian River School District’s Board of Education, in District 3, centered in the Millsboro/Long Neck area. Challenger Paulette Rappa and appointed incumbent Leolga Wright this week responded to a series of questions from the Coastal Point designed to elicit their views on issues affecting the district. The winning candidate will serve a five-year term, beginning July 1.

Students are serving their community with the Junior Red Cross Club at Southern Delaware School of the Arts. The middle-school club teaches kids about outreach, preparedness and fundraising to help the American Red Cross fulfill its humanitarian mission.

In a rare display at the Indian River School District Board of Education meeting April 23, two principals approached the microphone during the public comments section of the agenda to announce major news: Sussex Central and Indian River high schools were ranked second and third among high schools in Delaware.

The fourth annual cornhole tournament benefitting a scholarship in the name of the late Russell White will be held June 8 at the Millville Volunteer Fire Company’s fire hall. The tournament is hosted by the Xi Upsilon sorority, which is part of Beta Sigma Phi International. This year, the scholarship — which started at just $500 — is up to $2,500.

The upcoming election for the Indian River School District will mark a permanent change in the school board, as terms will begin extending to five years.

Every day, a group of students at John M. Clayton Elementary School does something that their peers and predecessors at the school have never done. They learn for half the day exclusively in Spanish and half the day in English.

On Saturday, April 13, the Indian River High School Alumni Association (IRHSAA) will hold its first Annual Beef & Brew to help the organization raise funds for ongoing projects.

This summer, rising juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to spend a little time on planning for college, thanks to a Summer College Admissions Boot Camp offered by Anne Macleod Weeks of Delmarva Educational Consulting.

The Take Two Drama Club of Sussex Central High School this month will present the first Delmarva production of the Broadway hit “The Who’s Tommy.”

Girls are striding fearlessly into the science classroom, thanks in part to new groups that promote science and robotics. On a typical Thursday afternoon at Selbyville Middle School (SMS), a dozen sixth-graders flock to the Girls’ After-School Robotics Club, where they assemble and program robots.

Expecting an influx of all-day kindergarten students in September and awaiting construction of 38 new classrooms, the Indian River School District school board has decided to build four new pole barns to ease current space constraints.

Five students from the Indian River School District have qualified to compete at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., set for May 8-12.

The following students received High Honors for grades between 93 and 100 during the most recent marking period at Indian River High School:

Indian River School District will officially welcome full-day kindergarten to all elementary schools in the 2013-14 school year.

Great minds are roaming the halls Sussex County schools. The Sussex County Science Fair displayed the experiments of nearly 80 students, grades 7 to 12, sending Indian River High School students home with six awards on March 4.

A musical tradition of more than 20 years will return to the Indian River High School stage at the annual IR Variety Show, on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15 and 16.

Students will perform songs by Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, Mumford & Sons, Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and more. Comedy skits, dance acts and a jazz saxophone solo will spice up the lineup.

Officials with the National Weather Service are now predicting that a winter storm will impact the area between Wednesday and Thursday, March 6 and 7. According to the NWS on Tuesday:

Indian River School District officials expect the experience of a construction firm will be worth the expense. As the district prepares to embark on an $11 million construction project to add 38 new classrooms in the next few years, board members voted Feb. 26 to use a construction management firm instead of hiring a district employee to manage the projects.

Local students are learning new ways to study the world, and now they’re ready to report their findings.

They perform CPR. They investigate rape cases. They use kayaks to check on residents during hurricanes and floods. They also write grants and keep up with administrative needs, cover shifts, and go above and beyond their call of duty.

Training with the U.S. Navy or Merchant Marine is a long, challenging process. In fact, just getting nominated to apply for entrance into a U.S. service academy is a big deal. This year, two Indian River High School seniors — Kees Elling of Ocean View and David “Jordan” Marshall of Dagsboro — received the elite service academy nominations from Delaware’s congressional delegation

As a teenager, Tom Carper had little idea how to apply for college. Now serving as a U.S. senator, Carper visited Sussex Central High School to discuss financial aid so today’s juniors and seniors will understand what’s next for them.

The Indian River High School Alumni Association is welcoming friends and members to enjoy a relaxing evening at 16 Mile Brewing Company this week. On Friday, Feb. 15, people can visit the microbrewery from 6 to 9 p.m. to hang out with friends, catch up with fellow alumni and enjoy local drink.

The family of Jackie Pavik announced this week that a scholarship has been established in Pavik’s name and applications are now being accepted.

As the Lower Sussex Indians gear up for another Pop Warner season, they are inviting volunteers who are interested in coaching football and cheerleading.

Growing up in Ocean View, Monica Patterson dreamed of the distant African lands she could only read about. Now, having recently won a prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, she is planning her own book about African realities, using her own research.

Indian River School District residents voted on Tuesday to give students more room to learn when they approved a two-part major capital improvement and current expense referendum.

Anything can seem easier with a friend by your side, which three local Boy Scouts realized en route to becoming Eagle Scouts — the highest Boy Scout rank.

The following Indian River High School students received high honors for grades between 93 and 100 during the marking period that ended in December 2012: