Sussex Tech

Career Fair Brings Students and Opportunities Together

Sussex Technical High School hosted its second annual High School Career Fair on Wednesday, Jan. 6, during National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. Dozens of local businesses and organizations had access to over 1,300 students. Presenters explained to students the job market, needed education to be competitive, and career paths in the respective core areas.

Businesses participating in the High School Career Fair were:
• Delaware Department of Transportation
• Delaware Small Business and Development Office
• Hertrich Automotive
• Nickel Electric
• PNC Bank
• Sussex County Soil Conservation District
• U.S. Military Recruiters
• Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology
• Delaware Electric Cooperative
• Nanticoke Health Systems
• Delaware Technical Community College
• Delaware Army National Guard
• First State Community Action
• Del. Dept. of Corrections, Sussex Correctional Institute
• Flexera
• Sussex County Habitat for Humanity
• County Bank
• Delaware State Police
• Delmarva Beauty Academy
• I.G. Burton Automotive
• George Sherman Heating
• Sussex County Federal Credit Union
• Del. Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control/State Parks
• La Red Health Center
• SCORE
• Widener University
• Dynamic Physical Therapy
• Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
• Sussex Tech Adult Ed Division
• Sussex Tech Athletic Training Dept.

An Adult Ed Job Fair will be held on Monday, Feb. 11 from 6-8 p.m. During this event, companies will have the opportunity to expose their business to over 3,000 Continuing Education students.

National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month provides CTE programs across the country an opportunity to demonstrate how CTE educates students to be college- and career-ready and prepares them for high-wage, high-demand career fields. Sussex Tech invites the public to visit the school during CTE Month to learn more about Career and Technical Education. To schedule an appointment, call Sussex Tech’s Community/Business and Industry Liaison Joe Booth at 856-0961.

Sussex Tech Celebrates SkillsUSA Week during CTE Month

SkillsUSA members at Sussex Technical High School are celebrating SkillsUSA Week during February 10-16, 2013 in conjunction with National Career and Technical Education Month. Dan Zakrociemski, Student Activities Coordinator at Sussex Tech, is in charge of SkillsUSA activities at Sussex Tech where students have been active in leadership and skills competition in order to qualify for state contests in March that will give them the opportunity to win scholarships during national competition in Kansas City, Missouri, in June.

Sussex Tech’s electronics teacher Dennis Smith was honored last year as the Delaware Advisor of the Year. Smith has been teaching at Sussex Tech since 2000. While a high school student, he was the SkillsUSA/VICA president of his technical class. In 1975, when SkillsUSA/VICA was only eight years old, Smith competed in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies competition in the state of Florida. Sixty-two Sussex Tech students earned medals in last year’s state competition and 24 qualified for national competition.

Two of the Sussex Tech students who qualified for national competition last year were also selected to be officers of the State SkillsUSA Leadership Team. Senior Paige Robinson is the state treasurer. She studies Early Childhood Education. She participated in the national Chapter Business Procedures contest. Paige also participates in Sussex Tech’s Key Club, Pep Club, and softball, volleyball and cheerleading. Senior Stephen Mervine Jr. is a vice president on the State Leadership Team. He studies Media Broadcasting and Communications and participated two times in the Broadcast News Production contest in Kansas City, where he placed third and fourth nationally. Stephen interns at WKNZ 88.7 radio in Milford. He is very active in his local 4-H club and church. He helped organize a recent mission trip to Kenya to install a water purification system in an orphanage. Stephen also enjoys drumming in the school’s Raven Nation Drum Corps as well as throwing discus and bowling.

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, in high schools and college/technical schools. SkillsUSA has more than 305,000 members annually, organized into 13,000 chapters and 54 state and territorial associations (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands).

SkillsUSA prepares America’s high performance workers. It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. It emphasizes total quality at work, high ethical standards, superior work skills, life-long education and pride in the dignity of work. SkillsUSA also promotes understanding of the free enterprise system and involvement in community service activities. For more information: www.skillsusa.org.

Career and Technical Education Month provides CTE programs across the country an opportunity to demonstrate how CTE educates students to be college- and career-ready and prepares them for high-wage, high-demand career fields. At a time when job opportunity is so critical, CTE programs in every community are ensuring students are adequately equipped with the skills to successfully enter the workforce.

Sussex Tech invites the public to visit the school during CTE Month to learn more about Career and Technical Education. To schedule an appointment, call Sussex Tech’s Community/Business and Industry Liaison, Joe Booth at 856-0961.

International Writer Gathers Story Info at Sussex Tech

Sussex Technical High School recently hosted a visit from journalist Edward McBride who is the Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief of The Economist, a weekly news and international affairs publication edited in offices in London. McBride toured the school and spoke with staff and students in order to gather information for an article about education in America and Delaware’s role in Race to the Top.

The Economist targets highly educated readers and claims an audience containing many influential executives and policymakers. It has long been respected as one of the most competent and subtle Western periodicals on public affairs. Founded in 1843, The Economist introduced a section about the United States in 1942. Roughly every two weeks, The Economist publishes special reports on a given topic such as science and technology.

Edward McBride was educated in Britain and America. He has been a correspondent in the Middle East, South-East Asia, and Britain. While being interviewed by Sussex Tech Media Broadcasting students for airing on the school’s Raven Report news program, McBride admitted that he was “blown away with all the neat stuff (educational equipment)” at Sussex Tech. The reporter said that he attended a “stuffy” British high school where “high tech was the white board.”

McBride also told his interviewer that he believes anything that helps match up the skills of people coming out of schools with the jobs that are available is obviously beneficial to the economy.

“Here (at Sussex Tech) there is a sense that you can’t teach people the same way you always did. You need new techniques, new equipment, new ideas, and new curriculum,” explained McBride. “I would love to see that approach applied to more aspects of life here (in America).”

Sussex Tech is proud to have been chosen by the Delaware Department of Education to be one of two schools in the state to be reviewed for McBride’s article. Rebecca Taber, one of Governor Markell’s Education Policy advisors, accompanied McBride during his visit to Sussex Tech.

Mr. McBride was not able to give an exact date for publication of his article. However, readers can check The Economist website for its release. Go to www.economist.com.

January 2013 Jefferson Award Recipient is Named

The Sussex Tech Jefferson Awards Students in Action team recognized Devontay Jones as the January 2013 recipient of the school’s Jefferson Award. Devontay recently completed 134 volunteer hours at Woodbridge Elementary School in Greenwood helping mentor a fourth grade student in spelling and math. Devontay is studying Criminal Justice at Sussex Tech. He aspires to earn a college degree in education and to have a successful career as a teacher/coach.

The Jefferson Awards Youth Service Initiative program is part of the prestigious national recognition program honoring community and public service in America that was co-founded by the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The Youth Service Initiative was begun to pass on the tradition of volunteering to future generations.

ST Graduate Wins Theatre Award

Congratulations to 2007 Sussex Tech graduate Schyler Conaway upon winning the Best Male Actor in a Musical award from Broadway World.com. Schyler won the award for his role in the musical Spring Awakening performed at The Media Theater in Philadelphia last year. Broadway World.com gives awards every year for exceptional performances in regional theater. The role also helped Schyler to get an agent and his Equity Card with the Actors Union.

Schyler studied Media Broadcasting at Sussex Tech. He graduated from Shenandoah University Conservatory in Virginia with a degree in musical theatre. He and his twin sister, Erika, are currently living in New York City in order to be closer to more performing opportunities.

The Media Theatre received 12 nominations in Broadway World’s 2012 “Best Of” Philadelphia Theatre Awards. All voting is done by the public in this world-wide award presentation. Spring Awakening received six nominations for awards.

Submit Your Volunteer Hours Now

Students - if you have volunteered in any non-profit organization from Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2012, now is the time to submit your hours to receive one or two awards: Delaware Volunteer Elective Credit (1 credit on your transcript) and the Presidential Student Service Award which is a certificate signed by President Obama and a pin based on the hours you worked.

Please submit your cover letters from each agency you worked with throughout the year by January 31, 2013 to Miss Massaro in room 708. The letter should clearly state your name, the responsibilities you had when volunteering, the dates the volunteering experience occurred, and the total number of hours you offered. The letter should be typed on letterhead from that agency and be signed by the supervisor of the event.

If you volunteered at church, the event must have benefitted the larger community, not your church congregation. For instance, being an accolade or an altar person, reading from the pulpit, helping with a meal or teaching bible class does not count. However, if you went on a mission trip or worked at a food kitchen with your youth group, then that qualifies for volunteer hours.

If you have any questions, please contact Miss Massaro.

Career and Job Fairs Highlight Annual CTE Month at Sussex Tech

Students and faculty at Sussex Techncial School District will join others across the nation during the month of February to celebrate national Career and Technical Education (CTE) MonthTM. This year’s theme is Career and Technical Education Works! CTE MonthTM provides CTE programs across the country an opportunity to demonstrate how CTE educates students to be college- and career- ready and prepares them for high-wage, high-demand career fields. Among the special activities scheduled at Sussex Tech are a High School Career Fair and an Adult Ed Job Fair.

The High School Career Fair will be held on Wednesday, February 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dozens of local businesses will have access to over 1,300 students. Presenters will explain to students the job market, needed education to be competitive, and career paths in the respective core tech areas. Over 30 businesses have already committed to participate in the Career Fair. Among them are Beebe Medical Center, Nickle Electric, PNC Bank, Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology, Delaware Electric Cooperative, Nanticoke Health Systems, Del Tech, First State Community Action, Flexera, County Bank, Delaware State Police, George Sherman Heating, CHEER, La Red Health Center and Widener University.

The Adult Ed Job Fair will be held on Monday, February 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dozens of companies will have the opportunity to expose their business to over 3,000 Continuing Education students

“The activities planned over the next month will illustrate the rigor and relevance CTE courses offer our students,” said Dr. A.J. Lathbury, superintendent of Sussex Technical School District. “By partnering with the business community, CTE programs are investing in students’ lives with the latest technology and skills that will prepare them to become successful employees as well as future leaders.”

CTE encompasses 94 percent of high school students and 13 million postsecondary students in the United States and includes high schools, career centers, community and technical colleges, four-year universities and more. CTE is a major part of the solution to myriad national economic and workforce problems, such as high school dropout rates, a weakened economy, global competitiveness and massive layoffs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly one-third of the fastest growing occupations will require an associate’s degree or a postsecondary vocational certificate. At a time when job opportunity is so critical, CTE programs in every community are ensuring students are adequately equipped with the skills to successfully enter the workforce.

Sussex Tech invites the public to visit the school during CTE Month to learn more about Career and Technical Education. To schedule an appointment, call Sussex Tech’s Community/Business and Industry Liaison Joe Booth at 856-0961.

Sussex Tech is Collecting Jeans for Teens

Sussex Technical High School is now collecting gently used blue jeans to donate to Teens for Jeans. They will be distributed to local homeless shelters.

Sussex Tech junior Sarah Bell is coordinating the school effort. A $10,000 grand prize will be given to the school collecting the most jeans in the country. Also, Aeropostale hoodies for each student (with the school’s name on it) and a party will be awarded to the school.

According to statistics, 1.7 million teens in the United States are homeless. The No. 1 item they request from shelters is a pair of jeans.

Please donate your (and your family’s) jeans (any size or color) and make a difference. Place the jeans in the Teens for Jeans box in the Commons area by Wednesday, February 6.

Seniors Hold Health Fair

Senior Health Professions students held a Health Fair on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 14 and 15. Each student set up a display in the commons area during all lunch periods. The displays focused on the students’ senior project topics. Surveys were taken and information was distributed to the student body. Feedback from the Health Fair will be incorporated into the students’ senior project oral presentations.

Students and their topics are:

Taylor Adkins – Neonatal Tetanus in Third World Countries
Zoe Callaway – Smoking Cessation
Kara Carmean – Second Hand Smoke in Children
Jessenia Carranza – Female Health Awareness in Latinos
Kassandra Castaneda – Therapeutic Value of Laughter
Katie Dukes – Stress and the Benefits of Relaxation Therapy
Lilith Elmore – Melanoma and Teens Using Tanning Beds
Jennifer Helfer – Problems in Animal Shelters
Darien Jones – Exercise Induced Muscle Cramps in Athletes
Ashley Jump – Dental Care and Diet
Randall Long – Men with Breast Cancer
Erica Parkhurst – Organ Donation
Elyse Rubino – Grieving Process in Young Children
Kate Schroeder – Proper Stretching in Athletes
Alysa Swingle – Chemicals in Manicures
Amber Wharton – Burns and the Psycho/Social Impact
Paige Boylen – Congestive Heart Failure and Lifestyle Changes
Shaunay Duncan – HPV
Miriam Herrera – Alopecia and Children
Lindsay Hetrick – Bullying in High School
Teresa Jackson – Sickle Cell and African Americans
Ja’Myra Johnson – Hearing Damage and the Teen
Ryan Johnson – Honey and Wound Care
Rachel Mayhorn – Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Hearing Loss
Amanda Moore – Texting and Driving
Piyen Patel – Effects of BMAA on Neurodegeneration of SH-SY5Y Cells
Yazmin Rodriguez-Chino – Autism and Intervention at an Early Age
Yessica Rodriguez-Chino – Cleft Palette and Cosmetic Correction
Sarah Vanaman – Dermatographism
Heather Walls – Genetric Counseling (Down’s Syndrome)
Rosita Yoc-Roblero – Lead Poisoning in the Latino Population
Melissa Cook – Therapeutic Touch and Cancer
Courtney Tingle – Obesity and Low Income Children
Mary Bay – Effectiveness of First Aid in the Classroom
Esperanza Berduo-Roblero – Child Passenger Safety in the Latino Community
Neisa Davis – Bath Salts
Jocelyn Deleon – Down Syndrome and Speech Language Therapy
Gabrielle Fazio – Firefighters and Heart Disease
Abigail Genshaw – Stillborn
Karon Hopkins – Organ Donation in Children
Amy Messick – Assisted Animal Therapy for the Disabled
Katrina Ogundare – Toxins in Cosmetics
Lauren Shapley – Art Therapy for Autistic Children
Page Van Brunt – Methylglobinanemia (Nitrates in Water)
Martel Williams – ALS

District Receives Electric Co-Op Check

Sussex Technical School District recently received a capital credit check from Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC). Because DEC is a non-profit utility, margins are returned to the people the Cooperative serves. Founded in 1936, the Co-op provides electric to 84,000 members in southern Delaware. Sussex Tech is among the Co-op’s largest utility using members.

At the check presentation are, left to right – Sussex Tech Chief Financial Officer Dr. Ed Seibert, Sussex Tech District Superintendent Dr. A.J. Lathbury, DEC Marketing Manager Kevin Yingling, and Sussex Tech Director of Facilities/Operations Terry Little.

Sussex Tech Honors Assistance Specialist

Sussex Technical High School honored Carlos Villa as its January 2013 Staff Member of the Month. Villa is the school’s Student Assistance Specialist. He is responsible for promoting, planning, and delivering behavioral intervention programs at Sussex Tech.

In making the announcement, Principal Dr. John Demby commended Villa for his work during past crisis at the school. “Carlos has helped both students and staff deal with some severe emotional challenges,” said Demby.

Villa earned his education degree from John Brown University. Before coming to Sussex Tech in 2000, Villa provided conflict resolution to area school districts and was contracted as a mediator with the U.S. Postal Service and other corporate training groups.

ST Hosts Early Career and College Family Forum

Sussex Technical High School will host an Early Career and College Family Forum on Wednesday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Junior and senior parents can learn all the details and opportunities available through Sussex Tech’s new partnership with Widener University.

Participants are asked to register using our online registration form that can be accessed by CLICKING HERE

College Financial Aid Night to be Held

Sussex Technical High School is hosting a financial aid night on Thursday, January 24 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria. Financial aid officers from Delaware Technical Community College will be conducting the workshop. No registration is needed.

Sussex Tech junior and senior parents are invited.

Sen. Carper to Host 12th Annual U.S. Service Academy Information Night

Click here for Sen. Caper's Flyer

DOVER – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) announced the date for his 12th Annual U.S. Service Academy Information Night for Delaware middle and high school students, along with their families, teachers and school counselors on February 20, 2013, from 6 – 8 p.m. in the Education and Technology Building on the Terry Campus of Delaware Technical Community College in Dover. Sen. Carper will begin the program with a few remarks at 6:00 p.m., followed by informational breakout sessions from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

WHAT:
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper to host the 12th Annual U.S. Service Academy Information Night

WHO:
Sen. Carper will be joined by representatives from the service academies and other military organizations. Participants include:

· United States Naval Academy
· United States Air Force Academy
· United States Merchant Marine Academy
· United States Military Academy
· United States Coast Guard Academy
· Delaware National Guard
· Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC program

WHEN:
February, 20, 2013, 6 – 8 p.m.

WHERE:
Terry Campus of Delaware Technical Community College (Education and Technology Building), 100 Campus Drive Dover, DE 19904

CONTACT:
For more information, please contact Lori James in Sen. Carper's Kent County Office at 302-674-3308 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

2012 ST Graduate is Crowned Miss Kent County

Sussex Tech 2012 graduate Ashley Morley was recently crowned Miss Kent County and will be a returning contestant in the Miss Delaware Pageant held in June at Dover Downs.

Ashley is a freshman at the University of Delaware majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in policy making. She is on the Dean’s List for the Fall 2012 semester.

Ashley’s platform is The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Finding a Cure for Blood Cancer, in memory of one of her high school classmates, Kameron Chandler. She assisted in raising over $6,000 for the society.
(Carolyn Watson Photography)

VOD Essay Winners Are Named

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Sussex Memorial Post 7422 in Millsboro once again sponsored the annual Voice of Democracy essay contest at Sussex Technical High School. This year’s theme was “Is the Constitution Still Relevant in Today’s World?”.  Writer of the winning essay was junior Lisa Pham. Runner-up was sophomore Kasey Verducci.  Lisa’s essay will now be entered in the regional contest.

Principal's Letter Jan 2013

Hello Sussex Tech Family and Friends,


Welcome back everyone. I hope that you had an enjoyable holiday season.
As the new year begins, let me assure you that safety and climate are paramount at Sussex Technical School District. We take every reported and documented allegation seriously. Sussex Tech attempts to do everything in our power to protect our school community. We extend our deepest thoughts and prayers to the community in Connecticut following the recent tragic events there last month.

Our staff and students have returned from the winter break and are ready to get to work during the second half of the school year. Mid-term assessments are scheduled to begin at the end of the month so there is much to accomplish before then.

Local school competition begins for SkillsUSA and HOSA events. I would like to thank the members of the community who volunteer their time to come in to help judge these events. These programs help to foster the leadership skills of our students.

Just before the break, 26 students were inducted into the Spanish Honor Society. Members must have completed three semesters of Spanish with a 93 percent and have maintained a 90 percent overall average. Once inducted, members must be actively enrolled in Spanish and volunteer 10 hours of community service during the school year directly benefitting the Latino community.

Congratulations to the JROTC Raven Battalion for earning the third place distinction for over-all performance at the Dover Invitational Drill Competition. The Battalion's Armed Exhibition Team, led by C/1SGT Zach Bishop, and the Unarmed Exhibition Team, led by C/1LT Kaycee Bean, both came home with first place trophies. Thirty cadets participated in the competition. The cadets are now preparing for their annual Winter Military Ball on January 12 at the Cheer Center in Georgetown. This is a fine group of hard-working young people who are committed to physical fitness, community service, and learning leadership skills that will be invaluable to them in the future.

Congratulations to the 22 students who recently passed the Delaware Amateur (HAM) Radio Test. The class was given by members of the Sussex Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). I would like to thank electronics teacher Dennis Smith for coordinating this event for our students.

Congratulations to this year's winners of the annual Voice of Democracy essay contest sponsored by Sussex Memorial VFW Post 7422 in Millsboro. This year's topic was "Is the Constitution Still Relevant in Today's World?". The school winner is Lisa Pham. Her essay will now be entered in the state competition. Second place winner is Kasey Verducci.

Congratulations to senior Devon Bitler who signed a letter of intent to play softball at Norfolk State University. Devon will play third base and outfield for the Spartans. She plans to continue her studies in Athletic Health Care and major in Kinesiology (the scientified study of human movement).

We welcome Chester Davis as Sussex Tech's new head softball coach. He replaces John Marvel who retired last year after leading the girls' softball team to its second state championship. Coach Davis is no stranger to Sussex Tech as he is also head coach of the Lady Ravens' girls' basketball team.

Winter sports are in full swing. Our students apprecitate seeing full bleachers supporting them. I hope you can come out and cheer on the Ravens.

Dr. John Demby, Principal

Midterm Exam Schedule

Dear Parents and Students:

Assessments for Sussex Technical High School will be as follows:

REVISION - JANUARY 24th UPDATE DUE TO WEATHER

Friday January 25th - Exam Schedule will be Period 3 and 4.

We will move Period 1 exam to Monday during 1st period (ODD day), the remainder of the day will be the same with period 3, 5, and 7

And Period 2 exam to Tuesday during 2nd period (EVEN day), the remainder of the day will be the same with period 4, 6, and 8

New marking period (3) will begin on Wednesday January 30

Please do not assign any homework Monday evening in preparation for the Tuesday exam

Students are to report to class immediately upon entering the building on assessment days. No students are to be in the halls during the assessments. Students who arrive late to an assessment period will not be permitted to enter the class while the assessment is being administered. Any student who arrives after the assessment has started must report to the office. They will be directed to the in-school suspension room to take the assessment. They will forfeit any time lost because of tardiness.

Students will only be allowed to make up an assessment if they follow the procedures for being excused the day of the assessment. A student’s parent/guardian must call the attendance office (854-2818) prior to 9:00 a.m. on the day of the assessment and the student will bring a note when they return to school the next day. Failure to call on the day of the assessment prior to 9:00 a.m. and any unexcused absence (i.e. no note) will result in a zero for the assessment(s) missed.

Make-ups will be given on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:45-1:45. Students will be required to provide their own transportation. It is the student's responsibility to see his/her teacher(s) to make up the assessments. Exceptions to this because of emergency situations must be approved by the student's counselor and made up no later than February 1 with a legal excuse.

There will be no extracurricular activities on January 22, 23, 24, and 25. All students will be expected to leave the building by 11:40 a.m. unless they are making up an assessment or participating in athletics. Athletic practice will start at 12:00 with the activity bus leaving at 3:00.

Student debts must be satisfied prior to January 25. Report cards will be issued on February 6.

Thanks for your cooperation and support.

Sincerely,

John Demby, Ed.D.
Principal

2012 Graduates Need to Complete Survey

The 2012 Sussex Technical High School graduate follow-up survey has been mailed to all 2012 graduates. Information on the survey is important for the continuous improvement of the educational programs at Sussex Tech and its goal to create a Sussex Technical Alumni Association for its graduates.

2012 Sussex Tech graduates are asked to complete the survey and return it as soon as possible.

The survey can also be found online at www.sussexvt.k12.de.us/gradsurvey. 

Honor Society Seniors Host Holiday Party for Senior Citizens

The senior members of the National Honor Society made their annual trip to Harrison House in Georgetown before the winter break to host a holiday party for the senior citizens residing there. The teenagers helped the residents play several games of bingo and participate in holiday songs.