Yahoo! Look at all those names on the Phoenix Middle School High Honors and Honors lists!

GPA requirements are as follows:

• 3.00-3.49 – Honors
• 3.5 and up – High Honors

Phoenix Middle School 2015-2016 School Year

4^th Quarter High Honor Roll

6^th Grade High Honor Roll

Faith Allen, Alexander Andreoni, Sydney Aranda, Mariel Armenta Valle, Melynna Arreola, Acacia Butteris-Anderson, Isabel Calhoun, Estevan Colin, Cheyenne Corning, Naomi Delgado, Gavin Ebbert, Tija Eglite, Jaiden Elliott, James Finley, Diamond Garcia, Eliana Gluchman, Justin Graham, Katelynn Gums, Max Hennessey, Adrian Hernandez, Nathally Hernandez, Barbara Honish, Erick Huerta, Alisandra Hutchison, Michael Kiem, Melody Kilroy, Kylie Kummer, Brianna Lara, Hazerim Lechuga, Dakota Mead, Jazmin Melendez, Dia Patel, Kush Patel, Eleashah Petersen, Adante Raby, Victor Ramirez Escobar, Elimarie Ramos, Yuniel Rodriguez, Elizabeth Sanchez, Maria Shackett, Kennedy Shepard, Scott Sirkman, Emilie Smith, Jacob Solis, Cesar Soto, Eli Stickney, Marissa Torres Raby, Jaqueline Urias, Brian Valdez Chavez, Jason VanDeBogert, Marianna Vieyra, Julianna Wegleitner, Adrianna White, Alton Wimer, Sophia Winn, Pamela Zamorano, Gracellen Zomer.

7^th Grade High Honor Roll

Gwendolyn Acheson, Lithzy Aleman, Camrin Bosworth, Katie Bradley, Sophia Brandt Reinhart, Emily Cameron, Amir Castillo Cano, Heather Charter, Michael Cobb, Christina Crawford, Davyn Elliott, Sylvia Elliott, Hadyn Emmerich, Alyssa Fonseca, Brisa Gamino, Desiree Green, Rosalba Hernandez, Alizon Hernandez-Espinoza, Juliana Huerta, Emily Iniguez, Molly Jedlicka, Caitlyn Karbash, Gracie Laue, America Lavdas, Morgan Lock, Myles Lockhart, Brianna Manriquez, Nayeli Mercado, Tanya Mollado Martinez, Jaxon Moore, Naitaly Napodano, Hannia Nevarez Martinez, Maria Oliveros, Kathryn Pehkonen, Collette Riviere, Enrique Rizo, Allison Rosencrans, Ariana Ruiz, Francheska Sandoval, Anna Sorg, Perla Valadez, Rudolfo Villarreal, Britain Woloszyk, Breanna Yartey, Joshua Ziolkowski.

8^th Grade High Honor Roll

Alyssa Cardenas, Isaac Castillo Cano, Alexis Contreras, Oscar Garcia, Joseph Gonzales, Connor Gove, Lidia Griep, Leah Hamell, Michelle Huerta, Brittney Huth, Maira Leep Simental, Samuel Markling, Jr., Gabriela Montelongo, Liliana Nunez, Dieonte Orth, Kody Parks, Judith Perez, Pablo Perez, Jacob Prado, Johanna Quintero, Madeline Robertson, Minerba Rodriguez, Samantha Romine, Alyssa Sanders, Karina Torres, Jordane Torres Raby, Yasmin Valadez, Stephanie Vaughn, Alexis Washington, Nika Weyrough, Nicholas Zikuda.

4^th Quarter Honor Roll

6^th Grade Honor Roll

Diego Arellano, Abby Cavaliere, Owen Chelminiak, Angel Duran, Ryan Flitcroft, Hector Flores Jr., Madison Gordon, Christopher Hamell, Hector Hernandez, Giselle Huerta, Ismael Jaramillo, Samuel Jaramillo, Hunter Kastning, Alex Katzman, Ryan Kritz, Luke Lenz, Sarai Manriquez, Alan Mendez Arjon, Moises Montelongo, Bobbie Neal, Angeline Nolasco, Josue Ortega, Luis Perez II, Jose Perez, Hailie Pollard, Kyle Reese, Sabrina Sandhu, Kolby Schmuck, Marshall Shupe, Emily Soto, Zachary Swiatlowski, Aiden Valadez, Jr., Luciano Villarreal, Lance Warrenburg, Matthew Whaples.

7^th Grade Honor Roll

Ketzia Alvarez, Stacy Alvarez, Paige Arnold, Kelly Beckman, Abigail Beles, Salma Cano, Tyler Conley, Erica Curbelo, Xandria Dreksler, Cristal Duran Cruz, Haley Fischer, David Flores, Adrian Fonseca, Nataly Galvan Fonseca, Daniel Geary Jr., Logan Griffin, Dakota Hanson, Seth Helm, Jayra Hernandez, Mark Anthony Hernandez, Alejandro Hernandez Reyes, Gabriela Jacobo, Eri Jaramillo, Jonathan Jaramillo, Brianna Jasso, Jovanni Lemus, Justin Loewe, Charlie Lopez, Marissa Maldonado, Lahzris Markling, Joshua Mick, Chloe Mohr, Benjamin Petersen, Xochitl Prado, Alyssa Rakowski, Cristal Valadez, Sophia Valadez, Raul Villegas, Hayden Vogt, Kaia Warner, Hunter Warren.

8^th Grade Honor Roll

Ivan Aranda, Jasmine Arias, Nicholas Armstrong, Alexander Balas, Cody Bliss, Benjamin Butke, Hope Childers, Nina Colunga, Elizabeth Craig, Javier Cruz, Silvia De La Cruz, Ronnell Fleming, Payton Gordon, Marlee Hartlieb, Lisette Hernandez, Oliver Hetzel, Casey Huerta, Kimberly Huerta, Yadira Huerta, Monica Huth, Joshua Johnson, Paige Johnson, Kaitlyn Kraayeveld, Frederick Krablean, Daphnie Navarro Otero, Patricia Nova-Sanchez, Shannon Piecha, Dakota Quarzenski, Heather Ream, Yadira Rizo, Madelyn Santeler, Alysia Smith, Moses Solis, Audriana Valadez, Isaiah Valadez, Kevin Valadez Olivares.

Stressing the importance of offering nutritious meals to children during the summer months, the Delavan Darien School district announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, provides nutritious meals to children during the summer, when free and reduced-price school meals are typically unavailable. Free meals will be made available to children 18 years of age and under who live within the district boundaries. Persons over 18 years of age who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who also participate in a public or private non-profit school program during the regular school year may receive free meals as well.

The following locations will be serving the free meals this summer:

• Phoenix Middle School, weekdays, June 20-July 29, 2016 – breakfast from 7:30-8 a.m.; lunch from 11 a.m. until noon.
• Turtle Creek Elementary, weekdays, June 20- July 15, 2016 – breakfast from 7:30-8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. until noon.

The only weekday that the sites will be closed is July 4.

• Meals will also be provided at Aram Public Library in Delavan on Tuesdays: June 14, June 21, June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19 from noon to 1 p.m.

Meals are provided to eligible children regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability and there will be no discrimination in the course of meal service.

“This program fills a void created when school lunches are not available,” said Tina Hudy, Delavan-Darien Child Nutrition Director. “Helping parents meet the nutritional needs of their children is the strength of this program.”

Non-discrimination Statement: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Wisconsin RtI Center (Response to Intervention) recognized each school in this year’s round of RtI awards, which focus on how well schools implement the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) behavior education system.

Delavan-Darien High School, Phoenix Middle School, Turtle Creek Elementary School and Wileman Elementary School earned School of Merit awards, while Darien Elementary received a higher School of Distinction award.

“The Darien staff has worked extremely hard the last few years establishing and reinforcing positive expectations for each of the areas of the school,” Principal Kelly Pickel said.

Pickel cited working with the bus company to establish and reinforce expectations on the bus, which has helped reduce the number of behavior referrals there. Also, the Peaceful Playgrounds project greatly reduced the number of referrals on the playground by providing more opportunities for activities.

Pickel said the school’s PBIS leadership team meets regularly to review data and make adjustments and determine focus areas where improvement is necessary based on behavioral data.

“The students have been learning and practicing our behavioral expectations and are rewarded frequently for their positive choices,” Pickel said. “We are blessed with the commitment of the leadership team, the dedication the staff has given to PBIS, support from the parents, and the students’ diligence in following the expectations.”

At the school and throughout the district, PBIS is known as “The Comet Code.” The code is the set of rules and expectations for all students in all areas of our buildings and campuses. It calls for everyone to “Be Respectful,” “Be Responsible,” “Be Safe” and “Be a Learner” at all times.

PBIS is a proactive approach that establishes safer and more effective schools not only in Delavan-Darien, but throughout the country.

Darien was one of 162 recognized as a School of Distinction by the Wisconsin RtI Center.

There were 222 schools statewide recognized as Schools of Merit, with DDHS, Phoenix, Turtle Creek and Wileman among them.

To have an entire district recognized is quite an accomplishment, said Superintendent Robert Crist, Ed.D.

“These awards are the result of not just one person or a handful of staffers, but all staff contributed to this achievement,” Crist said. “We have worked diligently for the last four-plus years, implementing this proven system in our schools. We have seen positive results each year since we began and these awards recognize the hard work of our building teams. I am very proud we have received these honors.”

Turtle Creek received a Merit award last year and Phoenix in the 2012-13 school year.

Delavan-Darien High School first piloted PBIS and The Comet Code in the 2010-11 school year. The program has since grown to all five of the district’s schools.

As a result of The Comet Code being in all Delavan-Darien schools, the district has seen improved student behaviors and reduced office visits, said Dr. Sara Halberg, Delavan-Darien’s director of pupil services.

Staff frequently reviews student data and identify behavior concerns and areas where re-teaching is needed. School counselors and psychologists are involved in developing behavior plans for students who are more frequently in the office.

Schools often use a pre-determined calendar of teaching expectations and behaviors so that, virtually daily, students and staff were “on the same page” in learning about different expectations at the school. Also, the language is consistent across all schools so as students get older and progress through the buildings, there is familiarity with behavioral expectations. Teachers, too, have a common understanding of school-wide expectations.

By in large, students have also bought into the Comet Cash reward system. When students are “caught” doing something positive, they were rewarded with Comet Cash, which could be used to buy items (posters, gift cards, pencils, etc.), or special privileges such as having lunch with a teacher, reading to another classroom or having special show-and-tell days. The Comet Cash can also be used in drawings for bigger raffle prizes in the middle and high school.

“As a result of the staff’s commitment and dedication to enforcing the Comet Code, we witnessed our behavioral referrals and discipline consequences reduce from 2014-15 to 2015-16,” said Phoenix Middle School Associate Principal Jim Karedes, who will be principal at DDHS in the fall. “We continue to make changes to best meet the needs of our building and students.”

In addition to behavior improvements, the district has seen some improvements in attendance rates over the years. The school cultures have improved and teachers are more receptive to acknowledging and encouraging both good academics and good behavior. Beyond that, parent involvement in school activities has also increased.

For more about the award and its requirements for consideration, visit the Wisconsin RtI Center website:

The Delavan-Darien School District, St. Andrew’s Catholic Grade School, Delavan Christian School, and Our Redeemer Lutheran School announced its policy for children unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, or milk served under the Special Milk Program.

Household size and income criteria determine eligibility. Children from families whose annual income is at or below the established levels are eligible for free and reduced price meals or free milk if a split-session student does not have access to the school lunch or breakfast service.

Income Eligibility Table

To apply for free or reduced price meals or free milk, households must fill out the application available through the Infinite Campus portal. Hard-copy applications also are available on the district website https://www.ddschools.org/lunch-menus/ and in school and district offices. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size changes and the household income falls at or below the levels shown above, the family should contact the school. Such changes may make households eligible for reduced price meals or free meals or milk, and they may reapply at that time.

In certain cases, foster children are also eligible for these benefits. If a household has foster children and wishes to apply for free or reduced price meals, the household should complete an application for a family of one or contact the school for more information.

The information provided by the household on the application is confidential. Under this program, no child will be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, national origin, age or disability.

The Delavan-Darien School District is an equal opportunity provider. For more information, contact Kathy Adams, administrative assistant to the pupil services director, at (262) 728-2642.

The Delavan-Darien School District is hosting a School Supply Drive to stock the shelves of the Comet Care Center!

Donated supplies will help out students and families in financial need. Each year, the need is great!

Donated items can be brought to the Phoenix Middle School main office at anytime the school is open (before the school year starts and even throughout the school year). Supplies will be sorted and distributed by staff so students of all ages can start off the school year on the right foot!

Needed items include backpacks, pens, No. 2 pencils, loose-leaf paper, notebooks, binders, highlighters, crayons, markers, etc.

The Comet Care Centers also accept donations of personal hygiene products (shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), gently-used kids clothing (especially socks and undergarments), winter clothing, games, and alarm clocks. Gift cards can also be donated and staff will buy supplies on an as-needed basis.

For more information contact:

Steve Gross, Phoenix Middle School Counselor
728-2642 ext. 4220
sgross@ddschools.org

Click to enlarge.

You’re invited! 

Open Houses for the 2016-17 school year are scheduled for: Wednesday, Aug. 31, for all schools: 

*Wileman Elementary: 3:30 p.m. to  5:30 p.m.;
*Turtle Creek Elementary: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.;
*Darien Elementary: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
Phoenix Middle School: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
DDHS: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

* NOTE: All elementary aged students, preschool through grade 5, who have a special educational need or an IEP can come to their school’s open house one hour prior to the regular start time to meet with their teachers, tour the building and bring in school supplies. 

Each school will be open for tours and staff will be on hand to meet with students and families.

This is a great opportunity to become familiar with our school buildings. Students can bring along their school supplies to fill their lockers and desks and be prepared for the first day of school!

Be There

Help develop creative solutions for your child’s school!

The Delavan-Darien School District is inviting any parents to participate in improving our five schools by learning about and contributing to our School Improvement Plans!

The sessions are expected to last about one hour each, and all meetings will be held at Phoenix Middle School (414 Beloit St., Delavan). Your input will be valuable as we look to improve the educational outcomes of all our students. Please consider coming to be a part of these important feedback sessions!

ELEMENTARY

The district’s three elementary schools join together to present their School Improvement Plans for each school on Thursday, August 25, at 5:30 p.m. in the Phoenix Middle School cafeteria.  All families are welcome and encouraged to attend to hear and give feedback on school goals. Help us reach new heights as we venture into our new “center school” learning model, where students are given more choices by being together with their classmates from throughout the entire district!

PHOENIX MIDDLE SCHOOL

Would you like  to know the Phoenix Middle School plan for improving the education your child receives our school? Would you like to share ideas on how Phoenix can better meet the needs of your adolescent student? Please join us for an information session and ice cream social on Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the school library. We look forward to serving you and hearing about your thoughts and ideas!

DELAVAN-DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL

DDHS remains focused on improving our students’ reading and mathematical skills and closing the achievement gap between groups of students (race, economic status, etc.).  To hear more about this and share your concerns, please join us on Friday, August 19, from 5 until 6 p.m. in the Phoenix Middle School cafeteria.  Meeting attendees will receive a free ticket to the season’s first varsity football game, which starts shortly after the meeting. Come and help improve our school, then cheer on the Comets as they take on visiting Lodi at Borg Memorial Stadium.  This is the team’s Parent’s Night event, so it will be a great evening for networking, socializing and getting involved in your child’s education!  If you work up an appetite at the meeting, don’t worry. Tailgating starts at 6 p.m. by the stadium entrance.

At the Delavan-Darien School District’s back-to-school convocation the morning of Monday, Aug. 29, seven staffers were recognized who have a combined 160 years of service to our the local schools.

They are:

• 20 years — Kelly Pickel, Brenda Scheff, Keith Vollman and Paul Yanko.
• 25 years — Tina Paschke and Maria Ramos-Speth.
• 30 years — Tina Hudy.

Staff who reached their 20-year service anniversary were given a Comet blanket or stadium seat. Those with 25 years here were given a watch with the Delavan-Darien logo on it. Our 30-year veteran was given a commemorative Delavan-Darien “class ring.”

Here is more information about each staffer who have contributed so much for so long to our district and our community’s children:

20 Years

Kelly Pickel started out teaching physical education and health and ended up in administration. Kelly started her career here in 1996, working as a PE and health teacher at DDHS. She also coached tennis at the time. A year later, she found herself among the elementary kids and there she’d stay, teaching physical education to our early grades at Turtle Creek. In 2008 she got a split role as teacher and Dean of Students at the school, which morphed into an Assistant Principal role in 2009. In 2013, she became the school’s Principal. She is now our longest tenured Delavan-Darien principal in all our buildings, overseeing our 4^th and 5^th grade students and staff at Darien Elementary. Kelly, thanks for moving up the career ladder with us for 20 years.

Brenda Scheff was with Delavan-Darien for a couple of years as a long-term sub before being hired on full time in 1996. She was a long-time first-grade teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School. She came highly recommended from her peers when she looked at becoming a reading specialist in 2009, a position she still holds today. “As a reading teacher, I find that Brenda has a high level of skill and is always easy to collaborate with. Her first concern is for the students in her classroom,” one of her colleagues wrote when she applied for the reading specialist opening. We agree. Brenda, thank you for putting our students first for 20 years.

Keith Vollman was a substitute custodian for Delavan-Darien for a few of years before being hired on in 1996. He’s a DDHS graduate and worked as a machinist before joining the staff ranks. He’s been stationed at a number of Delavan-Darien’s school buildings, including Darien, Phoenix and DDHS, and has worked both day and night shifts, keeping our schools clean and tidy. Thank you, Keith, for your 20 years of excellent work in keeping our buildings appropriate places for children to learn.

Paul Yanko started with us in 1996, working as both a heath teacher at Phoenix and a Physical Education teacher at Darien. Then, in 1998, he got the itch to do something few of us would ever want… take up an office in perhaps the worst-smelling place in all of our buildings — the Phoenix Middle School boys locker room. He became the school’s male gym teacher and still holds that position today, along with teaching health. He has also been a coach for Delavan-Darien athletes pretty much since the day he got here. His focus has been instructing baseball, but he also coached football and basketball at DDHS and Phoenix. Kudos to you, Paul, on sticking with us and being around adolescent sweat and odors for 20 years! 

25 Years

Tina Paschke fell in love with our district way back in 1991 when she was a student teacher at Wileman Elementary School. She’s been employed here ever since. Way back then, former Wileman Principal Gene Schmig wrote in a letter of recommendation that Tina — quote — “Is capable of establishing a pleasant, educational atmosphere for students.” Mr. Schmig was right. We’re glad she’s kept her pleasant personality and excellent teaching abilities with us for a quarter century. She started teaching fifth grade at Darien and then at Turtle Creek before teaching first and later second graders there for a number of years. She became an elementary reading instructor in 2010, a position she still holds today for us, and for more than 15 years was a gifted and talented program coordinator at the elementary level. Thanks for your 25 years of great service, Tina.

For 25 years, Maria Ramos-Speth has been an ELL instructor for the district, starting first at Phoenix Middle School before coming over to DDHS in 1992. In addition to helping many ELL students learn and master the English language, she taught many physical skills to our kids, as well. She was a head girls basketball coach at Phoenix for more than 20 years, and has also been a volleyball and softball coach at DDHS. She has also been the ELL department chair and has instituted a number of innovative programs to help celebrate the diversity of our students, including a Cinco de Mayo festival at DDHS and partnering with student groups at UW Whitewater to work on preparing our Latina and Latino students for life after high school. Also, she’s a mom of some tremendous female athletes. Her daughters were key parts of a DDHS softball team that got us second place this past school year and the school’s first ever trip to state for a girls team sport. Thank you Maria for supporting our schools for 25 years.

30 Years

Tina Hudy started with the Delavan-Darien School District in the summer of 1986. She was the Food Service Supervisor then and still is today. For 30 years, Tina has kept our community’s children well fed with a variety of delicious food choices. She has kept up-to-date with the multiple changes in federal food service laws, adjusting her menus to what we’re required to provide our children. There were once soda and shake machines, and a food pyramid. Now we have a “my plate” guide and serve hot and healthy breakfast every day, something we didn’t always have to do. We went from lunch tickets to online lunch payments and swipe cards for the kids. A lot has changed in 30 years and we’re glad to have had Tina here for so long, keeping up with the technology and kitchen trends, while looking over our kitchen staff and what goes in our kids’ bellies. Thanks for 30 years of great work and great food service.

Check out our 2015-16 Year In Review video, showing you just some of the many highlights from an incredibly successful school year!
Enjoy!