12 años en Delaware • 1996 - 2008 • 12 years in Delaware

Congressman Mike Castle Visits North Georgetown

On April 21, Congressman Mike Castle came to North Georgetown Elementary School (NG) to learn about the impact Communities in Schools (CIS) has had this school year. CIS Site Director Wanda Rider coordinates the delivery of community resources and brings them directly into the schools. For example, this year all NG fifth grade students have been learning about financial literacy through the Junior Achievement curriculum. CIS has coordinated this and is funding a field trip to Biztown in Wilmington, where fifth graders will learn even more about careers in an interactive setting.

Communities in Schools is a national dropout prevention organization that believes dropping out of school is not a single a event, but a series of events that begins as early as kindergarten. CIS works directly with families to provide them with case management services to tackle the risk factors and reduce the student dropout rate. There are a total of nine CIS sites in the State of Delaware.

At North Georgetown, CIS provides interpretation and translation services to our Spanish speaking parents, brings resources into the school by building partnerships with community organizations, and provides resource development through grants, business partnerships and in-kind donations. This year CIS has been a awarded a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant by partnering with La Esperanza, First State Community Action (La Casita), Georgetown Middle School, Georgetown Elementary and Del Tech. New upcoming partnerships include Parents as Teachers, a national program that teaches parents how to prepare their children for school and Kids on Campus, a program at Del Tech which donated a scholarship for the winner of a CIS short essay contest related to our upcoming Spring into Summer Reading program.

If you are an organization, business or sponsor and would like more information on how you can have an impact on the dropout crisis by partnering with CIS, please contact Wanda Rider at 855-2430 or visit her at North Georgetown Elementary School.

Spanish version

Social studies teacher Angela Gonzon (l) explained what she’s been doing with fifth grade students to help them learn about careers through the Junior Achievement curriculum. Standing to the right of Congressman Castle are CIS Site Director Wanda Rider, La Casita Program Coordinator Joe McCarron and CIS Board of Directors Chairperson Enid D. Wallace-Simms.

North Georgetown was pleased to have Superintendent Susan Bunting join in on the classroom visits and the discussion afterward as to the role of CIS at North Georgetown this year. CIS is a new program at North Georgetown that helps bring the communities and schools closer together. Dr. Bunting is pictured with Congressman Castle and Principal Jim Hudson.

Congressman Mike Castle is pictured with CIS Site Director Wanda Rider (l) and CIS Board of Directors Chairperson Enid D. Wallace-Simms (r).

Submitted by Cathy Showell, North Georgetown Elementary