Head of School Updates

It has been so nice reconnecting with our students, meeting new student leaders, and welcoming families over the past week as we opened our doors for community events and the first days of school. I do have to say that this year has felt a little different for me as my daughter is now officially a proud Kindergarten Seahawk!

Most importantly, the positive energy has been contagious, and witnessing our community come together around our shared mission to create a supportive school environment with accelerated learning opportunities that prepare students to explore, experience, and excel has been powerful, to say the least. Thank you to all of our families for your patience and understanding as we establish routines for bus hubs, drop-off and pick-up, breakfast, and lunch.

We are grateful for your partnership and excited for another great year together!

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year, Seahawks!

At Sussex Academy, we love to showcase our students for their accomplishments both in and out of the classroom on our social media pages. If you’d like your child to be featured, please send photos and news tips to Ellen Driscoll at ellen.driscoll@saas.k12.de.us.

Keep up with Sussex Academy happenings by following us on Facebook and Instagram and check our website for the most recent news.

Have a great year!

Please make sure to set up and access your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account! If you have not yet created an account, you will find a daily reminder email sitting at the top of your inbox - simply open that email and follow the provided instructions to get set up.

Once logged in, you can conveniently submit absence notes and check your child's assigned bus number and hub location.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

On September 8, we recognize 988 Day. Call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org, anytime for compassionate, judgment-free support. You do not have to be in crisis—your reason is enough.

Help us spread hope by sharing a message of HOPE on social media using #988Day and #WeAreSeahawks, and tag @sussexacademyseahawks. Together, we can remind others that no one is alone.

School Activities

Elementary School: Starting next week, our elementary school counselor will begin her twice-monthly classroom counseling lessons! Throughout September, students will review the role of a school counselor, including reasons they might want to visit the counselor and what to do when they need help or support. We will also focus on important school success skills, such as listening carefully, following directions, making good choices, and being ready to learn. These lessons will help students feel comfortable seeking support while building the skills they need to thrive at school!

Middle School: The school counselor will provide an age-appropriate presentation to middle school students focused on suicide awareness and prevention. Topics will include healthy and unhealthy coping skills, reaching out to trusted adults, supporting a struggling friend, and strategies for seeking help.If you do not wish for your child to participate, please contact Mrs. Nikki Kaczmarczyk at nikki.kaczmarczyk@saas.k12.de.u

High School: Students are participating in activities around our monthly focus, “Sense of Belonging,” as well as learning coping strategies to manage challenging emotions, reduce stress, and ways to seek help.

Just a reminder that breakfast is free for all students! Lunch is also available daily with no advance ordering required. Families can log in or create an account through the SchoolCafe Family Hub to easily manage school meals. Through your portal, you can apply for free or reduced-price lunch and conveniently add funds to your child's meal account.

Remember: Lunch is $4.75 and our snacks are $1.00

As part of our continued commitment to student safety and security, photo identification will be required when picking up a student early from school. Our office staff will verify identification before releasing a student to an authorized individual. Thank you for your understanding and partnership as we work together to keep all students safe.

The Sports Boosters are excited to announce that Seahawks blankets are here for the season!

You will fall in love with these super soft, heavy weight, oversized 60x80 blankets. They are perfect for game nights, holiday gifts, and staying warm at home. Every blanket sold supports our Sports Boosters general fund to provide scholarship opportunities for a male and female senior athlete. This is a limited time sale, so grab yours today. Orders will arrive at the end of September. GO SEAHAWKS!

https://spectatorsport.com/c/sussex-academy-seahawks-1

Below is the standard fee schedule for school-issued Chromebook repairs and replacements:

• Full Chromebook Replacement: $372.97

• Screen Repair: $20.00

• Keyboard Replacement: $30.00

• Charger Replacement: $30.00 (Families may also purchase a compatible equivalent independently)

• Hinge Repair (if fixable): $15.00

Warranty & Major Repairs All Chromebooks include a 1-year manufacturer warranty from issuance. Issues involving internal components, such as motherboard failures, will be sent to Dell for repair at no cost to your family. Please note that if Dell determines a device cannot be repaired due to non-warranty damage, a full replacement fee will apply.

💙💜 Welcome Back, Elementary Families!

It has been a wonderful start to the new school year at Sussex Academy Elementary School! Our hallways and classrooms are once again filled with the energy, excitement, and smiling faces of our Seahawks. We have loved seeing our students reconnect with friends, meet their teachers, and settle into their new routines. We are excited for all that lies ahead and look forward to a year filled with learning, growth, connection, and memorable experiences together!

Ms. Jen Piper has accepted the position of Main Office Secretary at Sussex Academy Elementary School. She joins the elementary team from Sussex Academy’s secondary campus, where she has served as a paraprofessional at both the middle and high school levels. Jen’s connection to the district also extends to her family, as her three children attend the district’s middle and high schools. Before joining Sussex Academy, she worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist in several healthcare systems.

Jen’s strong organizational skills, professionalism, and dedication to the Sussex Academy community will make her an outstanding addition to the elementary school team. Please welcome Ms. Piper to our elementary campus the next time you stop by!

The elementary school day runs from 8:15 a.m.–3:10 p.m., with morning drop-off beginning at 8:00 a.m.

During arrival and dismissal, families should pull up to the front entrance and remain in their vehicles. During morning drop-off, please wait until a staff member is present before allowing your child to exit the vehicle. At dismissal, please have your numbered dismissal tag clearly visible so our staff can quickly identify your child and keep the line moving safely and efficiently.

Please remember: Any changes to your child’s dismissal plans for the day must be communicated to both the Elementary Front Office and your child’s teacher by 12:00 p.m. This helps us ensure that every student gets to the correct location safely at the end of the day.

We are excited to offer Before School Care! Care will be available each school day from 7:15–8:05 a.m. in the Elementary Library.

The cost is $3 per student, per day, and there is no need to register or schedule in advance. Before-school care families will receive an invoice after each month of service; for example, any days used during September will be invoiced during the first week of October. Families are welcome to simply drop in on the mornings they need care. We are happy to provide this additional support and flexibility for our elementary families!

1. Fuel Our Teachers: Week 2 Meal Drive

Help us show our appreciation for our incredible teachers and staff after their first full week back! We're providing one catered breakfast and one catered lunch during the week of September 9th–13th to keep everyone energized and supported.

What We’re Providing:

• Teacher Breakfast: Coffee, pastries, and fresh fruit

• Teacher Lunch: Sandwiches, salads, and pizza

How You Can Help!?

All donations directly fund these delicious, nutritious meals for our staff.

Venmo: [Rebecca-Timmons-20] (Note: Fuel Our Teachers)

Cash: Drop off in a marked envelope at the Front Office by Friday, September 6th.

2. Stock the Teacher Lounge

Keep our teachers energized all month long by dropping off non-perishable snacks and drinks!

What We Need: Individual chip bags, popcorn, granola/protein bars, cookies, sparkling water multipacks, K-cups, herbal teas, and single-serve drinks.

Where to Drop Off: Bring items straight to the Front Desk.

3. Quick Parent Volunteer Zoom Meeting

Have great ideas or want to learn more about upcoming initiatives? Join our quick virtual meeting!

When: Thursday, September 24th @ 7:00 PM

Access: The Zoom link will be sent out in the weekly Head of School Update on Wednesday.

Thank you for your generosity and time—together WE build a stronger school community! 🌟

We are excited to have our Seahawks back and officially kick off the 2026–2027 school year! It has been wonderful to see our hallways and classrooms filled with students again as we begin a year of new opportunities, new experiences, and continued growth.

This year, we want every student to remember that leadership is a choice; it shows in how we take ownership of our actions, treat others, work through challenges, and make the most of the opportunities in front of us.

We encourage our Seahawks to Be Proactive, build positive relationships, set goals, and look for ways to make a difference in our school community.

Capture all the memories from this school year with a Sussex Academy Middle School Yearbook! 💜

Yearbooks are currently $37.00 when ordered by October 2, 2026.

Families can order through Jostens using the information on the flyer. Students and families can also share photos from throughout the year for possible inclusion in the yearbook. Don’t miss out on the memories — order yours early!

Just a reminder that all 8th grade students receive a yearbook at no cost to families. During this transition year, all students receive a yearbook from school activity fees.

Picture Day is coming up! Sussex Academy Middle School students will have their school pictures taken on Tuesday, September 8.

Please remember:

• 👕 Wear Sussex Academy uniform

• 📅 Picture Day: September 8, 2026

• 🔄 Retake Day: November 10, 2026

• 📷 Event Code: FE380226

We look forward to seeing our Seahawks smile for the camera! 💜📸

Welcome back, SA families! We are excited to begin another school year filled with learning, growth, and opportunities for our students. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to a wonderful year together!

Families can order through Jostens using the information on the flyer. Be sure to select “High School Yearbook” during the ordering process.

📸 Please note: The school will purchase a yearbook for every senior. Families of seniors do not need to place an order.

For students in grades 9–11, yearbooks are $60 through October 24 and $70 from October 25 through November 14. Don’t miss out on the memories—order early!

Dear Families of Seniors,

Throughout the fall, seniors will receive information and individualized support as they navigate college applications, career planning, and other postsecondary opportunities. Please review the important dates, expectations, and reminders below.

FALL COLLEGE & CAREER MEETINGS

On Thursday, September 3, our college/career advisor Mrs. Erin Bobby began meeting with all seniors. Each senior will have a group meeting and a one-on-one meeting.

Group Meetings

Students can find their assigned group meeting time and location on the first tab of this schedule.

• These meetings will provide students with important information and next steps for the fall college and career planning process.

• Each meeting will last one full class period.

• Students enrolled in English during the first trimester will attend during their English class.

• Students who do not have English during the first trimester – or who take AC English – will be scheduled during another class period.

• Students should contact Mrs. Bobby as soon as possible if there is a conflict with their assigned meeting time.

Individual Meetings

Students can find their 15-minute individual meeting time and location on the second tab of the same schedule. During this meeting, Mrs. Bobby will speak with each student about their individual goals, needs, and next steps. Students should check in with their classroom teacher for attendance before reporting to the meeting and contact me promptly if they have a scheduling conflict.

COLLEGE APPLICATION REMINDERS

Please encourage your student to complete the following tasks as soon as possible:

• College Letter of Recommendation Form: Students should have completed the College Letter of Recommendation Form and shared it with their two teacher recommenders and erin.bobby@sussexacademy.org

• Common App and Naviance: Students applying to college should create or begin working on their Common App account and connect it to Naviance. They should also request teacher recommendations through Naviance and complete the FERPA waiver. This step-by-step guide explains the process. Students who cannot access Naviance should email me.

COLLEGE VISITS AT SUSSEX ACADEMY

Throughout the fall, representatives from colleges and universities will host 30-minute information sessions at Sussex Academy. Seniors may miss class to attend these sessions.

To view upcoming visits and register, students should:

1. Log in to Naviance.

2. Select Colleges.

3. Under Research Colleges, select College Visits.

4. Click Register Now beside any school they are interested in learning about.

5. Record the visit’s date and time in their planner.

6. Notify their teacher at least one day in advance.

7. Check in with their teacher on the day of the visit for attendance and information about missed instruction or assignments.

New visits are added throughout the fall, so students should check Naviance regularly.

STAND BY ME FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION SESSION: PAYING FOR COLLEGE

On Monday, October 5th at 7pm (in Room 102), the Stand By Me Organization will host a Paying for College Workshop geared toward Parents/Guardians and their senior students. This presentation provides an overview of the many options available to families to pay for college. The goal is to inform students and parents about government grants, scholarships, loans, FAFSA application procedures, and additional services and programs provided by Stand by Me. A registration link will be provided when it is made available.

LAUNCH INTO YOUR FUTURE WEEK: OCTOBER 26–30

Launch Into Your Future Week will take place October 26–30 in the library. During the week, students will have opportunities to sign out of class to work on college and career-related tasks and attend special information sessions. Additional details and sign-out instructions will be shared in October.

COMMUNICATION

For individual questions or concerns, I ask that students communicate with me by email rather than through Schoology Messenger. I can be reached at erin.bobby@sussexacademy.org.

Thank you for helping your senior remain attentive to deadlines and take full advantage of the support and opportunities available this fall!

Click on the links below for more information on auditions and ensemble group sign-ups:

SIX: Teen Edition Audition information

High School Band information

High School Jazz Band information

High School Choir information

Tuesday, September 8th - Click here for more details!

Senior photos are now available to view. Please use the login information below to access your photos.

View and order at: https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

School Name: SUSSEX ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL

Event Code: FE383126

Student Identifier: Infinite Campus Student ID Number