Head of School Updates

On Friday, we had the privilege of welcoming Governor Matt Meyer and Senator Brian Pettyjohn to campus for a bill signing. The event brought together students, teachers, and community leaders to witness what can be achieved when leaders unite around a shared mission of putting student safety first. It was a memorable moment for our High School Student Government Association leaders, who especially enjoyed the opportunity to meet the Governor and other legislative leaders as they learned about the unanimously approved bills that were signed into law.

We were also proud to announce that Ms. Iliana Gonzalez has been named the Delaware Charter School Network’s Educational Support Professional of the Year! This tremendous honor is a well-deserved recognition of Ms. Gonzalez’s dedication and she will now advance to compete at the state level. Congratulations, Ms. Iliana!

Just a reminder that Sussex Academy’s school policy requires each student to pay an activity fee, which supports student programs. The fees are:

• $185 for Elementary
• $205 for Middle School
• $225 for High School.

Families who may qualify for a reduced or waived fee must complete a meal benefit application each school year; forms are available in English and Spanish on our website or in the office and may be returned to the main office.

We’re excited to welcome prospective families to our upcoming Choice Nights on Oct. 22 on the Elementary Campus and Oct. 29 on the Secondary Campus!

While we’re advertising in newspapers across Sussex County, we need your help too. Please spread the word with friends, neighbors, and colleagues—your voice makes the biggest impact!

We are also looking for parents to serve as Parent Ambassadors during our upcoming Choice Nights. Ambassadors will help welcome prospective families, give tours, and share what makes Sussex Academy so special. If you’re interested, please contact our Deans, Connie Hendricks (Elementary), Rachael Johnston (Middle School) or Lauren Hvorecny (High School).

Our Inclement Weather Plan has two phases, depending on the length of the weather event:

• Day 1 of a Weather Event: This day will be treated as a traditional weather closure. Schools will be closed, and there will be no expectation for staff or students to report to the building or engage in any learning activities.

• Day 2 and Beyond: If a weather event requires a second day (or more) of school closure, we will transition to our remote learning plan utilizing asynchronous learning.

Please note, after the third inclement weather event, all subsequent school closings will transition to Remote Learning for students.

Asynchronous Remote Learning Details

If we transition to remote learning on Day 2 and subsequent days, please note the following parameters for asynchronous learning:

1. No live classes will be held.

2. All teachers will post or communicate the day’s assignments and learning activities for students to complete.

3. Student submission of the assigned work will be used to document their attendance for the day. It is essential that students complete and submit the assignments to be marked present.

What You Need to Know

This hybrid approach allows us to use the first day to manage logistics and ensure the safety of our community, while utilizing subsequent days to keep students on track with their learning. We encourage you to ensure your student knows how to access their class assignments remotely and is familiar with the platform their teacher uses for communication and submissions.

As always, we will communicate any weather-related closures or transitions to virtual learning as quickly as possible through our standard communication channels (e.g., media channels, social media, school messenger and/or phone calls). If you have any questions, please contact the main office.

Keep up to date with school and student happenings by following us on Facebook and Instagram, and continue to check our website for our most recent news releases.

Share the news about your child’s accomplishments by contacting Ellen Driscoll at ellen.driscoll@saas.k12.de.us.

October 17th - Spirit Day: Wear School Colors! Show your School Pride!

October 22nd - Unity Day: Wear Orange or a Unity shirt

October 31st - Assembly at 1:30 PM / Community Hero Parade at 2:30 PM: This year, we're doing something a little different for Halloween: we're focusing on heroes! Students are encouraged to dress as community or fictional heroes and will have a chance to meet and thank first responders at school as part of a special event on October 31.

November 11th - Veterans’ Day: No School

November 17th - Picture make-up/retake day: School Pictures are coming home today (10/15). If you would like your child to have a retake, please send the pictures back to school as a complete package.

Thank you so much to all the parents who have signed up to volunteer! Your support is invaluable. We're excited to have three Parent Leads who will be meeting soon to discuss the upcoming school year and to brainstorm meaningful activities that will enhance our students' school experience.

We'll be in touch with ways for everyone to get involved. However, we still need a parent lead for a specific, very important project: the renovation of our outdoor animal shed and chicken coop! If you have an interest in or experience with construction, carpentry, or simply coordinating a project, your willingness to pitch in would make a huge difference in creating a safer and cleaner environment for our animals.

Please contact Connie Hendricks at connie.hendricks@saas.k12.de.us if you are interested in leading this project.

Students who are enrolled in a AP course trimester 1 MUST register for the exam no later than October 31. Find the exam schedule and registration form HERE

PLEASE NOTE - If you pay online, the registration form still needs to be completed.

Contact Mrs. Owens with any questions or concerns: janet.owens@saas.k12.de.us

Recognize your student’s milestones and successes with an ad in the yearbook. Create and purchase the ad by 11/30/25. Click here for information and to purchase. If you have questions, please reach out to Lisa.Carey @saas.k12.de.us.

We are excited to welcome Lisa Carey to our team! Ms. Carey will be leading the Yearbook, Personal Finance, and Photography courses at Sussex Academy. With 18 years of teaching experience, she has worked with students from preschool through high school, across both special education and general education. She is excited to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to the Sussex Academy family!

It’s been an exciting Spirit Week full of school pride and creativity! Students have been showing off their spirit through hall decorating, costume theme days, and lunchtime games, and bringing extra energy to our campus. We’re continuing the week with some great events—come out and show your Seahawk pride at the following home celebrations!

• Annual Football Game between the Juniors and the Seniors- Tonight at 7:00 PM

• Field hockey - Thursday at 5:30PM

• Volleyball - Friday at 4:00PM

• Boys soccer - Friday at 7:00 PM

We’ll finish the week in style at the Homecoming Dance on Saturday from 7:00–10:00 PM. Let’s show our Seahawk pride and make it a week to remember!