Head of School Updates

The positive energy and enthusiasm across our campuses continued this week as we welcomed families for Back-to-School Night at the secondary level!

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to join us to learn more about the curriculum, expectations, and opportunities that will shape the year ahead. Your presence and partnership make a huge difference in the educational experience we provide for our students. I am looking forward to continuing that momentum tomorrow night as we welcome our Elementary families for Back-to-School Night from 5:30–7:30 PM.

Thank you for showing up, staying engaged, and helping us kick off another great year at Sussex Academy!

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. The 2026 theme, “Unidos, Somos Más” (“Together, We Are More”), highlights the strength, connection, and collaboration found across diverse Hispanic and Latino cultures. Families are invited to learn about and experience these rich cultures through events and activities across Delaware, at home, and in their communities. Broadening our understanding of different cultures enriches our perspectives and helps build a stronger, more connected community.

Check out some activities happening this month:

Festival Hispano 2026- Georgetown

9th Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival- Wilmington

Fiesta Books! Bilingual Children’s Literacy Festival

Now that our school year has started and parents have their Parent Portal Accounts in Infinite Campus, we ask that all returning families complete our Annual Student Information Update that is now activated through the Campus Parent Portal.

When you log into your portal account, you will be prompted to complete this required update before accessing student schedules, or attendance. During this quick verification process, you will be asked to:

• Review & Update Information: Confirm or update your contact details and emergency contacts and medical information.

• Review Policies & Sign Acknowledgments: Read and digitally agree to the Student Handbook and the Technology Acceptable Use Policy.

• Complete Permissions: Provide your preference (approve or disapprove) for your child's Media Release form.

Please complete this verification at your earliest convenience to ensure seamless access to your portal account. Thank you for your prompt attention and ongoing partnership!

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to remind our school community that mental health is part of overall health and that seeking help is a sign of strength. Families can support one another by recognizing concerns, responding with care, connecting with trusted adults or counselors, and staying connected. Anyone experiencing emotional distress can call or text 988 or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for confidential support 24/7. No judgment, just help.

We’d like to keep in touch with our alumni so we can celebrate their successes after graduation and keep them apprised of all the news and events happening at their alma mater. Please share this sign up form with your Sussex Academy graduate so we can stay connected!

https://forms.gle/rrtURj2Pi8jGzX3aA

Thank you to all the parents who have shared news about their children so that we can recognize them on our social media pages! If you would like your child’s accomplishments to be profiled, please contact Ellen Driscoll at ellen.driscoll@saas.k12.de.us.

Remember to 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.

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

💙💜 Learning Is Underway at Sussex Academy Elementary!

Our Seahawks are settling into their daily routines, building strong classroom communities, and diving into learning across our elementary school! It has been exciting to see students engaging with our curriculum, developing new skills, and growing as learners each day. Families will have an opportunity to learn more about what students will be learning this year and how they can support learning at home during Back-to-School Night this Thursday!

We look forward to welcoming our elementary families to Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 17, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Families should begin the evening in the gymnasium for a brief presentation about Sussex Academy Elementary. Following the presentation, parents and guardians are welcome to visit their child’s classroom, where teachers will share more about classroom routines, expectations, curriculum, key learning priorities, and what families can look forward to throughout the school year. Children are welcome to stay in the gymnasium with our staff if needed.

We are excited to announce that Sussex Academy Elementary students will soon have regular access to the Sussex County Mobile Library Bookmobile! This is a wonderful opportunity to get more books into the hands of our students and encourage a love of reading both at school and at home. Our first Bookmobile visit will be September 29!

The Bookmobile will return to our elementary campus every three weeks, giving students the opportunity to return previously borrowed books and check out new ones throughout the school year.

What Families Need to Do:

To participate, students will need a Sussex County Library card.

• If your child already has a library card: Please send the library card or a copy of the card to school with your child.

• If your child does not have a library card: Please complete the Sussex County Library Card Application and return it to school before our first visit.

Through this partnership, we hope to make accessing great books even easier for our Seahawks and continue building a strong culture of reading across our elementary school. We can’t wait to see our students choosing books, discovering new interests, and getting excited about reading!

Exciting things are happening with our Sussex Academy Elementary Schoolers! Students in grades 2–5 have the opportunity to participate in this year’s production of The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, either on stage or as part of the tech crew. Audition and tech crew forms are due Monday, September 21, so be sure to return your forms by the deadline. We can’t wait to see our young Seahawks bring the magic of Oz to life!

Calling all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade girls! Registration is open for the upcoming Girls on the Run season. This fun and empowering program helps girls build confidence, strengthen friendships, and develop healthy habits while staying active.

Program Details:

• Season Begins: Tuesday, September 29

• Team Practices: Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3:15–4:45 p.m.

• Season Length: Eight weeks (16 lessons)

• Celebratory 5K: Sunday, November 22, in Dover

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If your child is interested in participating, please visit the Girls on the Run website for registration information and program details. If you have questions, please contact Juliane Hein at juliane.hein@saas.k12.de.us or 302-856-3300.

Capture all the special memories from the 2026–2027 school year! Elementary yearbooks are now on sale for $33.00 when ordered by October 9, 2026. Don’t miss out on the memories—order yours early!

5th Grade Families: As a reminder, all 5th grade students will receive a yearbook at no cost to families. During this transition year, school activity fees will cover the cost of a yearbook for every 5th grade student, so 5th grade families do not need to purchase a yearbook.

Calling all middle school students who are interested in Odyssey of the Mind …

If you like creative problem solving and team work, have a special talent or love to think outside the box then you may just fall in love with Odyssey of the Mind!

All students interested in participating on an OM team for SAAS are required to attend this meeting, set for Tuesday, Sept. 22 in the secondary library from 3:15–4:15 p.m.

Learn more at deootm.org

Parents at all grade levels are encouraged to attend. OM is an amazing program that enriches students beyond the classroom but it requires each team to have an adult volunteer coach and judge, so parent involvement is essential to a successful program.

If you have any questions, contact Nicole Bowman nicolejeanbowman@gmail.com 917-771-4821.

See the flyer below for all the details on how to order your school pictures!

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 or this link (Click Here). 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.

Mr. Decker would like to hear from any Middle School students interested in getting involved in Band, Theater, or Choir! Whether you already have experience or are interested in trying something new, we would love to know who wants to participate.

If you or your child is interested in learning more, please reach out to Mr. Decker!

Federal law requires schools to provide certain student contact information to military recruiters upon request. Parents/guardians have the right to request that their student’s information not be released to military recruiters.

https://forms.gle/iFfQKVun5fMRkLhQ6

You only need to complete this form if you wish to opt your student out.

School Name: SUSSEX ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL

Event Code: FE383126

Student Identifier: Infinite Campus Student ID

Click here to get involved: Behind the Scenes Interest Form

INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS

On Monday 9/14, Mrs. Bobby began meeting with each senior to discuss his/her/their personal goals and next steps. Students can find their 15-minute individual meeting time and location on the second tab of this schedule.

Students should check in with their classroom teacher for attendance before reporting to the meeting and contact Mrs. Bobby 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. We will host representatives Bard College (NY) on 9/17, Goldey-Beacom College (DE) on 9/30, and University of Chicago (IL) on 10/2.

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. Register HERE.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Some localized scholarship opportunities have been sent our way! See our Scholarship Spreadsheet to stay up to date on all scholarship opportunities in our area.

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!