Head of School Updates

According to some of our students (and even a few members of our community), we have officially kicked off "No School November" this week. While our calendar includes several days off for important events and observances, including Election Day, Return Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving Break, I can assure you that we are still very much in school!

With the end of the trimester quickly approaching, I want to take this opportunity to remind our families of the importance of staying connected with your child's teachers and monitoring their academic progress. With the breaks in our November calendar, the end of the trimester will be here before we know it. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to our amazing teachers if you have questions or concerns about your child's grades or academic progress.

We are gauging interest in having an organizational license plate made specifically for Sussex Academy.

In order for the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles to create a Sussex Academy organizational license plate, Delaware Code requires us to have a minimum of 200 applications, including fees, from interested parties before DMV may approve the issuance of the plate.

Once we receive 200 applications, we will send our initial plate order to DMV. At that point, it will take an additional six to eight weeks for the plate to be produced and shipped once the order is complete (this may take longer for the initial application).

For us to complete your request for a Sussex Academy organizational license plate, you will need to:

• Print and complete the DMV application at https://tinyurl.com/4dkrfdjj

• Make a copy of your current vehicle registration

• Make a payment via check in the amount of $65 payable to Sussex Academy ($15 is a DMV administrative fee; $50 will go toward Sussex Academy)

• Submit all to Communications and Outreach Coordinator Ellen Driscoll at the secondary campus

Please note: It is DMV's policy not to accept checks dated more than 90 days prior to the processing of any DMV transaction.

Be one of the first to represent Sussex Academy on the road! For more information about the program, go to https://tinyurl.com/mr23jh6a.

Across Sussex Academy, our K–12 students are exploring how everyday kindness and gratitude can strengthen our school community.

Elementary students are wrapping up November with gratitude and kindness activities while learning skills to manage stress and navigate changes in routine. Middle school students are exploring Naviance social-emotional competencies with a focus on gratitude and showing kindness to one another. High school students are pairing their monthly social-emotional competency lesson with SGA-led activities, reflecting on kindness they have received and sharing ways to practice it every day at SA.

Families, join the movement! For World Kindness Day on November 13, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation invites everyone to start a kindness ripple and pass it along. Explore these kindness activity ideas together, choose an act of kindness, and invite someone else to do the same. A small gesture at school, at home, or in our community could inspire the next ripple!

Our athletics winter flash stores are now open for a limited time! Order today via the following secure links:

Athletics

https://allproteamsports.chipply.com/sussexathletics

Basketball

https://allproteamsports.chipply.com/sussexbasketball

https://allproteamsports.chipply.com/sussexcheerleading

https://allproteamsports.chipply.com/sussexwrestling

Track

https://allproteamsports.chipply.com/sussextrack-field

Swimming

https://allproteamsports.chipply.com/sussexswimming

Our Seahawks had a wonderful time celebrating Seahawk Character Day with our annual character parade! From creative costumes to smiling faces, it was a special afternoon filled with excitement and school spirit. A heartfelt thank you to all of our families who joined us to cheer on our students and make the event so memorable. Our students truly enjoyed sharing this special celebration with you!

Our fourth-grade students will participate in Delaware's Social Studies State Assessment on November 12 and 13. This assessment is administered three times throughout the school year and provides valuable information about students' understanding and growth in social studies. We encourage families to help students arrive well-rested, on time, and ready to do their best!

As we welcome November and look ahead to additional days away from school, we encourage families to make reading part of their time together! One of the simplest yet most meaningful ways to support your child's reading development is by practicing reading fluency.

Reading fluency is the ability to read accurately, smoothly, and with expression. When students become more fluent readers, they can focus more of their attention on understanding and enjoying what they read.

Here are a few easy ways to practice at home:

• Read together for 10 minutes: Encourage your child to read aloud from a favorite book, magazine, or story.

• Try repeated reading: Have your child read a short passage several times, encouraging smoother reading and greater confidence with each attempt.

• Model expressive reading: Read a paragraph aloud with expression, then invite your child to read the same paragraph.

• Take turns reading: Alternate pages or paragraphs to make reading an enjoyable shared experience.

• Celebrate progress: Focus on effort, expression, and improvement rather than speed alone.

Even a few minutes of intentional reading practice each day can make a meaningful difference. Most importantly, keep reading positive and enjoyable!

We are excited to announce our Sussex Academy Elementary School Spirit Wear Fundraiser! Families can purchase SAES sweatshirts in navy or gray, available in both adult and child sizes. Adult sweatshirts are $40, and children's sweatshirts are $35.

Even better, all money raised will help us purchase additional recess equipment for our elementary playground! This is a wonderful opportunity to show your Seahawk pride while supporting our students.

Orders are due by Thursday, November 12, and will arrive before winter break! To place your order, scan the QR code on the flyer or visit the Sussex Academy payment website. Select the Club Activity tile and type SAES shirts in the Club Name field.

Thank you for supporting our Seahawks and helping make recess even more enjoyable for our students!

This month, we're focusing on Habit 3: Put First Things First! Life gets busy, and sometimes it's easy to focus on what we want to do instead of what we need to do. Habit 3 encourages us to slow down, think about what matters most, and make choices that help us grow. Whether it's finishing an assignment, helping someone at home, or making time for a personal goal, small choices each day can make a big difference!

🎥 Watch Together: Big Rocks | Leader in Me

🎯 Student Challenge: Think of one thing you've been putting off. Maybe it's studying for a test, cleaning out your backpack, or finishing an assignment. This week, challenge yourself to get it done before moving on to something fun. You'll be surprised how good it feels to check it off your list!

🏡 Family Challenge: Try a family "Big Rocks First" challenge! Have each family member share one important goal or responsibility for the week. Take a few minutes at the end of the week to check in, celebrate successes, and encourage one another. It's a great reminder that even the smallest steps forward are worth celebrating!

Remember: Putting first things first isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about making thoughtful choices, finding balance, and making time for the things and people who matter most!

Make-Up Picture Day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10! Students who were absent on our original Picture Day or would like to have their school photo retaken will have another opportunity to do so.

Don't miss your chance to capture all the memories from this school year! Yearbooks are now on sale for $47 through November 20. Be sure to order yours before the price increases!

We’re collecting empty tissue boxes and empty 12-pack drink carton containers (like the kind shown below) for our secondary school library to help keep our books neatly at the front of the shelves so that books do not become lost. We need lots of them, so if you have any empty boxes, we’ll gladly take them of your hands. Please drop them off at the secondary school library.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Picture retakes will take place on November 10! Only seniors requesting retakes of their cap and gown or tux and drape photos should use the SignUpGenius to reserve a time slot. Students in grades 9–11 will be scheduled outside the designated senior time slots. Academic Challenge students may have their photos taken in the morning before leaving for Academic Challenge.