Educators, community members and public officials gathered in a crowded auditorium for a Christina School District Board meeting at Sarah Pyle Academy Tuesday night.

Over 80 people were in attendance for the meeting which would see the board decide their stance on the Department of Education's new Priority Schools initiative. During an almost three hour public comment session, those in attendance voiced their concerns on what they considered an unnecessary and unwelcome program.  [more] 

The state's proposal has outraged many local school board members, teachers and legislators, who say it blames teachers for low performance when they serve students battling poverty and violence. They also say the state's plan would deprive local districts of their authority. 

"We have reached the place where we draw a line in the sand," said Christina board member Harrie Ellen Minnehan. "We can roll over and say 'here you go [Gov. Jack Markell] and [Secretary of Education Mark Murphy] take our schools and let's see what you can do.' Or do we stand resolute and stay true to our communities?"  [more]

Most of the players on Christiana High School's soccer team were just learning how to walk the last time the Vikings made the state tournament.

Those same players are now running. And kicking. And scoring. In fact, they are doing it well enough to stir up chatter around the school campus that maybe, just maybe, this could be the year that the Vikings return to the state tournament for the first time since 1998.  [more]
 

Newark High School held its homecoming parade Friday night during halftime of the Yellowjackets' football game against Delcastle.

The homecoming court rode around the field in convertibles.  Members of each class rode on floats, tossing candy to the crowd as they passed the grandstand.

The Yellowjackets went on to defeat Delcastle 34-6.  [more]

One week after its offense sputtered in an "ugly" win at Glasgow, Newark looked Friday night to regain the explosiveness it had in its first two games.  The Yellowjackets did just that, with six different players catching the ball in a dynamic performance, racking up 359 yards of offense against Blue Hen Flight A rival Delcastle and earning earned a 34-6 homecoming victory Friday night to remain undefeated.

 "We live off throwing the ball. I thought that Ben [Campbell] and the receivers were pretty exceptional tonight. We had a variety of guys catch it," Newark coach Butch Simpson said. "We made some tough catches tonight. We got open. We protected him overall. That was a nice night throwing the ball."  [more]

It seems like forever since that unforgettable 2011 season when the Newark Yellowjackets went 11-0 before losing to Middletown in the Division I football state championship game. Perhaps what has made the past two years seem like an eternity is the limited success Newark has had on the gridiron since.

 Newark finished 1-9 in 2012 and 3-7 last year, losing its first two games in each of those seasons.

As they walked off the field Friday night, Newark lineman Ethan Irons congratulated quarterback Ben Campbell.  "Ben, how's 2-0 feel?"  Irons asked as the two sprinted toward the locker room.   Campbell's response wasn't audible from the sideline, but for the Yellowjacket faithful, the answer is obvious.  

 Friday's 35-21 victory over the Charter School of Wilmington gave Newark its best start since 2011, when the Yellowjackets advanced to the state finals.  [more]

The Newark High School field hockey team hasn't enjoyed overwhelming success the past three years. In fact, this year's senior class hasn't experienced a winning season.

The Yellowjackets won just four games in 2011 and 2012. Last season, the team improved to six victories.  [more]

If Ben Campbell needs a spark during a Newark High football game, the quarterback looks at his shoes.

The gold Nike cleats with black trim were custom made to hold a special message. RIP is stamped on the left heel. MOM is stamped on the right heel.  "It just helps me play," he said. "I use them as motivation."  [more]