Welcome to W.B. Simpson Elementary School – home of the Caesar Rodney Riders! Our school is named after William B. Simpson. He was the Superintendent of the Caesar Rodney School District from 1938-1961. During his 23 tenure, the district saw tremendous growth and building construction. W.B. Simpson Elementary School is currently undergoing a total building renovation and technology makeover. During this year long process, our students are temporarily being temporarily housed at the two elementary schools on the Dover Air Force Base. By the start of the 2011 school year, Simpson will be fully operational with SMART Boards, computer labs, security cameras, and in-class sound amplification systems.

W.B. Simpson Elementary is one of six elementary schools in the Caesar Rodney School District serving grades 1-5. W.B. Simpson continues to be a Delaware public elementary school serving the small towns of Camden and Wyoming. It is a true community school with a diverse population of approximately 425 students. The Kent County ILC also is part of W.B. Simpson Elementary. It serves about 45 students from the entire Kent County. This gives W.B. Simpson at total school population of 470 students.

It is an exciting time at W.B. Simpson Elementary School. W.B. Simpson continues to be a recognized as a “Superior” school by the state of Delaware. Although there is always room for improvement, we are meeting the federal and state proficiency targets for reading and mathematics. Here is a quick breakdown for reading/language arts from the spring 2011 DIBELS (grade 1) and DSTP (grades 2-5) assessments:

Grade Level	Assessment	Percent of Students Meeting or Exceeding Grade Level Standards in Spring 2010
1^st Grade	DIBELS	80%
2^nd Grade	DSTP – Reading	80%
3^rd Grade	DSTP – Reading	82%
4^th Grade	DSTP – Reading	72%
5^th Grade	DSTP – Reading	79%

Simpson also does well in mathematics. Here is a quick breakdown for the mathematics from the spring 2011 DSTP assessment. Please note that there is not a standardized math test for first grade.

Grade Level	Assessment	Percent of Students Meeting or Exceeding Grade Level Standards in Spring 2010
2^nd Grade	DSTP – Math	93%
3^rd Grade	DSTP – Math	87%
4^th Grade	DSTP – Math	77%
5^th Grade	DSTP – Math	76%

Because of our dedicated staff and involved PTA, W.B. Simpson Elementary is a great place to grown and learn. Our Positive Behavior Support (PBS) system creates a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Each month, there is a kick-off assembly focusing on a P.R.I.D.E. characteristic or showing the P.R.I.D.E. characteristics in special situations (like on the play ground, school bus, or hallway.) School-wide expectations are then taught and reinforced by all staff members. Students earn “PRIDE Bucks” for demonstrating the P.R.I.D.E. principles. They are Positive, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Empathy. With their PRIDE Bucks, students can purchase incentives such as bookmarks, stuffed animals, special rewards, gift certificates, or a spin of the prize wheel. For 100 PRIDE Bucks, students can attend monthly PBS celebrations like The Reptile Man, Super Bowl Party, Pajama Party, and Beach Party. Each marking period, there are special awards ceremonies acknowledging achievement in all content areas, related arts, and citizenship.

For over four decades, W.B. Simpson has been an outstanding elementary school in the greater Dover area. With a special emphasis on using best practices in classroom instruction and promoting a positive school atmosphere, W.B. Simpson continues to be a special place for kids to grow and learn. We encourage you to see for yourself the dedicated teachers and smiling children’s faces that make-up the Simpson family. Please feel free to contact either Mike Kijowski (Principal) or Jason Payne (Assistant Principal) to schedule a tour of the school, and to talk about your child’s future at W.B. Simpson Elementary School.

Sincerely,

Mike Kijowski Nicole Kurz-McDowell

Principal Assistant Principal