Please see the information below regarding Spring PSAT and SAT testing. More detailed information will be shared as we get closer to test dates.

PSAT 9

All 9th-grade students will take the PSAT 9 on Wednesday, March 11. This is a traditional school day and students are expected to continue with their scheduled classes at the conclusion of the PSAT 9.

PSAT 10 

All 10th-grade students will take the PSAT 10 on Wednesday, March 18. This is a virtual day for grades 9 & 12. Students will be dismissed at the conclusion of testing.

SAT

All 11th-grade students will take the SAT (with the essay) on Wednesday, March 18.  This is a virtual day for grades 9 & 12. Students will be dismissed at the conclusion of testing.

The 2025-2026 Newark Charter School yearbooks are on sale now through February 13, 2026 only. 

The price for the Senior High School hardbound yearbook is $80 with an option for a personalized nameplate for just $5 more. 

Place your online order here today!  

NCS After Prom is once again selling Hershey Park tickets! Each one-day admission ticket supports this year's After Prom and includes:

Full Access: All rides and entertainment.

The Boardwalk: Water park access (Memorial Day – Labor Day).

ZooAmerica: Entry via the Hershey Park bridge during public hours.

Price: $52 per ticket (Regular price $89.95 + fees)- Save Over 45%! 

Ticket sales are open through March 20th and can be purchased using this link.

 All tickets will be delivered via email by April 3rd. These tickets are valid for any public operating day during the 2026 season, spanning from April 3, 2026, through January 3, 2027.

*Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable; lost or stolen tickets cannot be replaced. Children aged 2 and under are free. All attraction and show availability is subject to change, and the operation of certain attractions may be dependent on weather conditions.

Questions? Contact After Prom Fundraising Volunteer Erin Browne at ewelch80@gmail.com.

Set construction for Beauty and the Beast, Jr. will take place on the following dates:

February 9, 2026 - 5:00pm-9:00pm

February 18, 2026 - 4:30pm - 7:00pm

February 21, 2026 - 9:00am - 12:00pm

February 23, 2026 - 8:00pm - 10:00pm

March 2, 2026 - 7:30pm - 10:00pm

Possible set build days: March 7th and March 8th, 2026 - Times TBD

Families and students who are interested in helping with set build are encouraged to attend—no prior experience is necessary! 

Students in grades 6–8 must be accompanied by an adult. High school students may attend independently. Please wear clothes that can get messy and closed-toe shoes. 

Please email the Theatre Manager, Lee Lewis (lee.lewis@ncs.k12.de.us), if you are able to assist in any way!

✨ A Night Under the Stars: The Great Gatsby Prom

 2026 ✨

Old Sport, you are cordially invited to a night of glitz, glamour, and 1920s decadence! 

Join us as we transform the evening into a celebration worthy of Jay Gatsby himself.

 The Main Event

Date: Friday, April 24, 2026

Location: Executive Banquet Hall

Time: 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM

Theme: The Great Gatsby (Black Tie / Roaring 20s Attire Encouraged)

Ticket Information

Don’t wait until the party is over! Tickets are limited and expected to go fast.

Ticket Sales Window: March 13 – March 27, 2026

Important Note: All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable and will sell out quickly!

The Celebration Continues: After-Prom

The party doesn't stop when the clock strikes 10:30. Keep the energy going back at the school for our exclusive After-Prom event!

Location: The High School

Time: 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM

What to expect: Food, games, and prizes!

"And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties, there isn’t any privacy." — F. Scott Fitzgerald

Don't miss the most talked-about night of the year! Secure your spot starting March 13th.

The next After Prom Committee meetings will be held on Wednesday, February 11 and Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00pm in the Senior High Library.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month.  This is a time to celebrate the history and achievements of African Americans. Please check out the following video to learn more! 

Black History Month 

Ramadan

Ramadan will take place from February 17th to March 19th this year.  It is a month-long Islamic observance commemorating the first revelation of the Quran and includes strict fasting from sunrise to sunset.  On March 19th-20th, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Fitr, one of the most significant Muslim holidays marking the end of Ramadan.  Please check out the following video to learn more! 

Ramadan 

Lunar New Year

Many of our students will celebrate the Lunar New Year, which starts on Tuesday, February 17th.  It is China's most important holiday, and celebrations last 15 days.  The Chinese zodiac sign for 2026 is the horse.  Please check out the following video to learn more! 

Lunar New Year 

On February 19th and 20th we will provide vision screenings on all 9th graders in the nurse's health office. This is a part of preparing for driver's education next year and is a state requirement. Please make sure your student wears or brings their glasses or contacts, if they are prescribed to them.

If you do not want your student to have their vision screened, please let us know. You will need to provide a vision screening from a healthcare provider that has been done within a year of starting driver education.

Any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at ncshighschoolnurses@ncs.k12.de.us

Parents/Guardians of 9th Grade Students

If you haven't sent in a recent health physical (done within the past two years) or updated immunizations (that includes a tetanus booster and one dose of meningococcal vaccine), now is the time to do so as this is still a requirement for 9th grade.  Thank you to all the parents/guardians and students who have already submitted their information!

Asthma, Allergy, or any Medical Action plans: 

If your student has asthma or a life-threatening allergy or a medical concern that requires an action plan, please don't forget to get an action plan completed for this school year. You can find the forms for asthma or a life-threatening allergy on our NCS Website .

Medical plans for diagnoses such as seizures or diabetes or recurrent/ongoing migraine headaches (just to name a few possible diagnoses), please contact us and we will provide a form for you. If you want your child to be able to carry their inhaler or epinephrine pen please make sure we have written permission from you to allow them to do so. Thank you for all who have done this already!

Students may not carry any medication in their bookbags or keep in their lockers except for rescue inhalers or epinephrine pens or insulin and only if there is a medical plan in place with the school nurse. 

If you have any health or medical questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to our high school nurses: Karen Pennington RN and Erin Porter RN at NCSHighSchoolNurses@ncs.k12.de.us

One of our longtime uniform vendors, RUSH Uniforms, has changed ownership. The company is now Cramers Uniforms.

What’s staying the same

• 101 Harrison Ave, New Castle

• Friendly, familiar staff

• Open all year in Delaware — uniforms always available

What’s new

• Lower prices — most items 10–15% less thanks to Cramer’s buying power

• New website with easy online ordering

• In-store pickup or home delivery options

• More inventory on hand and faster restocking

Students and Parents/Guardians: Be sure to bookmark the Student Council (STUCO) website for information about all STUCO Activities such as Homecoming, Patriot Games, etc.

STUCO Website 

How to Schedule a Meeting with a Counselor

12th Graders (Seniors): 

Last Names A-K: Mrs. Halfen (College & School Counselor)**

Last Names L-Z: Mrs. Potter (College & School Counselor)**

Various: Mr. Mitchell (College Counselor)*

The above links (for seniors) are also listed in the "Resources" section of the Class of 2026 student Schoology Group.

*If you're scheduling a meeting with a college counselor, please schedule it with your assigned college counselor for senior year. If you don't remember who your college counselor is, please check your Naviance account!

9th-11th Graders: 

There are forms located in the main office for students to request a meeting with their assigned counselor.  We ask that students fill out the form and leave it in their counselor’s bin, and they will be scheduled as soon as possible. If it is an emergency, students should go to the main office, and a counselor will address the concern.

Grade 9:

Mrs. Huynh-ba - all students

Grade 10:

Mrs. O'Connor - last names A-K

Mrs. Huynh-ba - last names L-Z

Grade 11:

Mrs. O'Connor - all students

All Grades:                                 

Dr. Breanne Prisco - 504s, MTSS, and attendance contracts

Seniors applying to colleges, have you completed the FAFSA with a parent/guardian yet? The clock is ticking, and you are now approaching the point of being "late" in this process, which could jeopardize your opportunity to receive maximum financial support to help pay for college. Please note that even families with incomes exceeding $200,000 per year can still qualify for financial aid at many institutions, provided they complete the FAFSA.

FAFSA Action Encouraged + Additional Financial Aid Tasks

• Gather required documentation if not already prepared; check the following link for more information about FAFSA and the college financial aid process.

• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) now (use 2026-27 version, NOT 2025-26)

  • Who fills out the FAFSA? The student (with direct parental/guardian assistance) and then a parent (or, in rare cases, two parents) electronically "signs" the form, along with the student's "signature." If there is any uncertainty, for assistance with deciding which parent should assist the student with completion, please consult this chart and consider using this "wizard" from the federal government.

• Research CSS Profile requirements for your specific colleges and complete the Profile (if applicable) - the CSS Profile App went live October 1st 

• Check for additional institutional forms that individual colleges may require (e.g., tax returns, supplemental forms, etc.)

Virtual FAFSA Completion Assistance Opportunities

via financial aid specialists from Stand By Me

These optional sessions listed below are not required to complete the FAFSA, but feel free to consider signing up for an individual completion appointment if it can help you!

Link to Schedule FAFSA Completion Session (virtual) Sign up (in English)

Link to Schedule FAFSA Completion Session (virtual) Sign up (in Spanish)

Focus: Activities/Honors Sections & Supplemental Essays

Activities & Honors Sections: Paint Your Complete Portrait

Your application systems (e.g., Common App, Common Black App, etc.) have activities and honors sections that require strategic presentation to effectively communicate your impact and engagement. 

Essential Activities Section Guidelines (in Common App or other application systems):

• Use Print Preview to see exactly what admissions officers will view

• Don't feel constrained by text box labels—be strategic with your descriptions since headings don't appear in the final view

• Spell out all acronyms consistently

• Use consistent formatting conventions throughout (periods, semicolons, capitalization)

• Prioritize recent and most significant achievements

• Include specific details and quantifiable impact where possible

• Link to work products when relevant (use clear, professional titles)

• Use appropriate verb tenses: past tense for completed activities, present tense for ongoing, present tense with "-ing" for newly started

Quick Reference Guide: Consider our one-pager with common questions and advice (plus samples).

Honors Section Strategy: Apply the same principles as activities, with additional considerations for impact presentation. Be genuine and strategic in your presentation.

Additional Résumé Upload Decision: Generally, the answer is NO. The Common Application's built-in sections are designed to capture your complete profile effectively. Only upload an additional résumé if you have truly exceptional circumstances that cannot be captured otherwise. Exception: UT Austin strongly prefers a résumé upload (along with PSU's BS/MD Program [and there may be other exceptions]).

Supplemental Essays: Specificity, Detail, and Reflection Win

Thoughtful Supplemental Essay Strategy:

• Identify ALL supplemental questions early—don't underestimate the time investment required

• Compile questions from all colleges to see the full scope of your writing workload

• Research each college thoroughly for "Why Us" questions: investigate academic departments, unique programs, strategic plans, and specific opportunities

• Avoid copy-and-paste approaches—each essay must be genuinely specific to that institution

• Remember: many colleges weight supplemental essays MORE heavily than your main Common Application essay

Research Process for "Why Us" Essays: Look beyond surface-level information to find specific academic centers, faculty research, strategic initiatives, and unique curricular aspects that genuinely connect to your interests and goals.

Overall Portrait Consideration: Ensure all your written pieces (Common App essay, supplemental essays, short answers, activities descriptions) work together coherently. Avoid redundancy and disparate voices—create a unified narrative that authentically represents you.

Helpful Resources:

• Supplemental Essay Compilation Template: https://tinyurl.com/NCSessays

• Activities/Honors verb suggestions: Tinyurl.com/verbs4apps

• College Essay Guy's activities list guidance

• College Essay Advisors and CollegeVine for supplemental essay approaches/contexts of understanding

Critical Reminders from Earlier Launch Week Sessions

Naviance Deadline Management - Verify Immediately

Ensure all your college deadlines in Naviance are accurate with correct dates from official college websites. This is the ONLY way counselors and teachers can send transcripts and recommendation letters. Remember our one-month advance notice requirement for all deadline changes.

Remember: Applications and supporting documents (transcripts, recommendations) are processed separately by colleges. You don't need to wait for recommendation letters before submitting applications.

Test Score Strategy Reminders - Ideally Finalize Decisions by Sunday, September 28th and if uncertain, check with college counselors during upcoming activity period(s) this week, if necessary!

If you haven't completed your test score research and decision-making for each college, this must be finalized immediately. Remember:

• Research each college's specific policies (required vs. test-optional)

• Verify policies using college websites and https://www.compassprep.com/college-profiles/

• Determine HOW each college wants to receive scores (official sending vs. self-reporting vs. portal upload)

• Use the score management template: tinyurl.com/ManageScoresNCS

• Send official scores well before application deadlines—processing takes over a week

Thank you for reading and accessing these resources. Please note that you can also view previous full detail action item emails sent during Launch Week below in this same thread.

Note: Every student may be at a different level of comfort regarding their place in this process of applying to college and setting off on careers, and that is completely okay and expected. This is why we host sessions like Launch Week and why college/career counselors are here to assist during this coming week's open activity period sessions, future group sessions, and ongoing individual meetings throughout the year. Whether students are uncertain about college lists, careers, military options, application system/submissions, test score reporting/sending decisions, financial aid (including scholarships), Naviance, STAR, or Common App questions, we're here for the class of 2026!

 Sample of SAT Test Preparation Options Beyond Bluebook Practice Tests & Khan Academy* (This list is not exhaustive)

Please note that test preparation is not a requirement; however, SAT preparation is critical to maximizing score potential.

· Diana Freccia SAT/PSAT Tutoring 

Call: (516) 457-7470

Email: diana@makeitrealsat.com

· Kim Calvetti

Email: alemab8@verizon.net

Cell: 302-383-5871 (please text or email instead of calling)

· Huntington Learning Center – Newark (can specialize in SAT/ACT tutoring but also with any content-specific or time management and study strategy tutoring as well)

   Call: (302) 737-1050

Other sample options include: Mind the Test, Y2 Academy

*A Note on Khan Academy (free and valuable)

Several years ago, the College Board joined forces with Khan Academy (online learning platform) to offer free SAT prep via online videos and practice tests/quizzes that students can access from any device with internet connectivity.

Some students take full advantage of this opportunity and see significant growth with disciplined habits on Khan Academy, but because tutoring or tailored in-person SAT prep class sessions (and completion of corresponding assigned homework) are considered the best possible test preparation options for the SAT—and to keep students accountable and attentive throughout the duration of test prep—we consider the Khan Academy resources as the “minimum” preparation and have listed some other optional fee-based test prep options above.  Khan Academy quizzes/tests can also be helpful supplements to these optional test prep programs.

Linking Bluebook SAT Practice Tests with Khan Academy

Steps to Link Your Practice Tests:

1. Take a Full-Length Practice Test in Bluebook:

- Download and install the Bluebook app from the College Board (or it’s already installed on all NCS-issued Chromebooks).

- Sign in and navigate to the 'Practice and Prepare' section.

- Select and complete a full-length digital SAT practice test.

2. Access Your Scores and Review:

- After completing the test, log in to My Practice (https://mypractice.collegeboard.org) using the same credentials.

- View your scores and detailed breakdowns of your performance.

3. Link to Khan Academy for Targeted Practice:

- From your score report or the 'Score Details' page, click the 'Practice on Khan Academy' button.

- This will direct you to a customized course on Khan Academy, providing detailed explanations for each question and linking to lessons that cover the necessary skills.

- Visit https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice/khan-academy for more information.

United Way of Delaware is proud to partner in sharing this opportunity, and Delaware 211 will follow up with applicants to connect them with related resources and no-cost Stand By Me financial coaching. Together, these supports with Energize Delaware help ensure families not only receive immediate energy relief but also have access to tools for long-term financial stability.

Help is now available for Delaware households struggling with energy bills. The Delmarva Power Customer Relief Fund (for Delmarva Power customers) offers up to $300 in one-time bill assistance for income-eligible families. Funds are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. For non-Delmarva Power customers, Energize Delaware has established the Delaware Energy Fund providing up to $300 in one-time bill assistance for income-eligible families. 

To qualify, households must meet income guidelines and take part in a free Energize Delaware energy efficiency program like the Home Energy Checkup. This step ensures families not only receive financial relief but also save on future energy costs. Please share this information with friends, family, or neighbors who may benefit. Additional information may be found here: https://www.energizedelaware.org/delmarva-power-customer-relief-fund/