Sussex Academy ninth-graders embark on Casting Off expedition

Ninth-grade students at Sussex Academy in Georgetown recently kicked off their yearlong team expedition, Casting Off, with a leadership tour at the Naval Academy and a cruise in Annapolis, Md.

Also, as part of the kickoff, students and teachers took an overnight trip to Cape Henlopen State Park. While there, students began work with the Expeditionary Learning model of CREW. The yearlong CREW structure allows for relationship building, academic goal-setting and progress monitoring, service, portfolio building, and the development of leadership and responsibility.

While at Cape Henlopen, students participated in many team-building activities, including learning about CREW, kayaking, and creating boats made of cardboard and duct tape. For the closing ceremony, teams raced their boats in the cardboard regatta.

The expedition is designed to build unity, friendship and academic success, as well as create the identity of the freshmen class as trailblazers at Sussex Academy. The instructional framework at Sussex Academy is Expeditionary Learning, with learning expeditions as an integral part of that framework.

Throughout the school year, students and teachers are involved in both school-wide and team learning expeditions to promote self-discovery and construct knowledge. During that time, all classes tie into a common theme.

For more information about Sussex Academy, go to www.sussexacademy.org.