The Jefferson School sails into a new year

The Jefferson School celebrated the first day of the 2018-19 school year by introducing students to the Sailing to Success theme that will have them learning about oceanography, geology, climatology, biology and meteorology throughout the year.

“We are truly lucky to live in an area with such a rich history and resources readily at our fingertips,” said Head of School Connie Hendricks. “Many of our field trips and speakers will revolve around the ocean, waterways and boating this year.”

One of the first schoolwide projects for the year is the construction, personalization and launching of a mini-boat, a small vessel equipped with a GPS tracking system for students to monitor after its launch into the Atlantic Ocean. The boat is part of a program through Educational Passages, a nonprofit organization in Maine.

“It’s a perfect fit for our school,” said Hendricks. “We focus on experiential learning here at TJS, and this gives our students the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities, increase environmental literacy and – hopefully - learn about other cultures if our boat lands somewhere abroad.”

The yet-to-be named TJS mini-boat will launch in late October or November with the help of Stuart Griffin, a captain with The Pilots Association for the Bay and River Delaware and father of a TJS student, and Gerhard Kuska, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System, an organization which made a generous donation toward the purchase of the mini-boat.

In the spring, TJS will partner with The Lewes Historical Society Wooden Boat Volunteer Crew to build two water-worthy Bevin’s skiffs to use on its two ponds on campus. The wooden boats, which are roughly 12 feet in length, are designed to be used recreationally and are perfect boats for beginning builders. “We’re all looking forward to the opportunities we have through our nautical theme,” said Hendricks. “It’s going to be a very exciting year.”