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Sussex Academy elementary welcomes students, parents at open house

First day of school Sept. 3
Mia Smith and her daughter Naomi, who’s going into kindergarten at Sussex Academy Elementary School, attend the open house Aug. 28. ELLEN MCINTYRE PHOTOS
Ellen McIntyre
September 3, 2025

Sussex Academy held an elementary campus open house Aug. 28, ahead of the students’ first day of classes Sept. 3.

Kids and their families flowed in and out of the brightly decorated classrooms as they met their teachers and talked about the upcoming year.

 

Sussex Academy Elementary students look into the fish tank in one of the classrooms at the open house Aug. 28. Shown are (l-r) Charlotte Williamson, who’s not yet in elementary school; her brother Lucas Williamson, who’s entering kindergarten; fourth-grader Caroline Krajewski, who’s pointing into the tank; and Lucy Keller.
Malgosia Booth and her son Harper, who’s going into kindergarten at Sussex Academy Elementary, sit on the carpet in one of the kindergarten classrooms.
Kindergartener Nilosaharan Johnson stands by the playground.
Kindergarten teacher Laurie Smailer sits with one of her previous students, Elle Pepper, who’s now going into first grade.
Lauren Maule and her daughter Kennedy, who’s going into kindergarten, attend the open house.
Ready for the school year are (l-r) Allie Willis, Benning Willis and Matteo DiSalvo.
Eric Craig, a kindergartener, plays at the open house.
Geri Dickerson and her son Grady read through papers at the open house.
Fifth-graders Sayuri Perez, left, and Sawyer Humphreys are ready for the year.

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Ellen McIntyre is a reporter covering education and all things Dewey Beach. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State - Schreyer Honors College in May 2024, then completed an internship writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2023, she covered the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand as a freelancer for the Associated Press and saw her work published by outlets including The Washington Post and Fox Sports. Her variety of reporting experience covers crime and courts, investigations, politics and the arts. As a Hockessin, Delaware native, Ellen is happy to be back in her home state, though she enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. She also loves live music, reading, hiking and spending time in nature.

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