In this issue:
Welcome Back, Red Clay Staff! | Back-to-School Reminders for Families | SY 2020-21 Calendar Available Online | Four Red Clay Teachers Named the Best in Delaware | More Good News from Red Clay | Delaware 211 Is Here to Help | Online Registration Open for New Students
Welcome BACK, RED CLAY STAFF!
On Monday, we welcomed Red Clay educators and staff with a virtual kick-off of the 2020-21 school year. Despite an unexpected Zoom outage, school leaders found creative ways to pull their teams together for a productive start to the new year.
Principals shared a number of important updates and announcements to help staff prepare for the weeks ahead, including an overview of how teaching and learning will look this fall versus last spring when educators rapidly responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
WATCH: Superintendent Green emphasizes core mission in opening remarks to Red Clay staff
BACK-t0-School reminders for YOUR famiLY
To help you get ready for the first day of school on September 8, here's a reminder of some important to-do's for Red Clay families:
Check your email for an important message from your child's principal, sent on August 18. The principal's message provides important details including directions for picking up a Chromebook and other learning materials for your child, school hours, childcare opportunities for elementary school students, and a link to complete the Safe Return to School Questionnaire. If you did not receive this email, please contact your child's school.
Complete your school's Safe Return to School Questionnaire. This is a very important step in Red Clay's Roadmap to Reopening, and it is crucial that we hear from every family. Your responses will help us to plan for the next phase of our reopening, when it is time to start phasing in in-person learning options for students. To complete the questionnaire, refer to the August 18 email from your child's principal.
Check your email for an important message from your child's teacher beginning August 26. The teacher's message will provide important details, such as your child's learning schedule, opportunities to meet the teacher via Zoom, tools and apps that the class will use for remote learning, and the best way to contact the teacher. Elementary school families should expect to hear from teachers on August 26. Secondary school families should expect to hear from teachers early next week.
Check your mailbox on or around August 29 for your student's Red Clay Back-to-School Starter Kit. This packet includes important information to help your child prepare for the first day of school, including student and parent/guardian account information for remote learning (Google, Home Access Center and Schoology), details about remote learning, and how to update your contact information and communication preferences in School Messenger.
Pick up your student's Chromebook and other learning materials at your child's school at the designated time. All schools have announced specific dates and times when families may come to the school to pick up these materials before the first day of school. For details, refer to the August 18 email from your child's principal or contact your child's school.
Join us online for the first day of school on September 8!
2020-21 School Calendar Available Online
The 2020-21 school year calendar is available in a new and improved one-page format. This streamlined calendar provides key dates such as marking periods, holidays, and the first and last day of school. Additional events may be announced throughout the year.
Families will receive a printed copy of the calendar in their student's Red Clay Back-to-School Starter Kit on or around August 29. In the meantime, you can click below to download a copy.
Four Red Clay Teachers Named the Best in Delaware
Delaware Today just released the Delaware 2020 Top Teachers list and once again, Red Clay educators make the list! Nominated by peers, parents and the students themselves, these outstanding educators exemplify the best in K–12. Congratulations to these dedicated teachers and all of their talented colleagues across the state!
- Odette Fuentes, Grade 2, All Subjects, Austin D. Baltz Elementary School
- Meghan Manlove, Kindergarten, Cooke Elementary School
- Robert Naylor, Grades 10–12, Bio Med/Digital Media and Assistant Athletic Director, Conrad School of Sciences
- Jermaine Wilson, Grades 6–8, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Henry B. du Pont Middle School
More Good News from Red Clay
In the Spotlight: Mrs. Finney teaches math with a side of hip-hop
Our very own Keziah Finney, 2020-21 Teacher of the Year at Henry B. du Pont Middle School, made the news for her creative teaching methods! Watch Mrs. Finney on 6ABC.
More Emmy Nominations Roll In for Red Clay's EDtv
The National Academy of Arts and Sciences, Mid Atlantic Chapter, recently announced its 2020 Emmy Nominees and, for the second year in a row, Red Clay's educational television channel, EDtv, in partnership with the Wilmington City Council, was nominated for three awards in three different categories. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to these Emmy-nominated productions!
Nominated in the Program Feature/Segment – Education/Schools category is The Little School That Could. This features tells the story of Alexis I. du Pont Middle School and its experience as a "CSI" school (Comprehensive Support and Improvement). The mini-documentary follows the journey of how the public educational system banded together to bring about change for its students, above anything else. Watch it here.
Nominated in the Best News Story or Series – Educational/School category is A Cut Above. This story focuses on the passionate and innovative work of Red Clay principal Terrance Newton and the team at Warner Elementary School, where they set up a “pop-up” barbershop in the school. Watch it here.
Nominated in the Promotion – News, Program, PSA – Single Spot category is Don't Rush the Red. Produced with assistance from DE Representative Kim Williams, this PSA was created to remind drivers of the dangers of passing a stopped school bus with its lights flashing and safety arm extended. The piece faces some tough competition in a category that features the work of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Watch it here.
Will Red Clay win an Emmy for the second year in a row? Stay tuned! The winners will be announced on September 19.
Red Clay Leaders, High School Student Honored for Commitment to Student Success through Federal Education Programs
The National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators (NAFEPA) has awarded four Red Clay leaders as 2020 NAFEPA Leadership Award Winners. Congratulations to Karin Jakubowski, principal of North Star Elementary School; Kenny Oates, Supervisor of Special Services; Julie Rumschlag, dean of Cab Calloway School of the Arts; and Damon Saunders, principal of The John Dickinson School!
In addition, congratulations to Teresa Ryan of Conrad Schools of Science, for earning the 2020 Elizabeth Pinkerton Scholarship!
Community Celebrates Milestone for Delaware School
Friends of Hockessin Colored School #107 (FOHCS) celebrated a special milestone in their journey to reintroduce the Delaware school that brought down school segregation in the early 1950s, and announced a new partnership that will transform it into a Diversity Training, Inclusion, and Social Equity Center. On August 10, County Executive Matt Meyer signed a Memorandum of Agreement to pay off the remaining mortgage and rededicate the space as a county park. As Superintendent Green shared at the recent school board meeting, "Red Clay is proud to support and remain a partner in sharing national history that is in the heart of our district."
Delaware 211 Is Here to Help
Delaware 211 Offers Special Line for Students and Families
United Way of Delaware and Delaware 211 have launched a dedicated resource line to help students and parents as they face unprecedented challenges in this COVID emergency. With a simple, free call, families can connect with resources to help students transition to remote learning, find online tutoring, get support for acquiring and accessing technology, and much more. United Way of Delaware and Delaware 211 are pleased to provide this service—in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education, school districts, and community partners—to help meet the needs of children and their families throughout the state. See details below.
Register Your New Student Today
Online Registration Now Open!
If you are new to Red Clay or if you have a child who will turn 5 before August 31, don't delay—register today!
With the first day of school fast approaching, registration is easier than ever with Red Clay's new online registration process. You can register a new student right from the comfort of your own home, and if you have all of your documents ready, the process can be completed in as little as 10 minutes.
Questions? Contact our registration team at registrations@redclay.k12.de.us.