McCullough Family Update
February 19, 2024
Good Evening Mustang Families,
I hope that you all enjoyed your weekend. This week is a four day week for students. Please see our exploratory schedule for this week....
Week of 2/18 Exploratory Schedule
Mon. 2/19- President's Day (No School)
Tues. 2/20- A Day
Wed. 2/21- B Day
Thurs. 2/22- A Day
Fri. 2/23- B Day
We are excited to share that our school community met our school wide goal for the middle of the year Reading Inventory Benchmark! 62.9% of our McCullough Mustangs showed growth from the beginning of the year assessment! We celebrated that we passed our goal, by having exploratory dances on February 14th (the students voted for how they wanted to celebrate). Thank you for speaking to your student about their goals!
As we get ready to conclude the winter sports season, we are gearing up for spring sports at McCullough. Please see the athletics section of this newsletter regarding the start date for spring sports at McCullough.
Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled for Thursday, March 7th and Friday, March 8th. Please use the QR Codes pictured below in the Parent/Teacher Conference Section below to sign up for your conference. When signing up using the QR Code you will get a confirmation email from Signup Genius to let you know that you have successfully completed the process. If you need assistance signing up please reach out to the grade levels team leaders that are listed with the information.
As a reminder, 8th grade students will be participating in NAEP testing on Wednesday, February 21st. Parent letters (click link) were sent home with all students. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the 8th grade counselor, Mr. Fitzpatrick.
All students that made Distinguished Honors and Honor Roll for the 2nd marking period have been invited to attend a bowling trip to celebrate their academic accomplishments! The McCullough admin team has covered 50% of the cost for each student. Please be sure to return the completed permission slip, and $4.00 dollar payment so that your student can attend!
Finally, our February 29th Referendum is quickly approaching. The State agrees that it’s time, and they will provide 60% of the funding ($73.2 million). Leaving Colonial Nation to provide the remaining 40% ($48.8 million) to secure the State’s investment. This is the reason we are going to referendum. If the referendum does not pass, the state funding will be moved to other state projects outside of Colonial. Please continue to review the referendum section of this newsletter so that you have the most current and correct information. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Let's have an amazing week as a school community and remember, Mustangs Run Together!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Hyacinth Lewis, Principal
Referendum Information
IT’S TIME . . . .On February 29, 2024 we will need your support to get out and vote to improve our facilities and maintain the quality of our programs and services…our students deserve it!
If the referendum is successful there will be benefits across all Colonial schools. Please see the links below and also review the links and videos provided for more information.
https://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/referendum-2024/
Mark your calendar….February 29, 2024 is the day to vote for the referendum in Colonial Nation. McCullough is a polling place!
Please come out and vote.....COLONIAL NATION DESERVES IT!!!!
Are you ready to vote for the referendum?
Has the information shared been helpful?
McCullough Wellness Center
As a reminder the our Wellness Center is open for enrollment! Enrolling your student into our Wellness Center will not replace your primary care doctor, but will be in addition to. The services are free and can be done during the school day (parents will not have to leave work).
Enrollment packets are linked below in the Wellness Center section of this newsletter or they can be picked up from the main office. If you have a student that is need of sports physical for the spring sports season, they must be enrolled in our Wellness Center in order to have the physical done at school. The physicals will be competed free of charge.
Please review, complete, and return the packet to enroll your student. Below is the link to the enrollment packet and we will have copies in the main office. More information regarding the start date of services is forthcoming.
McCullough Wellness Center Student Enrollment Packet- ENGLISH(click link)
McCullough Wellness Center Student Enrollment Packet - SPANISH (click link)
2/19/2024: President’s Day (No School)
2/20/2024: Boys Basketball home vs. Early College School at DSU @ 4:30pm
2/21/2024: NAEP Testing for 8th Grade
2/22/2024: Boys & Girls Basketball vs. Charter School of New Castle @ Home
Girls first at 3:30pm
2/23/2024: Honor Roll Field Trip - All Grades
2/26/2024: Interims for MP 3 Closes
2/26/2024-2/27/2024: 6th and 8th Grade SS DeSSa Testing
2/29/2024: MCC Family Day at Honeygrow
McCullough Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences
6th Grade Parent/Teacher Conference Information
6th Grade Families should use the QR Code pictured above to sign up for parent/teacher conferences.
Below are the links to the conference letter that will be sent home with students on February 20th.
6th Grade Conference Letter (English)
6th Grade Conference Letter (Spanish)
If you need any support with signing up, please reach out to...
jomana.begum@colonial.k12.de.us
or
7th Grade Parent/Teacher Conference Information
7th Grade Families should use the QR Code pictured above to sign up for parent/teacher conferences.
Below are the links to the conference letters that will be sent home with students on February 20th.
7th Grade Conference Letter (English)
7th Grade Conference Letter (Spanish)
If you need any support with signing up, please reach out to...
michael.snow@colonial.k12.de.us
or
8th Grade Parent/Teacher Conferences
8th Grade Families should use the QR Code pictured above to sign up for parent/teacher conferences.
Below are the links to the conference letter that will be sent home with students on February 20th.
8th Grade Conference Letter (English)
8th Grade Conference Letter (Spanish)
If you need any support with signing up, please reach out to..
kasia.thomas@colonial.k12.de.us
or
Mustang Hideway Corner (McCullough's Library)
Library Information
Our library has gone through a complete overhaul over the last few years with upgrades, such as painting, new furniture and new books. Students are able to visit the library to check out books during period 2 on their classes designated day. We are continuing to look for books to add to our library that represent our diverse student population and their interests. If you are interested in knowing what books are in our library please use the link below...
https://dlc.lib.de.us/client/en_US/COLO/search/advanced
We also encourage you to follow our new library Instagram page @mcculloughreads (click link) to see all the great things happening in our library.
McCullough Athletics
McCullough offers DIAA sports teams during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Please visit our athletics website (click link) to learn more about the sports that we offer.
Winter Sports Information
- All spectators for home basketball games will enter the building through the entrance in the rear of the building.
Spring Sports Information
- Baseball and Softball Tryouts begin on March 5th
- Track Tryouts begin on March 12th
- Spring Sports Physicals Week will be March 11th-15th (see flyer below)
- The document linked above outlines expectations for spectators at home sporting events. Students are to submit a completed permission slip to attend winter home games this season. The document is to be completed by students and their parent/guardian and returned to Dr. Morris in room 113. This is required for students to be able to attend winter home games this season with their parents/guardians. Additional paper copies will be available in the Main Office. Please contact Mrs. Lewis (principal) or Dr. Morris (athletic director) with any questions or concerns.
Sports Requirements & Physicals
Student athletes must maintain passing grades in all 4 year long classes (ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies).
2023-2024 DIAA Sports Physical Form (use this form if you are taking your child to their doctor for the physical.
McCullough Reminders
Grade level Administrators & Counselors(click names to send and email)
The names and contact emails for our grade level assistant principals, student advisor and school counselors are listed below. They are your go-to contacts for supporting your student. Our school phone number is 302-429-4000 and our secretaries are Ms. Moore & Ms. Butcher.
Principal: Hyacinth Lewis
6th Grade Admin: Sarah Bateman 6th Grade Counselor : Nichelle Artwell
7th Grade Admin: Aaron Lamb 7th Grade Counselor: Tonya Bailey-Smiley
8th Grade Admin: Nicole Sumner Grade Counselor: Kahlil Fitzpatrick
Follow us on Social Media
There are lots of amazing things going on at McCullough, so I encourage you to follow us on Facebook (click link) and on Instagram (click link) to see all of the wonderful things happening at school! Please review our weekly update that contains announcements and updates for families.
Hallway Transitions
Please continue to speak with your student regarding school rules and expectations. Grade level admin are continuing to complete hall sweeps during transitions. Please speak with your student about transitioning themselves directly from class to class. Students should arrive to class on time and come to class with all materials needed to learn.
Student Lockers
In order to ensure the safety of our students and their belongings, all lockers that are unsecured (do not have a lock) will be secured. If students wish to be able to use a locker at school, they must present a lock to their homeroom teacher to be assigned a locker. We plan to have combination locks available for sale in the main office for $1.00 dollar. Students may bring in their own lock from home if they would like to.
Social Media Challenges
We want you to be aware that students of all ages are being influenced to participate in numerous “social media challenges” some of which pose significant health risks up to and including hospitalization. We encourage you to discuss these challenges with your children and discourage them from engaging in risky behaviors.
After School Activities
After school activities such as clubs and sports have started at McCullough. Please know that we conclude after school activities at 4:30pm. Students may be picked up or they can take the after school bus (if they are a bus rider). Please be patient with after school buses; if they are late arriving to McCullough your student may be delayed with getting home. If you are picking up your student please arrive promptly at 4:30pm.
Student Arrival & Car Rider Line
As a reminder, our doors open at 7:55 AM for students, advisory meetings in homeroom will begin at 8:15am and students are considered late if they arrive after 8:20am. All walkers and car riders will enter the building through the front door and buses will still drop off and pick up in the rear of the building. In order to ensure that we have safe arrival and dismissal we are asking that parents dropping off students be sure to...
- Pull up in single line along the curb
- Pull your car up as far as you can
- Be sure that your student is ready to promptly exit your vehicle in order to keep the line moving (arrival only)
Student Expectation Reminders
Please discuss with your student the importance of adhering to our school expectations....
Please reinforce the importance of respect & the boundaries for students.
Please continue to remind your student regarding cell phone expectations (click link).
Please review the student code of conduct (click link) & discuss appropriate dress with your student(s). Such as...
Hats & hoods should be off in the building
Midriffs should be covered
Ski masks should not be worn in the building
COVID 19 Guidance
As we approach cold/flu season please be sure to monitor your student for signs that indicate that they are ill. If your child is not feeling well they should not attend school. Colonial School District is continuing to monitor the increased reports of COVID-19 cases nationally. Students and families should refer to Delaware Department of Education’s Isolation and Exposure Guidance for K – 12 School Settings for guidance on testing positive for or exposure to COVID-19. This document will provide information on when you should return to school following a positive test and what to do following exposure.
Families who have any further questions should consult with their primary care provider for specific medical guidance. Your school nurse continues to be available to support your student’s medical needs at school.
Winners After School Program
The Winners After School Program will be held at McCullough for the 2023-2024 school year. The program is scheduled to run from 3:15pm to 6:00pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when school is open from October 3, 2023 through May 23, 2024. While in the program students may participate in tutoring, mentoring, homework help, academic enrichment, music, arts, sports, cultural activities, and community service opportunities. Participating students will have the option to ride the 4:30pm after school bus home or will be picked up by parent/guardian/designee anytime after 4:30pm. If you are interested in having your child participate in the Winners Program please use the link below to register your child.
Please be advised that students may not participate in the program until they are registered. Space for the program is limited so we encourage families to complete the form as soon as possible.
McCullough Middle School
Website: https://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/mccullough/
Location: 20 Chase Avenue, New Castle, DE, USA
Phone: 3024294000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McculloughCSD