The Bee Hive

Newsletter for the week of October 20, 2024

To empower students to be active participants in their learning and achievement through engaging English and Spanish instruction in a school community that is respectful, resilient, and safe.

Want to stay in the know about all things important? Our newsletter is your key. Discover crucial updates, upcoming events, and exciting news that you won't want to miss.

Directions to translate are below!

Using a cell phone? Click Here to check out a video to see how to translate!

Attachments:

If you're having trouble downloading any attachments from our newsletter, try clicking on the newsletter link in the email to open it in a web browser (such as Google Chrome, Safari, etc.). Once opened in the browser, you should be able to download the attachments.

Shoutout to the over 300 families and staff who joined us for an incredible night at Lewis Dual Language's Immersion Night on Tuesday, October 15th! The evening was packed with culture, fun, and BEElingual pride!

Families stepped into their children's world with the interactive 'A Day in My Shoes' experience, followed by an epic Taco Tuesday dinner from food trucks, lively music, dancing, and unforgettable insights into LatinX culture!

The night was filled with joy, laughter, and a true sense of community!

Check out the pics from Immersion Night

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow (10/21) is Picture Day! Make sure your child comes to school dressed in their best smile!

Spirit Week is Almost Here!

Get ready to celebrate Spirit Week at William C. Lewis Dual Language Elementary! We’re buzzing with excitement as this week will include fun, creative activities for the whole school. Here’s the lineup for the week:

Monday, October 28th: Color Wars
Each grade will represent a different color:

• Kindergarten - Blue
• 1st Grade - Green
• 2nd Grade - Purple
• 3rd Grade - Red
• 4th Grade - Yellow
• 5th Grade - Orange

Tuesday, October 29th: Bee Pride Day
Show off your school spirit by wearing your Lewis spirit gear or dressing up like a bee!

Wednesday, October 30th: Wacky Wednesday
It’s time to get wacky! Wear mismatched clothes and sport a wacky hairstyle.

Thursday, October 31st: Book Character Day
Dress as your favorite book character and bring your story to life!

Friday, November 1st: No School
There will be no school on Friday, so enjoy the long weekend!

We can’t wait to see everyone’s creativity and school spirit throughout the week!

Lewis Elementary is excited to announce our Boo Grams Fundraiser! From October 23rd to October 29th, students can purchase Boo Grams during their lunch (11 AM to 2 PM) for just $1 each (Cash ONLY). Each Boo Gram will come with a fa-boo-lous treat and be delivered on October 31st!

To purchase, be sure to provide the full name of the student who will be receiving the Boo Gram. Students can send Boo Grams to their friends, teachers, or anyone they'd like to surprise!

All funds raised from this fundraiser will go directly to benefit the students of Lewis Elementary, so your participation will help support our Hive!

Friendly reminder: There will be no school Friday, November 1st and Monday, November 4th due to professional development/responsibilities days. Be sure to check the calendar below, as there are quite a few no school days in the month of November.

Join us for School Choice 'Immersion Night' at Lewis on November 13th! This event, designed for prospective families, will feature dinner followed by an informative presentation about Lewis and our dual-language approach. Kindly share this information with friends and family members who are interested in Immersion. We look forward to welcoming you!

Cold weather is coming, and we want to make sure our students are warm. We have some winter coats and hats/gloves available. If you are in need of a coat for your student, please reach out to Ms. Amy (School Social Worker) with your student’s name and size. Her email is amye.oneill@redclay.k12.de.us.

Just a reminder, bilingualism is a superpower!

Buses tend to run a little slower during the first couple of weeks of school as drivers get used to their new routes and the faces of our students. We appreciate your patience during this time. If you encounter any issues with transportation, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to the transportation department at 302.322.0251. They are ready to assist with any concerns you may have.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could learn the exact location of your child’s bus and what time it will arrive at their stop? Red Clay has an app for that! WheresTheBus™ allows families to track the bus’s progress before it arrives at the student’s assigned stop. Knowing when the bus will arrive means peace of mind for parents, and it can help make mornings less hectic and stressful. No more rushing to the bus stop or uncertainty about when the bus will arrive—you can minimize waiting outside in inclement weather and enjoy more family time together.

This app isn’t just helpful for families; it’s also a valuable tool for the transportation department and our schools. Transportation Manager Kelly Shahan mentioned that the app eliminates the need for someone from transportation to call a driver on the radio to find out where they are. Instead, they can simply check a screen to see the bus’s location in real-time.

Additionally, the app allows parents to see when and where their student checks on and off the bus, ensuring that you know when your child has arrived at school in the morning and returned home in the afternoon.

How to Sign Up:

1. Visit www.WheresTheBus.com.
2. Click "Create Account."
3. Select "Red Clay School District (DE)" from the school drop-down list.
4. Add the student’s information (Last Name and Student ID) for the student you want to sign up.
5. Finish the account setup by entering your email and creating a password.

Signing up is free and takes less than 5 minutes. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make your mornings smoother and stay informed about your child’s transportation!

We've reestablished our social media presence to better engage and interact with you. Please follow our official Lewis pages to stay connected and informed:

We would like to remind families that our Smart Academy Program operates from 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM every Monday through Thursday. It is important that your child is picked up promptly at 5:15.

Kind reminder: Smart Academy students are dismissed from the main entrance on Van Buren Street. Please note, pick-up is not available from the 10th Street entrance, as it is designated for the LACC aftercare program. LACC staff can only release students enrolled in their program. If your child is part of the LACC aftercare, they will return to the program at approximately 5:15 PM.

We also kindly request that families discuss the behavioral expectations of the Smart Academy Program with your child. This program is a privilege and an extension of the regular school day for participating students. Therefore, adherence to these expectations is necessary for continued participation.

Thank you for your attention to these matters and your support in ensuring the success of our Smart Academy Program.

Contact Mrs. Kline with any questions regarding Smart Academy at melanie.kline@redclay.k12.de.us or 302.651.2695.

Our doors will open at 8:50 AM to receive students. Kindergarten through second students will enter through our front door on Van Buren Street. Third through Fifth-grade students will enter through our 10th Street entrance. Morning announcements will begin at 9:05 AM and classroom instruction will start at 9:10 AM. As a reminder, any student arriving after 9:05 AM will be marked tardy/late.

Dismissal Information:

• Kindergarten - cafeteria @ 3:45 pm. (10th street door)
• 1st grade - gym @ 3:50 pm. (10th street door)
• 2nd-5th grades - Cool Springs Park @ 3:50 pm.

As we prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, families, and staff, we kindly request your cooperation in adhering to a few essential guidelines:

1. Complete Stops at Stop Signs: When approaching stop signs near our school, please remember to make a full and complete stop. This ensures the safety of all pedestrians, including our students.

2. Respect Our Crossing Guards: Our dedicated crossing guards play a crucial role in safely guiding our students across the streets. Please pay close attention to their directives and follow their instructions diligently.

3. Avoid Double Parking: While it may seem like a time-saving solution, we kindly ask that you refrain from double parking to drop off or pick up students. Prioritizing safety over convenience is crucial. Let's work together to keep everyone safe.

Your cooperation in following these guidelines is greatly appreciated. Safety is our top priority, and together, we can create a secure environment for all. Thank you for your assistance and support!

In previous newsletters, we introduced families to Habits 1-4 from the "Leader in Me" program, designed to foster leadership and personal growth in our students. Now, we are excited to share Habits 5-8, which focus on helping students apply these principles to their daily lives.

• Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

  • Focus: Teaching students the importance of active listening and empathy in communication.
  • Ask your child: How can you make sure you're really listening to someone before sharing your own thoughts?
  • Dinner Table Discussion: Share a time when someone listened to you carefully. How did it make you feel?

• Habit 6: Synergize

  • Focus: Encouraging teamwork and collaboration by highlighting that we can achieve more together than alone.
  • Ask your child: Can you think of a time when you worked with someone to solve a problem? How did working together make things easier or better?
  • Dinner Table Discussion: Discuss a recent family activity where everyone worked together. How did each person’s contribution help?

• Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

  • Focus: Emphasizing the importance of self-care, balance, and continuous improvement.
  • Ask your child: What activities help you recharge and take care of yourself, both mentally and physically?
  • Dinner Table Discussion: Talk about ways the family can stay balanced and healthy together. What fun activities can we plan to refresh ourselves this week?

• Habit 8: Find Your Voice and Inspire Others to Find Theirs

  • Focus: Encouraging students to discover their unique talents and use them to make a positive difference.
  • Ask your child: What are you really good at, and how can you use that talent to help others or make the world a better place?
  • Dinner Table Discussion: Each family member can share something they love to do and discuss how they can use it to make a positive impact on others.

By continuing to explore these habits, we aim to empower our students to grow not only academically but also as well-rounded individuals who are prepared to make a positive impact on their community and the world. Thank you for supporting our students on their leadership journey!

Please take a few minutes to review our family handbook, which was also sent home with students.

This year K-3 students will keep Chromebooks at school, while Grades 4 & 5 will transport theirs to and from home daily. Only parents/guardians of 4th and 5th grade students will need to sign the Technology Usage Agreement and submit payment for the Chromebook Protection Plan Fee in cash ($20) or online at www.paypams.com.

Families of 4th and 5th-grade students, please complete the following Chromebook 1:1 Technology Agreement. These forms must be completed before 4th and 5th-grade students receive their Chromebooks.

Technology Agreement Form (English)

Technology Agreement Form (Spanish)

We are excited to share that the Red Clay Consolidated School District is rolling out Remind to users district-wide! Remind is a classroom communication tool that makes it easy to stay involved with your child's learning. Remind is free to use, and you can receive and send messages on any device, including text messages from your phone! Remind is used by educators in grades PreK through 12 in Red Clay. Remind Hub provides Red Clay the opportunity to rethink and enhance traditional communication methods and materials to engage families in new and innovative ways by reaching them where they are, including through SMS texting.

What is Remind?

• Remind is a messaging tool that helps teachers engage parents and students over the age of 13.
• Communication can be sent through SMS text messaging, email, the web, through the Remind app, and voice calling.
• Teachers are able to share links, class photos, videos, files, and voice clips with their families.
• Remind phone numbers and contact information are automatically updated from our district's Student Information System.
• Update your contact information with your school's main office in order to receive all messages from your child's teachers and school.
• Be sure to update your preferred language as well, if you would like to receive and send messages in a language other than English.

Please take a moment to watch this video: Getting Started with Remind

Additionally, please review the informational

Teachers will begin utilizing Remind Hub soon, so stay tuned!

Due to the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision, All Lewis students will receive a healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch each day at no charge for your household. No further action is required of you. Students must still pay for second entrees or a la carte items using their lunch accounts. (Visit: https://linqconnect.com)

October 21st: Picture Day

October 28th-31st: Spirit Week

October 31st: End of 1st Marking Period

November 1st: No School (Professional Development Day)

November 4th: No School (Professional Responsibilities Day)

November 4th: 2025-2026 School Choice Application Opens

November 5th: No School (Election Day)

November 11th: No School (Veteran's Day)

November 13th: School Choice Immersion Nigh

November 25th, 26th, 27th: No School (Parent/Teacher Conference Days)

November 28th & 29th: No School (Thanksgiving)

Website: https://www.redclayschools.com/LEWIS
Phone: 302.651.2695

Facebook: Facebook

Instagram: Instagram
Twitter: @LewisBeeNews