• April 18-25 - No School (Spring Break)
• Wednesday, April 30th - Special Olympics Soccer (Forest Oak)

• Thursday, May 1st - Special Olympics Soccer (HB, McKean, and MTP)
• Monday, May 26th - No School (Memorial Day)
  
• Friday, May 30th - Meadowood Mile

• MTP Ceremony - TBD
• Saturday, June 7th - McKean's Graduation (12 pm)
• Monday, June 9th - 8th Grade Move-Up Ceremony; last day for 8th graders
  
• Tuesday, June 10th - 5th Grade Move-Up Ceremony
• Wednesday, June 11th - Last Day of School for Students
• Monday, June 23rd - Meadowood Summer Program Begins

Congratulations to Coach Kaiser for being nominated Meadowood's 2026 Teacher of the Year!!

Did you know that our very own Coach Kaiser not only does amazing work for our APE classes and Special Olympics but also has created and implemented a Unified Physical Education Course at McKean! She is also a member and presents at multiple state wide committees for Delaware. We are so proud to have her as our very own Coach and wish her the best of luck at the next level as they select the district Teacher of the Year! Thank you for all of the hard work that you do for the students and staff of the Meadowood Program!

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

We are asking you to complete the survey to help us learn what parents and guardians think about our school. Your thoughts and opinions are very important. Through this survey, we will use your experiences and opinions to help us build on our strengths and work to make improvements.

The survey will only take about 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed by desktop, laptop, or mobile device. If you have more than one child in this school, please complete the survey with one child’s experiences in mind.

The Delaware School Climate Survey was developed by the Delaware Positive Behavior Support Initiative (a partnership between the Delaware Department of Education and the Center for Disabilities Studies at the University of Delaware). There is no identifying information on the survey, so no one will know how you individually answered any of the questions. Information from completed surveys will be used by the University of Delaware to make a report for our school.

When completing the survey, please do the following:

• Answer every question
• Mark an answer that best describes what you believe about the situation described
• Due to the nature of the Meadowood Program, some questions might be difficult to answer, please provide us with your best choice
  
• Complete the survey by April 11, 2025
• Complete only 1 survey per child

Please feel free to contact me, or your child’s teacher, if you have any questions about the survey.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinions with us and helping to make our school a better place for all students.

To access the HOME version of the DE School Climate Survey by desktop or mobile device, please click the below:

PARENT SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEY - ENGLISH

PARENT SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEY - SPANISH

Sincerely,

Kathie Mattix

Principal

Learn and explore how to use your child's device in fun and functional ways at home to communicate together

Participate in hands on activities that incorporate AAC in outside play

SLPS will provide instruction. Please bring your child's device with you.

• Dates: June 23rd - July 24th

• Monday - Thursday - Summer program will be 4 days/week

• Location: Students in grades k-12 will be at Forest Oak Elementary; Meadowood Transition Program (MTP) will stay in their building

• Time: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

• No School Thursday, July 3rd

Please complete the form below to indicate if you want your child to participate in Meadowood Program for the summer.

Red Clay Autism Services is launching a fundraising campaign to partner with the Eagles Autism Foundation that brings awareness to diverse needs of students with Autism. Your donations can directly impact the lives of children and young adults with autism, helping them thrive in school and beyond.

The Eagles Autism Foundation is dedicated to raising funds for innovative research and care programs. By providing the necessary resources to doctors and scientists at leading institutions, we will be able to assist those currently affected by autism as well as future generations. Our event aims to inspire and engage the community, so together, we can provide much-needed support to make a lasting impact in the field of autism.

Special Olympics Soccer event is right around the corner! Elementary schools will be participating on Wednesday, April 30th and Secondary schools will play on Thursday, May 1st. Both events take place at Kirkwood Soccer Complex in New Castle; opening ceremony around 10:00. More information and permission slips will be sent home the first week in April. Please contact coach with any questions! Laura.Kaiser@redclay.k12.de.us.

On Thursday, May 8th, Brenna (McCloskey) Bruns, Mackenzie Frail, and Carol Percy will be going over the edge again as they rappel down the north face of 300 Delaware Avenue - a 17-story building in downtown Wilmington....that's 222 feet! Over the Edge fuels the mission of Special Olympics to provide year-round sports training, competition, leadership opportunities, and health screenings to over 4,000 athletes. Special Olympics athletes show us daily, the courage needed to face extraordinary circumstances on and off the playing field. Click on the links below to support Brenna, Mackenzie, Carol, and Special Olympics athletes today!

"Don't limit your challenges, challenge your limits" - Jerry Dunn

In April, students will work on Self Awareness skills. By the end of the month students will have learned about understanding their strengths, self advocacy, bullying and toxic relationships, and self care and positive affirmations. Click on the social story below to review with your student at home .

Students across the program have completed the Spring SAEBRS. SAEBRS, or Social, Academic, Emotional, Behavior Rating Screener, can identify behavioral and emotional strengths as well as areas in need of growth. The data allows our school teams to offer additional and more targeted intervention to support the SEB needs of all students.

SAEBRS is administered in the fall and spring. Teachers utilize the teacher-report screener (SAEBRS) for students K-3 as well as any students that the school team feels would be best screened through a teacher-report. Students in grade 4 and up are able to utilize the self-report screener (mySAEBRS) if that is deemed appropriate for the student’s cognitive level. Teachers are able to assist students with the mySAEBRS if that is the best fit.

The Red Clay Consolidated School District (RCCSD) is committed to supporting every student’s academic growth as well as their social emotional and behavioral (SEB) wellbeing. As part of this commitment, along with Delaware’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) state regulations, all teachers (K-3) and students (4-12) will be completing an emotional wellbeing screener this school year.

Breakfast with the Bunny, New Castle County

Saturday, April 5th

10AM - 12:30PM

Aetna Fire Hall - Newark

Buy Tickets: https://www.classy.org/.../breakfast-with-the-bunny/e647185

True Life Church is excited to invite children and their families to enjoy our sixth Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt. This no-pressure Egg Hunt is designed with all-needs children in mind. We will have unique egg hunt environments for children who have visual impairment, physical impairment, autism or other special needs. We believe this is going to be a memorable day for your child. Activities included at the event are multiple egg hunt environments, face painting, indoor playground*, pictures with the Easter bunny, crafts, and a variety of games. Our heart is to make every child feel loved and celebrated on this special day! EVENT WILL BE HELD RAIN OR SHINE. Please register here.

Join the Center for Disabilities Studies and the Access:Ability Scholars program at the University of Delaware for a screening of The Ride Ahead, a groundbreaking documentary that follows Samuel Habib as he navigates the transition to adulthood while living with a disability.

Afterwards, stay for a Q&A with filmmakers Dan and Sam Habib to discuss the making of the film, the importance of authentic disability representation, and the broader movement for disability justice.

As part of this special event, we will also celebrate the achievements of our graduating Access:Ability Scholars, recognizing their commitment to advancing accessibility and inclusion.

There is so much to celebrate and recognize during the month of March!

Spread awareness about the causes that mean the most to you by wearing your favorite gear.

National Occupational Therapy Month is celebrated in April to honor the profession and bring awareness. Occupational Therapy is a health profession that helps people of all ages participate in everyday activities by addressing physical, sensory, or cognitive challenges, promoting health, and maximizing their potential for independence and well-being. Thank you to our amazing OTs who support our staff and students everyday: Cait Fleury, Teresa Calibey, Kerry McHugh and Megan Ramage.

Every April Autism Speaks celebrates World Autism Month, beginning with the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. This year marks the 18th annual World Autism Awareness Day.

Every April, on Wear Blue Day we kickoff the observance of national Child Abuse Prevention Month by wearing blue to demonstrate our support for children’s well-being. Every child deserves to grow up in a home where they feel loved and safe. Blue is the color of hope and protection, and on April 4th, we wear blue to show our commitment to preventing child abuse.

National Arab American Heritage Month takes place in April. It celebrates the Arab American heritage and culture past and present and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans. It also serves as a time to combat Anti-Arab bigotry and to challenge stereotypes and prejudices.

National Assistant Principals Week, April 7–11, 2025, is a celebration of the unsung heroes in our education system. These dedicated folks work tirelessly to bolster teachers, motivate students, support their principal, create a positive learning community, and face the many unpredictable challenges that land on their desk. Assistant Principals play a crucial role, and this week is a dedicated time to recognize them for their hard work and commitment to our schools, students, and profession. Thank you Megan O'Donnell and Julia Tulloch for all you do!

Wednesday, April 2nd is Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! Paraprofessional Appreciation Day is a day to recognize and honor the hard work and dedication of paraprofessional educators Paraprofessionals are crucial to the Meadowood Program and we thank you for all that you do to support our students and staff!

National Kindergarten Day is celebrated each year on April 21st and honors Friedrich Wilhelm August Fröbel, who started the first Kindergarten in 1837. Kindergarten, which means garden for the children, allowed children to smoothly transition from home to school.

National School Bus Driver Day is held on the fourth Tuesday in April and is a time to celebrate and recognize all of the hardworking and dedicated professionals who safely transport our children everyday. The role of a bus driver is often overlooked, but without them our schools would not be able to function properly and we celebrate them on April 22nd!

Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday, April 23rd! Thank you Kerry Yount for going above and beyond everyday. You help keep our program running seamlessly and we could not do it without you. We are so lucky to have you on our team!

We are less than $300 away from our $1000 in sales goal! Check out our MTP/Meadowood online store today to see all the different clothing and accessory options, not to mention all the different logo styles! New promotions weekly!

Please be mindful! If your student is sick, please keep them home. District protocol states:

• A student must be fever free (without medication) for 24 hours before returning to school.

• If a student is out for vomiting or diarrhea, they must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.

• Don’t forget to talk with your school nurse if your student needs to take daily medication, emergency medication, has food or environmental allergies or requires treatments in school. Nurses will need parent permission forms, doctor written emergency action plans, and doctor’s orders. Remember any medication sent into school, needs to be in the original container with a pharmacy prescription label.

• Please send in an extra pair of clothes to keep in your student’s locker/classroom just in case it is needed for accidents or spills.

• Please fill out your STUDENT DATA CARDS and return to school. This is important to update your student’s health and your contact information. You can also give permission for Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Tums to be given as needed. This will come home with your student during the first month of school.

• Every year, vision and hearing screening is done on each student as part of Delaware State Regulations. Postural screening is done yearly from 5th grade through 9th grade. Screenings typically start at the end of September into October. If you have any concerns with screenings, please contact your school nurse.

• If your student requires use of glasses or a hearing aid, please send these in with your student to school every day. Vision and hearing are very important for your child to be successful in school.

• Dress for the weather! Be sure your student has a jacket, hat, and gloves on those cold winter days! If you do not have these items, please reach out to your nurse for help.

• SUNSCREEN: Please consider placing sunscreen on your child prior to coming to school during the warmer months when students may participate in outdoor activities.

• Some school have two nurses. Although Meadowood students are normally served by the first nurse listed, the secondary nurse might also be in contact with you about your child.