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CSD Staff Update: December 2023

CSD Staff Update: December 2023
CSD Staff Update: December 2023
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Dates to know

  • End of 2nd interim: 12-13-23

  • Staff Development - Colwyck only: 12-8-23

  • Board Meeting: 12-12-23

  • Winter Break - Schools & Offices Closed: 12/22/23 - 01/01/23

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WE got Jokes

  • What does a Starbucks employee’s job title change to in winter?
  • A brrrr-ista!
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WEekly Words of Wisdom

To kindness and love, the things we need most! - The Grinch

Happy Holidays Colonials!

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Here's to a fantastic December CSD! May your days be merry and bright!!

- The CSD Communications Department

2024 Referendum Update

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IT’S TIME . . . .

Colonial Teachers & Supporting Staff:

As you know, our district will be asking taxpayers to support a referendum on February 29th. Because you are the familiar faces that families see and trust they may come to you seeking answers or may make remarks that may prompt you to respond. Please review the link below.


Consider it a crib sheet filled with information about what a referendum is, why our district is seeking one, and why we believe it is time for Colonial Nation to unite as one to support this cause. WE can all become champions behind this campaign. Why? Because it is time. Simply put, our students deserve it and so do you. THIS INFORMATION will be posted on our website for all to read but our hope is you will be the first to review it so you fully understand what is at stake.


Thank you in Advance,

Jeff Menzer

Colonial Superintendent

Equity ERA: Engage-Reflect-Act

Equity Practitioner Program (EPP) - Cohort 9 starting January 20th!

Want to dig deeper into your Equity journey? The Equity Practitioner Program (EPP) program might be good for you.


Contact Crystal Lancour if you would like to join the Spring EPP9 cohort. (crystal.lancour@colonial.k12.de.us)

New CSD Spirit Wear Store

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Get your gear

We are now working with Al’s sporting goods as our online partner for CSD spirit wear. Please check out https://colonialschooldistrict.itemorder.com/shop/home/ to get your CSD gear today!

HUMAN RESOURCES

  • Graduate Salary Increment: Certified Staff must complete an application on the DEEDS website - Apply K-12 - Graduate Salary Increment. Once the application is complete an official transcript must be submitted to Jeanne Campbell in the Human Resources Division from the University. Official transcripts from the University can be mailed to the district office or sent to jeanne.campbell@colonial.k12.de.us

  • Colonial ID Badges: If you have had a name change or position change and would like a new ID Badge please contact Nicole.Perry@colonial.k12.de.us

  • The Human Resources Office will be closed from December 22, 2023 to January 2, 2024 and will not be able to complete verifications or teacher loan forgiveness forms.

Recruitment and Retention

  • WE Recruit!

    Are YOU a Colonial employee who is thinking about becoming a teacher? If the answer is YES, join us on January 26, 2024, WE are hosting a Para to Teacher VIP Event at William Penn High School.

    This is open to ALL Colonial employees who may have an interest in entering the teaching profession but don’t know how.

    All of our local educator preparation programs will be present to highlight their programs. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the multiple pathways to enter the profession and speak directly with university partners who can assist with finding the program that works best for you. Plus there are several scholarships, grants, memorandums of understanding, etc. that can provide money to offset the cost of obtaining a teaching degree.

    WE are asking YOU to help us prepare for this amazing event by completing this brief survey by December 8, 2023.


  • WE Retain!

    Calling ALL Colonial Teachers and Paraprofessionals!

    All teachers and paraprofessionals are invited to attend our next Affinity Space/Group session on December 5th via zoom! If you’re not sure what an affinity space is, that’s OK! Come join us to learn, connect, find support, and inspiration from your fellow colleagues. Be sure to register in advance through DSC for the time that works best for you. Click here to view the workshop numbers. Don’t delay, sign up today 😊!

Retirement

Sign up for Voya – your 403b/457b Investment Plans

There are many ways to prepare for retirement. The State of Delaware Pension Plan is one method. Another method is through investment. Voya is another method to save for your retirement. Remember, Voya is an investment plan similar to the 401k. Later in life, it will help to supplement social security and applicable pension payments. Please watch this two-minute video to learn more about Voya.

https://voyadelivers.com/delawaredefer/

Please note the HR/Benefits staff cannot enroll you in this plan. You have three options to enroll:

1. Online - please see enrollment flyer https://drive.google.com/file/d/12D7S8Wb6p5gw7KP0LXM1TBLYdmxRENer/view?usp=sharing

2. In-person: To schedule a meeting with a financial advisor https://go.oncehub.com/Voya_DelawareDeferComp_1on1MtgRequest

3. Phone – 302-318-8840

Updating Beneficiaries Newsletter

Have your beneficiaries changed? Have you updated your beneficiaries lately? Please review the Updating Beneficiaries newsletter to stay abreast of this subject. https://www.smore.com/ctwka-updating-beneficiaries

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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Nominate our 24-25 Behavioral Health Professional of the Year!


Do you know a Colonial staff member who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? The Behavioral Health Professional of the Year Award is given to a school employee whose position is health care practitioner or social or human services provider who offers services for the purpose of improving an individual’s mental health, such as

  • School counselors

  • School social workers

  • Licensed clinical social workers

  • School psychologists

  • School nurses

If you have questions, please email Cheri Woodall, Supervisor of Heath and Wellness, at cheri.woodall@colonial.k12.de.us

Please submit nominations by Friday, January 19, 2024 at https://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/about-us/behavioral-support-professional-of-the-year/

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SAFE De

  1. We are pleased to announce that Colonial has enrolled with Safe DE, by STOP it Solutions. Safe DE is a technology platform to assist students, parents, and staff in asking for and privately accessing a wide variety of help and resources.

    Our aim with Safe DE is to provide:

    1. Private access to basic needs resources,

    2. Convenient linkage to school, community, local, state, and federal resources and helplines,

    3. A culture that recognizes that all of us need help at different points in our life and asking for help is an important life skill.

    Safe DE is a tool that works by empowering students, parents, and staff to access help they need with dignity and privacy. All parties will have access to the Safe DE mobile app, which has three main features:

    1. ASK FOR HELP can be used to anonymously request help from local school contacts, including Messenger which allows anonymous two-way communication with school contacts and help requesters.

    2. CRISISTEXTLINE can be access directly from the app to text with non-local trained crisis counselors

    3. GET RESOURCES can be used to search community, local, state, and federal resources and helplines

    Colonial has designated users to access to Safe DE’s backend incident management system to manage and track requests. That system may also be used to assign requests to other individuals.

    For more information about Safe DE, please see this short video here. We appreciate your helping to spread the word about this great resource to students and families.

FINANCE AND PAYROLL

  • Just a friendly reminder, with tax season approaching soon, please check your my.delaware.gov accounts to determine if you opted to receive your tax forms (W-2 and 1095-C) via mail or electrically on the my.delaware.gov website. This includes all employees on a Regular Contract, Temporary Contract, Casual/Seasonal, EPER, Student Workers, Sub positions, etc. (non-agency staff) paid through Colonial (aka the State of Delaware). All of the referenced employee groups have access to my.delaware.gov where you can view and download your pay statements, annual tax forms, view your benefit summary and update your personal contact information (home email, phone and mailing/home address).

  • For those individuals who opted to receive tax forms via mail please confirm your home/mailing address on file is correct. If you need to make changes to your personal information, be sure to update your information prior to Winter Break to ensure timely delivery of annual tax forms.

  • Also, if you retire, resign, transfer into or out of Colonial or terminate you will still have access to your pay statements and tax forms through the my.delaware.gov website.

Colonial School District
colonialschooldistrict.org