CSD Staff Update: October 2024

Did you know that your time is frontloaded in DSC at the start of each year? While you earn one day per month, if you work the majority of that month, it is all reflected in DSC at the start of the year. The frontloading process can have many implications for you. See examples below:

• Typical Absences: no impact

• Example: you get the flu in September and have to be out 3 days in your first year; you technically, only earned 1 day for the year so far

• Leave of Absence: impact

• Example: you get into an accident on September 20, 2024. You used a sick day on September 9, 2024. You cannot return to work per your doctor. While DSC shows you have 9 sick days left, they are frontloaded. You cannot utilize those days for a leave of absence. Therefore, you will not be paid.

• Resignation: impact

• Example: you resign in January. You have used all of your sick leave for the year. Therefore, you owe the district for five days of time that you utilized that were unearned. The monetary equivalent of those days will be withheld from your final paycheck.

• First event: November 2nd is our Statewide DE Math Equity Conference!

• Here is a link to a preview of the program for the day - we have an amazing lineup of speakers!

• Tentative Conference Schedule:

• 8:30 A.M. - 8:55 A.M. - Registration

• 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. - Welcome & Opening Keynote [Dr. Jennifer Bay-Williams]

• 10:10 A.M. - 11:10 A.M. - Breakout Sessions

• 11:20 A.M. - 12:20 P.M. Lunch & Sponsor Sessions

• 12:30 P.M. - 1:30 PM - Breakout Session

• 1:40 P.M. - 2:40 P.M. - Closing Keynote

• Click Here to register and join us.

• The cost is $25 and is covered by Title 2 (put Crystal Lancour’s email address as the person receiving the invoice).

• Second event: December 5th - An Evening with Graham Fletcher and “Finding the Through Lines” for PreK-12+
  

• Here is a link to the flier for the event!

• Date: December 5th

• Location: Wilmington University, Dover, DE

• Time: 5:00-7:00 pm

• Click Here to register and join us.

• The cost is $25 and is covered by Title 2 (put Crystal Lancour’s email address as the person receiving the invoice).

• Delaware’s Multilingual Learner Population has grown from 10,543 students in 2014 to 18,778 in 2024, a 78% increase. Delaware currently has 26,678 students, or 18% that are multilingual learners (both current ELs and former ELs). Spanish is the top language with 74%, followed by Haitian Creole at 5%, Arabic at 3% and 99 other languages represented across the state of Delaware. You can read about Delaware’s strategic plan and core values here: Multilingual Learners – Legacy Pages (delaware.gov) The Strategic Plan for Multilingual Learners has also been translated into Delaware’s top 8 languages.
  

• Colonial School District is home to approximately 1230 MLL students or 14 % of our population. Our top language is Spanish with 79%, followed by Haitian Creole, Arabic, French, and Turkish (all at 2%) and 23 other languages.
• “The DDOE honors students’ language abilities as an asset and values the many languages Multilingual Learners (MLLs) bring to enrich Delaware classrooms. Using the term Multilingual Learner (MLL) emphasizes the importance of respecting home language as students are simultaneously learning English in Delaware schools. While the term “English learner” may continue to be used in federal and state policy, DDOE Guidance and resources have already begun to reflect this shift.” - DDOE

Do you know an amazing Gr 7-12 Math or Science teacher? Nominate him/her for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. It is an wonderful award that provides great experiences for the finalists and state winners. It opens doors to future opportunities. Check the website linked above for Here are the eligibility requirements.

Colonial has not had a winner in DE in a while and we would LOVE to see someone here shine! Nominate someone today!!! Let’s make sure Colonial has the next PAEMST Awardee!

• The Delaware School Counselor Association (DSCA) is accepting nominations for its Delaware School Counselor of the Year award. Submit nominations for school counselors who have gone above and beyond the regular duties of their jobs to plan and implement programs and activities that make a difference for Delaware students, families, and communities. Nominate school counselors online by Monday, Nov. 4.

Note: This award is not the same as DDOE’s Behavioral Health Professional of the Year award.

• For more information, including instructions on how to download the application, please visit the Colonial School District website.

• The Health and Wellness Division is working closely with our Visiting Teachers and Community In Schools partners to support regular student attendance. With your help, we can make every day count. What we need from you:

• Update student attendance regularly and accurately

• When a student is frequently absent, reach out to the family in a supportive manner to find out why they are missing school. If you are not able to reach out, connect with your school counselor and/or school nurse to discuss your attendance concerns so someone else can connect with the family.

• Share with parents the importance of regular attendance (i.e. Missing 2 days a month can lead to a student missing 20 days a year. If this continues from Kindergarten through 12th grade, a student could miss 1 year of school by graduation).

• Create a nurturing and engaging classroom that will encourage students to come to school.

• Encourage families to connect with other school staff and community partners to get the resources they need.

As of September 30th, we had over 1,500 students miss 2 or more days of school (10% of the school year). By working together, WE can help our students Be Present and Be Powerful (the 2024 Attendance Works Campaign theme).

• Our first Equity Summit is Wed, November 20th, 5:30-7:30 at the Route 9 Library

• Flier with RSVP Link for participants

• It will be paired with a food distribution for our families in need.

• Each school/building will be asked to contribute food baskets as part of a food drive for this event.

Here is information that details what each food basket should include. We are also looking for a point person from each school/building to help coordinate this effort.

Previously special education teachers received an additional 15 hours over the course of the year. This year we have increased the hours, and they will now receive 25 hours (hours may not exceed 25 hours for the year).

• (25 Hours) Writing IEPs Compensation Procedure

• CSD IEP Hours Form

• Window 1: November 11, 2024 - November 15, 2024

• Window 2: May 12, 2025 - May 16, 2025

• Interviews for our Architect and Engineering firms took place on Friday, 9/27. The committee is looking to forward recommendations to the October Board meeting for approval and then following approval things will quickly move forward to begin planning phases for the first year’s CN projects!

• Construction on the Operations Center is moving closer and closer to completion. Base layer pavement was being poured this week and the timeline still looks promising to have the buses return to the Operations Center by October 18th! Currently buses are still running out of Delaware Park with our office staff working between both the Operations Center and in a temporary office at Delaware Park.

Google Drive has recently updated its privacy settings, affecting both students and staff. Now, instead of granting Schoology access to your entire Drive, Google requires each file to be shared individually with Schoology. This change aims to enhance the security of your Drive account.

Before using any Google files in Schoology, users must grant access through the Resource tab. Please watch the following tutorial on how to grant access:

https://www.iorad.com/player/2363562/Google-Drive-Resource-Update-4-11-24?#trysteps-1

• “School Lunch Pirates: Find your Treasure!” National School Lunch Week is a week-long celebration held from October 14-18. Students can enjoy delicious entree items in our decorated school cafes to celebrate National School Lunch Week! This week is a great opportunity to highlight the positive impact providing nutritious school lunches has on our students.

• October is Farm to School Month! Celebrate with is in the Colonial Cafes by tasting fresh.local produce from Penn Farm and Fifer Orchards on Tasting Tuesday’s! Menu items include roasted summer squash and zucchini, fresh apples, roasted winter squash and apple cider. WE are so grateful to be able to incorporate fresh and local produce into school meals

• WE want to thank the staff and community who participated in the Giant Foods Roundup Event this summer. Through this program, Colonial is receiving a donation of almost $12,000. Soon, we will be working to use these funds to provide items to our Food Pantries in support of the students and families of Colonial Nation.