Southern Family Weekly Update

• June 4th: Southern Shark Spirit Day-Wear your Southern gear or our school colors. (Black and silver)
• June 5th, 2024: Last day of school for students. This is a 1/2 for students with a 12:55pm Dismissal.

• Just a reminder that if you have any changes to your students transportation to or from school please contact the school office at 302-832-6300.

If your student has medication in the school nurse's office, please make arrangements to pick up the medication by the last student day. Any medication not picked up will be disposed of properly. The only exception will be if your student is attending summer programs at Southern. Summer program students may keep their medications in the nurse's office until the last day of summer programs. Please call the school nurse's office with any questions. 302-832-6306. Thank-you and hope everyone has a wonderful summer break.

1. All shirts must cover shoulders, chest, and midriff.

2. Pants and shorts are to be worn at the waist.

3. The length of skirts, skorts, shorts, and dresses must be at least mid-thigh in length or fingertip length.

4. Footwear must be worn at all times. (Rubber-soled shoes are required for Physical Education class.)

5. Clothing with inappropriate, suggestive, or derogatory pictures or phrases may not be worn.

6. Clothing designed to be worn as undergarments may not be visible.

7. No headwear is to be worn in the building during the school day. This includes, but is not limited to hats, bandanas, scarves, earmuffs, sunglasses, or any other head covering, including hoods. Unless for religious purposes.

8. Clothing with frayed or visible holes are not permitted unless there is a layer of clothing under the frayed item.

9. Students wearing jewelry or accessories that may be considered unsafe or inappropriate to the learning environment may be subject to review by the administration.

10. Any other garments or accessories that would be a distraction to the orderly educational process are prohibited.

As we begin a new school year, as a reminder, 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.

• Arrival Procedures
• Dismissal Procedures
• Please do not park in the fire lane in front of the building. If you need to enter the building please park in a space in the parking lot.
• Please stay in your car during drop off and pick up. This helps with the flow of traffic.

• No outside food will be allowed for special occasions. If you would like to order items for the classroom please reach out to our cafeteria at 302-832-6307. Families can order approved items for classrooms.

Families,

We are excited to offer spirit wear this year through the BSN Sports website. This is a direct to customer website that you can order from. Please visit the link below to learn more.

http://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/delaware/newcastle/southern-elementary-school

• Reminder that the student school day begins at 8:45am and ends at 3:30pm
• Please do not drop your student off before 8:45am because we do not have staff to supervise them.

• Southern families please ensure that you contact the school at 302-832-6300 and notify our secretaries of any dismissal changes by 2:00pm. This is to allow for enough time to properly notify your students teacher.

• If your child is a bus rider please ensure you review the bus expectations with your child prior to the first day of school.
• Bus Expectations

• If you are not getting my weekly update phone calls and emails each Sunday evening, please call one of our secretaries to ensure we have your correct phone number and email.

• Students should be in the building by 8:55. Students arriving after 8:55 will be marked tardy.
• Students will NOT be marked tardy if their bus arrives late.

Parents that drive children to school in the morning, please do not allow your child to walk across the parking lot unaccompanied. When dropping off your child, you must pull to the curb and have your child exit the car from the passenger side.

• From the nurses, As part of our health and wellness policy please remember to keep your student home if they are experiencing a fever over 100.0, diarrhea or vomiting. They must remain home until they are 24 hours free of fever without medication, diarrhea or vomiting. They must also be eating and drinking normally.
  

• Please send in extra clothing for your student (KN-5th) to keep in their lockers. Parents will be called to bring clothing to school if the nurse does not have any to borrowed clothing to fit your student.

• If your student is still missing their health requirements for school, please complete these requirements soon to avoid possible exclusion from school.
• All Student Medications will need to be brought to the school nurse by a parent or responsible adult. Parents must pick up medications from the school nurse. No medications will be sent home via the student. If you have any questions please reach out the our nurses at 302-832-6300.
• Nemours School based wellness center packets were sent home. This is an optional service for families. If you are interested in participating please return the packets to your child's teacher as soon as possible.

Before and Aftercare will be provided Monday through Friday.

Before Care will run 7:00am-9:00am

After Care will run 3:30pm-6:30pm

Dismissal Update!

Effective January 3, 2023. ALL students who attend the PAL aftercare program will not be dismissed before 4:00. If your student needs to be dismissed before 4:00, please contact Southern Elementary and make them a car rider. You can contact the school by telephone at 302-832-6300.

Implementing this new dismissal time will eliminate confusion with Southern’s School day dismissal. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact the PAL directly,

302-488-8387.

Reminders!

Discipline Policy

1st Incident: To the best extent possible, the child will be moved to a private setting with a staff member and site supervisor. The child will receive an explanation as to why their behavior was inappropriate and will receive a verbal warning.

2nd Incident: Site leadership will determine an appropriate consequence for the child's action. This may include restrictions from further activity or quiet time away from other campers. The child's parent/guardian will be notified of the behavioral problem.

3rd Incident: Parent/guardian will be contacted and asked to pick up the child.

Email: richard.bryson@colonial.k12.de.us
Website: www.colonialschooldistrict.org/southern
Location: 795 Cox Neck Road, New Castle, DE, USA
Phone: (302)832-6300