McCullough Family Update

I hope that you all enjoyed the weekend! This week is a five day week for students. Please see the updates below...

Week of 5/6 Exploratory Schedule

• Monday, May 6th: B Day

• Tuesday, May 7th: A Day

• Wednesday, May 8th: B Day

• Thursday, May 9th: A Day

• Friday, May 10th: B Day

This week marks Teacher Appreciation Week! I encourage you to take time this week to reach out to at least one of your child's teachers this week to thank them for the impact they have had on your child:)

On Tuesday, May 7th, Colonial is GOING GREEN for Mental Health Awareness month. The district is encouraging all CSD students and staff to wear green on May 7th to show our support for Mental Health awareness. Please encourage your student to wear GREEN on Tuesday, May 7th!

The Reading Inventory Benchmark Assessment will be taken by all McCullough students the morning of May 9th from 8:30am-10:00am. Students have reviewed their middle of the year score with their ELA teachers and have set goals for the upcoming assessment. Please speak with your student about the upcoming assessment, ask them about their goal, and ask them to try their best to meet their goal!

We will be hosting an educational event for our students that have Asthma at McCullough that is being planned by Nurse Green on Thursday, May 16th from 10:00am-11:30am at McCullough. The event will be in partnership with Nemours & The American Lung Association. There will be a virtual component for parents prior to the event on May 16th. All students/families that are invited to attend this event will receive communication from Nurse Green electronically via email and via hardcopy that will be sent home with the students invited. We are excited about this opportunity. Please feel free to reach out to Nurse Green with any questions that you may have regarding this event.

Finally, as a reminder, if you are interested in serving as a parent chaperone for our upcoming class trips, please be sure to use the link below and reach out to your child's grade level administrator. All interested chaperones must also complete the online volunteer application linked below. This application does take time to process, so we encourage all interested chaperones to complete the form as soon as possible.

We are looking forward to the upcoming 7th and 8th grade class trips.

• 7th Grade Class Trip: Sky Zone - May 23rd
• 8th Grade Class Trip: Hershey Park - June 3rd

Let's have an amazing week as a school community and remember, Mustangs Run Together!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Hyacinth Lewis, Principal

Please use the QR code or link below to RSVP for our upcoming event to celebrate our McCullough Mom's!

Roses & Chocolates Mother's Day RSVP (click link)

The 8th-grade Formal Dance is scheduled for May 29, 2024, from 6:30p.m. – 9:30p.m. at the Executive Banquet Center in Newark (205 Executive Dr, Newark, DE 19702). The purpose of this dance is to allow our outgoing 8th graders to celebrate their success and hard work in middle school with their classmates and teachers. Only 8th grade McCullough students are permitted to attend. Tickets are on sale from April 17th through May 20th during homeroom and lunch, and the cost is $35.00 per student. Please review the letter that what sent home with your student regrading the formal. We also encourage you to review the presentation that was shared with students.

8th Grade Formal Presentation (click link)

As a reminder the our Wellness Center is open for enrollment! Enrolling your student into our Wellness Center will not replace your primary care doctor, but will be in addition to. The services are free and can be done during the school day (parents will not have to leave work).

Please complete Nemours enrollment packet. Once your child is enrolled, we can call and schedule their appointment. Parents/guardians may be present for appointment, join via phone or video or have your student complete on their own. Please complete the parent portion of the DIAA form before appointment and bring to appointment. The DIAA form will be completed and handed directly to the school to ensure your student may participate in sports once medically cleared. The physicals will be competed free of charge.

Please use the button below to enroll in the McCullough Wellness Center (Hard copies of the enrollment form can also be found in the main office).

• 5/6/2024-5/10/2024: Teacher Appreciation Week

• 5/6/2024: MP4 Interims Close

• 5/6/2024: Baseball & Softball vs. George Read at Home @ 3:30

• 8th-grade celebration will start at approximately 3:15

• 5/7/2024: 8th Grade Science DeSSA Testing (In Classes)

• 5/8./2024: Baseball & Softball Away at Gunning Bedford @ 3:30

• 5/8/2024: Track vs. Gunning Bedford at William Penn @ 3:30

• 5/9/2024: RI Spring Benchmark Assessment (All Grades)

• 5/13/2024: IReady Spring Benchmark (All Grades)

• 5/13/2024: Asthma Parents Virtual Open House @ 7:00pm

• 5/15/2024: 7th Grade SS DeSSA Testing (In Classes)

• 5/15/2024: Asthma Parents Virtual Open House @ 5:30pm

• 5/16/2024: MC Asthma Student Event from 10:00am-11:30am

• 5/16/2024: MC Athletics Banquet

Our library has gone through a complete overhaul over the last few years with upgrades, such as painting, new furniture and new books. Students are able to visit the library to check out books during period 2 on their classes designated day. We are continuing to look for books to add to our library that represent our diverse student population and their interests. If you are interested in knowing what books are in our library please use the link below...

https://dlc.lib.de.us/client/en_US/COLO/search/advanced

We also encourage you to follow our new library Instagram page @mcculloughreads (click link) to see all the great things happening in our library.

McCullough offers DIAA sports teams during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Please visit our athletics website (click link) to learn more about the sports that we offer.

Sports Requirements & Physicals

• Student athletes must maintain passing grades in all 4 year long classes (ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies).

• 2023-2024 DIAA Sports Physical Form (use this form if you are taking your child to their doctor for the physical.

Grade level Administrators & Counselors(click names to send and email)

The names and contact emails for our grade level assistant principals, student advisor and school counselors are listed below. They are your go-to contacts for supporting your student. Our school phone number is 302-429-4000 and our secretaries are Ms. Moore & Ms. Butcher.

• Principal: Hyacinth Lewis

• 6th Grade Admin: Sarah Bateman 6th Grade Counselor : Nichelle Artwell

• 7th Grade Admin: Aaron Lamb 7th Grade Counselor: Tonya Bailey-Smiley

• 8th Grade Admin: Nicole Sumner Grade Counselor: Kahlil Fitzpatrick

Follow us on Social Media

There are lots of amazing things going on at McCullough, so I encourage you to follow us on Facebook (click link) and on Instagram (click link) to see all of the wonderful things happening at school! Please review our weekly update that contains announcements and updates for families.

Hallway Transitions

Please continue to speak with your student regarding school rules and expectations. Grade level admin are continuing to complete hall sweeps during transitions. Please speak with your student about transitioning themselves directly from class to class. Students should arrive to class on time and come to class with all materials needed to learn.

Student Lockers

In order to ensure the safety of our students and their belongings, all lockers that are unsecured (do not have a lock) will be secured. If students wish to be able to use a locker at school, they must present a lock to their homeroom teacher to be assigned a locker. We plan to have combination locks available for sale in the main office for $1.00 dollar. Students may bring in their own lock from home if they would like to.

Social Media Challenges

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.

After School Activities

After school activities such as clubs and sports have started at McCullough. Please know that we conclude after school activities at 4:30pm. Students may be picked up or they can take the after school bus (if they are a bus rider). Please be patient with after school buses; if they are late arriving to McCullough your student may be delayed with getting home. If you are picking up your student please arrive promptly at 4:30pm.

Student Arrival & Car Rider Line

As a reminder, our doors open at 7:55 AM for students, advisory meetings in homeroom will begin at 8:15am and students are considered late if they arrive after 8:20am. All walkers and car riders will enter the building through the front door and buses will still drop off and pick up in the rear of the building. In order to ensure that we have safe arrival and dismissal we are asking that parents dropping off students be sure to...

• Pull up in single line along the curb
• Pull your car up as far as you can
• Be sure that your student is ready to promptly exit your vehicle in order to keep the line moving (arrival only)

Student Expectation Reminders

Please discuss with your student the importance of adhering to our school expectations....

• Please reinforce the importance of respect & the boundaries for students.

• Please continue to remind your student regarding cell phone expectations (click link).

• Please review the student code of conduct (click link) & discuss appropriate dress with your student(s). Such as...

• Hats & hoods should be off in the building

• Midriffs should be covered

• Ski masks should not be worn in the building

COVID 19 Guidance

As we approach cold/flu season please be sure to monitor your student for signs that indicate that they are ill. If your child is not feeling well they should not attend school. Colonial School District is continuing to monitor the increased reports of COVID-19 cases nationally. Students and families should refer to Delaware Department of Education’s Isolation and Exposure Guidance for K – 12 School Settings for guidance on testing positive for or exposure to COVID-19. This document will provide information on when you should return to school following a positive test and what to do following exposure.

Families who have any further questions should consult with their primary care provider for specific medical guidance. Your school nurse continues to be available to support your student’s medical needs at school.

The Winners After School Program will be held at McCullough for the 2023-2024 school year. The program is scheduled to run from 3:15pm to 6:00pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when school is open from October 3, 2023 through May 23, 2024. While in the program students may participate in tutoring, mentoring, homework help, academic enrichment, music, arts, sports, cultural activities, and community service opportunities. Participating students will have the option to ride the 4:30pm after school bus home or will be picked up by parent/guardian/designee anytime after 4:30pm. If you are interested in having your child participate in the Winners Program please use the link below to register your child.

Please be advised that students may not participate in the program until they are registered. Space for the program is limited so we encourage families to complete the form as soon as possible.

Website: https://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/mccullough/
Location: 20 Chase Avenue, New Castle, DE, USA
Phone: 3024294000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McculloughCSD