Mote Bulldog Bulletin 13

• Vision: Anna P. Mote Elementary will prepare our students to make positive contributions to society by being culturally responsive and civically conscious critical thinkers.

• Mission: To provide a family-oriented school community where all members are committed to the academic, social, and emotional growth for all students.
• School's Core Values:
• Give Respect, Be Responsible, Cooperate with Others, Welcome Diversity, Learn with a Growth Mindset

Monday December 9- B Day

Tuesday December 10- C Day, Band/Strings Concert

Wednesday December 11- D Day

Thursday December 12- A Day

Friday December 13- B Day, Top Dog Awards

Monday December 16- C Day

Tuesday December 17- D Day

Wednesday December 18- A Day, 7pm Board Meeting

Thursday December 19- B Day

Friday December 20- C Day, Pajama Day

We are thrilled to welcome Millie K., a 4-year-old lab mix and advanced-level therapy dog, to our school community! Millie, who is also an AKC-certified Canine Good Citizen, joins us with her handler, Mr. K., our school psychologist. Trained at PAWS for People, Millie has been bringing joy and comfort since 2020. She enjoys nature, swimming, and making friends with people and animals alike.

Therapy dogs like Millie undergo extensive training in obedience and therapy certification, equipping them to provide emotional support and stress relief. Their presence in schools helps reduce anxiety, foster emotional well-being, and promote mental health awareness. Therapy dogs create a calming environment where students feel safe to express themselves, seek help, and engage in activities like reading, which research shows improves academic and social outcomes. Millie’s arrival will help enhance our school’s sense of community and promote positive behaviors and mutual respect.

Millie will be here at Mote, mostly in Mr. K's room. If you do not want for your child to engage in activities with Millie, please email Mrs. Young- lauren.young@redclay.k12.de.us, Mr. K- Matthew.kupelian@redclay.k12.de.us, or your child's teacher to opt out. You can also call the front office.

Portraits from our Family Portrait Night on November 12 will be sent home no later than Tuesday afternoon. We apologize for the delay with printing.

We are so excited for our band and strings students to perform for their peers on Tuesday 12/10 in the afternoon and then again for their parents at 6pm here in the gym. All families are invited. All students must be accompanied by an adult.

Students from Cab Calloway will be here on Monday 12/16 to sing holiday songs to our students. They will be here from 11:00-11:30.

December Calendar of Fun

Matthew Kupelian, Mr. K., is Mote's school psychologist. Mr. K. went to the University of Delaware as an undergraduate and Millersville University for school psychology. Mr. K has also worked at Baltz, Highlands, AIMS, Linden Hill, Conrad, and Warner. Mr. K finds it most rewarding helping students find a sense of belonging by helping them find good friends, improve relationships, or by getting involved in a program. Mr. K's hobbies include dogs, hiking, hiking with dogs, environmental causes, the Steelers, and going to concerts. He just saw Bruce Springsteen in Ashbury Park, NJ. He also volunteers in the community with several organizations; his church, the West End Neighborhood House, the Newark Empowerment Center, and the STAR Foundation. A fun fact about Mr. K. is he has been to Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Greece, and France. He ran cross country and track in high school and has run 6 half-marathons, lots of 5Ks, and enjoys running with students at Mote.

Millie Kupelian is brand new to Mote. She will be a friend, confidante, and therapist for all. Millie has already explored the playground and walking paths and has taken long naps in Mr. K's office. Millie is highly educated and dual-certified. She is an AKC "Canine Good Citizen" and an Advanced-Level PAWS for People Therapy dog. She has volunteered at the VA Hospital, supported a local soccer team, and supported a local cross country team. Millie finds it most rewarding to meet people and help make them feel better. Outside of school, Millie enjoys hiking, swimming, playing with friends, seeing what's in the trash can, travelling, retrieving sticks from creeks and rivers, and fine dining (she's been called a "foodie"). She also LOVEs eating cookies, dozing by the wood stove, digging holes, and chasing squirrels and deer. A fun fact about Millie is that she is a Jersey Girl, born in the Garden State in 2020. Everyone things she is a black lab but she actually has over 8 different types of relatives. She also enjoys interacting with cats, goats, and pigs.

We hope you were able to take advantage of the food drive during conferences. We now have a food closet available to families in need. If you are someone you know is in need of food, please reach out to the front office or your child's teacher to schedule a time to visit the food closet.

The month of December is filled with fun dress up days and activities. They are all optional, but we hope you will engage in at least a few.

Calendar in English

calendario en espanol

With the help of the Red Clay School District, Mote has partnered with Communities in Schools of Delaware. Ms. Briah Hobbs has joined the Mote staff. Her role is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Communities in Schools of Delaware's evidence-based approach, adapted to meet each community's unique needs, is the key to their success.

The PTA is working hard this year to create great opportunities for the staff and students at Mote. Please consider becoming a member of the PTA.

Mote uses a 4 day rotation for Related Arts. Please check in with your child's teacher to see what your child has on A-D days. The letter for the day is listed in this newsletter under Upcoming Events.

Please make sure your child has their library book on library days and sneakers on gym days.

Please send your child with a reusable water bottle each day. We do prefer clear liquid (water) in the event of a spill. These water bottles are especially important on days the students have gym. There are no working water fountains in the gym.

Thank you for helping your child be prepared (and RESPONSIBLE).

If you are interested in volunteering at Mote or attending field trips, please use the links below to complete the necessary paperwork. Then call the front office to let them know the paperwork has been completed and accepted.

https://www.redclayschools.com/cms/lib/DE01903704/Centricity/domain/66/volunteer/Volunteer%20Form%20English%203-22-24.pdf

https://www.redclayschools.com/cms/lib/DE01903704/Centricity/domain/66/volunteer/Volunteer%20Form%20Spanish%2010-31-23.pdf

If your child requires an early dismissal, please send in a note in the morning indicating the time. We close down the office for dismissals between 3:15-4:00.

You must have an id to sign out your child from the office.

We will not call students to the office until you arrive for the early dismissal. This maximizes their instructional time before they leave.

It is inevitable that throughout the year, your child will come home upset about something. We ask that you use the following process to deal with the situation.

1. Understand that there are two sides to every story. Your child is sharing the story from his/her perspective.

2. Ask your child for more information. Empower them to handle this situation on their own (if they are able).

3. Speak directly with the teacher for clarification and to problem solve. Share your concerns without blame. It will allow you and the teacher to talk through the situation and reach an agreed upon solution.

4. If the situation is not resolved after speaking with the teacher, please reach out to administration for support.

We do not allow for families to send in items for a birthday celebration. Each teacher has a method to celebrate student birthdays in the classroom. The exception is if you choose to send in a small non food item that your child can pass out to each person at the end of the day. Please do not send birthday invitations in to school with your child for him/her to pass out unless there is one for every student in the class. For more information, please see the flier below.

Email: lauren.young@redclay.k12.de.us
Website: https://www.redclayschools.com/mote
Location: 2110 Edwards Avenue, Wilmington, DE, USA
Phone: 302-992-5565
Facebook: facebook.com/MoteBulldogs
Twitter: @motebulldogs