Mote Bulldog Bulletin 19

• 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 January 27- A Day, Access Testing Begins

Tuesday January 28- B Day

Wednesday January 29- C Day, Laser Light Show

Thursday January 30- D Day

Friday January 31- A Day, PBS Awards Ceremony

Monday February 3- B Day

Tuesday February 4- C Day

Wednesday February 5- D Day

Thursday February 6- A Day

Friday February 7- B Day

Room 224

Mote's instructional day begins at 9:05. That means students should be in their classrooms ready to learn by 9:05. Staff will remain on duty until 9:05, but our doors will close for car riders promptly at 9:05. This may seem harsh and unforgiving, but students who have not entered the building by 9:05 are considered late and will need to be accompanied by an adult to the office. Students are not penalized if they are late because of a bus being late.

Mote's instructional day ends at 3:50. While we start dismissing at 3:50, instruction occurs to the last possible minute. Early dismissals close at 3:15. This should be for appointments and special occasions only. A student who leaves on a regular basis at 3:15 is missing more than 30 minutes of instruction each early dismissal.

Car line at dismissal ends at 4:15. All students should be picked up by 4:15. If there is no staff outside, please come into the office to sign out your child. If you have difficulty arriving by 4:15, we do have the YMCA aftercare here at Mote. You can call the Western Y to inquire. 302-453-0123.

Here are the academic calendars for 2024-2025 in English and Spanish to refer to when scheduling appointments.

Ms. Johnson has been working with K-2 students this month on self-regulation, meditation, and mindfulness. Kindergarten students ended their Unit on Feelings and will be bringing home a handout with some breathing techniques to continue to practice at home (see attached). 1st and 2nd grade read the Lemonade Hurricane and discussed self-control, how dysregulation effects those around us, and ways to get our bodies calmer. Please see the links below to a few of the mindful exercises we used in class. I let you learners know I would be sharing these links in case you wanted them to teach you at home. Please reach out if you have any questions or need any additional resources. Angela.johnson@redclay.k12.de.us or 302-992-5561 ext 101

https://youtu.be/UEuFi9PxKuo?si=NYh51bE0DMjaAjxN

YouTube

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

youtu.be

https://youtu.be/xLoK5rOl8Qk?si=1cvxFmX5cuWhC4cU

YouTube

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

youtu.be

https://youtu.be/RcHeylLMZDs?si=TqiNqJ6N-YP-pwEn

Your child brought home a Book Buddy Lanyard letting you know about a safe and easy way for our school to raise funds for essential tools our students and teachers need to succeed.

The SchoolStore Program is 100% online so there is NO face-to-face selling, handling money, or delivering products. Your participation will take less than 12 minutes, and there are exciting prizes to make it fun for the students.

Here is all you need to do to participate:

1. Go to https://www.schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000016306 to sign up.

2. Send form emails inviting family, friends and co-workers to support your child.

3. Return the Book Buddy Lanyard with the Student Prize Code to school for your child to get their fun participation prize.

Be sure to ask your child for the Book Buddy Lanyard tonight. Your participation will make a difference for our school and teachers!

I want to personally thank all the families who have already participated in our SchoolStore program! We are on our way to reaching our goal, but we need everyone's help to make sure our teachers get the essential tools they need to help our students succeed.

If your family has not participated, there's still time!

This safe and easy program is 100% online so there is no face-to-face selling, collecting money, or delivering products. Your child will receive a prize just for participating, and more prizes will be awarded when goals are reached.

Please help now. It really will make a difference.

Go to https://www.schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000016306 to show our valued teachers your support.

Thanks

Anna P. Mote Elementary

P.S. Family participation is the key to our success, and we are counting on you!

It's that time of year!

We are seeking nominations for the 2025/26 Red Clay Teacher of the Year. Being selected as a Teacher of the Year is one of the highest honors the district bestows on Red Clay teachers.

The nomination window closes on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Teacher of the Year Nomination Form

ACCESS testing begins on January 27, 2025 and continues through March 7, 2025. All MLL students in Red Clay are required to complete all 4 sections of the test, which measures English Language Proficiency in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. Please encourage all of your MLL students to put their best effort forth on the test.

A few reminders to start the new year off on the right foot:

• Make sure to get back into a routine both in the evenings to prepare for bed, and in the mornings to prepare for school. Children thrive on structured routines!
• All Mote students receive a free breakfast and lunch here at Mote!
• Please do not drop off your students prior to 8:50 when the doors open. There is no one to supervise your child and the mornings are very cold!
• Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. A coat, hat, and gloves are helpful to keep your child warm for recess. We go out for recess unless there is precipitation or the temperature/wind chill is 20 or below.
• Students should be in their classrooms ready to learn by 9:05.

• The district makes the decisions about closures or delays.
• Please make sure your information is up to date so you receive the information from the district.
• For one and two hour delays...whatever time your bus is scheduled, either add one or two hours and that is the new time for the bus. The minutes do not change. Please make sure to be at the bus stop at least 10 minutes prior to the time and be prepared for the bus to be later than scheduled if the roads are bad.
• Have a back up plan for your child in the event that school is dismissed earlier than scheduled. If schools close early, the Y generally cancels after care.

An order form is being sent home with your child. Orders and money are due by February 7.

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.

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.

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