· AVID is a college readiness system, a set of strategies to build the learning, study, and academic behavioral skills that are essential for success in rigorous coursework such as honors, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment courses. AVID students learn how to:

· Critically read texts

· Utilize a focused note-taking system

· Collaborate

· Utilize Higher-level thinking skills

· Organize information and manage time effectively

· Be a leader in their school and community

· The AVID elective is currently being offered to students at Kirk. Students must apply to be in the pathway in the spring, so if you are interested in this process, reach out to Antoinette.Borg@christina.k12.de.us or Casey.Montigney@Christina.k12.de.us.

7th Grade will be testing at Kirk on 1/23 from 9:30 -10:30 at KIRK. 6th and 8th grade will have a normal Virtual Day.

Transportation Request Form: https://christinak12.schoology.com/course/5282639174/update/7630120057

6th Grade: Marwa

7th Grade: Brittney

8th Grade: Wafaa

This week our teams play away at Gauger on Monday and Shue on Wednesday.

Tickets are not sold at the door and must be purchased ahead of time on Kirkmiddlesports.com

Students must be accompanied by a parent to attend games.

If you child needs to meet one of their Guidance for any forms for high school. They may schedule an appointment on Schoology.

Code: KH3S-2C8H-984PB

Dec. 13th Chick Fil A Breakfast Raffle

Dec. 18th Holiday Basket Raffle

Dec. 20th Student Staff Game

I'd like to welcome to so of our new staff members to the Kirk Family.

• 7th Grade Math Mr. Jimi Issa
• 7th Grade ELA Ms. Allison Brown
• 6th & 7th Science Ms. Nia Brown

Girls Inc will start this week for students who returned their registration form. Until we are able to get buses arranged students staying on Thursday will be need to be picked up from school at 3:30 on Thursdays.

This week our students who particpate in our 4H after school program participated in the National Lights On After School event to highlight the after school activities that are happening in our communities across the country.

Two of our newest staff, Constable Miller & Harper joined our students in Ms. Lamer's class. Ms. Lamer's and her classes have been reading to the elementary students in Smith Elem.

With the cooler weather settling in this week, this is a reminder that students may wear grade-level color sweatshirts and hoodies during the school day and still be in uniform. We don't mind small logos on the sweatshirts. All coats and items not in the grade level color must be put in the student's locker once arriving at school.

8th Grade Navy Blue

7th Grade Light Grey

6th Grade Red.

Last week we held our September PBIS Raffle for Chic Fil A Breakfast with the principal.

We had a great time enjoying our breakfast and celebrating!

The Delaware MTSS Technical Assistance Center is happy to announce your school’s achievement of Phase 3 Targeted PBS Recognition for the 2023-2024 School Year. Through the application process Phase 3 schools document their group-based interventions, including providing information about the problem-solving team structure, use of behavioral interventions, data tracking, and providing information to parents/caregivers. Teams also summarize a case study of a student supported through this intervention process.

Many thanks for your efforts in creating a multi-tiered system of behavioral support to foster safe and caring learning environments that promote the social-emotional and academic development of all learners.

Notification of this accomplishment will also be shared with your Superintendent and Board President. As soon as able, we look forward to sending a certificate as well as 2023-2024 banner which we hope you will proudly display.

-The DE MTSS TA Center

We have had one of our best starts to a new school year and are so excited to have welcomed back our students to Kirk. As we start the school year I want to remind families of some of the changes for the school year.

The first change has been the update to our school's mission statement. Educating ALL students on the path toward proficiency and college and career readiness. We also changed to the 4 block schedule. This schedule change aligns with our other middle schools and allows for additional time in core classes. Last year we were recognized for our phase 1 PBIS program and have continued to expand our program by revamping our school matrix to ROAR. Respect, Ownership, Acceptance, and Responsibility.

The dress code policy has also been updated to allow for sweatshirts, including hoodies, to be worn but they must be the grade-level color. All other sweatshirts that are not grade-level color must be put in the locker in the morning.

8th Navy

7th Grey

6th Red

The CSD Middle School Cell Phone guidelines are simply Away During The Day. The complete plan is posted in this newsletter. With our focus on achieving our school mission please help us support these guidelines as these devices do detract from students learning.

Thank you for all your support,

Mr. DeLillio

Christina School District At Newark Community Day last Sunday.

In-person students will receive their devices after the first month of school so we can establish routines. The Chromebook rollout date for our in-person students will begin Oct. 7th.

If any CSDVA students did not pick up their Chromebook last week they may stop by our main office during business hours. 7:00 - 3:00 pm

Cell Phones, headphones and airpods are to be away during the school day. Red and Green Zones will be displayed around the school and classrooms for students to have a visual signal of when these items should be away and when they are allowed. Please remind your child if they are going to bring any of these items to school they are responsible for them and they need to be away during the day so we can focus on learning. Thank you for your support!

Please check Kirk Middle Sports for all Soccer playoff games schedules.

In order to try out and particpate in sports a DIAA physical form must be completed and on file prior to the season. Forms are available at Kirkmiddlesports.com

Paper copies of the DIAA form are also available in the main office.

This is a reminder that there are no student deliveries allowed at schools in the Christina School District for safety reasons.

In many public school districts where uniform dress codes have been established, school officials have found that school uniforms:

• enhance school safety
• improve the learning environment
• bridged socioeconomic differences between children
• promoted good behavior
• improved children's self-respect and self-esteem
• produced cost savings for participating families
  
  

The decision to implement a uniform code is about equity and high standards of achievement. For our students to reach the high standards we have set for them, we must create environments where they receive challenging instruction and are held accountable for their dress, behavior, and personal success.

Students may wear sweatshirts, sweaters & cardigans in their grade-level colors.

Also, if you have any old uniform items and would like to donate them to our clothes closet please drop off any donations to our main office.

Areas in the building will be identified as Green and Red Zones for Cell Phones to inform students when and where cell phones may be used. Classroom teachers will have signs that they can flip to signal to students if cell phones are permitted. For example, while the teacher is instructing the class it would be a red zone, but if the teacher would like students to use the calculator function on their phone they will flip the sign to the Green Zone so students know this is an acceptable time for phones to be out.

We are still permitting students to have their phones with them but they should not be out in the classroom as they cause a distraction to student learning. If phone is out students will receive a 1st warning to put the phone away if they are in a Red Zone. A second warning would result in the student placing their phone in the CSD-provided cell phone pocket holder that will be in each classroom. The student would then get their phone back at the end of class.

Our goal is to limit the distraction the phones cause during the educational day while also letting parents and families have the peace of mind of knowing their child could contact them if needed.

There might be additional items for individual courses that are not on the list. Teachers will inform students of these items (if any) once school begins.

Through the course of the school year, students will need to replenish some of the supplies (pencils, lined paper).

School Supplies

· Mouse (USB) – to use with Chromebook

· Combination lock or key lock – for classroom locker

· Earbuds to use with Chromebook

· 2 packs of loose-leaf paper

· 2, 12-count pack of pencils

· 4 composition notebooks

· Erasers

· Highlighters

· Colored pencils, individual pack of markers

· Ruler

· 1, 3-inch 3-ring binder or a zipper binder to carry during the school day

· 8, 2-pocket folders (hole punched to click into a binder)

Extra Items that are Greatly Appreciated for School Usage (drop off in the main office once school begins)

· Hand sanitizer

· Disinfectant Wipes

· Tissues

Students may not carry book bags or drawstring bags during the school day. They must remain in the locker if brought to school.

Like any other successful school system, the Christina School District recognizes the importance of maintaining a strong and responsive curriculum. It serves as the foundation for delivering a high-quality education and conveying a powerful, positive vision for our students. We understand that a robust curriculum not only equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to excel academically but also helps foster critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability.

More Information on our Curriculum can be found on the link below:

https://www.christinak12.org/domain/3725

Greetings Kirk Families and Friends,

Christina School District is delighted to announce the launch of a new and improved online attendance form for Christina students. The new form will simplify–and speed up–the absence reporting process for all.

Submitting a student absence has never been easier, thanks to our new online attendance form! With our new website comes a new absence form that allows parents/guardians to submit absences online and upload documents, notes, etc.

If your child is absent for any reason, it is important that you let your child’s school know the reason for the absence. Parents/guardians have up to five (5) days to provide proper documentation for excusable absences. When your child returns to school, you must do one of the following or the absence may be marked as “unexcused.”

· Complete the Online Form, which will be emailed to the school office OR

· Send a dated and signed excuse note to the school office stating the reason for the absence

Submit an Absence Using our Online Form

Thank you,

Mr. DeLillio

Principal

Dear Christina Families,

Christina School District values the welfare and safety of our students. Christina and surrounding school districts are experiencing severe bus driver shortages due to a national and regional driver shortage. Our Transportation staff will make every effort to arrive timely, and we appreciate your patience as we work to adjust schedules to ensure students are transported safely.

What does this mean for you and your family? Christina will need to increase “double back” bus runs. This means that a bus is required to run multiple scheduled routes back-to-back that would normally have been covered by separate buses. These “double backs” may impact delivery time to schools or bus stops. We encourage parents to sign up for WherestheBus, as we continually strive to provide the best possible transportation service.

How can I get updates? Christina School District school buses are equipped with GPS technology - WheresTheBus app, a user-friendly school bus tracking system that will precisely identify where the student’s assigned bus is and when it will arrive at his/her assigned bus stop.

Use WherestheBus! Click here to learn how to sign up and download the app.

We understand that any transportation delay is frustrating and impacts the entire family. We will make every attempt to notify parents of delays. Thank you for your flexibility as we work through some of our challenges with transportation. Our goal is to serve every one of our students and our families with safe, efficient transportation.

Please be assured that we are working hard to recruit qualified bus drivers and to plan transportation that will be as efficient as possible.

If you experience significant delays or have concerns, please contact 302-454-2281. We greatly appreciate your cooperation as we work through these operational challenges with transportation.