Mote Bulldog Bulletin 21

• 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 February 10- C Day

Tuesday February 11- D Day

Wednesday February 12- A Day, 4th Grade S.S., Bark Pack, Board Meeting

Thursday February 13- B Day, Conferences 4:15-7:15

Friday February 14- No school for students, Conferences

Monday February 17- Schools and Offices Closed

Tuesday February 18- C Day

Wednesday February 19- D Day

Thursday February 20- A Day, Storybook Character Day

Friday February 21- B Day

Sustained Silent Reading

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I wanted to take some time to assure you that here at Mote, we are committed to our Mission statement: To provide a family-oriented school community where all members are committed to the academic, social, and emotional growth for all students. We remain committed to our Core Values:

Give Respect, Be Responsible, Cooperate with Others, Welcome Diversity, Learn with a Growth Mindset. We remain an inclusive environment supporting students and staff with unique needs and abilities, students and staff of all ethnicities, students and staff of all backgrounds, beliefs, and differences. Our small class sizes, our number of support staff, and our caring and dedicated staff allows us to meet the individual needs of all of our students.

If you or your student is in need of additional support(s), please reach out to our admin team:

lauren.young@redclay.k12.de.us

kirsten.belair@redclay.k12.de.us

or our counseling team:

Kristin.nye@redclay.k12.de.us

angela.johnson@redclay.k12.de.us

matthew.kupelian@redclay.k12.de.us

or our office staff:

claudia.rodriguez@redclay.k12.de.us

cristabel.dominguez@redclay.k12.de.us

Sincerely,

Mrs. Young

Mark Your Calendars!

We have postponed the Special Person Dance until Friday March 13. Each student will invite one "Special Adult" to the dance. We hope to see students and parents dressed for the occasion. Dinner, Dancing, and Fun will be provided! Keep your eyes out for our flier and tickets which will be available at the end of February.

We've partnered with Poppin Popcorn to raise much needed funds. This fundraiser will begin on February 18 and run through March 14. Once registered, participants can sell online by sharing their store links using the Social Media, Text, and Email icons on their seller dashboard. We'll create the ads for them to post making it as easy as possible. All orders that are selected to be shipped directly to the customers home are fulfilled as they're received and shipped within 24 business hours! Orders that are selected to be shipped to the Organization will arrive about 2 weeks after the sale ends.

Do you know a Behavioral Health Professional in your school who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference?

If so, please take the time to recommend this person by completing the Nomination Form by February 19, 2025 (by 11:59 pm). School staff, families, students, and community members are encouraged to participate.

BHPOY Nomination Form Link

*Behavioral Health Professionals (BHPs) include school counselors, school social workers, licensed clinical social workers, licensed clinical mental health professionals, board-certified behavior analysts, school psychologists, and school nurses. Please note, per DOE guidelines, only Red Clay direct hires can be considered.

Dear Red Clay Community,

We understand that recent federal policy changes regarding immigration enforcement and protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals have created uncertainty and concern within our school district community. Please know that our top priority is the safety, well-being, and educational achievement of all our students and families. Red Clay is dedicated to fostering an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and respected, regardless of immigration status, background, or identity. Our schools are safe spaces, and we are committed to upholding our longstanding values of equity and inclusion.

How We Support You

• Know Your Rights—The Delaware Attorney General’s office has issued comprehensive guides that provide important information about constitutional protections during interactions with immigration enforcement. You can access this guide at de.gov/kyr. In addition, the ACLU Delaware is offering a Know Your Rights training series designed to empower allies with the knowledge and tools to support Delaware's immigrant communities.

• Emotional and Academic Support – If your child is feeling anxious or facing challenges affecting their attendance or schoolwork, our counselors and staff are here to help. We will collaborate with you to create solutions that keep students engaged in learning.

• Privacy and Confidentiality – We respect and protect your family's privacy as outlined by the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

• Community and Belonging – Peer support is essential. We encourage students to connect with school clubs, groups, and co-curricular activities for a sense of community and support. We will work together to support students and families, ensuring our schools remain places of learning and provide opportunities for positive growth.

As a reminder, in the event ICE officials visit one of our schools, we ask that staff take the following actions:

1. Ask them to provide identification.
2. Make a copy of their ID.
3. Ask the agent(s) if they have any paperwork (e.g., subpoena, warrant, etc.) and ask to make copies of it.
4. Note: Schools also are not allowed to share student records with immigration or law enforcement agencies without consent or a judicial order. ICE officials must have a judicial warrant to enter school property. If a judicial warrant is presented, parental consent is required before ICE officials can interview any student.
5. Keep notes of the date/time, names and titles of the agents, who you contacted at the District Office, the name of the student or staff member they are inquiring about (if known), etc.
6. Immediately inform the building principal AND the Office of the Superintendent.

We remain committed to ensuring that every student and family feels safe, welcomed, and supported. If you need resources or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Office of Multilingual Learning at 302-552-3743.

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s education and well-being.

Sincerely,

Red Clay Consolidated School District

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!

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.

• 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.

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