Governor John Carney announced Delaware has moved into Phase 1b of its COVID-19 vaccination plan. Phase 1b includes those 65 and older as well as frontline workers, including educators and school staff. Details about the plan are available at https://news.delaware.gov/2021/01/19/governor-carney-dph-announce-transition-to-vaccinate-phase-1b/

As of today, a plan to bring students back for in-person learning in January is underway as scheduled.
The plan/dates are available by clicking here.

As we continue to plan for the safe return of Colonial students, please remember factors that impact this decision include:      
• Positive staff cases and close contacts that impact the operations of the district.
• In-person instruction cannot operate unless there is an adequate level of personnel available.  This includes administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, nutrition services workers, bus drivers, and other support staff.
• Positive student cases and DPH quarantines which necessitate pausing in-person classroom instruction. 
• A potential spike in positive COVID-19 cases in  January which may occur following the winter break.
• The guidance and data coming from DPH and other State agencies that we use to make planning decisions that continue to be refined and updated.

The factors stated above could cause the district to return to virtual learning for classes, schools, or even the entire district.  Often, these decisions are made at a moment’s notice; therefore, all employees, parents, and students should be prepared daily to be either in-person or virtual.

Among the things families should consider as they return to in-person school:

• Families should conduct a self-screener checklist before sending children to school
• Any child not feeling well should remain at home, and all children not feeling well during school will be sent home, especially if they have a fever. 
• Students in grades K-8 must wear a face mask on buses and in the classroom throughout the day, except when eating and drinking. Children in Pre-K are recommended to wear a face mask
• Children must bring their own labeled, filled water bottles. Extra water will be provided if needed and milk will be served with breakfast and lunch.  Water fountains will not be operational.
• Students will remain in the same classroom throughout the day.

January 27 - Parent University: Keeping Your Colonial Student Safe ONLINE!
February 12 – Staff Development – Remote Learning
February 15 – President’s Day (Holiday) Schools/Offices Closed

Marking Period & Semester Dates:
Prek:
Semester 1: ends 1/29/21
Semester 2: 2/5/21- 6/11/21

Elementary
Semester 1: ends 1/29/21
Semester 2: 2/5/21- 6/11/21

Middle School
MP 2: ends 1/28/21
MP 3: 2/1/21 - 4/13/21
MP 4: 4/14/21 - 6/11/21

High School
MP 2: Ends 1/29/21
MP 3: 2/1/21 - 4/13/21
MP 4: 4/14/2 - 6/11/21

Face-to-Face Instruction
- Students who opted for in-person instruction at the elementary level will return to school on Monday, January 25, 2021. 
- Please arrive at the bus stop at least 10 minutes ahead of time for pick-up.
- At the end of the day, please anticipate delays. School personnel wants to ensure that each student boards the correct bus and is returned to you safely.
- If you are dropping off and/or picking up your child from school, please adhere to the school’s procedures.

Elementary Transportation Update:  
- The transportation information sent to families in the Fall of 2020 is still valid for your student if they are slated to attend face-to-face learning in the winter of 2021. Any new families or changes in status since that initial communication should have been contacted by their school principal.
- If you have questions about transportation for your child, please contact your school principal.

Chinese Immersion:
The Chinese Immersion Program will be transitioning to Pleasantville Elementary for the 2021-2022 school year. There are seats available for Kindergarten and First graders for the 2021-2022 school year. All interested families must complete the School Choice form located at http://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/registration/school-choice/.  

• Questions related to the choice process can be addressed by Ahtiya Johnson, the Choice Administrative Specialist at (ahtiya.johnson@colonial.k12.de.us).

• Questions related to the program can be addressed by Amina Baaith, Principal of Pleasantville Elementary (amina.baaith@colonial.k12.de.us) or Nneka M. Jones, Director of Schools (nneka.jones@colonial.k12.de.us). 

More information can be found at http://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/pleasantville/language-page/

We are currently finalizing our face to face learning options for middle schools.  Several calendar adjustments have been made.  Middle school principals will provide more detailed information to families.  

Week of January 22:
• Families who selected face to face learning and requested transportation will receive a mailer with bus information the week of January 22. 

January 27th- January 29th: 
• Students, who ARE NOT in special programs, will have asynchronous (self-paced) work.  These will be professional development and classroom set up days for teachers.

• Students, who ARE IN special programs, will continue as scheduled 

February 1st - February 5th: 
• Students, who ARE NOT in special programs,  will continue to learn virtually the first week of the 3rd Marking Period (February 1st - 5th). 
• Students, who ARE IN special programs, will continue as scheduled

February 8th: 
• Face-to-face learning will begin for families who selected that option. 

Middle School Transportation Update 
Transportation information will be received via mail during next week.  Only families who selected in-person learning and requested transportation will receive a mailer with bus information.  Schedules and additional information will be communicated by each school.

If you have questions about transportation for your child, please contact your school principal. 

To learn more about how we will safely transport your child to and from school, watch the video above.

Second Semester Update
Principal Lisa Brewington shares an update about what semester 2 will look like at William Penn!!! Read more at http://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/williampenn/message-from-principal-brewington-1-15-2020-details-about-spring-semester-hybrid-learning/ 

High School Transportation Update 
Transportation information will be received via mail during next week.  Only families who selected in-person learning and requested transportation will receive a mailer with bus information.  Schedules and additional information will be communicated by each school. 
If you have questions about transportation for your child, please contact your school principal.

All home events, boys basketball, girls basketball, and wrestling events will be streamed online.  Links for each game will be available on www.ColonialsSports.com. Student-athletes are allowed to get a ticket for one (1) spectator. 

With students returning to school, the Nutrition Services and Transportation teams are transitioning the remote meal delivery service to a more convenient delivery schedule for parents.   

This schedule will accommodate the distribution of labor needed to bring students to and from school, continue the remote meal delivery program for our students learning at home, and to enforce social distancing and maintain COVID protocols.  

Beginning Monday, January 25th, meal delivery days will be scheduled by your meal pick up address:
• Monday and Wednesday OR Tuesday and Thursday.
• There will be NO Friday distribution
• Drive throughs at William Penn, McCullough, and Wilbur are closed.

On your first pick up day of the week (either Monday or Tuesday, depending on your pick up address), your students will receive a hot meal for the day, and a ready to eat breakfast and lunch for the next day.  

On your second pick up day of the week (either a Wednesday or Thursday), your students will receive a box of five ( 5) breakfasts,  five (5) lunches, and milk.  There is NO sign up required for these boxes, and they will be distributed from the bus.
Please visit the Colonial website to find your delivery days. 

If your delivery address is in RED, then your delivery days are Monday and Wednesday only.

If your delivery address is in BLUE, then your delivery days are Tuesday and Thursday only.   

Remember, there are no Friday deliveries, and drive-ups are closed!  
Parents should find this system to be easier as there are only two (2)  days of the week they need to retrieve meals for their students to enjoy for an entire week!  
Please remember meals are no charge to any child 18 years of age and younger, and masks are required at meal pickups.  
We thank you for your continued support as we continue to do what we LOVE… feeding our students!

Visit http://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/community/remote-food-program/ for more information.

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