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*Revised Colonial Clippings. We apologize for any confusion.
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WE are Preparing for the Safe Return to School
As a result of feedback from the workgroups, permission from our school board, and to ensure a safer and smoother beginning of the school year, Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Menzer announced a change in the school calendar. This decision DOES NOT change the previous announcement to allow Pk-8 families to select remote or face to face learning and the decision to go remote at William Penn to start the school year.
THE NEW 1st day for 10-month instructional staff will be August 24, 2020.
THE NEW 1st day for students will be September 8, 2020.
While the new first day is September 8, 2020, not all students will begin at the same time. Whether in the remote learning model or in the face to face model, a staggered start will be implemented. Please see the schedule below to determine when your student will officially begin school.
Students with the last name beginning with A to L
• 9/8/20-1st Day
• 9/9/20-2nd Day
Students with the last name beginning with M to Z
• 9/10/20-1st Day
• 9/11/20-2nd Day
• 9/14/20-All Students Report to School (Both Remote Learning and Face to Face Learning)
Other important dates:
• 6/4/21 - Last Day Seniors
• 6/11/21 - Last Day Pre-K to 11
• 6/16/21 - All Staff PD Last Paraprofessional Day
• 6/17/21 - Teacher PD-Last Teacher Day
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Above is a chart to show the progression of various workgroups who are working tirelessly to prepare for the upcoming school year.
What WE worked on this week:Instructional and Operational teams, composed of administrators, teachers, and staff have been meeting regularly to discuss the safest and most effective ways to begin face-to-face learning.
- An online survey was sent to families asking them to pick face-to-face instruction or remote learning. As of today, about 60% of families surveyed chose remote learning, and 81% of our families from grades PreK-8 responded. This week school-based teams made phone calls to all families who did not answer the survey. The results of the survey calls are pending.
- District Instructional Planning teams have been preparing for rigorous classroom and remote learning experiences.
- School-based Planning teams are busy establishing new protocols for student arrivals, dismissal, meals, and all other aspects of the school day.
- District Operational teams are working to plan and install signage throughout schools and busses to help guide students and staff. The signage will cover topics ranging from helpful handwashing tips to social distance reminders.
- Custodians are continually working to sanitize every building, all equipment, and prepare classrooms and other instructional spaces for social distancing.
Director of Behavioral Health, Dr. Jon Cooper, who has been identified as our District COVID lead, has been working closely with state and local officials on building protocols saying “For the past several weeks, Colonial has been working with a diverse team of professionals and incorporating guidance from the Delaware Department of Education and the Delaware Division of Public Health to create detailed and extensive health and safety protocols for all of our facilities as we prepare for the start of in-person instruction in our Preschool, Elementary and Middle Schools. These protocols will provide detailed guidelines for staff to support the safe return to school.”
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Greeting People in the "New Normal"Many things we are accustomed to doing have changed under the new normal, including how we must now greet people without spreading germs. The first video below is suitable for preschool to 3rd-grade students. The other is suitable for older students and adults. Please talk to your students about the importance of not touching each other if they are returning to school. We know this will be difficult for even teachers and staff, but it is imperative for the health and safety of all. Also, continue to monitor our website for instructional videos that will prepare your child for returning to school, and have them practice things like wearing masks which will be required on school buses and for some students during the school day. More details on wearing masks will be released at a later date.
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WE Continue to Fight for EquityMore than 100 administrators and staff participated in a “Colonial Conversation on Race and Equity” Zoom last night to openly discuss race and equity in the district. Moderator and professional development co-chair Charla Williams was pleased with the turn-out and open discussion among participants saying, “We wanted to continue conversations around race and equity while creating a safe space to have these hard discussions. During the evening we wanted to ENGAGE participants in a discussion, REFLECT on our individual experiences, and provide guidance to ACT as we move into the new school year. In Colonial we are moving into what we call Equity ERA where it is important to ENGAGE, REFLECT, and ACT.”
During the summer groups have continued to meet to exchange thoughts and ideas on how equity is being addressed in Colonial. This includes the development of an equity plan, the planning and execution of professional development for teachers and staff, and designing an audit around the equitable practices within Colonial. The goal of the groups is to collectively focus on and work to eliminate racial disparity in the Colonial School District.
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Colonial's Budding Journalist Speaks Out
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Congrats to William Penn's Finest!Christina Marsett has been named the recipient of the K-12 Distinguished Teaching Award by the National Council of Geographic Education (NCGE). This prestigious award honors those who have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and learning of geography in the classroom. Marsett, who is also William Penn’s Teacher of the Year, will be recognized at an awards ceremony scheduled for the NCGE’s annual conference in December. Also from William Penn, teacher Vincent O’Donnell was nominated to be the 2020 MI Write Teacher of the Year. Teachers in the MI Write program help students with their writing, provide them specific feedback, lessons, and tools to improve. Due to the pandemic, the winning MI Write Teacher of the Year was not named so all nominees like O’Donnell were sent prizes to enjoy. Way to go!
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Summer Feeding Program UpdateOh no, say it isn’t so! Summer is quickly coming to an end! The Colonial Nutrition Services Department is proud to report as of this date we served 505,326 student meals! Our last summer meal distribution is Wednesday, August 5th. Ruth Russell, the production specialist with Colonial’s Nutrition Services Division, says “We will miss seeing our students and parents and would like to thank everyone who participated! Whatever next year brings, please know the Colonial Nutrition Services Department is here to serve our community in the safest manner possible.” Continue to monitor Colonial Clippings and the District website at www.colonialschooldistrict.org for details about the Grab and Go Program that will resume once school begins for students who opt for distance learning at home.
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Tyler's Camp- Virtual StyleFor the first time, a free enrichment program called Tyler’s Camp is being held virtually. About 60 students in grades 1-5 are participating in daily zoom sessions after being armed with whiteboards and other materials needed to help them stay engaged. “Our summer program allows students to develop social, emotional, and academic skills while closing the summer slide gap. We hope our program fosters their love of learning and ensures they are developing academic mastery skills during the summer,” said Summer Program Coordinator Emily Mallon. Tyler’s Camp started July 6th and will end on August 6th. The kids love doing the ELA and math projects as well as the social-emotional lessons through interactive read alouds.
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The Sportsmanship Winning Streak ContinuesOnce again William Penn has been named among the Dale Farmers State Champions in Sportsmanship. The award is presented annually to schools that demonstrate a strong community commitment to the educational nature of athletics. This year’s award was based on fall and winter sports since spring sports were canceled due to COVID-19. Way to go Colonials!
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