In this issue:
Red Clay Celebrates Hispanic Heritage | Red Clay Assistant Principal Earns National Recognition | Middle School Students Pledge Unity | Countdown to School Choice Season | School Board Meeting Recap | WATCH: On the Job with Red Clay's Angela Cook | We're Hiring: View Our Latest Career Opportunities | Red Clay Joins Partnership to Build Better Communities | Healthy and Safety Updates | Upcoming Events
Red Clay Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
We stopped by William C. Lewis Dual Language Elementary School to join students and staff for an unforgettable celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage.
Thank you to all of the students, families, staff and community members who helped to organize so many fun and educational activities across Red Clay schools in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Red Clay Assistant Principal Earns National Recognition
Outside of her passion for public education, Assistant Principal of Alexis I. du Pont High School Cristina Kalesse is on a mission to help defeat lung cancer and lung disease.
“Back in 2019, my husband at the age of 42 was diagnosed with stage four metastatic lung cancer and was told that he had less than a five percent chance of survival past one year. When Rob passed away in January 2020, it became something that I just felt I needed to continue in his memory.”
In just three years, Cristina has raised over $80,000 through the American Lung Association’s Lung Force walks and runs, becoming the top fundraiser in the nation. She received the title of an American Lung Association Lung Force Hero but says the true hero is her late husband.
Watch Cristina's inspiring story in this interview with PHL17.
Middle School Students Pledge Unity
On October 20 Skyline Middle School students came together for Unity Day, a chance to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a message that no child should ever experience bullying. Students signed a Unity Day wall to affirm the pledge, "At Skyline, we stand for everyone."
Thank you to student advisor Aaron Wright and our partners from Communities in Schools for organizing a full day of activities to support National Bullying Prevention Month.
Countdown to School Choice Season
Red Clay Welcomes School Choice Applicants for the 2022-23 School Year
Choose Red Clay: School Choice Information Night on October 26 at 6 PM (Via Zoom)
Join us online on October 26 at 6 PM to learn all about Red Clay's unique offerings and how to enroll in Red Clay schools through the 2022-23 school choice application!
Our school choice experts will be on hand to explain the application process and answer the top questions from students and families. Topics include:
- What's New for the 2022-23 School Year
- Unique Offerings Available in Red Clay
- How to Enroll in Red Clay Schools via the School Choice Process
- Tips for Completing Your School Choice Application
- Important Dates and Deadlines
- FAQs from Students and Families
Click here for details and a link to join the live event on October 26.
Mark your calendar: The 2022-23 school choice application will be open from November 1, 2021 at 8 AM to January 12, 2022 at 11:59 PM.
School Board Meeting Recap
The Red Clay school board held a regular monthly meeting on October 20. Highlights include:
- Special Recognition of Red Clay's 2022 Educational Support Professional of the Year Christopher ChuJoy and the U.S. National Blue Ribbon Schools Award-Winning North Star Elementary School
- Appointment of Monica Malen as the new Assistant Principal of Conrad Schools of Science
- Superintendent's Report with a closer look at ESSER Funds in Red Clay schools and an update from Student Representative to the School Board Ben Williamson
- Items Submitted by the School Board
Thank you to Student Representative to the School Board Ben Williamson for joining us at this meeting and providing such an informative update on the recent work of Red Clay's student representatives!
Remember, you can watch all our school board meetings on YouTube and find timestamps right in the description.
View the agenda and minutes in BoardDocs.
WATCH: On the Job with Angela Cook!
Angela loves preparing healthy meals for children. As a member of the school cafe team, she helps to serve about 600 meals a day. She's in and out by 2 PM, which works perfectly for her as a busy mom. She also gets to see hundreds of faces light up anytime there's pizza on the menu.
Red Clay Is Hiring
Did you know that Red Clay currently has over 50 job openings?
Here are some of the latest opportunities to join our team:
- COVID-19 Isolation & Quarantine Coordinator
- School Nurse
- Elementary and Secondary Teachers
- Paraprofessionals
- School Nutrition Worker
- Transportation / Automotive Mechanic
- School Bus Drivers
- Long-Term Substitutes
- Lunch and Recess Aides
Apply today at joindelawareschools.com and tell your friends!
Red Clay Joins Partnership to Build Better Communities
Red Clay joined a new partnership with New Castle County and Children & Families First to provide a school-based trauma program at Alexis I. du Pont Middle School. The pilot program will provide one-to-one counseling, conflict mitigation and resolution training for youth who have been exposed to violence.
The Building Better Communities initiative will work directly with underserved neighborhoods throughout New Castle County to increase community engagement and reduce the incidence of violence.
Health and Safety Updates
Reminder: Emergency Order Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination or Weekly Testing for School Employees Takes Effect on November 1
As a reminder, Governor John Carney, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), and the Delaware Department of Education (DOE) announced on September 28 that educators, school staff, contractors, and volunteers who work in K-12 public and private schools must get vaccinated for COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. The requirement takes effect on November 1.
We are working with our respective employee groups to ensure we are in compliance with the latest order issued by Governor Carney. As we continue to support and maintain safe school environments, this will be another step in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in Red Clay schools.
Please stay tuned for updates and more details as we work to ensure compliance with the latest order.
Chaperones on Field Trips
Chaperones may be permitted to assist on field trips so long as they comply with the State of Delaware's emergency regulation requiring all educators, school staff, contractors and volunteers who work in K-12 public and private schools must get vaccinated for COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. This requirement will go into effect on November 1, 2021.
Chaperones will be asked to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test at least 48-72 hours prior to the field trip. Chaperones must also complete the COVID-19 Self-Screener for Red Clay Students and Staff and comply with all mask requirements.
For a list of vaccination provider locations, visit de.gov/getmyvaccine.
Upcoming Events
October 26 Diversity Committee Meeting
October 26 Choose Red Clay: School Choice Information Night
October 27 Board Policy Review Committee Meeting (Note: This is an annual organizational meeting. There are no policies under review at this time.)
October 28 Student Code of Conduct Committee Meeting
October 29 End of First Marking Period
November 1 Staff Inservice - Schools Closed
November 1 2022-23 School Choice Application Opens