The purpose of the CalloWAY Dean’s Digest is to provide you important dates, updates, overview, and highlights of our school year to date in alignment with our school vision, mission, core values, and priorities.
Benefits of Reading the CalloWAY Dean’s Digest
- All the information you would want to know about CCSA at your fingertips, while taking your time to read through at your leisure.
- Access to links to CCSA Calendar, Academic and Climate Memos.
- Highlights of the academic and art accomplishments.
- Reduces the volume of emails to read and search when looking for information.
- Allows stakeholders to provide feedback by completing the community check in survey.
- Click the Heart at the End
Table of Content
- RCCSD 2023-24 Calendar
- CCSA Calendar
- Parent and Student Support: Contact List
- Remind App
- Teaching and Learning Memo
- Culture and Climate Updates
- Calloway Highlights, School Updates, and Celebrations
- World of Difference Institute
- Student and Family Handbook: Code of Conduct
- Murder on the Orient Express Tickets
- Monday, 10/16/23 (B8) - SEL time during Activity Period (this is a schedule change)
- Tuesday, 10/17/24 (A1)—Principal For A Day
- Wednesday, 10/18/23 (B5) - *Assembly* Student Preview of “Murder on the Orient Express” (Activity Period)
- Thursday, 10/19/23 (A2) Brain Architecture Game (Trauma Informed PD Faculty Meeting)
- Friday, 10/20/23: Murder on the Orient Express Opening at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, 10/21/23: Murder on the Orient Express at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
- Sunday, 10/22/23: Murder on the Orient Express
- The CCSA Calendar link below provides directions on syncing the CCSA calendar and Block Rotation calendar to your phone or google calendar for all daily, weekly, and monthly events including school closings.
- The Parent and Student Support Contact List is updated regularly to reflect changes to the contact person who can address your direct needs.
- Remind App is another communication tool for you to connect with your teachers, school counselors, and administrators with a two way communication feature.
- We will still utilize Schoology and Blackboard throughout the school year.
- Homecoming week will be November 6-9
- Homecoming Dance is November 9, 2023 at 6:30 PM.
- Homecoming Ticket sales will be available soon for Grades 9-12.
Save the Date: Parent-Teacher Conference
- CCSA Parent Teacher Conferences will be scheduled November 20-22.
- Teachers will be contacting you regarding their parent teacher conference schedules and availability.
Teaching and Learning from the Desk of Dr. Denise Warshany
AP Honor Roll: Platinum Award
College Board announced that Cab Calloway School of the Arts has been named to the Advanced Placement ® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning the highest award, PLATINUM distinction.
- The AP® School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access.
- Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
- Cab Calloway School of the Arts had 82% of seniors who took at least one AP exam during high school, 66% of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP exam, and 37% of seniors who took five or more AP exams during the course of their high school tenure. Go, Cabbies!
1st Interim Reporting Period
September 29, 2023 marked interim (half way) mark of Marking Period 1. Teachers have reported progress for the marking period to parents via Home Access Center (HAC). Interims are available in HAC.
District Grading Guidelines (Grades 6-12)
Cab Calloway School of the Arts adheres to Red Clay Consolidated School District’s grading guidelines as it relates to student work submission. These guidelines are found in Administrative Memo 7011.7 Sections 7 and 8 (Grades 6-8) and Administrative Memo 7011.8 Sections 8 and 9 (Grades 9-12) within Guidelines for Report Cards.
Culture and Climate from the desk of Dr. Corey Heacock
- On behalf of the PTSO, we would like to send another reminder to parents of the opportunity to adopt a teacher/staff for the school year by filling out the Family Sign-Up Form.
- We are in need for more parents to sign up for the chance to bring sunshine to our hardworking staff and teachers.
Student Attendance, Late Arrivals and Tardiness to Class
School attendance correlates strongly with academic success. We are carefully monitoring student attendance, late arrivals to school and tardiness to class.
- Students with 3 or more late arrivals or 3 or more unexcused tardies in a week will receive an after school detention for the following week.
- If there is a legitimate reason for your student’s late arrival or absence, please provide a note to the Main Office.
- Please remind you student of the importance of arriving to class on time and the requirement to obtain a hall pass and/or teacher permission if they are not in their assigned class.
Cab Calloway staff and administration remain dedicated to nurturing a sense of belonging and community after the pandemic. We understand the significance of embracing, celebrating, and supporting the diversity within CCSA community.
- Please review the below Culture and Climate Assembly Presentation that provides an overview of the school wide commitments to defining our core values, recognizing the diversity within our building, and reinforcing a zero tolerance for Hate through education and celebration.
World of Difference Institute Training
A World of Difference Institute recognizes that attitudes and beliefs affect actions, and that each of us can have an impact on others, and ultimately, on the world in which we live.
- The Institute seeks to help participants recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society; explore the value of diversity; improve intergroup relations; and challenge racism, antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and bias.
- We have up to 25 students who will be trained on November 3, 20, and December 8 here at CCSA from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.
- The trainees will serve as mentors to our middle school students, thought partners to the administration on fostering a positive accepting school culture, and leaders of change on the topic of diversity.
- If you are a sophomore or Junior, email Dean Bolden, Dr. Heacock, and Mrs. Cooper @cabadmins@redclay.k12.de.us
Hispanic Heritage Month
The Hispanic Student Association and staff have been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with morning announcements, recognition of the Hispanic and Latino contributions, and a display of ofrendas in the lobby to educate our school community about the Mexican culture of celebrating deceased loved ones.
- Hispanic Student Association Club hosted the first Cab Fiesta on October 4, 2023.
- Senator Laura V. Sturgeon, who is the daughter of Argentine immigrants and President/CEO Maria Matos of the LACC joined us for a time of food, music, dancing, learning, and education.
- HSA also held their first Hispanic Showcase with a display of our talented students and culture.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
During morning announcements we recognized Rosh Hashanah 2023 which begins on the evening of Friday, September 15, and ends at sundown on Sunday, September 17, 2023. Rosh Hashanah is a religious and festive time when family and friends gather together for meals and worship and grow closer to God.
- It’s a time for looking forward to a new year with anticipation and reflecting on the past year to improve ourselves for the next.
- This two-day Jewish celebration of the New Year literally translates to “head of the year” in Hebrew.
- It is observed on the first and second days of the Jewish month of Tishrei, the first month in the civil calendar.
Make Us Visible: Asian American History
- Asian Student Association (ASA) advisor Dr. Wu and ASA co-president Michelle Mao attended "Make Us Visible" community launch event on Saturday, 9/30, hosted by Cab alumnus Devin Jiang, a current UD public policy student.
- Make Us Visible advocates for integrating Asian American History into K-12 education. Community members shared their experiences and perspectives with participants and discussed the prospect of building a curriculum to teach Asian American History. Superintendent Green also attended the event and is supportive of the initiative.
HBCU Week College Fair Trip
The annual celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, also known as HBCU Week, recognizes the contributions and achievements of HBCUs.
- The HBCU institutions have played a crucial role in African Americans' education and culture for more than a century.
- Over 40 students attended the college fair held at Delaware State University in which many received on site admission and scholarship offers.
- We thank Ashley Christopher her team for offering this opportunity and our very own Mrs. Kim Rigby, Ms. Alyana Blythe and Mrs. Cooper for making this trip a great success.
International Day of Peace
- The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
- Our Social Studies and Visual Art teacher (Erin Sullivan and Lindsey Ostafy) combined classes to celebrate through discussion, reflection, and collaboration.
- This theme is a call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace.
Global Day of Prayer
- On Wednesday, September 27, 2023 students will meet at their school flagpole, before school, to lift up their friends, families, teachers, school, and nation in prayer. It is student-initiated, student-organized and student led.
- See you at the pole”, this global day of student prayer, began in 1990 as a grass roots movement with ten students praying at their school. Decades later, millions of students all over the world, take time to pray on their campuses on the fourth Wednesday each September.
- The Cab Calloway Christian Alliance Club lead over 50 students in prayer before school, to lift up their friends, families, teachers, school, and nation in prayer. It was a student-initiated, student-organized and student led.
Indigenous Dance Troupe Master Class
- The intertribal dance troupe, Indigenous Enterprise, showcases traditional dance with dazzling regalia and a contemporary flair to audiences around the world.
- The group presents a range of powwow styles – from fancy dance to jingle dress dance – bringing in audiences and bridging cultures.
- The group will provide a master class to dance majors and students across the state of Delaware here at CCSA on October 25, 2023
CCSA ACCOMPLISHMENTS HIGHLIGHTS AND EVENTS
Cab National Recognition
- Congratulations to the Cab community for being recognized in U.S. News and World Reports Best High School rankings.
- Cab Calloway School of the Arts is designated as a Best High School, being ranked among the top 40% of schools nationally.
- #382 in National Rankings
- #2 in Delaware High Schools
- #9 in Philadelphia, PA Metro Area High Schools
- #1 in Red Clay Consolidated School District High Schools
- #72 in National Magnet High Schools
AP Honor Roll: Platinum Award
- College Board announced that Cab Calloway School of the Arts has been named to the Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning the highest award, PLATINUM distinction.
- Cab Calloway School of the Arts had 82% of seniors who took at least one AP exam during high school, 66% of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP exam, and 37% of seniors who took five or more AP exams during the course of their high school tenure.
- Our students were inspired and encouraged by our Gathering: Coming Together Through Shared Truth Assembly Launch and master classes with Disney’s The Lion King Cast
- We are grateful for all those who made this happen including Cab School Fund, PTSO, and our very own Young Simbas.
23-24 SY CCSA Spirit Marching Band
- Congratulations to the 23-24 CCSA Spirit Marching Band on winning their first Tournament of Band competition at Appoquinimink with a score of 84.20.
- CCSA Spirit Marching Band has consistently performed at a high level locally and nationally over the years.
- Cab Calloway Band Boosters fundraisers are critical to the health and sustainability of the program.
- Please consider making a donation with checks payable to CCBBA which is a 501c3.
Marji Eldreth 2024 CCSA Teacher of Year
- Congratulations to Marji Eldreth for being recognized as CCSA 2024 Distinguished Teacher of the Year Honors.
- She was recognized on October 11, 2023 among other Red Clay Staff and Teachers as McKean High School.
Cabella Calloway Langsam Family Celebration of Life
- As we have shared, Cabella Calloway Langsam passed away in May.
- The Calloway family held a Celebration of Life ceremony on October 14, 2023 at the Delaware Contemporary Arts Centerz
- Some of our students participated in the celebration by sharing their talent from the programs Cabella help establish here at CCSA
- Read more about her legacy and contribution to the school.
Delaware Division of Arts Fellow Artist Exhibition Opening
- The works by the Delaware Division of the Arts Award Winners will be at Cab Calloway School of the Arts from October 6 to November 3, 2023,
- Maia Palmer and Lindsey Ostafy, along with some of our students hosted a reception on Friday.
- Special readings from literary and performing fellows inspired a crowd of students, parents, teachers, and visitors.
- Harrison Jacob mesmerized the audience with outstanding performances on the piano.
Student Highlight: Aidan Reagan
- Aidan Reagan, Junior, worked as a Production Assistant at NorthBay Education this past summer, helping them film video segments for "Real Life" - a video series used during NorthBay's week-long residential environmental education camps to reinforce social-emotional learning concepts, community building and making good choices.
- The videos will be seen by over 7000 students and 1400 adults (teachers/parents) every school year, impacting lives and inspiring positive change.
- Aidan's experience as a Vocal & Theater major has helped build his confidence and his knowledge of performance which were defining characteristics that lent to him getting his first paid opportunity.
- Aidan was also responsible for directing the opening reception for the Delaware Division of Arts Fellows Artist Exhibition.
Murder On The Orient Express
- 🚂 Step aboard the iconic Orient Express! 🕵️♂️. 🎭 Join us at Cab Calloway School of the Arts for an unforgettable journey into the mysterious world of Agatha Christie's "Murder on The Orient Express"! 🌟
- Get ready to be immersed in a thrilling tale of suspense, intrigue, and a web of secrets that only the legendary detective, Hercule Poirot, can unravel. 🧐🔍
- 👥 Invite your friends, family, and fellow mystery enthusiasts - we're aiming to fill the theater with 850 eager sleuths per performance! 🎉
- Don't miss this chance to experience the magic of live theater and the suspense of Agatha Christie's masterpiece.
- Be prepared to reserve your tickets and be part of an audience that will be talking about this unforgettable show for years to come! 🎟️🌠
Middle School Play: Alice
- Our Middle School play is ALICE, an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, written by Lindsay Price, and directed by Ms. LaNeve!
- Auditions are in early December.
- In the meantime, we're looking for Cab parents and friends who are good with a needle and thread, a makeup brush, or a curling iron.
- This play is design HEAVY, and we need your help to make it sing.
- If you're at all interested in joining the team, please fill out this form:
Community Check/In Survey
- We would love to hear from you on how we can better serve our students, teachers, and families.
- Please complete the following survey: