The Cardinal Connection

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The Red Clay Consolidated School District (RCCSD) is committed to supporting every student’s academic growth as well as their social emotional and behavioral (SEB) wellbeing. As part of this commitment, along with Delaware’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) state regulations, all teachers (K-3) and students (4-12) will be completing an emotional wellbeing screener this school year.

An SEB screener can identify behavioral and emotional strengths as well as areas in need of growth. This data will allow our school teams to offer additional and more targeted intervention to support the SEB needs of all students.

The screener that the multidisciplinary district committee selected is called the SAEBRS, or Social, Academic, Emotional, Behavior Rating Screener. At the K-3 level, the screener will ask teachers to rate their students, based on observations, using a total of 19 questions ranging across three different types of behaviors. At the 4-12 level, students will be asked to rate themselves.

The SAEBRS Screener looks at the following areas of social/emotional wellbeing:

1. Social Behavior

2. Academic Behavior

3. Emotional Behavior

Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss further.

Sincerely,

Roberta Jacobs

Principal

Sarah Celestin, Ed.D

Senior District of Student Services

Red Clay Consolidated School District

Cooke Elementary School, in partnership with the University of Delaware’s Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship, the State Bank Commissioner, and First Citizens’ Community Bank (FCCB), will be launching the Bank at School program in which students will have the opportunity to open a non-custodial savings account (child’s name only).

Based on State Economic Standards, the Bank at School program is designed to teach students about economics and financial literacy using hands-on, contextualized learning. Every Tuesday bankers from FCCB will make weekly visits to the school to accept student deposits and help students learn about the world of banking. This real-life banking experience will help students practice the life skills to become wise consumers and prudent savers.

· This is an interest-bearing savings account and First Citizens’ Community Bank charges no fees on this account.

· Only deposits can be made at school. Withdrawals and summer deposits may be conducted at any FCCB branch.

· Students in grades K-5 will be able to participate in the program.

· The bank will be open for business every Tuesday from 8:45-9:05 A.M.

· A quarterly statement will be mailed directly to the student’s home.

In order for your child to participate, please complete the attached form and return it to the school with a minimum $1.00 opening deposit. After the initial deposit, no requirements exist for how much or how often a student must deposit.

This program is a unique opportunity for the Cooke Elementary students. We encourage all students to participate, but participation is strictly voluntary. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Jacobs.

In grades 2 -5 students take an adaptive assessment in Reading and Math that identifies the students' strengths and opportunities for growth. It is given at the beginning, middle and end of year. This information helps determine how to best support their learning.

Family access has been enabled for all schools for the Fall iReady test administration. Families can access the "For Families" report through their student's iReady Dashboard. The directions are shared below and we encourage you to view your student's iReady diagnostic results.

Below you will find links to resources to help families understand their child’s i-Ready Inform Results:

• Understanding Your Student’s i-Ready Inform Results

• Understanding Your Student’s i-Ready Inform Results (Spanish)

We ask that parents ensure that students are at school on time each day and limit early dismissals! Please only pick up your child if there is an emergency. Our schedules are packed with instruction from 9:05 AM until 3:45 PM! Every minute counts!

Please use the Red Clay calendar to plan vacation time. It is essential that students are present every day!

Cooke Cardinals Families:

We’re challenging every student to show up on time, every day, and ready to learn. Every day in school means more time to learn, connect with teachers and friends, and build habits that lead to success.

Be present. Be on time. Stay engaged. Every day counts.

Families are an important part of the challenge! Keep consistent morning and bedtime routines, plan ahead for transportation, and reach out to your school when you need support.

Let’s make EVERY ONE count!

Many of you have reached out looking for ways you can support our school. We would love to have donations for our MTSS School Store. Students visit this store once per month and use their Cardinal Credits they've earned for being respectful, responsible, and ready. We put together an Amazon Wish List. If you choose to donate, the items will be shipped directly to Cooke Elementary School. As always, thank you for your support!

If you plan to volunteer at Cooke (chaperone a field trip, help in the classroom, help at a school event such as the Book Fair or Holiday Shop, etc.) you must complete the State of Delaware process to become an approved volunteer.

New This Year!

If you have completed a Delaware Child Protection Registry (CPR) clearance through another agency with the past year, we can now accept those results. You will not need to complete a new CPR registration as long as your clearance is current within the calendar year.

There are three documents you need to turn in:

1. Confidentiality Agreement

2. TB Risk Assessment

3. RECEIPT for the $14 online fee for the Child Protection Registry OR Results from another agency.

These can be turned in to the office now and once school begins, to the homeroom teacher.

Documents must be received in the office BEFORE the date of the volunteer opportunity/field trip. We cannot accept paperwork the day of, without the confirmation of clearance from the District Office.

Volunteer approval is good for ONE calendar year. So, if you completed this last October, you are cleared through October 2026. Then you must resubmit the three documents. If you are unsure when you expire, you can call the main office at 302-235-6600.

Some parents have expressed trouble with the Child Protection Registry site. We do not have tech support for this. We have learned that it is best to do this on a computer versus a phone. That seems to be more successful. We also have directions to use for assistance (see below).

Some clubs such as Science Olympiad who supervise students without a Red Clay staff member present, you must also complete a Criminal Background Check (fingerprinting). Please contact the school office for direction on additional requirements.

Our Fall Book Fair is coming up October 5-8, and we're looking for volunteers to help make it a great experience for our students.

All volunteers must have completed the volunteer forms for the 26/27 school year.

We have a translate feature! Simply click "translate newsletter" and you can pick from many different languages!

¡Tenemos un botón de traducción! Simplemente haga clic donde dice "translate newsletter" y podrá elegir entre muchos idiomas diferentes.

The Red Clay Consolidated School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, handicap, veteran status, domicile, genetic information, or any legally protected characteristic. Inquiries should be directed to Human Resources at 302-552-3783.