We are excited to welcome everyone back to the 2024-2025 school year and are looking forward to another exciting year ahead! Thank you to everyone who participated in Back-to-School/Meet the Teacher events the last two weeks - it was heartwarming to see so many returning faces.

As our program continues to grow and expand, we are excited to welcome several new staff members: Kevin Cicali (MTP teacher), Erica Campuzano-Gonzalez (HB teacher), Juliette Cipolla (HB teacher), Andrea Fasciano (Forest Oak Teacher), Destiny Galarza (SLP), Marissa Giardina (SLP), Jordan Hulse (SLP), Megan Ramage (OT), Natasha Escobar (BCBA), and Paraprofessionals: Malachi Davis, Diana Santos, Madison Belford, Alyssa Kelsey, Karlie Johnson, and Markquise Normand.

In addition, we have a few changes across the program:

• School Nurses: Jennifer McGrath (previously worked at Nemours) will be working at McKean and Nicole Ewing (previously at Linden Hill Elementary) is joining the HB team.

• Special Education Coordinators:
• Sara Benner, previous MTP teacher, has taken a new role as a Special Education Coordinator and will be working with 11th and 12th grade students at McKean, as well as all of the students in the Meadowood Transition Program.
• Stephanie McManus will continue to work with students at HB Middle School and Pam Severance will continue her role with students Kindergarten thru 5th Grade, as well as, the 9th and 10th grade students at McKean.

Coordinators are currently contacting families to schedule IEP meetings

• Elke Michalak has moved back into her role of Instructional Coach.

• Chris Brittingham has been promoted to Operational Specialist!

• Friday, August 30th & Monday, September 2nd - No School (Labor Day Weekend)
• Saturday, September 7th - Red Clay Consolidated School District Block Party at Stanton Middle School
• Tuesday, September 10th - No School (Teacher Inservice)

Back-to-School Open House

• Monday, September 23rd - Forest Oak
• Tuesday, September 24th - MTP
• Wednesday, September 25th - HB Middle School
• Thursday, September 26th - McKean High School

2024-2025 Student Data Card

2024-2025 FICHA DE INFORMACIÓN DEL ALUMNO

Starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, regular attendance is essential for students gaining academic and social skills, problem solving skills and self regulation, all of which are needed to grown, learn and thrive!

We know that sometimes your student will need to miss school for illness, doctor's appointments and lack of nursing care. When your student is absent from school a note, email or communication must be sent to the teacher or main office upon his/her return to school. The note should include the child’s full name, reason for the absence and the date(s). District policy states that students with 3 unexcused absences, should receive a letter in the mail reminding parents to send in excusal notes for absences. Students with more than 7 unexcused absences will be referred to the Visiting Teacher. If you receive an attendance letter that you feel is an error, please contact Tara Davis in the Meadowood Office at 302-454-3400 so your child's attendance can be corrected.

Please make sure that you have been receiving the communications from your student's Principal at the school they attend. Important information is sent often emailed throughout the year. If you have not received any communications, please contact the school they attend.

• Ann Marie Swift, Forest Oak Elementary School
• Jason Bastianelli, HB Middle School
• Reggie Worlds, McKean High School
• Kathie Mattix, MTP

Students have received their Chromebook in school. Parents, please sign the Technology Agreement and pay the yearly insurance fee ($20):

• Technology Agreement English or Spanish
• PayPams - $20 insurance fee

The Red Clay Consolidated School District offers a voluntary low cost accident insurance for your student. Families can choose either during the school day or 24-hour coverage. The brochure is attached. Applications and fees should be sent directly to the Philadelphia Insurance Companies. There is no obligation to purchase this insurance.

Back-to-School reminders from the nurses:

• Don’t forget to talk with your school nurse if your student needs to take daily medication, emergency medication, has food or environmental allergies or requires treatments in school. Nurses will need parent permission forms, doctor written emergency action plans, and doctor’s orders. Remember any medication sent into school, needs to be in the original container with a pharmacy prescription label.
  
• Please fill out your STUDENT DATA CARDS and return to school. This is important to update your student’s health and your contact information. You can also give permission for Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Tums to be given as needed. This will come home with your student during the first month of school.
  
• Every year, vision and hearing screening is done on each student as part of Delaware State Regulations. Postural screening is done yearly from 5th grade through 9th grade. Screenings typically start at the end of September into October. If you have any concerns with screenings, please contact your school nurse.
  
• If your student requires use of glasses or a hearing aid, please send these in with your student to school every day. Vision and hearing are very important for your child to be successful in school.
  
• Please send in an extra pair of clothes to keep in your student’s locker/classroom just in case it is needed for accidents or spills.
  
• SUNSCREEN: Please consider placing sunscreen on your child prior to coming to school during the warmer months when students may participate in outdoor activities.
  
• Some school have two nurses. Although Meadowood students are normally served by the first nurse listed, the secondary nurse might also be in contact with you about your child.

Forest Oak - Kathie Vachris (302-454-3416) & Collen Sauder

HB Middle - Nicole Ewing (302-239-3423)

McKean HS - Jennifer McGrath (302-992-5526) & Lori Hoffman

MTP - Sharon Buck (302-454-3400)

Students will receive information regarding transportation closer to the school year. Parents with students attending Forest Oak, HB Middle School, and McKean High School are encouraged to download the Where's The Bus App for real-time updates on student’s bus location and timing.

MTP Students: Students will be transported to/from school by Paratransit or by their parent/guardian if they choose. The school team will handle scheduling rides to/from school and pay the fare each way. Students/parents are responsible for cancelling their own rides. Students who miss an excessive amount of school put themselves in jeopardy of not having a standing Paratransit order to/from school everyday and parents/guardians will need to schedule services.

Students and parents are encouraged to download the Dart Transit App at either the Apple Store or Google Play for real time updates and bus information. For more information or questions, contact Dart at 1-800-652-DART (3278) or https://dartfirststate.com/

Dress Code Guidelines:

• Appropriate and safe footwear (sneakers) must be worn at all times, especially for gym and therapies. Sandals, slides, house slippers, Crocs, etc. are not recommended.

• Students should wear clean clothes that are free of holes/rips, are weather-appropriate for the season, and fit properly (not too tight, too short, too revealing or midriffs). Inappropriate decals, slogans or pictures are not acceptable.

• Please remember to send in extra clothes in case of accidents or spills. Make sure they are updated from season to season.

• If your student requires use of glasses or a hearing aid, please send these to school every day! Vision and hearing are important for your child to be successful in school.

*Additional Information for HB students:

Clear Backpacks only

Tops:

• HB Middle School shirts (HB spirit wear) or a polo style shirt (any solid color) with no logo

• No Hoodies - only non-hooded HB Middle School sweatshirts may be worn or a solid color sweater, sweatshirt, or cardigan. Students must wear a polo shirt or HB shirt underneath their fleece, jacket or sweatshirt.

Bottoms:

• Dockers/uniform style pants (blue, black, or brown/tan only) or corduroy pants (blue, black, or brown only). No denim. No skinnies. No ‘rips’.

• “Reasonable length” shorts will be considered acceptable wear if they are Dockers/uniform style (blue, black, or brown/tan only)

*Families who would like to donate their new or gently used Forest Oak, HB, or McKean spirit wear to the Meadowood Program can contact Katie Kravitz (katherine.kravitz@redclay.k12.de.us)

We hope everyone has enjoyed a restful and fun filled summer! As we transition back into the school year we will be learning about our school expectations and our RC Cash reinforcement system. Below you will find each school sites behavior expectations. Feel free to review these at home to prepare your child for their upcoming school days.

This September we are learning about Emotions. Students will be learning about how emotions feel, how to identify others emotions, how certain scenarios make us feel, and how to categorize emotions with our Zones of Regulation. We will be focusing on a different Zone each week, and students will be identifying how they feel utilizing a Zones Chart.

We encourage families to utilize the language we are using at school to discuss emotions and feelings.

Down Syndrome Association of Delaware is a non profit organization in Delaware providing support, resources, information and events throughout all year long for families with individuals with Down syndrome. Ari Avila is fluent in both English and Spanish and is very eager to connect Spanish speaking families and share resources. Please reach out to Ari at 302-455-8705 or spanish@dsadelaware.org for more information.

Smart911 is a free national service that is provided by your local 9-1-1 agency. With this service, you can create a Safety Profile for your household that includes the vital personal and medical information you would like response teams to know in the event of an emergency. Afterwards, if you dial 9-1-1, your profile is immediately available so that first responders and call takers can assist you faster and more effectively. You can let them know family medical history, disabilities, detailed information about your home and more.

EPIC is a community based program for members with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities to exercise, learn about healthy living options, and build social skills. Classes include Strength, Yoga, YMCA-integrated lessons on Education, Nutrition, and Social Skills. For more information visit their website here

ExpO is a caregiver-led nonprofit in New Castle County, DE for neurodiverse peers (18+) with low-support needs and their caregivers. ExpO holds monthly meetings and organizes a variety of activities in the community based on what members enjoy or want to try. Through fun and skill-building activities, ExpO seeks to improve options and quality of life for individuals and their families; they are not a respite organization. For more information, visit their website here

Best Buddies Citizens Program supports the development of friendships between adults with and without IDD in corporate and civic communities. Many people with IDD have limited opportunities for social interactions after they leave the school environment. This program helps people with IDD become part of mainstream society and creates an inclusive and diverse community for all. Join a program

e-Buddies provides opportunities for volunteers with and without IDD to develop friendships online and create connections using the power of technology. The program provides the opportunity for members to connect through the e-Buddies social platform, which is designed to expand friendships and create shared experiences through virtual social events. Anyone age 13 and older can participate in e-Buddies. Click here for more information.

The Arc of Delaware is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for and serving Delawareans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. Click here for more information about their programs and events.

Please make an appointment through Legacy Studios, call 716-512-6336 or email seniors.legacystudios.com. Portraits will take place in the Aux gym.

55 S Meadowood Dr.

Newark, DE 19711

Main Office: (302) 454-3420

School Hours

8:50 am - Doors Open

9:05 am - Classes Begin

3:50 pm - Dismissal Begins

Assistant Principal Forest Oak/Meadowood Program: Megan O'Donnell (megan.odonnell@redclay.k12.de.us)

Meadowood Program Principal- Kathleen Mattix (kathleen.mattix@redclay.k12.de.us)

School Nurse: Mrs. Kathie Vachris, MSN, RN

kathleen.vachris@redclay.k12.de.us

Office phone number: 302-454-3416

Students will attend Henry B. du Pont Middle School

735 Meeting House Road

Hockessin, DE 19707

Main Office: (302) 239-3420

School Hours:

8:05 am - Doors open

8:15 am - Classes begin

3:00 pm - Dismissal begins

Assistant Principal HB/Meadowood Program: Megan O'Donnell (megan.odonnell@redclay.k12.de.us)

Meadowood Program Principal- Kathleen Mattix (kathleen.mattix@redclay.k12.de.us)

School Nurse: Nicole Ewing

nicole.ewing@redclay.k12.de.us

Students will attend Thomas McKean High School

301 McKennan’s Church Road

Wilmington, DE 19808

Main Office: (302) 992-5520

Main Office Fax: (302) 992-5525

School Hours:

7:15 am - Doors open

7:25 am - Classes begin

2:10 pm - Dismissal begins

Assistant Principal McKean/Meadowood Program: Julia Tulloch (julia.tulloch@redclay.k12.de.us)

Meadowood Program Principal- Kathleen Mattix (kathleen.mattix@redclay.k12.de.us)

School Nurse: Jennifer McGrath

Office Phone: 302-992-5526

Students will attend Meadowood Transition Program

55A South Meadowood Dr.

Newark, DE 19711

Main Office: (302) 454-3400

Main Office Fax: (302) 454-3403

School Hours:

7:55 am - Doors open

2:30 pm - Dismissal begins

Principal- Kathleen Mattix (kathleen.mattix@redclay.k12.de.us)

School Nurse: Mrs. Sharon Buck, MSN, RN

sharon.buck@redclay.k12.de.us

Office phone number: 302-454-5349