North Star Weekly Communication
October 12, 2026
Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values
Mission: North Star is a caring community that helps children grow.
Vision: North Star will be recognized as a school that inspires a love of learning.
Core Values:
- Respect for All
- Supportive Community
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NSE Families,
Please read the messaging below on behalf of the District:
Dear Red Clay Families,
We want to make you aware of a social media trend involving “Cat in the Hat” content that has recently affected schools and students in several communities nationwide.
The trend has involved disturbing or threatening images, videos, and messages shared through platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok. Much of this content has been AI-generated or digitally altered, and in some cases, posts have referenced specific schools, communities, or individual students. Law enforcement and school officials in several states have investigated reports connected to the trend.
At this time, we have received no reports of any of our students being exposed to or targeted by this trend. We are sharing this information proactively so families can talk with their children about what to do if they encounter this or other troubling content online.
The safety and well-being of our students is our number one priority. Please remind your child that if they see or receive a threatening, disturbing, or concerning post or message, they should:
- Not respond, engage with, or repost the content.
- Save evidence of the post or message, such as a screenshot, when it is safe to do so.
- Tell a trusted adult immediately, including a parent, teacher, counselor, or school administrator.
- Report any threat or immediate safety concern to law enforcement.
We also encourage families to talk with their children about responsible social media use and the importance of speaking up when something online makes them feel unsafe or concerned. Even content intended as a joke can cause fear, disrupt schools, and require significant school and law enforcement resources to investigate.
We will continue to monitor the situation and will communicate with families if there is any information directly affecting our schools or students. Thank you for your attention to this important update.
This Week:
- October 13: Red Clay Day-Wear red (Details below)
- October 16: Professional Development Day-No school for students
- October 16: NSE Fall Family Dance 6:00-8:00 (Details above)
Thinking ahead:
- October 20: District Choice Information Night 6pm-Virtual: www.redclayschools.com/choice (Additional Details below)
- October 21: School Board Meeting- Cab 7:00pm Join the meeting live via Zoom
- October 22: NSE Charity Spirit Day: Pay $1 and show your crazy hair! Proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House
- October 27: Picture Retake Day (Details below)
- October 27: NSE October PTA Meeting at 7pm: In person in the library or join us virtually: https://meet.google.com/sbg-veoz-kuz
- October 29: Red Clay College and Career Fair at The John Dickinson School 5pm-7pm (Details below)
- October 30: End of the 1st Marking Period
- November 2- Grading Day-No school for students
- November 2- School Choice Opens
- November 3- Schools and Offices Closed
- November 5: NSE Flu Shot Clinic 4:40-7:30 (Details below)
- November 11- Schools and Offices Closed
- November 12- Stanton Middle School Open House 6pm
- November 16- Skyline Choice Open House 6pm
- November 17- AI Middle Choice Open House 6pm
- November 18- Red Clay School Board Meeting 7pm (Richardson Park) Join the meeting live via Zoom.
- November 19- Cab Choice Open House
- November 23- November 24- Parent Teacher Conferences: No school for students
- November 25- No school for students
- November 26- November 27- Schools and Offices are Closed
- November 30- Conrad Choice Open House 6pm
Dear North Star Elementary Families,
As the weather turns and indoor recess days approach, we are working hard to ensure our students have engaging, hands-on activities that keep them active, creative, and disconnected from computer screens.
To help us refresh our rainy-day options, most of our grade levels have put together indoor recess wish lists. If you are able, please take a look at your child's grade-level list and consider donating an item:
Kindergarten:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3EAZDNYD2LKE8?ref_=wl_share
First Grade:
ttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1TY0DocO43Yhrzqu1zWd1RDogj1zwAyJ1Xg5mv_GdKlM/edit?usp=sharing
Second Grade: (Just Added!)
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1JUHHIOKG2HZT?ref_=wl_share
Third Grade:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1T78IJ0NWDUSZ?ref_=wl_share
Fourth Grade: (Coming Soon)
Fifth Grade:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2YQE44KAT215O?ref_=wl_share
Thank you so much for your continued generosity and partnership in keeping recess fun, interactive, and screen-free!
Hello NSE Families!
We need your students at the PTA meetings!!! NSE PTA meetings are the cutest because we have STUDENT READERS read our grade level updates!! Our next PTA meeting will be Tuesday, October 27th.
If you would like your child to read at an upcoming PTA meeting please sign them up. Please access the link below and only sign each child up once so everyone may have a turn. If we need your child to read again we'll reach out. Teachers will write an update for your child to read in grades K-5. Updates will be given to your child so they may practice beforehand.
Thank you for supporting the NSE PTA!!!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4BA4AD2CA7F85-61046716-nsestudent
From the desk of Sonia Saunders (Red Clay Environmental Education Specialist):
Hi Ellen,
Congratulations on achieving the Eco Schools US Green Flag Award!
Your passion and dedication in working with your students and school community are truly appreciated and valued! It is my honor to "Spotlight" you in the October issue of the Green Gazette.
Please feel free to share this month's newsletter with your school community so they too can appreciate your hard work and to acknowledge their support and contribution to this award.
Thank you for your energy, dedication, and impact that has no doubt rippled throughout your school and community!
From the desk of Mrs. Benitez:
NSE Families,
If you have teenagers or know of any groups who are looking for volunteers, this also could be a good opportunity to get volunteer hours for them. Each of these are on a Sunday from 12-1pm
Need volunteer hours/would like to help with the school gardens? Check out this sign up genius:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44A9AA2BA2FEC61-66189648-garden#/
Invitation to Participate in the 2026 GACEC Disability History & Awareness Month Poster Contest
The Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens (GACEC) is pleased to invite your school to participate in the 2026 Disability History and Awareness Month (DHAM) Poster Contest. This year’s theme is “Kindness Makes Us Strong!”
In 2011, Governor Markell signed House Bill 123, designating October as Disability History and Awareness Month in Delaware and encouraging schools across the state to engage in activities that promote disability awareness. Many districts and charter schools have participated in past years through school announcements, newsletters, guest speakers, and by encouraging students to submit artwork to the statewide poster contest. We hope to see participation from all Delaware schools this year.
New for K–2 Students:
To ensure our youngest learners can join in the fun, we have included a special coloring sheet designed for students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. These students may submit a completed coloring sheet instead of creating an original poster, if that is more accessible or enjoyable for them.
You’ll find the coloring sheet attached with this email.
Key Details:
- Who may enter: Any student attending a Delaware public, private, or charter school.
- Divisions: Elementary (K–5), Middle (6–8), High (9–12), Computer Generated Art (Grades 9–12), and Adapted/Assisted Art.
- Deadline: Posters (and K–2 coloring sheets) must be postmarked by Monday, November 30, 2026.
- Submission: Entries should be mailed to the GACEC office in Dover, DE.
- Notification: Winners will be notified by December 7, 2026 and invited to a Cookie Reception on Friday, February 12, 2027 at 10:00 a.m.
Please review the attached Poster Specifications and Contest Rules for full details. Entry forms may be duplicated and must be securely attached to the back of each poster or coloring sheet.
Your support helps promote understanding, inclusion, and appreciation for the talents of Delaware students. If you have any questions, please contact Kathie Cherry, GACEC Office Manager, at (302) 739‑4553 or kathie.cherry@delaware.gov.
2026 Delaware Coast Day Student Contests
Welcome back to a new school year! Delaware Coast Day is Sunday, October 4 and the University of Delaware has some exciting opportunities for your students.
Now in its 50th year, Coast Day draws attendees to UD's Lewes campus to explore cutting-edge science through hands-on activities, live demonstrations, lab and ship tours, and more. This year, the University of Delaware has TWO Coast Day student contests.
Coast Day Essay Contest
Delaware Sea Grant is excited to announce the return of our 5th-grade Coast Day essay contest. This year, students are being asked to describe their favorite ecosystem or habitat in Delaware to visit and explore, what types of animals and plants live there, why that ecosystem or habitat is important and what people can do to protect that ecosystem or habitat. This contest is only open to Delaware 5th Grade Students. Go to the Coast Day website at https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/ceoe/documents/community/2026_CD_essay_packet-8-27-26.pdf for more information. Essays must be submitted by 5:00 pm on October 9, 2026.
2026 Coast Day Student Poster Contest
Imagine floating high above the Earth and looking down at the ocean far below. What do you see? Swirls of blue and green water, a giant spinning storm, whales near a sandy coastline, ice shining white at the top of the world — or something no one has ever seen before! Make a poster of the ocean as you picture it from space and sky, full of color, waves, weather, and wonder.
Show us the ocean the way almost no one gets to see it — from a satellite, a rocket, or an airplane, looking all the way down. Make a poster of the ocean as you picture it from space and sky, full of color, waves, weather, and wonder.
Who can enter
- Ages 5–18 — you must be 18 or younger as of October 4, 2026.
- Live in or attend school in Delaware, or live within 15 miles of the state border.
- Enter solo or as a team of two (age group set by the older teammate).
- One poster per person or team — if more than one comes in, we keep the most recent.
Entries must be submitted by 11:59pm on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
For more information, view the competition flyer at https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ybo1yTxQVa0gO0zKuaZV3gKcR2PzTsu/view?usp=drive_link.
We hope to see you at Coast Day on October 4. Visit the Coast Day website for more information on the event at https://www.udel.edu/ceoe/about/coastday/.
David Christopher
Delaware Sea Grant
In keeping with our healthy school initiative and the District’s commitment to providing a safe learning environment for students with food allergies, individual student birthdays will not be celebrated with food. Please do not send food items (ie: cupcakes, cookies, Rice Krispie treats, candy, chips, etc.) in with your child, as they will not be distributed. Bags with party favors that have items such as pencils, erasers, fidgets, stickers, etc., are acceptable as an alternative to treats. School-wide, birthdays will be acknowledged through morning announcements. If you are having a private party, please do not send invitations to school unless the entire class is invited. We thank you for your attention and compliance with our policy.
NSE Families,
Please access the link below to review Red Clay's cell phone policy with your children. Thank you for your attention:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11WydFyqpZ5JX9YlNS_Mcwy8k89wE9VT8EYADl3u-cng/edit?tab=t.0
NSE Families,
Please access the attachment below to review our NSE Family Handbook.
Please access the attachment below for Red Clay's Student and Family Handbook.
Need to go back and locate previous weekly newsletters for information? Here is a link to access them throughout the school year:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14sZfRlhoUkpGIXbOsKlwX_nMAz8aZgiJbWLNQfnbsM0/edit?usp=sharing
About Us
Email: jason.martin@redclay.k12.de.us
Website: https://www.redclayschools.com/northstar
Location: 1340 Little Baltimore Road Hockessin, DE 19707
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1Sx4iLPjjSP1aD5K9
Phone: 302.234.7200