The Cardinal Connection
William F. Cooke, Jr. Elementary School
November 14, 2025
Report Cards Update
Report cards play a vital role in your child’s learning journey. They are not just a record of grades, but a valuable tool that reflects your child’s progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. Through report cards, teachers communicate how well students are progressing towards mastery of standards and skills.
We encourage you to carefully review your child’s report card and to discuss it with them. Celebrate successes, and discuss ways to support continued growth at home and in school. By working together, we can ensure that your child feels supported, motivated, and inspired to reach their full potential. Report cards will be available on November 18th.
Grades K-3
- Report cards for Grades K–3 will be sent home in student folders for Marking Periods 1–3. Final report cards will be mailed home.
- The Progress Book Parent Portal will open on November 18. Parents will receive an email with login information and instructions on how to access the portal.
Grades 4-12 at Infinite Campus Family Portal
- Grades 4 - 12 will be available digitally in the Infinite Campus portal for Marking Periods 1-3. Final report cards will be available both in print and digitally through the Infinite Campus portal.
- For all special needs students, IEP progress reports will be printed and sent home by November 18th.
- If you experience any issues logging in, please visit our Help Page or contact your child's school for assistance.
Infinite Campus Parent and Student Mobile Apps
Don’t forget to download your Infinite Campus Parent and Student Mobile Apps available in the App Store and Google Play Store! Learn more about how to use the Infinite Campus mobile apps.
Check your clutter or spam folders for messages from Red Clay and to move them to their inbox or add Red Clay to your safe sender list to ensure you receive all district communications.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education.
Parent Conferences
Our fall conferences are quickly approaching. The Red Clay calendar sets aside 11/24 and 11/25 for conferences. There will be no school on these two days, as well as November 26-28 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The goal of conferences is to give you a clear understanding of your child's progress as well as to provide ideas and strategies for how you can help your child at home. Staff are looking forward to sharing the many GLOWS and GROWS of the students.
Your child's teacher will be, or has, sent the link to sign up for conference times. We encourage you to sign up for a conference. Our Unified Arts, Special Education, Multi Language Learner educators and School Counselors are also available to meet with you. You can reach out to those staff members to get an update on progress that your child is making outside of the homeroom classroom.
Cooke Spirit Wear Is Open!
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Cooke's Giving Tree
Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found grows abundantly every day. Please check Cooke's Facebook page as we posted many of the items this week. Anything unclaimed will be donated.
Please label your child's sweatshirts, jackets and hats!
After School Opportunity for K-3 Graders
Only 9 slots left!
After School Opportunity for K-2 Students
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Prepare NOW!
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.
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
Please turn in all of the documents at one time to your child's homeroom teacher.
Documents must be received in the office BEFORE the date of the volunteer opportunity/field trip.
Volunteer approval is good for ONE calendar year. So, if you completed this last October, you are cleared through October 2025. 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.
Food Bank Information
Breakfast & Lunch Menu
SAVE THE DATES!
Grades 3,4,5: SAVE THE DATES: STATE TESTING
The State of Delaware conducts state testing starting in Grade 3. We are providing the dates so that you can plan ahead to ensure that your child is in school on these dates.
Grade 3:
ELA: 4/27, 4/30
Math: 5/5, 5/7
Grade 4:
Social Studies: 2/11, 5/11
ELA: 4/27, 4/30
Math: 5/5, 5/7
Grade 5:
Social Studies: 1/23, 5/11
ELA: 4/27, 4/30
Math: 5/5, 5/7
Science: 5/14
2025-2026 School Year Calendars
Cooke At-a-Glance Calendar
It’s almost time for one of our favorite Cooke traditions, the PTA Holiday Shop! From December 2nd-4th, our Cooke Cardinals will be shopping for special gifts for their loved ones, and we need some helping hands to make the magic happen. Click here to sign up!
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