Richey First Take

Dear Richey Families,

As the sun sets on the final evening of summer, I wanted to reach out personally to share my excitement for tomorrow morning. Standing in our hallways seeing the shining floors and decorated classrooms, I am reminded of how much potential, energy, and joy a new school year brings.

As your new principal, my highest priority is creating an environment where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to grow. Tomorrow morning, our doors will open wide to welcome your children and our dedicated teachers and staff are completely ready to guide, support, and cheer them on every step of the way.

Here are a few quick reminders to help ensure a smooth first morning:

• Arrival Time: Doors open at 8:45am and will close at 9:05am.

• Drop-Off & Traffic: Please pack a little extra patience for the drop-off line tomorrow morning. Follow our designated drop-off route, drive slowly, and let our staff assist your children out of the car.

• School Supplies & Belongings: Pack a labeled water bottle and a big smile. We will take care of the rest!

• First-Day Jitters: It is completely normal for students—and parents!—to feel a bit nervous tonight. Reassure your child that their teachers are excited to meet them and that tomorrow will be full of welcoming faces.

Thank you for trusting us with your children's education and well-being. Partnering with you is central to everything we do and I look forward to meeting many of you at the drop-off line and at our upcoming school events.

Get a wonderful night's rest tonight. We will see you bright and early in the morning!

Warmly,

Kelly McCormick

Principal

Dear Richey Families,

Welcome back to another exciting school year at Richey Elementary! We hope you had a wonderful summer break filled with relaxation and memorable moments. As we prepare to embark on a new academic journey we are delighted to welcome both returning and new families to our vibrant school community.

Our dedicated staff has been working diligently to create an engaging and enriching learning

environment. We are committed to providing your child with a well-rounded education that not only focuses on academic excellence but also nurtures their social, emotional, and physical well-being.

Here are a few important details to keep in mind as we begin the school year.

Meet the Teacher

• Thursday, August 27 from 3:30 pm-5:00 pm

• Class Lists will be available with our staff as you arrive at the Meet the Teacher Event.

• There will be a special presentation for our Kindergarten families at 4:00 in the Cafeteria with classroom visits directly following.

• The rescheduled Kindergarten Play Date will also take place from 5-6pm on the playground.

August 31, 2026

• First Student Day for 1st-5th Grade and Kindergarteners last names A-L

Kindergarten Split Week

• To help with a smooth transition for our Kindergarten students, each student will come to school only two days during the first week of school. This will give students a chance to get to know their teacher, learn routines, and procedures, and start the school year with a smaller group of students.

• August 31-September 1 (Kindergarten with the last name A-L)

• September 2-3 (Kindergarten with the last name M-Z)

• Autism Program- (Kindergarten- all 4 days)

School Schedule

• 8:45 am-Car Rider Drop-Off begins

• 8:45 am-Staff will bring students into the building

• 8:45 am- Bus Riders will come into the building

• Students will have a grab-and-go breakfast if they choose to eat breakfast

• 9:05 am-Instructional day begins

• After 9:05 am you will need to come in to the main office to sign your student in

• 3:50 pm- Car Rider dismissal begins

• 3:50 pm - 4:00 pm Buses depart

Car Tags

• You will receive a car tag at the Meet the Teacher event, regardless of whether your student will ride a bus to school or be picked up in the car rider line. It is important to keep your car tag on hand as you may need to pick up your child at some point during the year. Car tags ensure that we dismiss students from school in a safe and efficient manner.

Arrival

• If you are dropping off your child in a car please stay in your car. A staff member will assist your student in getting out of the car.

• Please do your photos and your last-minute goodbyes at home before you leave. The car line is very busy and we will not be able to take pictures in the car line.

• Please stay in a single file.

• Please do not pass other cars.

• Car riders and walkers will enter the building through the door on the far left side of the building.

• Only guardians who need to speak to the main office will enter through the main entrance doors.

• There is no supervision until 8:45 am. Please do not drop off until then.

Car Rider Dismissal

• We will use both lanes in the driveway for dismissal.

• The outer car lane should not be used until 3:15 due to early dismissals and people trying to exit.

• Please stay inside your car.

• Please hang your car rider number on your rearview mirror.

• A staff member will come around and collect the numbers.

• Your child will exit the building and go to your car. Staff members will be available to assist them in crossing to your car.

Walker Dismissal

• We will use the side door by the garden. That is to the right of the building if you are coming from the front.

• You will line up on the walking path holding the number that you received on Meet the Teacher Night.

Independent Walker Dismissal

• This is for students who are walking home by themselves.

• You must sign a release form at the beginning of the year for this option. This form will be available at the Meet the Teacher event.

• Independent walkers will be dismissed last.

School Supplies

• Please see our website for recommended supplies. Please note these supplies are not required, they are merely a wish list of the items that we find most useful at each grade level.

Transportation

• Red Clay’s Office of Transportation Services will send a communication closer to the start of school with your student’s transportation information.

Nutrition

• All students at Richey Elementary are eligible for free breakfast and lunch. Please see the attachment at the bottom.

Chromebooks

• ALL students in Kindergarten- 5th Grade will keep their Chromebooks at school. They WILL NOT be sent home this year.

Social Media

• Please like our Facebook & Instagram Pages: Richey Elementary School

Weekly Communication

• Once the school year starts please look for Sunday messages. This will come to your email.

• If you are not receiving this email, please check in with the office to ensure we have the correct email address for you.

We are excited to embark on this journey together and look forward to a year filled with growth, learning, and achievement. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to our school office at 302-992-5535 or by email kelly.mccormick@redclay.k12.de.us.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. Let’s make this school year a memorable and successful one!

Best regards,

Dr. Kelly McCormick

Principal

Access our Parent Handbook HERE

Access our Parent Handbook (Spanish) HERE

In order to ensure the safety of our students and staff our arrival procedure will change this year.

• ALL students will enter through the door on the far left side of the building (see picture below).
• Students may begin exiting their cars along any part of the sidewalk.
• Adults who need to speak with the main office will ring the bell at the main entrance and will be buzzed in to go directly to the main office.

Reminder: doors open at 8:45am each morning. There is NO supervision for students who are dropped off before that time.

A successful school year starts with staying connected! Beginning August 17, families can complete the 2026–2027 Annual Student Information Update through the Infinite Campus Family Portal.

Take a few minutes to make sure we have the most current information for your student, including:

Parent/guardian contact information

Mailing address

Emergency contacts

Student health information

Preferred language for family communications

Already have an Infinite Campus account? Simply log in and select Annual Update / New Student Registration to get started.

Need an account? Check your email on August 17 for an activation message from Red Clay. An automated email will be shared every Monday until you create an account.

PLEASE DON’T SKIP THIS IMPORTANT STEP!

Accurate information helps us stay connected with your family and ensures we can best support your student throughout the school year.

Get instructions and complete details here.

*Please note that while homeroom assignments are visible, these are still a work in progress and may change. Class lists will be finalized on 8/27 and the final homeroom will be available at our Meet the Teacher event.

Let’s start the year connected and ready to move Forward Together!