March 2026 Newsletter

• March 20th - Teacher Inservice (No school for students)
• March 27th - RCCSD's Special Education Parent Council Chat

• April 28th - SODE Soccer Elementary @ Lum's Pond
• April 30th - SODE Soccer Secondary @ Lum's Pond

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

We are asking you to complete the survey to help us learn what parents and guardians think about our school. Your thoughts and opinions are very important. Through this survey, we will use your experiences and opinions to help us build on our strengths and work to make improvements.

The survey will only take about 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed by desktop, laptop, or mobile device. If you have more than one child in this school, please complete the survey with one child’s experiences in mind.

The Delaware School Climate Survey was developed by the Delaware Positive Behavior Support Initiative (a partnership between the Delaware Department of Education and the Center for Disabilities Studies at the University of Delaware). There is no identifying information on the survey, so no one will know how you individually answered any of the questions. Information from completed surveys will be used by the University of Delaware to make a report for our school.

When completing the survey, please do the following:

• Answer every question
• Mark an answer that best describes what you believe about the situation described
• Due to the nature of the Meadowood Program, some questions might be difficult to answer, please provide us with your best choice
  
• Complete the survey by April 2, 2026
• Complete only 1 survey per child

Please feel free to contact me, or your child’s teacher, if you have any questions about the survey.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinions with us and helping to make our school a better place for all students.

To access the HOME version of the DE School Climate Survey by desktop or mobile device, please click the below:

PARENT SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEY - ENGLISH

PARENT SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEY - SPANISH

Sincerely,

Kathie Mattix

Principal

• Dates: Tuesday, June 30th - Thursday, July 30th

• Monday - Thursday - Summer program will be 4 days/week

• Location: All students will attend at Forest Oak

• Time: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

• No days off for July 4th

Please complete the form below to indicate if you want your child to participate in Meadowood Program for the summer.

The Special Olympics Soccer event is right around the corner! Elementary schools will be participating on Tuesday, April 28th and secondary schools will play on Thursday, April 30th.

📍Both events take place at NEW LOCATION this year: Lum's Pond.

More information and permission slips will be sent home soon. Please contact Coach with any questions! Laura.Kaiser@redclay.k12.de.us.

We are excited to launch our T-Shirt Fundraiser to support Eagles Autism Foundation. All proceeds will go directly to support Eagles Autism Foundation and Red Clay Autism Services Team for the 5k Challenge this May.

Please share this opportunity with friends and family. Thank you for your continued support of Red Clay Autism Services!

🔗 T-Shirt Fundraiser - Eagles Autism Foundation

There is so much to celebrate and recognize during the month of March!

Spread awareness about the causes that mean the most to you by wearing your favorite gear.

The Special Olympics national campaign, Spread the Word-INCLUSION, takes place on Wednesday, March 4th. Schools at all levels across the state of Delaware will be showing their support by holding spirit weeks, banner signings, assemblies, and a variety of other inclusion awareness activities. Wear your Inclusion shirt on the 4th and show your support.

Sign up here if you are interested in attending the Buddy Ball on Friday, March 6th

Please join the New Castle County Transition Team as we host our 11th Annual Transition to Adult Life Fair on Thursday, March 12th for students with disabilities. This year we have over 40 vendors to provide information to families from various areas of adult living. Additionally we will have presentations from Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services - DDDS, Community Integrated Services, and Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council.

Sign up for our email list: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdvkvL1N82.../viewform

Tuesday, March 17th sport your Phelan Lucky gear 🍀

World Down Syndrome Day is a day to raise awareness and educate individuals about Down syndrome, as well as to, advocated for the rights, inclusion, and well being of people with Down syndrome. 3/21 was selected because individuals with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome. Socks were chosen because they they are similar in shape to chromosomes. In some parts of the world 3/21 is known as #LotsofSocks, locally, we #RockYourSocks. Use the News2You story to discuss World Down Syndrome Day with your student.

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is an annual observance held in March to increase public awareness about developmental disabilities and promote inclusivity, acceptance, and understanding for individuals with these conditions. The month-long campaign aims to educate the public, challenge stereotypes, and highlight the unique abilities and accomplishments of people with developmental disabilities.

March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, and Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day is Wednesday, March 25th. This initiative was started by a cerebral palsy advocacy group in 2006. Supporters, activists, and advocates celebrate by wearing the color green, which was chosen to reflect youthfulness and new growth, as well as hope for advancements in treatment and acceptance.

Every March, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) leads the nation in observing Brain Injury Awareness Month. This year, BIAA is continuing to promote their My Brain Injury Journey campaign, with a focus on the long-term chronic effects of brain injury.

Trisomy Awareness Month is observed in March. Trisomy is a genetic condition where an individual has three copies of a chromosome instead of two, resulting in 47 chromosomes rather than 46. The most well-known trisomy conditions are:

• Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)
• Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) - recognized on 3/18
  
• Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) - recognized on 3/21
• Klinefelter syndrome - recognized in May

The theme for National School Social Work Week 2026 is “Unite to Ignite: Celebrating Our Impact” highlights the collective power of school social workers—and the broader professional community that supports them—to unite students, families, schools, and communities and ignite meaningful, lasting change. This year, National School Social Work Week is celebrated March 2nd-8th. Thank you to Katie Kravitz, Meadowood's School Social Worker.

National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) celebrates the importance of a nutritious school breakfast in fueling students for success. This special observance during the first week of March (2nd-6th) celebrates the National School Breakfast Program and the many ways it gives kids a great start every day. All students in the Red Clay School District currently receive free breakfast and lunch.

The sixth annual International SEL Day is March 2, 2026, kicking off SEL Week through March 8! SEL Day and SEL Week are an opportunity to collectively spread the word about the importance and impact of teaching social and emotional skills such as collaboration, empathy, and conflict resolution.

The Meadowood Program is currently utilizing The Zones of Regulation curriculum and the Circles curriculum.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences and is celebrated this year from March 16th to the 20th.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, organizations, and others around the world with the opportunity to recognize the many skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual. Use the following News2You article to discuss Neurodiversity Celebration Week with your student.

March 20th was selected as the annual celebration of World Behavior Analysis Day (WBAD), honoring the science on the birthdate of B.F. Skinner, the founder of contemporary behavior analysis. This year's theme is Science That Unites the World

Thank you to Meadowood's amazing Board Certified Behavioral Analysts: Sarah D'Amico, Nicole Gouge, Tara Duffy, Sam Fioravanti, Laura Dunbar, and Michelle Lewis!

Epilepsy Awareness Day, or Purple Day, is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. Every year on March 26th, people in countries around the world are invited to wear purple and host events in support of epilepsy awareness.

A-Team of Delaware UPDATE:

Each year, the public gets two minutes to share their story with legislators who decide how the State's budget will be spent.

YOUR STORY MATTERS. TELL IT!

At 12:30 p.m on March 2, legislators on Delaware's Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will need to hear from those of us who care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to make them aware of the continuing need to fund the services and resources our community desperately needs.

Please consider sharing your story by:

1. Going in person to Legislative Hall in Dover (Directions). View more information here.
2. Participating via Zoom. Sign up here.
3. Emailing your comments to: JFC_Public_Comment@delaware.gov.
4. Register here to speak

Get ready to hit the track, field, court, and pool—Spring Sports registration closes March 15th! This season includes Aquatics, Bocce, Powerlifting, Softball, Tennis, and Track & Field. The spring sports season culminates in Summer Games on June 12th and 13th.

Registration is now open for Special Olympics Delaware’s Young Athletes Program, designed for children ages 2–7 with and without disabilities. Sessions run 6–8 weeks and are led by dedicated Head Coaches in each area.

👉 Register Here

Autism Delaware is hosting an Arcade Game Night at Wilmington Amusements in Wilmington, Delaware on March 6, 2026 from 6:00PM - 8:00 PM.

This private event features access to 65+ Classic arcade games set on free play (no quarters needed). Admission is $5 per person and includes a slice of pizza and a soft drink. *Attendees must be 18 years of age or older to attend.

🎫 Get tickets here.

Care Maps aren’t just planning tools —

they’re powerful ways to tell your family’s story.

Join us on Wednesday, March 11, 6-7 PM for a hands-on webinar where families will discover creative ways to use a Care Map to bring clarity to complex medical needs, highlight the many roles caregivers already take on, strengthen communication with care teams, and confidently advocate for their child and family. Join us and other families to connect, create, and gain practical tools you can use right away to support your child and family.

👉 REGISTER NOW: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../6f95e403-1722-4837...

Caregiver Connections is a new monthly series of no-cost, Friday parent/caregiver meetups held at rotating locations across the state. The first one of 2026 on Friday, March 13 at 6:00 PM in Middletown (St. Anne’s Episcopal Church)!

This month’s topic: Transition! Samtra Devard, advocate and mom to Lauren, will lead a discussion primarily about the transition to adulthood: employment, independence, community engagement, and more. We’ll also touch on other important transitions as relevant to the group, such as birth–3 to school district and middle/high school transitions.

We encourage parents of individuals with Down syndrome of any age to join us around the table, bringing your questions or wisdom to share.

🔗 Please sign up at the link below

https://secure.lglforms.com/.../s/ElNlBBH72BhBiiWnFdczHQ...

Get ready for two exciting nights of Unified basketball as our college rivalry games return for their second year!

Join us on Saturday, March 28th for Involved and Informed: A Conference for Autism Fathers and Autism Advocates — a first-of-its-kind conference elevating the role of fathers in the autism community while welcoming advocates, caregivers, and organizations who support families.

🎫 Purchase tickets here.

Save the date for Thursday, June 18, 2026. For more information and purchase tickets, click here

High school students in the Meadowood Program will transition to AI High School when Thomas McKean High School transforms into the Thomas McKean Innovation Campus beginning August 2027. The Meadowood Administration has already begun working with district personnel to ensure the needs of the Meadowood students will be met. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the same Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways as their general education peers at the Thomas McKean Innovation Campus.

🔗 We encourage you to explore the the district's Innovation Campus

webpage for updates and additional information.

Please contact Kathie Mattix with any questions or concerns.

Check out a new resource for families specific to Forest Oak, Mote, HB Middle, McKean HS, MTP, District Resources, and Curricular Resources including school calendars, principal updates, district calendars and parent handbook, plus so much more!

Special Olympics Delaware Summer Camp are officially open for both campers and counselors! Don’t wait—spots fill up fast!

Big dreams start here at Camp Fairlee! Learn more about this exciting adventure and sign up your loved ones today! Click here for more information. Scholarships are also available.

Information about Respite Weekends

Days of Summer Camp is a fun day camp experience for children with Down syndrome ages 3-13 and their siblings ages 3-10. Young adults ages 15-25 are encouraged to serve as Counselors and will receive 40 hours of documented community service for their time. Applications are due by June 1, 2026. Apply here.

iCan Shine is a nonprofit organization that provides quality recreational programs for individuals with disabilities.

iCan Swim Camp - July 20-24, 2026. Click here for more information; scholarships are available.

Summer Camp is held each summer for children with special needs and their siblings. (9) 1-week sessions offered throughout the summer. Students must be age 5+ and in school to participate. Field Trips are included. Click here for more information.

• Remember to check if your student has an extra pair of clothes (including underwear & socks) in school in case of accidents or spills. Make sure they are updated for the seasons!

• Dress for the weather!

• 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.

• Keeping hydrated is important! Please send in a labeled water bottle with your student.

  
  

PLEASE BE MINDFUL! IF YOUR STUDENT IS SICK, PLEASE KEEP THEM HOME!

DISTRICT POLICY STATES:

• A student must be fever free (without medication) for 24 hours before returning to school.

• If a student is out for vomiting or diarrhea, they must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.