The Cardinal Connection
William F. Cooke, Jr. Elementary School
January 23, 2026
NOTE: As a reminder, all schools will be closed on Monday, January 26, for Teacher In-Service Day. We are closely monitoring the weather and will keep staff and families informed if any updates are needed.
Emergencies. Early Dismissals. Delays. Snow Days.
When the weather turns, seconds matter, and social media is where we post first. Follow Red Clay on social media and be the FIRST to know. Especially during the inclement weather season, our social media channels are updated immediately with the latest information on:
- Important District Announcements
- Delays & Early Dismissals
- Weather-Related Updates
- School Closings
Follow the Red Clay Consolidated School District Social Media Pages:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedClaySchools/
• Click the three dots under the page image
• Select Follow
• Click Invite Friends to spread the word
Instagram: Follow @RedClaySchools
Remember to also follow us on X (Twitter) and Threads @RedClaySchools
Turn on post notifications for our pages so important updates pop up instantly on your phone — no scrolling required. Follow now. Stay informed. Be the first to know.
Teacher of the Year Nominations
Do you know a Red Clay classroom teacher who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? If so, please take the time to nominate this person for the 2026-2027 Red Clay Teacher of the Year award by completing this form.
Behavioral Health Professional of the Year Nominations
2026-27 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR:
Do you know a Behavioral Health Professional in your school who is dedicated, motivating, and truly making a difference? If so, please take the time to recommend this person by completing the
Nomination Form by Friday, February 13, 2026 (by 11:59 pm).
School staff, families, students, and community members are encouraged to participate.
Behavioral Health Professionals include school counselors, school social workers, licensed clinical social workers, licensed clinical mental health professionals, board-certified behavior analysts, school psychologists, and school nurses. Please note, per DOE guidelines, only Red Clay direct hires can be considered.
January's Kagan Structure of the Month: Find-the-Fiction
We encourage our families to try out this fun activity! It will be great for this wintry weekend weather we are going to get!
2026 Spread the Word - INCLUSION T-shirts
Please submit order and money to your child’s teacher by Friday, February 6th
T-shirts are $8.00 – Exact amount Cash or Check payable to Cooke Elementary
Please note that this is not a fundraiser. T-shirts are sold at cost to help raise awareness about the campaign.
2026 T-shirt color is yellow and the 2026 slogan is: INCLUSION: The Bridge That Unites Us
ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK IS COMING SOON!
What is One School, One Book? This is a shared reading experience among all students and families across the entire school!
Our annual One School, One Book will kick off on February 2nd! Every student will come home with their own copy of our shared reading title to read with families during the month of February! We thank our Cooke PTA for contributing to our OSOB program!
Daily clues will be posted on our bulletin board and we will share photos on our Cooke social media pages each day so families can see the clues as well! What book will we read???
Phelan Lucky
Yearbook Cover Contest
How to Submit:
Option 1 - Complete the form via link below
Option 2 - Email to yearbookcover@cookepta.org
Option 3 - Drop the physical paper to the main office with Mrs. Nabors & Mrs. Johnson.
If you have any questions, please email us at yearbookcover@cookepta.org
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: 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
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