Welcome Back North Star Families!
Information for the Start of School
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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August 2026
Dear Parents and Guardians of North Star Elementary Students,
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! I hope that you are enjoying the remaining time of your summer vacations. You and your family are invited to meet your child’s teacher at our North Star Meet the Teacher event on Thursday, August 27th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Beginning at 3:30 p.m., staff will be available to provide families with information regarding student classroom assignments in our school's gymnasium. We respectfully ask that you do not call the school for your child’s classroom assignment prior to the Meet the Teacher event. Class lists are a continued work in progress and will be finalized on 8.26.26.
All car rider families will get an updated car tag assigned (2026-2027). These will be available to be picked up during our North Star Meet the Teacher event on August 27th. If you have not had a car tag in the past, but need one for this coming year, please email mailto:Patricia.curry@redclay.k12.de.us. All NEW tags must be picked up no later than the first day of school so that everyone is prepared for the school year to begin on 8.31. North Star's main office will also be open on Friday, August 28th from 8:00-3:30 for families to come in and pick up their car tags as well.
In addition, if you are new to North Star or our carline procedures, please take a moment to watch this important video: https://bit.ly/3TQz1vt
Families are encouraged to bring any supplies from the North Star School Supply Wish List to the Meet the Teacher event, rather than having students transport on their first days of school. Important: Families are not obligated to purchase school supplies. North Star students are only required to come to school with a bookbag and a pencil case. The school will provide all of the necessary school supplies to be used while at school. However, if you choose to donate supplies, please refer to the supply wish list below in this newsletter.
The Red Clay Nutrition Department is committed to providing access to nutritious, delicious meals to as many students as possible. All Red Clay elementary students are STILL able to receive a free school breakfast and lunch each and every day school is in session!
All students in grades K-5 will keep Chromebooks at school starting this year. More information will be forthcoming in future newsletters.
All students will be issued a lanyard and badge. All students will wear this daily and use this to badge on and off of the bus in the AM and PM and also to get breakfast and lunch. These lanyards and badges will be available at our North Star Meet the Teacher event.
For students in Grades 1-5, your child’s first day of school is August 31st. Kindergarten students have a “Split Start”. Kindergarten students with the last names A-L will have their first days on August 31st and September 1st (and will not attend on 9/2 & 9/3) and Kindergarten students with last names beginning with M-Z will start on September 2nd and 3rd (and will not attend on 8/31 & 9/1). There is no school on Friday, September 4th and Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day, for all students. After the kindergarten split start week, all kindergarten students will report to school together on Tuesday, September 8th.
Please take note of our school hours:
8:50-9:00 a.m.- Car rider drop-off begins.
- Please stay in the line along the curb next to the sidewalk.
- Students should exit from the passenger side of your vehicle.
- Use the car line and do not park and walk your child to the sidewalk to ensure everyone’s safety in our busy parking lot.
- You may not pass cars that are still unloading children.
- All cars will stay in line to exit the lot.
- Car riders will have an opportunity to go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast if they wish to do so.
Bus riders enter the building.
Bus riders will have an opportunity to go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast if they wish to do so.
9:05 a.m.- Instructional day begins.
Students are considered tardy after 9:05 a.m.
3:50 p.m.- Car rider and bus rider dismissal begins.
- Please follow the lines and remain in your vehicle.
- Each family is assigned a car tag number.
- All families must pick up their car tags from our main office prior to the 1st day of school.
- This number must be displayed on the rear-view mirror of your vehicle.
4:00- 4:05 p.m.- Buses depart.
The staff at North Star maximize the instructional time during the day. We ask that you limit late arrivals and early dismissals. Students are considered late after 9:05 a.m.. While early dismissals are discouraged, the latest time that early dismissals will be honored is 3:15p.m.
Other items of note:
- All Kindergarten bus riders and car riders will be guided by a staff member into the building.
- Bus schedules and transportation information will be emailed directly to families. Transportation details will also be available through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. This will be available starting August 24th.
- Please note that all early dismissals must take place before 3:15p.m. and no transportation changes will occur after 3:00 p.m. We encourage you to choose whether your child will be a car rider or a bus rider for the school year and discourage changes except in case of pre-arranged schedules or emergencies.
- North Star weekly communication will begin when school starts (Communication is typically disseminated on Sunday mornings).
We look forward to meeting all of our students on Thursday, August 27th at the North Star Meet the Teacher event! In the meantime, please enjoy the remaining summer vacation days with your families and we will see you soon!
Sincerely,
Jason Martin, Principal
North Star Elementary School
From the desk of Dr. Joy Campbell:
We are excited to welcome your child/children back to school. In an effort to ensure we have accurate information regarding your transportation plan for the year, please complete the Google Form linked here: https://forms.gle/QuTErHGSNT4jPRU7A
You will only need to complete it once, even if you have multiple children here at North Star. Thank you for your help with this!
NSE Families,
Help us spread the word! If you know a family with a child who will be starting kindergarten this fall, encourage them to choose Red Clay Consolidated School District—where every remarkable journey begins.
There’s still time to enroll, and we’re excited to welcome our newest learners into safe, caring, and engaging kindergarten classrooms. At Red Clay, children build confidence, make new friends, and develop the skills they need for a lifetime of learning and success.
What Families Need to Register
- 📋 Photo ID
- 🏠 Proof of Residency
- 👶 Birth Certificate
- 💉 Immunization Records
Children must be 5 years old by August 31, 2026.
Families can register online or in person at any Red Clay elementary school (except Warner). Learn about transportation, enrollment, and the many opportunities available across our 14 dynamic elementary schools.
Get the Best Start at Red Clay
Whether you're a parent, guardian, grandparent, neighbor, or friend, you can help a child begin their educational journey in a place where they are known, supported, and inspired to thrive.
Learn more and enroll today:
RedClaySchools.com/kindergarten
Thank you for helping us welcome the next generation of learners to the Remarkable Red Clay family. We can't wait to meet our newest students this school year!
Bus Rider Information
Wouldn’t it be great if you could learn the exact location of your child’s bus, and what time it will arrive at their stop? Red Clay has an app for that! WheresTheBusTM allows families to follow progress of the bus before it arrives at the student’s assigned stop. Knowing when the bus will arrive translates into peace of mind for parents. Mornings are less hectic and stressful for families when you eliminate the bus stop rush and uncertainty of wondering when the bus will arrive. Families can minimize waiting outside in inclement weather while enjoying more family time together.
The app also always parents to see in real-time where and when their student checked on the bus and off. Allowing parents to know that the student has arrived at school in the morning and returned home in the afternoon.
Visit www.WheresTheBus.com.
- Click Create Account
- Select Red Clay School District (DE) from the school drop-down list.
- Add the student info (Last Name and Student ID) for the student you want to signup
- Finish the account set up by entering your email and creating a password
Signing up is free, and takes less than 5 minutes.
From the desk of NSE PTA President, Anna Grieder:
The North Star PTA is urgently seeking a Treasurer for the upcoming school year. This role is a great fit for someone who is organized, comfortable with simple math, and willing to learn QuickBooks. Even parents who work full-time can successfully serve in this position.
Our current board is supportive, and the 2024–2026 Treasurer will provide step-by-step training to ensure a smooth transition. Interested or have questions? Please reach out to Anna (PTAtreasurerNorthStar@gmail.com) for more information about the responsibilities, time commitment, and support available.
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