CSD Staff Update: January 2025

• January 17 - Professional Development Day - Data Day
• January 20 - M.L. King Holiday - Schools & Offices Closed
• February 12 - District Equity Summit (Route 9 Library, 5:30-7:30pm

.......

• The 2nd Annual WE Connect conference will be held on March 21st, 2025. This is Colonial’s very own conference with a mix of Colonial and outside presenters. We are looking for school staff interested in leading a session! Have you learned something at a conference? Have you seen tremendous growth? Have you discovered a strategy that might help others? We know that our staff do amazing things everyday. Connect with each other through professional learning! Session options will be either 90 minutes or 3 hours.

• If you are interested in leading a session, complete this form by January 27th.

  Questions? Reach out to Sherrie Clark, Jon Cooper, and Erica Boykin.

The annual ACCESS test will take place from January 27th - March 7th for students in grades K-12 who have been identified as English Language Learners. The test measures students’ English language proficiency across the domains of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Talk to your MLL teachers about how you can best support both teachers and students throughout the testing window.

MATH:

• At our most recent K-5 Math Mingle for the Amplify Desmos Math (ADM) pilot oN wed, Dec 11th, our teachers provided feedback on the program and our path forward.

• 100% of the pilot teams voted to implement ADM next school year! Here are a few data slides that celebrate successes we’ve had so far with the pilot!

• We are extremely grateful for all that you and our staff have done to make this successful!

• Our next K-5 Math Mingle is Wed, Jan 22nd.

As we kick off the new year, it's the perfect time to focus on YOU — your well-being, your mental health, and your connection with others. We're excited to announce the January 2025 Self-Care and Kindness Calendar Challenge — a fun and meaningful way to nurture yourself and spread positivity!

Here’s how it works:
📅 The Challenge runs through the entire month of January, with 23 days of self-care activities and random acts of kindness. Each day, you'll find a simple, yet powerful, action to either care for your own mind and body or extend kindness to someone else.

💖 Why Participate?

• Prioritize YOU: Taking time for self-care helps reduce stress, improve focus, and boost your overall well-being.

• Spread Kindness: Small gestures of kindness can create big ripples in our workplace and community. Plus, it feels great to make someone's day!

• Build Connection: Engage with your coworkers, and even share your experiences — let's motivate each other to stick with it!

✨ How to Get Involved:

1. Click here to view the calendar.

2. Check the daily activity and complete it!

3. Share your progress in Schoology, with coworkers, and spread the joy!

4. At the end of the month, celebrate the positive impact we’ve made together!

Whether it’s a moment of mindfulness, writing a gratitude note, or simply checking in on a colleague, these small but mighty actions add up to a powerful experience for everyone involved.

Let’s start the year by being kind to ourselves and to others. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positivity and well-being across our team!

Ready to start the challenge? Let’s make January 2025 the month of self-care and kindness. 🌟

Are you passionate about making a difference in adult learners' lives? Do you have a strong background in Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), GED preparation, or high school diploma programs? If so, we invite you to apply for a part-time instructor position with the Appoquinimink Adult Education Program!

As a part-time instructor in our Adult Education program, you’ll have the rewarding opportunity to help students achieve their educational goals while earning extra income. We are currently seeking dynamic, dedicated educators for the following programs:

• ABE (Adult Basic Education)

• ESL (English as a Second Language)

• GED Preparation

• James H. Groves High School Program

Click the link below for more information about this opportunity.

https://www.applitrack.com/apposchooldistrict/OnlineApp/JobPostings/view.asp?all=1&AppliTrackJobId=4347&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail&AppliTrackViewPosting=1

This Friday, January 10th, will be the first paycheck in the new calendar year. The pension exclusion of $6000 will reset. You will not see a pension deduction in your paycheck until you have reached $6000 gross for the new year.

Once you have reached $6000, you will notice a difference in your net pay. Please review your pay advice to confirm the start of your pension deduction. If you were hired prior to 2012, you will see a pre-tax deduction code of RegPenDed. If you were hired after, you will see a pre-tax deduction code of RegNewHire. It is possible that you will have a partial deduction on one check.

This only applies to Pension eligible employees. This does not apply to Student Workers, Casual/Seasonal, Hourly, EPER, Substitutes, or contracted staff.

To learn more about the Pension Plan, visit the State of Delaware Office of Pensions FAQ page by clicking here: https://open.omb.delaware.gov/FAQs-SEPP.shtml .

Colonial School District Student Services HUB (Click Here)

All things related to special education and supporting students with disabilities.