Linden Hill Elementary School

 

Principal's Message (Continued)

Community News

If you access Linden Hill at arrival and/or dismissal via Skyline Drive, please be aware of the signs on the road that limit, stopping, standing or parking on the curb side across from the entrance to school.  Please make sure that you adhere to these limits as the police will be monitoring this to insure the safety of children during arrival and dismissal.
Please also be aware that if you need to cross Skyline Drive with your child, you need to cross by a crossing guard.

We also ask that if you are accessing Linden Hill by car that you abide by the speed limit, are courteous to our neighbors on New Kent Road, and adhere to the car rider line directions (enter via Linden Hill  Village –via Loudoun Road to New Kent Road and exit via New Kent to Skyline).  We ask that you stick to this route and not use any other of the roads in Linden Hill Village as you enter or depart.

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thank you for all those who met with teachers in October.  Our next conference days are December 17 and 18. Students will be dismissed at 1:00pm on these days. Please look for more information to come from your child’s teacher. Our goal is to invite every one of our families in for a conference for the first marking period.  We believe this is an important opportunity for us to share with each family information about the Progress Report and the GLEs that have been addressed to date.  Equally as important, it gives us a chance to share with you how your child has progressed as an individual, a social member of our Community, and as a learner. 

Winter School Days
Our school nurse does a daily wind chill check at 11:00 a.m. every day during the winter months.  All children go outside for recess throughout the winter unless the wind chill temperature is below 20 '.   Therefore, we ask that you please make sure your child is dressed warmly enough to enjoy this part of our instructional day.  Our expectation is that all children who are well enough to come to school are well enough to participate in recess.  As referenced in our Handbook, only a note from a doctor will excuse a child from recess, as we have no personnel for this special coverage.
Inclement weather is also a part of this season.  If you are ever wondering about whether school will be closed or is closing early due to bad weather, we ask that you please listen to the radio or check the Red Clay Web site www.redclay.k12.de.us  (go to Student and Parents and click on Inclement  Weather Procedures).  The Delaware Department of Education also has a Web Site— www.doe.state.de.us  that can be navigated to notify you of school closings via e-mail.
Also, if the start of school is delayed, please know that we will be unable to accommodate students who arrive at regular start time since often times staff are not able to get to school due to the inclement weather, leaving us unable to provide coverage for these children.  Therefore, you might want to make a late start contingency plan for your child should this become a reality. Another option now available would be to leave your child with our on site Boys and Girls Club, as they have a daily drop-in program.

Lastly, transportation will generate a list of bad weather bus stops that you should become familiar with should road conditions not permit access to your normal stop.  This information will also be available on the Red Clay Web site  (www.redclay.k12.de.us   - go to Student and Parents and then the transportation link).  If you do not have access to a computer, you can call the Transportation Office at 322-0251.  Thank you, in advance, for your attention to these matters.

Upcoming…
DSTP…all students in grades 2-5 will be taking the State Test from March 10 – March 16.  It is our hope that having these dates in advance will aid you in planning any appointments.  It is very important that students are in attendance for all testing days.

 

Choice Information
The 2010-2011 school Choice application period closes on January 13, 2010 at 4:30 pm.  
You may apply on-line (http:// www.redclay.k12.de.us) or obtain a copy of the state Choice Application at any public school (we have them in our office) or the district office. 
For any questions about the Choice Program please contact:
Choice Office
4550 New Linden Hill Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
302.552.3789

Early Birds
Just a reminder … the school doors do not open for students until 8:35 a.m. Consequently, there is no supervision for students who arrive before that time.  Recently, we have noticed more children arriving before 8:35 a.m. and are concerned for their safety.  Therefore we are asking that you do not send your child/children to school before 8:35 a.m. Also, we want to remind families that if you need to pick your child up early that you do so before 2:45 p.m.  Early dismissals after that time cause a great deal of confusion at day’s end, interrupts ongoing instruction for the remainder of the class, and may take a child out of a related arts class leaving the homeroom teacher with no information as to where that student is.  Thank you for your attention to this procedure.

The End of Another Calendar Year!
We began this message with a “thank you” and as this calendar year comes to a close we would like to reiterate our gratitude to all members of our community for all that you do to make Linden Hill a special place.

We would like to thank our staff, who works well beyond the contractual day to provide children the very best learning opportunities.

We would like to thank our PTA who has done an outstanding job of organizing and planning for school and family events for this school year.  We would like to thank you, our families, for your support and partnership in the education of your child/children.  And…we would like to thank the children who come to us each day!

On behalf of the entire Linden Hill staff, we would like to extend our best wishes to all for a happy holiday season.

Educationally Speaking,
Mary E. Bradley, Ed.D. Principal
Deborah Brady, Assistant Principal