We continue to monitor changes as they happen and adjust our plans as needed. Here’s the most recent update regarding this pandemic. Our plan is to provide an update on a daily basis. All staff should check their district email daily to receive specific division updates. If you have questions, please contact your immediate supervisor.

If you are experiencing any symptoms, such as a dry cough and/or fever, please follow the CDC guidelines and not visit our schools.

Parent Information

• Parent Conferences
— We are not holding parent conferences this coming week. We will communicate plans for rescheduling when school returns to normal schedule.

• Interims/Grading/Parent Updates:
During this time period, teachers may be entering assessment information that was gathered prior to March 12th. We recognize that not all students may have submitted the grades for a variety of reasons and do not want to create concern among students/parents about missing assignments. We will work this out when we return to a normal schedule.

• Learning Opportunities and Item Pickup
Schools will be open TODAY to students/family members between the hours of 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm to pick up the following:
– Learning packets-No ID required
– ID Required for the following:
— Devices (chromebooks/laptops) for student learning for students in grades 2 through 12
— Prescription medications
— Necessary personal items such as: band instruments, sports equipment, etc..

• Building Access Guidelines
– Only 1 bathroom will be open.
– Only 1 door will be open for key card access
– Touch as little as possible while accessing the building
– Families must be escorted to access classrooms as needed and sign in to indicate the classroom they are accessing.
– Staff are expected to only access areas necessary to retrieve personal effects
– Food and drinks will not be permitted in classrooms
– All trash should be disposed of in a central receptacle- not in classroom trash cans.

• Nutrition Services
Colonial School District has been approved for a drive-through “Grab and Go” meal service at William Penn High School and Southern Elementary School starting today.
– Students will receive a lunch for the day and breakfast meal for the next day at no cost.
– Monday- Friday (for as long as we are closed)
– Any child 18 years of age or younger. Child must be on site to receive meals
– Do not have to be a student of the Colonial School District.
– Locations & Times: Pick up will be clearly marked with directional signs.

— William Penn High School: Loading Dock from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
713 E Basin Rd, New Castle, DE 19720

— Southern Elementary School: Loading Dock from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
795 Cox Neck Rd, New Castle, DE 19720

— DELAWARE CITY PAL from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
250 Fifth Street, Delaware City, DE 19706

— Garfield Park Pal from 12:00 – 2:00 pm
26 Karlyn Drive, New Castle, DE 19720

The district will also utilize multiple school buses and Nutrition Service mobile care-a-vans.
We will communicate specific locations and times for our mobile bus routes through robo-calls to families and will be updated on our website.

DART
To support Delaware Public Schools, DART is offering students free bus rides on regularly scheduled bus routes to access school meal programs from 10 AM to 2 PM until schools are back in session.

Events
As shared previously all events scheduled prior to April 9th have been postponed. We are considering events through the remainder of the year and will communicate any subsequent decisions in the coming weeks.

We will continue to update you as we get information that will impact the district.

Staff Information
• Schools and Offices
Schools will be open TODAY to students/family members between the hours of 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm to pick up the following:
– Learning packets-No ID required
– ID Required for the following:
— Devices (chromebooks/laptops) for student learning for students in grades 2 through 12
— Prescription medications
— Necessary personal items such as: band instruments, sports equipment, etc..

Building Access Guidelines
• Only 1 bathroom will be open.
• Only 1 door will be open for key card access
• Touch as little as possible while accessing the building
• Families must be escorted to access classrooms as needed and sign in to indicate the classroom they are accessing.
• Staff are expected to only access areas necessary to retrieve personal effects
• Food and drinks will not be permitted in classrooms
• All trash should be disposed of in a central receptacle- not in classroom trash cans.

• As of Tuesday evening, all schools and district offices will be cleaned and will remain closed to all. Staff access to these buildings will be shut off until further notice. The only exceptions will be the William Penn Kitchen, Southern Kitchen and the Operations Center.

12 – Month Employees
Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday March 18th, all 12 month staff, except custodial and maintenance employees, are expected to work remotely. If changes develop in your availability to work from home, please connect with your supervisor.

10 – Month Employees
In this time of uncertainty, Colonial is doing all that we can to assist our staff and families manage through this crisis. We continue to have discussions internally and with State officials about how this closure is impacting staff, families and our students. We do not have all of the information that we’d like to have in order to make these decisions but we understand the need for guidance and information. To that end, we will continue to pay all 10 month staff for their regularly scheduled hours during this closure.
Keep in mind that at this time, we have no clear indication about whether or not this time will be made up at any point in the future but we are committed to handling any situation that arises as fairly and flexibly as possible.

If you would like to volunteer to support District efforts after March 17th, click this link to sign up.: https://form.jotform.com/200753747025049