News
Nominate our next Teacher of the Year!
Do you know a classroom teacher who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? WE need you to Nominate our next Teacher of the Year!
Referendum 2024
Learn more about the capital and operating referendums for February 29, 2024
Referendum Update: 12/15/2023
Good afternoon and Happy Friday Colonial Nation! We want to share the latest on our upcoming referendum. This past Tuesday, the School Board approved an operating ask of 40¢ per $100 of assessed home value. When approved, this increase will be phased in over three...
December 2023 Board of Education Meeting
November 14, 2023 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
November Colonial Clippings
No School for students: 11/20-24
Parent Teacher Conferences and Thanksgiving
Update for Certificate of Necessity 2023
We are excited to announce… at this time, our CN request has been approved!
No School for students Monday November 6th
Professional Development for staff
Colonial Clippings: October 2023
Featured Teacher Friday: Cheritta Marvel Southern Elementary School
Cheritta Marvel can’t walk to the halls of Southern Elementary School, or the streets in New Castle County for that matter, without someone approaching her to give a warm hug.
Choose Colonial!
School Choice ends January 8th
November 2023 Board of Education Meeting
November 14, 2023 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Lights On Afterschool
WE Philieve!
Good Luck to the Phightins in the 2023 NLCS!
October 2023 Board of Education Meeting
October 10, 2023 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Colonial Clippings September 2023
Fall Festival and Homecoming 2023
All, with the forecasted weather for this weekend, The Field Hockey game and dedication, as well as the Football game & dedication ARE ON as planned.
HOWEVER, due to this forecast, we are canceling the 2023 Fall Festival and Parade. We will look at opportunities for a future event like the fall festival before the season ends in 2023.
Lead Update September 2023
an important update for CSD
September 2023 Board of Education Meeting
September 12, 2023 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Parsing fact from fiction: How Delaware is taking the lead in teaching media literacy
UPDATE for GB, Southern and Wilbur
The water supply at Southern, Wilbur, and Gunning Bedford schools has been restored. Tomorrow, Thursday, September 7th, we will operate on a normal school schedule. For tomorrow’s lunch menu: Southern and Wilbur will serve French Bread Pizza, Baby Carrots with Dip,...
Where’s the Bus App
Track your child’s bus with this convenient service
Colonial School District Awarded $3.6 Million Dollar Grant
New Castle, DE- The Colonial School District has been selected to receive a federal grant of $3.6 million dollars over the next five years to increase social and emotional support for students if they are out of school for mental health and/or disciplinary...
August 2023 Board of Education Meeting
August 8, 2023 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
7/27/23 Summer programs update
We want to provide an update regarding how the extreme heat conditions forecast for Thursday, July 27th could impact our summer programs. We will operate as scheduled at all sites and we will be taking precautions throughout the day. In order to keep all students and...
New Leadership on the CSD School Board
The Colonial Board of Education Meeting held its annual leadership vote at the July meeting and have named new members to fill the roles of president and vice president. President Chris Piecuch will now head the board with Vice President Ms. Christine Smith. Mr....
Residents of the Colonial School District are officially getting a property tax decrease for 2023-24 school year.
The Colonial School board voted unanimously to approve the recommended tax rate for FY 2024, which includes a 10.7 cent decrease, as presented by Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Emily Falcon. “Colonial’s tax rate has not been this low since 2018, before the...
July 2023 Board of Education Meeting
July 11, 2023 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Register for Kindergarten
Kindergarten starts August 28th! Register today!
Summer Hours 2023
Summer hours for Colonial Buildings
WE’ve got some good news – June 7, 2023
June 2023 Board of Education Meeting
June 13, 2023 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
WPHS Graduation Livestream
Summer Food Program
Check out how to get access to food this summer in Colonial Nation
Last Day of School Signs
Last Day of School Signs!
We want to celebrate all your amazing work this year and share it with the world as we head into summer. Download our last day of school signs and share pics ion your student on social media with #lastdaycsd
Download the signs at
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GRQ3OTTddt63E5rBOZ3CpEB1hjRBl03q?usp=sharing
Announcing our 2024 Teacher of the Year
Michelle Reutter, from the John G. Leach School, has been named the 2024 Colonial School District Teacher of the Year!
May 2023 Board of Education Meeting
May 9, 2023 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Colonial Dedicates Sports Facilities and Fields to Former Coaches
Mel Gardner, Roe Bianchini, Bruce Reynolds and Jack Holloway to have fields name after them
April 2023 Board of Education Meeting
March 6, 2023 at 6 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Safety and Security Summit
March 9th from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Gunning Bedford Middle School
Leach Interns Turn to Titus for Athletic Training
*Media Day* Wilmington, DE- The students that are enrolled in the 18-22 year old Post Secondary Leach program, called Skills for Transition and Resilience (STAR), will join Titus trainers and professional athletes on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, from 12:45 PM to 1:45 PM...
Breakfast among Men Nomination Letter
Summer Learning in Colonial
March 2023 Board of Education Meeting
March 6, 2023 at 6 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
WE’ve Got Some Good News! MARCH 2023 EDITION
Exciting things happening in Colonial Nation • March 2023 Keeping Up With Colonial! Check out how our Nutrition Services Division has joined Colonial's Equity and Inclusion journey by clicking the arrow! It's Hoop Time! The William Penn Boy's Basketball Team is going...
Update for 3/2/23
Parents and Guardians, the following is an update to the initial message posted earlier today via social media:
Lead Results: Leach
Lead Water Testing
Delaware’s school drinking water testing program has returned new results for one (1) of our schools. Today’s results are for consumption points at: Castle Hills Elementary The testing found elevated results in fifty nine (59) samples at thirty five (35) fixtures in...
February 2023 Board of Education Meeting
February 7, 2023 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Nominate our next Teacher of the Year
Do you know a classroom teacher who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference?
Transportation Phone Line
If you have any questions for the transportation office please call our temporary phone number at 302-669-9629
No School 1/13-1/16
No School for students on Friday, January 13th due to Staff Professional Development or Monday, January 16th due to the Martin Luther King Holiday!
Update from Dr. Menzer
An update from Colonial School District Superintendent, Dr. Jeffrey Menzer in regard to the events of January 10, 2023 at William Penn High School.
Update for 1/11/23
Please read this important update
January 2023 Board of Education Meeting
December 2022 Board of Education Meeting:January10th, 2023 at 7 pm The Board will conduct business in person. Those choosing to attend in person should enter William Penn through the doors to the right of the front entrance and proceed upstairs to the Innovation...
William Penn High School was placed on lockdown
William Penn High School was placed on lockdown shortly after 11:30 AM on 1/10/23
Have a Great Winter Break!
Schools and Offices Closed December 22nd-January 2nd
COVID-19 Testing At-Home Test: Winter Break 2022
COVID-19 Testing At-Home Test: What Parents/Guardians Need to Know About This Voluntary Option Dear Parent or Guardian, Winter Break will be starting soon for our students. Many families will be traveling or spending time with family members and friends this year....
WE Change the Odds Speaker Series
January 19, 2023 at 6 pm at WPHS
Open to all ages throughout the CSD Community
Keynote Speaker: Marissa Gatson
We are family!
Sharing the stories of families who have chosen careers in Colonial. Nathan Waters & Ahtiya Johnson
December 2022 Board of Education Meeting
December 2022 Board of Education Meeting:December 13th, 2022 at 7 pm The Board will conduct business in person. Those choosing to attend in person should enter William Penn through the doors to the right of the front entrance and proceed upstairs to the Innovation...
Nominate our 2024 Behavioral Health Professional of the Year
A BHP Award is given to a school employee whose position is health care practitioner or social or human services provider who offers services for the purpose of improving an individual’s mental health
WE’ve Got Some Good News! DEC 2022 EDITION
Morgan please proof Exciting things happening in Colonial Nation • Dec. 2022 Keeping Up With Colonial! Click the arrow to view a story about the Family Holiday Dinner at New Castle Elementary! A Time of Giving Thanks to 17 young ladies from William Penn's Air Force...
Stay up to Date
Stay up to date on the latest inclement weather updates for Colonial here
An Important Message from Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Menzer
Updates about our progress with the Capital campaign.
Register for Kindergarten Spanish Immersion
Now offered at Pleasantville and Wilbur Elementary
COLONIAL CLIPPINGS DECEMBER EDITION 2022
DECEMBER 2022 EDITION December Dates to Remember: Dec.13th: Board of Education Meeting at 7 PM at WPHS Innovation Center or view at www.colonialschooldistrict.org Dec. 22-Jan. 2: Winter Break Schools and Offices CLOSED An Important Message from Superintendent Dr....
Update from DOE regarding Lead in schools
Click here for an informative update from the Dept. of Education regarding Lead
Update on Lead: November 10, 2022
Last evening, our leadership team was notified by the Department of Education (DOE) that they received updated guidance from the EPA related to the lead water testing results.
Update on Grading statement
We are reaching out to clarify a statement (see below) from yesterday’s communication
Choose Colonial
School choice is happening now!
November 2022 Board of Education Meeting
November 15, 2022 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Natasha Pantoja is Who WE Are
Natasha Pantoja is the first face many families see as the lead secretary at Carrie Downie Elementary School.
We need your voice!
The Colonial School District needs your feedback as a parent in our district.
Project THRIVE
Project THRIVE provides free mental health services to eligible Delaware students. Services are available to students – grades pre-k through 12 – attending Delaware public schools, private schools, parochial schools and homeschools. Project THRIVE services help...
2022 Homecoming Festival and Parade
October 22nd 2022 at WPHS
Lead levels at CSD schools
An update on lead levels at CSD schools
Press Release: Students Go Down on the Farm
For Immediate Release September 22, 2022 Great Photo Opp! Students Go Down on the Farm Who: 8th-grade students What: Visit Historic Penn Farm and William Penn High School’s greenhouse and animal enclosures for hands-on lessons and activities, many of which are...
School Choice Night
Join us for an information session about school choice options on October 12, 2022 at 6:00 pm at William Penn High School
Flu Clinic
Flu and Covid Vaccination Clinic for ages 5 and older
Acme Pharmacy will be offering the flu and/or covid vaccines
Tuesday, September 27th from 4-7 pm.
George Read Middle School
Transportation Update 9/16/22
Important update regarding transportation for 9/16/22
Colonial Clippings September 2022
No School 9/2 or 9/5
School Closed/Offices Open on 9/2
School /Offices Closed on 9/5
Middle Schools to Begin New Cell Phone Expectations Initiative
August 29, 2022 Middle Schools to Begin New Cell Phone Expectations Initiative New Castle, DE- When students attending George Read, McCullough, and Gunning Bedford Middle Schools begin the school year starting August 29, 2022, families have been advised they will...
August 2022 Board of Education Meeting
August 16, 2022 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Back to School 2022
Back to school dates and info for the 2022-23 school year
UPDATE for Summer Programs Thursday, July 21st
Due to the extreme heat we will not be able to provide transportation for our summer programs on 7/21
July 2022 Board of Education Meeting
July 12, 2022 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Capital Campaign 2024
STUDIO JAED invites CSD Families to attend an interactive feedback session as we begin a process to assess & improve the facilities at our over the next five years
Covid Notification: June 13, 2022
June 13, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students: We have learned of positive COVID-19 cases at the following Colonial Schools: Pleasantville (1 individual). Individuals identified as positive for COVID-19 will not return to school until the isolation period...
June 2022 Board of Education Meeting
June 14, 2022 at 7 pm
LOCATION: William Penn High School
Covid Notification: May 31, 2022
May 6, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students: We have learned of positive COVID-19 cases at the following Colonial Schools: Gunning Bedford (1 individual), McCullough (1 individual), New Castle (1 individual), Pleasantville (1 individual), and William Penn (1...
Congratulations to our 2023 Educational Support Professionals of the Year!
Congratulations to this year’s building-level ESPY Winners.
2022 William Penn Graduation Livestream
6:30 pm on June 3rd
Click here for the link to YouTube
Covid Notification: May 31, 2022
May 31, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students: We have learned of positive COVID-19 cases at the following Colonial Schools: George Read (4 individuals), McCullough (1 individual), Southern (5 individuals), Wallin (1 individual), William Penn (4 individuals), and...
Covid Notification: May 23, 2022
May 27, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students: We have learned of positive COVID-19 cases at the following Colonial Schools: Castle Hills (1 individual), George Read (10 individual), McCullough (1 individual), Southern (1 individual), and Wilbur (1 individual)....
WE keep kids safe in CSD
Colonial has taken many precautions to make sure our schools are a safe place to work and learn for our staff and students.
No School May 30th
In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, all Colonial schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 30th.
Covid Notification: May 23, 2022
May 23, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students: We have learned of positive COVID-19 cases at the following Colonial Schools: Carrie Downie (5 individuals), Eisenberg (5 individuals), Leach (1 individual), McCullough (2 individuals), Southern (1 individual), Wilbur...
Covid Notification: May 19, 2022
May 19, 2022 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students: We have learned of positive COVID-19 cases at the following Colonial Schools: Carrie Downie (2 individuals), Castle Hills (1 individual), McCullough (1 individual), and William Penn (2 individuals). Individuals...