Community News

We continue to  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.  In addition, as defined in the Parent Handbook – if you are availing yourself of the car rider line, you need to have cell phones off when on school property.

Also, a reminder for families who drop off/ pick up children from Boys and Girls Club – For the safety of all, please navigate the parking lot carefully and keep all children close by you. We have encountered a few “fender benders” as well as free running children.  

You may have noticed the addition of visitor parking spots to the front parking lot.  The purpose of these spots is to reserve parking for parents/families that need to pick up for early dismissal, etc.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Thank you for all those who met with teachers in October.  Our next conference days are December 8 and 9. 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 standards 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. 

School Communication

We continue to work on ways to communicate effectively with families.  Teachers provide information in a variety of ways such as websites, newsletters, and class e-mails.  Teachers will also accompany at least one report card with a narrative report of your child’s progress. 

Linden Hill Information Night

Linden Hill will host an “Information Night” on Tuesday, January 10 from 6-8 pm. This event is for families residing in our attendance zone with prospective Linden Hill students.

 Winter School Days

Our school nurse does a daily wind chill check every day during the winter months.  All children go outside for recess throughout the winter unless the wind chill temperature is below 20 degrees.   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. 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, television 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— http://schoolclosings.delaware.gov  that can be navigated to notify you of school closings and provide e-mail notification.

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.

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 or Inclement Weather Procedures).  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.

District Information regarding school closings, etc.:

Schools are opened one hour late. Student arrival time is delayed by one hour, pre-school is cancelled, the day ends at the regular time, and staff members report at the regular time.

Schools are opened two hours late. Student arrival time is delayed by two hours, pre-school is cancelled, the day ends at the regular time, and staff members report at the regular time.

Schools are closed. Classes are cancelled for the day, students and 10-month staff does not report, all after-school and evening activities are cancelled, and all other staff members report at the regular time.

Schools and offices are closed. All District operations are cancelled, and only emergency personnel are to report.

Should conditions that dictate a change in schedule develop during the operating day; the schedule may be modified as follows:

Schools are dismissed early. All students are dismissed beginning one hour after the decision is made. Secondary schools are dismissed first, followed by elementary schools one hour and 15 minutes later.

Schools and offices are dismissed early. All students are dismissed beginning one hour after the decision is made. Secondary schools are dismissed first, followed by elementary schools one hour and 15 minutes later. All school staff, except custodial personnel, may leave 15 minutes after the last students depart. Office staff is dismissed as determined by the building administrator.

Radio announcements will be made as early as possible in case of schedule changes. The Alert Now System will be activated to inform parents of the schedule change. 

Upcoming – Referendum – February 28^th.  Voting will be available at Linden Hill.  More information is included in this newsletter!

Choice Information

The 2012-2013 school Choice application period closes on January 11, 2012 at 4:30 pm.  

You may apply on-line at (http://www.redclay.k12.de.us/pschoice/choiceindex.shtml) 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
1502 Spruce Avenue 

Wilmington, DE  19805
302.552.3789 

At this time, please know that Linden Hill is closed to choice.

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.  For students who arrive by car, please keep them inside the car until the doors open at 8:35. We also 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.

Vacations

We ask that you schedule vacations at times when school is not is session.  Vacations are considered an unexcused absence and teachers are not required to provide assignments in advance.  

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,

Deborah M. Brady, Principal

Nathan Palkovitz, Assistant Principal