As planned, Capital School District’s Board of Education met on January 6th to review and discuss current COVID-19 conditions, including recommendations from the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Division of Public Health and the Office of the Governor.
As a result:
- Capital School District students who were previously participating in the Hybrid model in grades PreK to 4, and special programs, KCCS and including KCSILC, will transition back to the Hybrid model using some remote and in person instruction starting this Monday, January 11th.
- Dover High School grades 9 to 12 students will begin the Hybrid model on Thursday, January 14th. Students currently using the remote learning model will continue with remote learning.
- For Central Middle and William Henry Middle Schools, students who selected the Hybrid learning model in grades 5 and 7 will attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays and will be virtual Wednesday through Friday. Students in grades 6 and 8 will be virtual Monday through Wednesday and will attend school on Thursday and Friday. Additional details will be coming directly from your child’s school.
- If your child was previously participating in the Hybrid model and you have questions about what day they will attend in person versus participating in remote learning, please contact your child’s school main office and they will be glad to help.
We are glad to begin transitioning our students back to our school with Hybrid Learning, and will continue to closely monitor conditions within each school and throughout the state to ensure that safety is a top priority for everyone. We express our gratitude to our families, students, and staff for taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID. Thank you for practicing social distancing, for wearing face masks, for frequently washing your hands and the numerous other recommendations we hear each and every day.
South Dover Elementary 3rd grade teacher Juan Francisco Santander came from the portside city of Malaga in Southern Spain. “I have always enjoyed helping others, so when I decided to become a teacher, I knew I had made the right choice… I have taught different grades over the past 12 years from kindergarten to middle school, and I have enjoyed every moment!” Mr. Santander is always willing to learn about new teaching approaches and educational systems, so when the opportunity arose to come to the States to be a Spanish Immersion Teacher, he jumped at it. He said that he feels lucky to have such a great group of students, colleagues and a fantastic school. Despite the fact that he and his students have had so little time in the classroom together and that the students have to do their learning remotely, he is proud to see them working so maturely and responsibly. “Learning a new language isn’t easy, but they are all putting in the extra effort remotely to keep improving their Spanish level, and I feel very proud!”
The pandemic made everything extra challenging for Mr. Santander and his wife as they had less than a month to leave Spain and organize their new life here in the States while starting the new school year. He told us that navigating this new education system and learning how to incorporate the many virtual tools and platforms that are available for remote learning in such a short period has not been a walk in the park. “But, with the constant support and collaboration from my Third Grade team, the school and the District, it has made it a lot easier knowing I am a part of a community and that I can count on those around me. I have to give a special mention to my mentor, Tina Metcalfe (who I am lucky enough to have as my fellow Third Grade Spanish Immersion teacher), who has been there from day one guiding me and supporting me. I don’t know what I would do without her!
“I was so happy when we were able to transition into Hybrid learning, because not only did it mean finally meeting my students in person, but it also meant teaching in an American classroom for the very first time! Even though there were fewer students, and we had to follow all the safety protocols, it was still a great experience to be there with students and colleagues. I witnessed how much the students benefited from being in the classroom and it was so encouraging to see how quickly they progressed.” Moving back into remote learning, he told us, was really sad for him and especially for his students. “Despite how hard we teachers work to make classes dynamic and engaging with all the amazing digital tools and platforms the District has made available to us, online learning is not ideal, especially for elementary school aged students. We make sure we reach out to each and every student to make schoolwork available to them and to aid their progress, but trying to learn in front of a computer screen and outside of the classroom in many different situations, just isn’t the same! Taking all of this into account, the students (and their families) are doing an incredible job in making sure they are accountable for their learning and progress! Students crave the social interaction they have at school – collaborating, sharing knowledge and ideas and playing at recess, and this is something they really miss out on in Remote learning! I can’t wait to be back in the classroom as soon as possible with the students!”
Did you know…
- 64.1% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. – Mental Health America
- 1 in 5 teens and young adults lives with a mental health condition. – National Alliance for Mental Illness
- 5.13% of youth report having a substance use or alcohol problem. – Mental Health America
Capital School District is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid, which is a free class that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. Participants will complete a 2-hour, self-paced online class, then participate in a 4- to 5-hour Instructor-led videoconference. This training gives adults the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to children and adolescents (ages 6-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.
Here is what the Youth Mental Health First Aid Class covers:
- Common signs and symptoms of mental illness in this age group, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
- Common signs and symptoms of substance use
- How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis
- How to connect the person with help
NEW: Expanded content on trauma, addiction and self-care and the impact of social media and bullying
Youth Mental Health First Aid will be offered on March 13, 2020 from 9am-1pm. Sign up by March 1 via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/csd-youth-mental-health-first-aid-tickets-135515154475
Contact Dr. Jocelyn Brown at [email protected] with any questions.
After-school programs bring a wide range of benefits to youth, families and communities by providing students with opportunities to participate in fun and enriching activities in a safe and engaging environment outside of the school day.
The most effective programs support and promote the social, emotional, and academic development of students, and also reduce the likelihood that a youth will engage in risky behaviors. In addition, after school programs promote physical health while providing a safe and supportive environment for students to learn and grow.
The Capital School District is proud to be the home of five Nita N. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers - the most in the state! Located at Dover High School, Central Middle School, William Henry Middle School, East Dover Elementary School, and most recently Booker T. Washington Elementary School, our programs serve almost 700 Capital students! Every day our students are provided with academic enrichment and support from their teachers, which is followed by a variety of exciting virtual and at home activities, entrepreneurial educational experiences, community service activities, cultural events, and more.
Through our 21st Century Community Learning Centers, we have established meaningful relationships with over 17 community partners. By working closely with our partners, we are able to provide our students with real world experiences that expose them to new interests and also prepare them with the skills necessary to be successful, contributing members of society.
Our programs are currently operating virtually, so our students still have this wonderful opportunity to participate via Zoom and are still benefiting from this service.
After-school programs provide so many benefits to our students, staff, families and community. We are excited to see our programs grow within the Capital School District because we know that they have such a powerful, positive impact on our students and everyone they encounter in this world. Visit our website at
https://bit.ly/csd21stcentury for more information on how your child can participate in our 21st Century programs.
Capital School District is the right choice for your child! Show those you care about in other districts by letting them know how to choice into our premiere school district! If you or someone you know is interested in Capital School District, please submit the application by Wednesday, January 13, 2021. To learn more, visit
http://www.capital.k12.de.us/departments/student_services/school_choice
On December 10, we sent out a notice for everyone to join Capital School District as we reached out with cards and letters to support our troops to show how much we appreciate them and their service. Our hearts were touched by the response, as students and staff did their magic to create many cards, drawings and letters to show love to those serving our country while deployed! We can only imagine that they felt the same feelings, as they opened these heartfelt messages from students throughout the entire district. Through Support Our TroopsⓇ, mail is sent to deployed soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. If you are interested in reaching out to anyone deployed overseas, make sure to follow directions provided by Support Our TroopsⓇ by visiting
https://supportourtroops.org/cards-letters Thank you for joining us in the wonderful activity.
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 was National Technology Day! We are grateful for the Capital Office of Technology and our technicians who are constantly working to keep technology where it belongs—in the hands of our students! They also work to ensure that teachers and administrators have the data they need to help students grow, help our teachers with the technology they use in our classrooms to provide quality instruction, and tirelessly work behind the scenes on technology systems to make instruction and the support of our students the focal point of everything we do. As with everyone else, we have felt the strain resulting from the pandemic and we have had to quickly pivot to meet the needs of everyone. We are proud of each person working in the Office of Technology and thank each of them for making the magic of technology happen.
There is still time to recognize your child’s teacher, so please take a
moment to support their efforts by nominating a teacher or teachers who have made a positive impact on the life of your child or family for Teacher of the Year. Each teacher will receive your message of encouragement, so feel free to submit more than one nomination! Thank you for showing your support of our teachers by nominating someone special to be the Teacher of the Year. Please visit the Capital School District Website at
http://www.capital.k12.de.us/2021toyvote
Nominations must be submitted before this Sunday, January 10, 2021.