Superintendent Update Oct 22nd, 2021

Superintendent Update Oct 22nd, 2021
Superintendent Update Oct 22nd, 2021Greetings Senator Nation! 

This is Dr. Vilicia Cade, Superintendent of The Capital School District. It’s my honor to share my weekly update for the Week of October 22nd.  Gentle reminder - Please sign up for school messenger and provide your child’s school with an updated phone number and email so that you can receive our 4pm weekly COVID update.  This week we had two cases over two schools. 

This week during my visits to schools, I learned how Hartly Elementary School is using what Principal Davenport calls the three W’s.  I observed students remind each other of the three Ws -- Wear a Mask, Watch your distance, and Wash your hands.   It was amazing seeing students having ownership of each other helping to keep each other safe and healthy. 
 
I continued my meetings with our custodial staff members this week.  I want to thank the custodial staff at WHMS and CMS for their courage to share their concerns and desires to increase their effectiveness and efficiency as key contributors to helping create the learning environment conducive to learning for our students. We missed custodial appreciation day this year but I would like to say – on behalf of the Capital School District Board of Education and our entire District — we appreciate our custodians. I want to reiterate this to every Senator that may have felt forgotten as I continue to implement my 180-day entry plan which focuses on listening, learning, sharing, planning and leading: I am grateful and humble as I continue to learn more about our community and what makes the Senator Nation unique. 

This week I was able to attend the Gals who Give Charity fundraiser for Central Delaware’s Habitat for Humanity with the women in support of each other affectionately known as the “WISE Women.''  I want to thank Mrs. Tonda Parks from Excellence in Education for her kindness and thoughtful nature. Women helping and supporting other women resonates with me. Again, I am humbled and grateful for being able to join this group of powerful women leaders in Central Delaware.  I was also able to visit the HOPE Clinic and tour their facilities.  I met the staff and Dr. Marquez, one of the founders.  I was moved by her passion, compassion and commitment to serve our vulnerable citizens.  Hope is a central theme that the Board of Education and I have undertaken in our vision to reopen schools this year.  Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Joycelyn Brown, Supervisor of Instruction, the Capital School District fostered a partnership with DDOE and Nemours Children’s Health to heighten awareness around these issues.  The 2nd Biennial Downstate Behavioral Health Conference today was attended by educators and community partners focused on learning how to understand how non-academic variables impact our work environment and living environment. Partnerships with our community are vital to our recovery efforts as a nation, community, and school district.   This week I met with the United Way of Delaware about our partnership with Ed Farm.  I want to shout out Mrs. Michelle Taylor, CEO of UWDE for her tireless efforts in eradicating barriers that impact access and opportunities for the underserved students and parents.  You should look out for how we will strengthen our partnership with additional programs like Young Men United and Accelerate with Ed Farm.  Thank you, CEO Michelle Taylor, for your compassion to serve - you are such a tremendous asset to the First State.

Finally, we convened the Trauma and School Connectedness Task Force on Wednesday, the day after the lockdown at the high school.  Galvanizing our community on the issue of safety is so important. When we work collaboratively with our community and law enforcement, it increases safety and security for all. Everyone plays an important role, so I will continue to say that we will continue to work vigilantly to keep our students and staff safe. Remaining proactive by working in collaboration with our staff, parents and community is significantly important to this goal. If you see something, say something. Being a Senator means you care and your Senator Pride extends to helping advance our #1 priority the safety and well-being of all Senators.  During our task force meeting each stakeholder group shared what they could do to advance our efforts to improve on this goal. We have a plan to help more vulnerable students and families.  In our meeting we were able to increase awareness of what services we do have and discussed changing how we connect those services to those who need services.  We heard from our parents, community and staff. Capital School District CEA President, Dr. Lee Olmstead, shared how collaboration is critical to his vision and advancing safer schools.  We discussed actions each stakeholder group could take to improve climate and culture.  We will continue our work and meet again in November.

I continue to be impressed with the power of Senator Pride spurring on the heels of homecoming.  I know with certainty it is our greatest asset! 
 
Dr. Vilicia Cade
Capital School District Superintendent
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