Message from Dr. Dobbs

  • Posted August 24, 2022
Back-to-school update

The following message is from Dr. Stacy Dobbs, principal of Delaware Community School. It also was mailed home to families.

August 24, 2022

Dear Families:

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 2022-23 school year! We are looking forward to a wonderful school year focused on high expectations for academic learning, goal setting, student-led learning for achievement, and recognizing positive behavior choices using our 3 B’s – Be safe, Be responsible and Be respectful.

The official first day of school is Tuesday, Sept. 6, but we will hold orientation on Thursday, Sept. 1 and Friday, Sept. 2. Please note that attendance is required the orientation day that applies to your child or children. You can get specific information about the first days of school below.

On orientation days, busing will be provided to students eligible for transportation.

Thursday, Sept. 1

  • Pre-K, NO SCHOOL
  • K, NO SCHOOL
  • Grades 1-2, NO SCHOOL
  • Grades 3-5 Orientation -- Full day, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 2

  • Pre-K Orientation
    • Last name A-M ONLY, 9:30-11 a.m.
    • Last name N-Z ONLY, 12:30-2 p.m.
  • K Orientation
    • Last Name A-M ONLY, 9:30-11 a.m.
    • Last Name N-Z ONLY, 12:30-2 p.m.
  • Grades 1-2 Orientation
    • Full day, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
  • Grades 3-5, NO SCHOOL

Monday, Sept. 5

  • No school – Labor Day

Tuesday, Sept. 6

  • FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS

Where to enter school

  • Pre-K and grades 2 & 3, Hurlbut Street door
  • Grades 1 & 4, Bertha Street door
  • Grade 5, K & buses, Main entrance

Attendance

  • Every day in school counts! Good attendance is essential to students reaching their potential! We highly encourage regular daily attendance in order to support our students’ success.
  • The instructional school day begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Students who arrive after 9:05 a.m. will be counted as tardy.
  • Doors will open for students eating breakfast at 8:40 a.m. Staff members are not available for student supervision prior to breakfast; therefore, parents/guardians should not drop their child off prior to our breakfast official start time.
  • Students who are not eating breakfast should arrive at 9:05 a.m., entering through their designated grade level door. Staff members are not available for student supervision prior to arrival; therefore, parents/guardians should not drop their child off prior to our official start time.
  • Please bring your child to school on time and pick them up on time. Schedule appointments prior to or after school so that your child misses as little school as possible. If your child is tardy, they will miss an essential part of their education.
  • If you have an appointment that requires you to pick up your child early, please send them to school with a note for their teacher and do so prior to 3:15 p.m. Please remember that when your child is dismissed early, they are missing valuable instructional time.
  • Please call the school by 8 a.m. if your child is going to be absent from school or tardy. The telephone number is (518) 475-6750. This phone call does not take the place of a legal, written note upon your child’s return to school. A written note must be received within five days or it will be counted as an illegal absence.
  • Please contact our Home School Coordinator, Mr. Ken Griffin, at 518-337-7898 if you need additional support regarding attendance

Our school day and contact information

  • You will receive many notices during the first week of school. Please check your child’s backpack daily and make sure that you have provided updated contact information for your child. Whenever your phone number or address changes, please contact the Main Office at (518) 475-6750 and immediately complete the necessary paperwork to ensure that all your information is current and accurate. Also, please list the people who are permitted to pick up your child on the contact sheet. For your child’s safety, we will not dismiss a child to someone who is not on the contact sheet. No exceptions will be made. This contact sheet is included in this mailing and we ask that your child return it on the first day of school.

Busing

Bus transportation is provided to kindergarten through Grade 5 students who live more than 1.5 miles from the school through our district provider, First Student. Special education students also are eligible for bus transportation with the same provider. Please call the district’s Transportation Department at (518) 475-6170 or First Student at (518) 445-6372 regarding any busing concerns. They will address any questions and the specifics of getting children to and from school (i.e. routes, times, etc.). Please understand that it takes a couple of weeks at the start of every new year for the busses to run on a regular schedule. Students who ride the bus may arrive home 15-20 minutes later than their scheduled time so please be patient with this process.

Open House

  • Open House will be held on Thursday, Sept. 29. Additional information will be forthcoming.

School supplies

  • All school supply lists are located on our district website under Delaware Community School at www.albanyschools.org/Delaware.

PTA

  • Please consider joining our PTA! They do a lot to support our school and our families. Membership forms will be sent home with your child during the first month of school.

Teacher Assignment

  • Please see attached Teacher Assignment document for your child(rens) 2022-23 classroom teacher

We look forward to seeing each of you and working together as a team to make this a fantastic school year! If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact the school office at (518) 475-6750.