Forward Welcome to Delmar Elementary School! We are delighted to have you as part of our school family and hope your time with us is both rewarding and enjoyable. This handbook is designed to answer many of your questions about school policies, procedures, and daily operations, and we encourage you to keep it handy for future reference. While we hope it serves as a helpful guide, please never hesitate to contact the school office if you need additional information or support. Through open communication and a strong partnership between families and educators, we can work together to create the best possible learning experience for every child. We also welcome your feedback as we continually strive to make this handbook as useful and user-friendly as possible. School Mission Statement Mission Statement: Delmar Elementary is committed to offering a positive instructional environment that promotes high academic performance for all students within our diverse community. Belief Statements: • Each student will be challenged and actively involved to meet their full potential and become lifelong learners. • Students will be provided with a variety of instructional approaches in order to apply their learning in meaningful contexts. • Students should learn to become effective decision-makers and problem solvers given a supportive and challenging learning environment. • Each student is a valued individual whose self-esteem is enhanced by positive relationships and mutual respect in a safe learning environment. Values: • Cultural diversity is embraced and celebrated. • Committed educational team of staff, families, students, and community members share the responsibility of working collaboratively to advance the school’s mission. • Our professional learning community will prepare our students to become productive and contributing members of society. Maryland and Delaware Bi-State Agreement There is an agreement between the Maryland State Board of Education, the Wicomico County Board of Education, and the Delaware Department of Education allowing students from Delmar Maryland and Delmar Delaware school zone to receive all educational services within the same school setting. In addition to this agreement for educational services, there is also a one-time option provided to all Delmar, Maryland residents living in the Delmar school zone providing grade 4 students an opportunity to matriculate into the Delmar Middle and High School in Delmar Delaware.
Quick Access Links: Absence for Family Trips Arrival of Students Assessments Attendance Birthdays/Celebrations Breakfast Bus Rules/Safety Cafeteria Car Riders Classroom Technology Closing/Cancellations Code of Conduct Data Form/Emergency Contact Information Dismissal Dress Code Family Portal/X2 Field Day Field Trips Fire Drills/SRP Drills Firearms and Weapons Friday Folders Gift Deliveries to Students Homework Health Forms/Immunizations Inclement Weather and Recess Instructional Leadership Team Lost and Found Make-Up Work Medication No Smoking/ Vaping Policy Parent Advisory Parent Teacher Conferences PAWS Behavior Picture Day Playground Rules/Expectations Positive Behavioral Support System (PBIS) Proof of Residency Publicity Opt-Out Form Report Cards/Progress Reports School Messenger Calling System School Security Six-Day Cycle Student Devices Talking Points Messaging System Transportation Changes Volunteer Opportunities School Bell Schedules Daily Schedule: 7:45am School Building Opens 8:15am Classes Begin/Students arriving after this time will be marked late 2:45pm Dismissal Begins/ Students leaving prior to this time will be marked as early dismissal 3:15pm School Building Closes 90-Minute Delay Schedule: 9:15am School Building Opens 9:45am Classes Begin/Students arriving after this time will be marked late 2:45pm Dismissal Begins/ Students leaving prior to this time will be marked as early dismissal 3:15pm School Building Closes Early Dismissal Schedule: 7:45am School Building Opens 8:15am Classes Begin/Students arriving after this time will be marked late 11:45am Dismissal Begins/ Students leaving prior to this time will be marked as early dismissal 12:15pm School Building Closes
Absence for Family Trips Whenever possible, please plan family trips during school breaks and vacation periods. Every day at school matters, and regular attendance plays an important role in a child's academic achievement, social development, and overall school experience. Being present in the classroom helps students stay on track with learning, participate in hands-on activities, and benefit from daily interactions that support their growth and success. • The trip must be with the family or is parent sanctioned and hold an apparent and defined educational value for the student. • Circumstances and reasons should be fully explained to the principal prior to the designated trip date, using the required form. • All arrangements for homework, tests, quizzes, etc. should be worked out with the individual teacher a week in advance. Students are expected to complete all make-up work within a reasonable length of time, which will be determined by the teacher. • Up to 3 school days per school year may be approved. Arrival of Students To help ensure a safe and successful start to each school day, students may enter the building beginning at 7:45 a.m. Please plan for your child to arrive at or after that time, as staff supervision is not available before school opens. Arriving too early may leave children unsupervised, which can create safety concerns. We appreciate your partnership in helping us provide a safe and welcoming environment for all students. If your child must arrive after 8:15 a.m., please accompany them to the front office where you will be buzzed in to document their late arrival, before they can report to class. An adult must sign the student in and obtain a tardy slip, as this information is part of the state's attendance record. Arriving on time helps students begin their day with their classmates and fully participate in important morning routines and instruction. We appreciate your partnership in helping your child start each day ready to learn and succeed. Assessments Wicomico County and Delmar Elementary use a variety of assessments to monitor student learning and guide instruction throughout the year. Some students participate in state-required assessments, including the MD System of Testing Academic Readiness (MSTAR) and other assessments required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). In addition to state assessments, some students may also participate in local assessment initiatives. Wicomico County uses the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment to monitor student growth in English Language Arts and Mathematics throughout the school year. MAP is an adaptive assessment that adjusts questions based on student responses, helping teachers identify each child's strengths and areas for growth. MAP is designed to guide instruction and support learning rather than
assign grades, and families receive score reports after each testing period. Results are used to set individualized growth goals, helping students track their progress and take ownership of their learning. For specific details about which assessments your student(s) will participate in, please refer to the District Evidence of Learning Timeline. Attendance Coming to school every day is very important. Full day attendance requires a student to be in class for a minimum of 4 hours. Half day attendance requires a minimum of 2 hours in class. Our goal is to have 100% participation of students attending school every day. We realize there are times when a student may be ill, making attendance impossible, but we are asking you to help us reach this goal by scheduling trips, appointments, etc. at times when school is not in session. This will allow your child to come to school every day unless they are ill. A note is requested for each absence, doctors’ and parental notes will be accepted. Students are not permitted to exceed 5 parent notes per year, after which a doctor’s note will be required for each absence. A valid note may be applied towards counting an absence as excused, but all absences excused or unexcused will be recorded for the child’s records. All notes need to be turned in prior to the end of each marking term. Details regarding the county attendance policy and steps the school will take in regard to student attendance can be found on the district website under Attendance Policy and Procedures. To help us maintain accurate attendance records and provide timely support when needed, we ask that absences, especially those extending beyond a single day, be reported directly to the front office. Families will still receive the automated attendance call that is sent each day at 10:00 a.m.; unfortunately, this system cannot be interrupted, even when we have already been notified of a student's absence. Birthdays/Celebrations Please note that if you choose to bring in treats, the treats must be store bought & preferably individually wrapped and packaged. All treats will be distributed at lunch only and must be brought in prior to the scheduled lunch time. No treats will be distributed in the classroom. To help us celebrate students with the least disruption, birthday treats should consist of one simple treat per student and should not include parties, favor bags, decorations, or other celebration items. Breakfast Breakfast is free for all students again this year and will be available for students to pick up on the way to their classroom. A breakfast menu is available on the county food service website. Students arriving after 8:05 will not receive breakfast. No breakfast will be served on 90-Minute delay days.
Bus Rules/Safety Students under the age of 8 years old, who ride the bus home from school must be met at the bus by an adult or they will not be dropped off. The driver will call the school over the radio, and the school will try to contact the parent/guardian to make arrangements at that point. If no contact is made, the driver will return the student to school to await pick up from parent/guardian. Students who fail to abide by the bus rules will be disciplined. Bus drivers have the right to suspend a student from riding the bus for a period of one day. Administration may suspend students for additional days. Parents are to be notified of suspensions before they go into effect. Cafeteria Lunches may be brought from home or acquired at school through our lunch program and will be served in the cafeteria. Students utilizing the free lunch program will need to collect their lunch by walking through the serving line, where Kindergarten through 4th graders will need to enter their lunch ID. Please work with your child on memorizing this important ID number. Menus are available at the district food service website. Reminders for Students/Families: 1. Table manners must be used at all times. 2. Quiet conversations are permissible until the last 5 minutes of each shift. 3. Students who do not follow PAWS expectations may receive disciplinary measures. 4. Students must move throughout the cafeteria in an orderly fashion and cannot get up without permission. 5. Each class is responsible for the cleanliness of their area. 6. Bottled or canned carbonated drinks are not permitted. No glass is permitted. 7. Students are responsible for knowing their lunch account number each day. To help ensure smooth, safe, and timely lunch periods for all students, the cafeteria is reserved for students and staff during lunch times; classroom visits should be coordinated with your child's teacher outside of student lunch periods. Car Riders For the safety of all students, those dropping off or picking up students must do so in the car rider loop, which is in the large parking lot off Foskey Lane. Students must enter and exit the cars only on the curb side for safety. Drivers and passengers should not be exiting the vehicle. Students may not be dropped off at the school entrance on South Second Street. Only students who are being escorted by a parent or who are walkers may utilize the front walkways. For safety and traffic flow, the parallel parking along South Second Street is reserved for those with handicap tags and those who are walking their children into the building. Please note that the far side/west side of the street on South Second Street is a “No Parking Zone” during school opening and dismissal times. Do not drop students off in front of the school or anywhere along South Second Street.
To expedite our car rider dismissal and maintain safety, we have a car tag system for students who will be car riders each day. The procedures are listed below. • Parents must complete a CAR RIDER INFORMATION FORM and return it to the school by opening day so that your child will be able to be picked up using the car rider loop on the first day of school. The office is open between 7:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. daily for your convenience. The form may also be brought to the office during the summer or at the registration table at open house. • All car riders in your family must be included on the same form so they are assigned the same ID number. • Each parent/guardian may receive up to 2 color-coded rearview mirror car tags at no cost for their family and each student will be given one backpack tag. Each tag will have a matching ID number to identify your child/family. • Parents/guardians wishing to purchase additional tags for other family/friends may do so at an additional cost per tag. Daily Procedures: • Students must keep their backpack tag attached in a visible location. Parents/Guardians upon entering the car rider area each day, the car tag must be hanging on the rearview mirror of the vehicle • As cars approach the student pick-up area, a staff member will alert the student(s) by calling his/her tag number and children will be escorted by an adult to your car. Parents/Guardians are asked to remain in their cars and not signal for their child to come to them so that the flow of traffic can continue. • Students who are not daily car riders but bring in a note to be picked up will wait in the car rider area. Since these parents will not have car rider tags, staff will verify IDs to ensure that the name on the note matches the pick-up person. • As in previous years, we appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain a safe and efficient traffic flow. We ask that all vehicles turn right when exiting the parking lot to minimize congestion and support the safety and well-being of everyone involved. Additional Information: • Please keep car tags in a safe place for daily use. Cars without rearview mirror tags will be delayed until verification can be confirmed. • Parents/Guardians who must pick students up prior to 2:45 p.m. must still report to the main office to sign the student out. • Daycare providers who pick up children from multiple families each day will be provided with a car tag that lists all ID numbers of children they have permission to pick up. This is only done after documentation is provided by the parent/guardian. • As part of our commitment to a safe and efficient dismissal process, students will only be released to individuals with matching car rider and backpack tags. If you would like another car rider parent to pick up your child, please send a note to the school in advance so we can ensure a
smooth and secure transition. Thank you for partnering with us to keep all students safe. We kindly ask that pickup changes be limited whenever possible. Classroom Technology Students will utilize classroom technology for various academic tasks. A specific device will be assigned to them in the classroom, in alignment with the acceptable use of technology policy students are responsible for the care of their devices. Fees for damage to school owned student devices will be assessed in accordance with the district acceptable use of technology procedure. Change of Clothing We encourage all students in PreK through 2nd grade to keep a spare set of underwear and a change of bottoms in their backpack each day. Accidents can happen as children learn and grow, and having their own clothing readily available can help minimize embarrassment, support their comfort and dignity, and allow them to return to learning as quickly as possible. Thank you for partnering with us to help ensure a positive and successful school day for your child. Closings/Cancellations Occasionally school must open late, close early or be cancelled. Announcements concerning any changes in the regular school schedules will be made on the automated School Messenger system and the local radio and television stations. BE REMINDED that school closings pertaining to Delmar Elementary School will be noted under “Wicomico County Schools” NOT the Delmar School District. In addition, you may view the latest information on the district’s website www.wicomicoschools.org, school webpage at www.wicomicoschools.org/fps and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wcboefps/. WCPS will send a message through the automatic messaging system. If at any time your family’s contact information changes, notify the school using the student data form so you will not miss out on notifications. 90-minute delay: Doors open for students at 9:15 am. No breakfast will be served. Students will be marked tardy starting at 9:45 am Code of Conduct The Wicomico County Public School system uses the Code of Conduct, a policy for handling inappropriate and unacceptable behavior in school, on school bus and at school-sponsored activities, which can be found on the county website at https://www.wicomicoschools.org/. It is the guide of consequences used when inappropriate behaviors occur. We ask parents to support this Code, thus increasing its effectiveness at school, on the school bus and during school-sponsored activities. The code will be used routinely by the administrators when assigning consequences for unacceptable behavior.
Data Form/Emergency Contact Information Student data forms need to be completed each year. To help us keep every child safe and supported, please complete and return the Student Data form as soon as possible. Accurate, up-to-date emergency contact information is essential, so we ask that you notify the school of any changes to your family, household, or address and provide updated residency documentation whenever you move. Copies will be sent home with students; an additional copy of the form can be found here. PLEASE COMPLETE ALL INFORMATION ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE FORM, AS WELL AS SIGN FOR EACH CHILD YOU HAVE IN OUR SCHOOL. All updates to our electronic student information must be accompanied by a new data form. No updates can be made without a signed and dated data form. Dismissal Dismissal begins at 2:45 p.m. with classes preparing and packing up at 2:40pm. Students dismiss by way of walkers, car riders, and buses at separate locations. Students will not be dismissed from the office during dismissal unless it is an emergent circumstance that has been approved by administration. Car riders will not be dismissed through the front office. All students will be dismissed by either car riders, buses or walkers. All dismissal changes must be submitted in writing to the office at delmardismissal@mywcps.org. The dismissal note must include the child’s name, homeroom teacher, and the change to transportation including the first and last name of the person picking up. We will not accept verbal messages from students or parents about dismissal changes. All changes need to be submitted by 1:00pm. Please note that the office may request photo identification from any individual picking up children. Delmar Elementary has three dismissal locations: • Car Riders o The vehicle picking up through the car rider loop on Foskey Ln. must have the car tag displayed. o PK-2 students will wait for their vehicles in the gymnasium. 3rd-4th will wait in the gated and fenced in area next to the car rider loop. In the event of inclement weather, 3rd-4th will wait in the interior hallway by the gym exit. o Students will be called by number to their vehicle. • Bus Riders o School staff will walk students to the buses on the bus loop at dismissal – this ensures that students are getting on to their appropriate buses. o Third Wave buses will wait in the Media Center until their buses arrive and then be called down to the Bus Loop. o All buses follow the Wicomico County Public Schools Transportation policy and procedures including bus conduct referrals. • Walkers o Walkers will be picked up at the cafeteria exit. Parents/guardians will bring their tag with them indicating their walker number and students will then be released. o Parents/guardians are asked to stay to the left of the stations used at the walker exit as upper grade level students will be using that lane to walk to their buses. Please note that ALL STUDENTS must be picked up by or before 3:15 p.m.
Dress Code To help students stay comfortable, safe, and ready to learn throughout the day, we ask that they follow the county dress code and wear appropriate clothing and footwear for all scheduled activities, including special area classes. Family Portal/X2 Students in all grades will have their progress reports and report cards published in the x2 family portal platform throughout the year. Information including login and password procedures will be provided to parents of students in these grades at the start of the school year. Parents of students in grades 1 through 4 are encouraged to utilize the Family Portal online system to monitor students’ grades and attendance. Field Day One half-day in the spring (May/June) is set aside for a physical activity day. Events scheduled during this day reflect skill areas practiced and developed in the physical education program. All children participate. The physical education department has the responsibility of planning and coordinating the activities of this day. We ask that all children participate unless there is a clear reason for them not to participate, which must be shared with the principal Field Trips Field trips are planned to enrich and extend classroom learning experiences and are scheduled at the discretion of teachers to support curriculum goals. Because students participate in related learning activities before and after each trip, we encourage all students to attend whenever possible. Trip costs are based on admission fees, transportation, and the number of participants; therefore, payments are due two weeks before the trip and cannot be refunded if a student is unable to attend. Throughout the school year, opportunities to serve as a field trip chaperone may arise. To help ensure the safety and well-being of all students, all chaperones must successfully complete the required background screening process prior to the trip and present a valid photo ID for Raptor check-in on the day of the event. Chaperones are expected to actively supervise the group of students assigned to them, not just their own child, and we appreciate your partnership in helping provide a safe and positive learning experience for all students. If you are selected to chaperone a trip, please plan on arriving at the school thirty minutes prior to the trip departure to complete the raptor process. Fire Drills/SRP Drills Drills will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the school year. If you are in the school when a fire bell rings or an announcement regarding an emergency, please follow the instructions given to you by school personnel. Drills of this nature are practiced with everyone present in the building in order to
ensure overall school safety and well-being. Unannounced drills are conducted on a regular basis throughout the year. Standard Response Protocol (SRP) Drills will take place routinely throughout the year. These assist in preparing students and staff for emergencies we hope never happen. A drill is used to create the “Muscle Memory” associated with a practiced action. There is no simulation of an event; this is simply performing the action. To support transparency and partnership with families, the school strives to communicate consistently about safety drills and related events whenever appropriate. While drills will always be announced to students and staff at the time they occur, some drills may not be announced in advance in order to maintain the effectiveness of our safety preparedness practices. Firearms and Weapons Possession of any firearm, other weapon, or look-like weapons (e.g., pellet guns, BB guns, water guns, water pellet guns) by a student on school property, including in vehicles parked on school property, is strictly forbidden. The school system’s prohibition on carrying or possessing a weapon on school property applies to loaded and unloaded weapons. This prohibition applies to weapons contained within automobiles. It is a serious offense for students to possess any rifle, gun, knife, or deadly weapon of any kind on any school property in Maryland. Offenders face criminal penalties and severe consequences up to and including expulsion. The Code of Conduct will be applied in all situations involving violations. Friday Folders To support strong school-home communication, all students will use two folders. The Delmar Folder will be sent home Fridays with important school and classroom communications, such as diagnostic and individual student reports, permission slips, and information about upcoming events. Students will also use a daily communication folder to facilitate ongoing communication between home and school. We encourage families to review these materials regularly and reach out to their child's teacher with any questions. Gift Deliveries to Students Please do not have flowers, balloons and similar items delivered to school for students. It is impossible to take such things home on the bus and the arrival of them in classrooms creates a disruption to lessons. This practice will be in place throughout the school year, including during End of Year Ceremonies. Parents will be called to retrieve items delivered within an hour of delivery, as the office will not be able to house them in the office and they will not be delivered to the classrooms.
Homework Homework is an extension of work introduced by the classroom teacher. Students in grades Kindergarten through 4th grade will have homework assignments, you can assist by doing the following: • Provide a quiet workspace with all necessary supplies. • Set a time and routine for doing homework each night. • Check to see if assignments are completed in a neat and conscientious manner • Help when necessary but do not take over the assignment. Health Forms/Immunizations All school requirements are listed in COMAR 10.06.04 and will be in effect at the start of the school year. Students who do not have the required vaccinations on the first day of school must demonstrate proof of vaccination, positive titer results, or proof of a vaccination appointment that is scheduled within 20 calendar days from the date the student is temporarily admitted or retained. All students are required to have the health questionnaire updated each year. Copies will be sent home with students, however online copies can be found by following the links. Fillable English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, English. Inclement Weather and Recess On days when weather conditions will not permit playground activities, teachers will provide appropriate classroom activities during their scheduled recess. Instructional Leadership Team This committee is composed of representatives from each grade level, resource, special area, instructional assistants, guidance, principal, assistant principal and one or two parents. Meetings are held after school in two-hour increments of time. Agendas of meetings are shared with all school personnel before the meetings occur. Minutes of meetings are shared with all school personnel after the meetings are held. During these meetings members review data from formal and informal assessments, attendance data and discipline data. They also refine and develop new goals for the future which are identified in the school action plan. If you are interested in taking part in these meetings, please email Ms. Murray at cmurray@mywcps.org noting your desire to be considered for the parent representative. Lost and Found Lost items are displayed in the cafeteria daily, except for jewelry, watches, eyeglasses and other items that are too small to hang. These small items are kept in the school office. At the end of each marking period, clothing that is not claimed will be donated to a charity. Please remind your child to look in the
cafeteria for his/her belongings when they are missing. As a reminder, items of value (monetary or sentimental) and personal toys should not be brought to the school building. Make-Up Work Make-up work for student absences will be available upon their return to school. It may be possible to work with teachers directly to prepare make-up work ahead of time. All make-up work for credit must be completed in accordance with the Wicomico County Public Schools Handbook. Medication All prescriptions and all non-prescription medications that are given during school hours require a physician’s medication form signed by a doctor. This includes cough drops, cough syrup, aspirin, etc. A responsible adult MUST bring all medication to school in the original container. Children are NOT to transport medications to or from school. Children are also not to keep medication in their possession during the school day. If you have any concern regarding this policy, please contact the school nurse. Please follow the school schedule of 8:45-4:15 when bringing medications to the nurse for your child. All prescriptions and all non-prescription medications that are given during school hours require a physician’s medication form signed by a doctor. This includes cough drops, cough syrup, aspirin, etc. A responsible adult MUST bring all medication to school in the original container. Children are NOT to transport medications to or from school. Children are also not to keep medication in their possession during the school day. If you have any concern regarding this policy, please contact the school nurse. Please follow the school schedule of 7:45-3:15 when bringing medications to the nurse for your child. No Smoking/Vaping Policy The sale or use of tobacco in any form is prohibited in all buildings, parking areas, and all outside seating areas owned or leased by the Board of Education of Wicomico County at all times (24 hours a day, every day), regardless of whether or not students are present. Anyone violating this policy may be barred from school property and, if necessary, reported to the appropriate authorities. Organizations using the school facility which do not enforce this tobacco-free policy may be subject to revocation of their opportunity to use school buildings. Parent Advisory This committee serves as a line of communication between the school and the community. The PAC consists of a minimum of three members.
Parent Teacher Conferences Three times during the school year, opportunities for parent/guardian conferences will be available after school hours. However, teachers are encouraged to request parent conferences as the need arises. They may do this with the report card request, or they may contact you directly. Parents/guardians can also request conferences with teachers. The best procedure for these requests is to send a note or message directly to your child’s teacher(s) for an appointment. The teacher(s) will respond to request to schedule an appointment time. Questions and concerns should be discussed with the teacher(s) involved. If you feel further discussion is necessary, a conference with the principal or assistant principal may be requested. This should be done, however, after you have first talked with the teacher(s). PAWS Behavior Positive behavior plays an essential role in helping our school remain a safe, respectful, and productive place for everyone to learn and grow. While some expectations are specific to certain settings and activities, our schoolwide PAWS Behavior Expectations provide the foundation for student behavior and are reinforced through PBIS practices and the County Code of Conduct. When families encourage and model these same expectations at home, students are better equipped to transition smoothly between home and school and contribute positively to our school community. Picture Days Individual pictures are taken of all students in the fall and again in the spring. Class pictures are only taken in the spring. Dates and information about picture purchasing will be shared in school communications.
Playground Rules/Expectations During the first weeks of school, staff will teach students how to use playground equipment and appropriate play during recess. This instruction will be reinforced by staff as the year progresses. We will do this to diminish the number of accidents and discipline referrals that occur on the playground. Students will be held responsible for following all safety measures and rules for the playground. Students will not be permitted to bring personal equipment for use at recess. Positive Behavioral Interventions System (PBIS) Positive Behavioral Intervention Support is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. PBIS is a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to educate all children by developing research-based, school wide, and classroom discipline systems. The process focuses on improving a school’s ability to teach and support positive behavior for all students. PBIS provides systems for schools to design, implement, and evaluate effective school wide, classroom, non-classroom, and student specific discipline plans. PBIS includes school-wide procedures and processes intended for all students, all staff, and all settings. School-wide and hallway rules, cafeteria procedures, bus ramp expectations, attendance, and other sections of this document support this initiative. Students earn PAWS Bucks/PBIS Rewards for making good choices and following the PAWS Behaviors daily. Celebrations are scheduled quarterly to celebrate students who have reached their goals. Proof of Residency It is the responsibility of all parents/guardians to provide the school with proof of their current residency. This may be done in the form of a tax bill, rental lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill. If you are new to the Delmar community from the previous year or move at any time, you are required to provide the school with documentation indicating your current address. Due to federal audit requirements, we must have accurate and updated POR for all students. Families that have registered under shared residency status must show proof of residency every year and contact the school office as soon as any change in residency occurs. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact the school office. The school may require an updated POR at any time. It is requirement to ensure that Delmar Elementary School serves the students who live within our school district. Please help us in this effort. Publicity Opt-Out Form Publicity preferences are selected during initial registration and may be updated at any time through the main office; unless a Publicity Opt-Out form is on file, student photos and videos may be used by the school or district in print, broadcast, and online communications.
Report Cards/Progress Reports 1st through 4th grade progress reports are published four times per year in the middle of the marking term. PreK and K progress reports are completed during marking terms two through four. Report Cards are published four times per year. Students will bring home a printed copy of their report card in terms 1-3, they will also be published in the X2 family portal. The final report card will be published in the week following the last student day in June. A request for a conference may be indicated on the report card by the teacher. As a parent, you may request a parent/teacher conference at any time during the school year. Prekindergarten and Kindergarten standard based report cards use the following letter designation: PR Proficient IP In Progress ND Needs Development NY Not Yet 1st through 4th Grades utilize the following grading system O, S, U A, B, C, D, E Special Areas, Social Habits, Work Habits ELA (Writing, grammar, conventions, phonics, word study, fluency, reading comprehension), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies School Messager Calling System Our School Messenger calling system is used to alert parents of district schedule changes, upcoming events within our school and contact families when children are absent. A weekend call will be made by administration to highlight the upcoming week’s activities. Having an updated student data form on file will ensure you receive these important communications consistently. School Security The safety and security of our students remain our highest priority. To support a safe learning environment, all visitors must enter through the main office, and anyone visiting a classroom must present a valid ID and complete the Raptor check-in process. While in the building visitors will be required to display their visitors’ badge. Anyone seeking to pick-up a student from school will be required to present their ID to our office staff. We appreciate your partnership and understanding as we work together to keep all students, staff, and families safe.
Six-Day Cycle Wicomico County Public Schools and Delmar Elementary operate on a six-day schedule rotation. Therefore, the first day of school will be on an A-day. The last letter day of the rotation will be an F-day. Your child’s teacher will send information home during the first week of school to let you know what days your child will have special classes such as PE and Art. This will allow you to dress them appropriately. Elementary letter days are updated weekly on the wicomicoschools.org homepage. Student Devices The term student device covers electronic equipment including but not limited to cellphones, Smart watches including (Apple, AngelSense, Gizmo), Meta glasses, personal laptops, iPads, tablets, gaming equipment, etc. Wicomico School policy prohibits the use of personal devices including cell phones in schools at the elementary level. Although we know that students may have phones at school for safety reasons, they must be kept off and stowed in bookbags throughout the day. If students bring a cell phone or other device to school individuals assume full responsibility for their personal electronic devices. WCPS is not responsible for the loss of or damage to student or staff-owned personal electronic devices. Student devices are not permitted for use during the school day and must remain powered off and out of sight at all times. Devices should not be visible or heard during the instructional day. Any device that is seen, heard, or used during school hours is subject to confiscation by a staff member and pickup will need to be coordinated with the parent/guardian. Exceptions may be granted by the school administration for documented safety or legitimate medical reasons upon parent request. TalkingPoints Messaging System TalkingPoints is a free platform utilized by the school and district to communicate with families. Families have three easy ways to use TalkingPoints and to communicate with their children’s teachers for free! They can use text messaging, download the separate app - TalkingPoints for Families - or they can use it on the web at TalkingPoints for Families. You can opt to receive text messages or download the TalkingPoints for Families mobile app. You can also use TalkingPoints on the web. There will be no charge from TalkingPoints to use text messages, the mobile app, or the web. Transportation Changes For the safety of our students and to ensure clear, consistent communication, all transportation changes must be communicated directly to the front office via delmardismissal@mywcps.org. Requests should not be sent to classroom teachers, and any phone call regarding a dismissal change must be followed by an email, as phone calls alone cannot be accepted. Please have any transportation changes submitted to the delmardismissal@mywcps.org prior to 1:00pm on the day they are occurring.
Volunteer Opportunities There are many opportunities for you to become involved in our school. A volunteer coordinator will match parent availability with school and teacher needs. All interested volunteers must complete a volunteer application prior to receiving volunteer assignments. Each visitor is required to swipe their driver’s license or a valid State ID Card at the school visitor’s kiosk located in the main office and display their volunteer badge for the duration of their visit.
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