Attendance Reminder / Safe Arrival:

Cold and flu season is upon us. Just a reminder to notify the school when your child will be absent. Delaware City Schools utilizes an automated student absence reporting system called Safe Arrival. This system reduces the time it takes to verify student attendance, making it easier for you to report your child’s absence and easier for staff to respond to unexplained student absences.

Safe Arrival allows parents to report their child’s absence quickly and conveniently in several ways:

1. Parents can log into a website, go.schoolmessenger.com to access a Safe Arrival Parent Portal where an account can be set up to report absences. The email used to set up the account must match the email you gave to the school.
2. Parents can call into an automated interactive telephone system via a toll free number (1-844-817-5313) through which absences can be reported.
3. If you have an Android or Apple device, you can also download the School Messenger app. You can go to the Google Play store or the Apple App and search using the keyword "School Messenger". Download the app with the blue swirl logo.
4. You may call the school office at 740-833-1300 to report an absence.

All electronic methods are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Therefore future absences may be reported ahead of time, i.e. Doctor’s appointment. 

For more information from DCS about attendance reporting, check the website at Safe Arrival.

School Counseling Program Update:

Building Kindness & Empathy this Month!

Dear Families,

This month, our classroom lessons are all about kindness and empathy—skills that are especially important as we approach the holiday season. Here's a quick overview of what your child will be learning and some simple strategies for reinforcing these skills at home!

What We're Learning at School:

• Kindergarten: The Power of Kind Words with Edgar the Egg
• 1st Grade: The Golden Rule through the book Do Unto Otters
• 2nd Grade: Compliments and Compliment Mats
• 3rd Grade: Inclusion with the story The Invisible Boy
• 4th Grade: The Five Steps to Empathy and writing Thank You Notes
• 5th Grade: Inclusiveness through the Everyone’s Included activity

How You Can Support These Skills at Home:

• Model Kindness: Show your child simple acts of kindness—like saying "please" and "thank you," or complimenting others. Talk about how these small gestures make people feel happy and valued.
• Compliment Practice: Encourage your child to give genuine compliments to family members. You can even create a “Compliment Corner” in your home where everyone shares something kind each day.
• Discuss Empathy: Ask your child how they think others might feel in different situations. Use everyday moments—like reading a story or talking about a TV show—to explore how characters might feel and why.
• Be Inclusive: Invite your child to think about how they can include others, especially during family gatherings or playdates. Teach them that kindness means making sure everyone feels welcome and valued.

Holiday Season Tip:

The holidays are a perfect time to practice kindness and empathy. Encourage your child to help others, whether it's writing holiday cards, sharing a toy, or thinking about someone who may be lonely. Small, thoughtful acts can make a big difference in how we connect with others.

Let’s work together to make this season a little brighter by fostering kindness and empathy in our school and at home!

Thank you for your support!

Warmly,

Sarah Glissman

School Counselor