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    Dear Brader Elementary School Families,

     

    Greetings and warm wishes to you as we approach the dawn of a new school year.  It is with great anticipation and enthusiasm that I extend a heartfelt welcome to all of our returning families and those who are beginning their journey with the Brader community.

     

    With the advent of each academic year, we are reminded of the immense privilege and responsibility we have in nurturing and growing leaders—one child at a time.  Our mission is anchored in fostering a dynamic learning environment that empowers students to reach their fullest potential. The start of a new school year brings with it a tapestry of possibilities, and we stand ready to embrace each one.  Our faculty and staff are committed to guiding our students along a path of growth, learning, and discovery.  We consider it both an honor and a privilege to be a part of your child’s educational journey.

     

    This year, our theme is “Here We Grow.”  It encapsulates our collective dedication to fostering growth in all its dimensions. Just as a garden flourishes with careful tending, we believe that each student’s unique talents and potential can be nurtured to bloom. With this theme as our guiding light, our aim is to cultivate an environment where every child feels valued, inspired, and empowered to explore and blossom.

     

    As we nurture this growth, our leadership priorities for the year—Enriching the Whole Child, Enhancing Teaching and Learning, and Fostering Community Pride---will be at the heart of every endeavor. These priorities serve as our compass, guiding us toward a holistic education that prepares our students not only academically, but also as confident individuals ready to embrace the world.

     

    Rest assured that the safety and well-being of our students remains at the forefront. We are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring a secure and healthy environment for our students, following all district/state health and safety guidance/mandates with the utmost diligence.

     

    As the school year unfolds, you can expect weekly communication reminding you of important dates, upcoming events, and opportunities for engagement. We encourage you to review the Back to School Information attachment along with “The Brader Buzz” newsletter, to access all of the latest school news and updates. Your partnership is of immeasurable value, and we invite you to actively engage in your child’s educational journey. Your involvement, whether through volunteering, attending school functions, or encouraging learning at home, contributes significantly to your child’s growth and success.

     

    We look forward to seeing our families at our annual Meet & Greet event on Tuesday, August 29 from 3-5 PM. This is when your child will receive their homeroom assignment and meet their teacher! It will also be an opportunity to meet new families, catch up with old friends, and visit with Brader staff and community partners.

     

    We eagerly await the return of our students and we are committed to providing a nurturing and empowering learning environment that supports their academic and personal growth.  On behalf of the entire Brader Elementary School team, I extend our deepest gratitude for entrusting us with your child’s education. We look forward to partnering with you for the school year ahead, where growth, achievement, and shared memories are bound to thrive.

     

    Warm regards,

     

    Ms. Gallagher

    Proud Principal, Brader Elementary School

     

     

    Brader Elementary School  

    Back to School Information – 2023-2024

     

     

     

    Our Mission

     

    At Brader, our mission is to work as a CommUNITY to nurture and grow leaders, inspiring one child at a time to embrace their educational journey in order to achieve their full potential in life.

     

    CSD Vision

     

    Together, Educating Every Student for Excellence

     

    Our Commitments

     

    At Brader, We are committed to maintaining a culture of inclusion, where ALL faces, voices, and experiences are reflected and valued, and EVERY child is afforded access to a quality education and high standards of achievement. We pledge to work together to foster strong partnerships with parents/families and the community, to maximize opportunities for EVERY CHILD, EVERY DAY.

     

    Student Day:  8:50 AM – 3:50 PM

     

    School Colors: Blue & White

     

    School Mascot: Tiger

     

    School Motto

    Brader Elementary School is the home of the Tigers, where every day you can hear our students practice their ROAR!

     

    Respect

    Outstanding Attitude

    Achievement

    Responsibility

     

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

     

    Calendar Dates – August & September

     

    Tuesday, August 29, 3:00-5:00 PM - Back to School Meet and Greet

    Stop by to learn your child’s homeroom assignment and meet their teacher. This is also an opportunity to drop off school supplies, pick up car tags, sign Chromebook Agreements and sign up to be a part of the Brader Parent Teacher Team (PTT). We will have special representatives from our Boys & Girls Club after care program, along with other after school programs.  We are also excited to enjoy a special visit from the Delaware Blue Coats, as Brader has once again been selected to be a part of their Neighborhood Hoops Tour!

     

    Tuesday, September 5 – 8:50 AM-3:50 PM – 1st day of school for students in 1st through 5th grades

    Kindergarten families are invited to attend Kindergarten Orientation with their Kindergarten student from 10:00-10:45 AM on this day.  Note: There are NO classes for Kindergarten students on September 5. For more Kindergarten news and updates, be sure to read the Kindergarten Welcome Letter that was shared with families via Parent Link communication on August 14.

    Wednesday, September 6 – 8:50 AM – 3:50 PM - The first day of school for Kindergarten students and ALL grade levels, K-5

     

    Tuesday, September 21 – 6:00-7:30 PM – Brader Parent Teacher Team Meeting (6-7PM) and Title 1 Parent Advisory Council Meeting (PAC - 7-7:30 PM)- Brader Library

    The purpose of the PAC meeting is to review Title I information with our families. 

     

    Friday, September 22 and Monday, September 25 – No School for Students – Professional Development Day (9/22) and Yom Kippur holiday (9/25, offices open)

     

    Thursday, September 28 – Fall Picture Day for All Students and Open House for Grades K-5, 6:00-7:30 PM

     

     

    Car Tags/Arrival/Dismissal

     

    Car Tags

    ALL families will be given a set of two numbered hanging car tags to be used when picking up your child/children from the car line. Please display the tag from the rearview mirror for easy viewing.  If you have a Kindergarten child, please write “K” on the tag to alert us, since we know that it takes our little ones some time to learn the procedures.  We ask that you help your child/children memorize their car tag number. We plan to distribute car tags at Meet & Greet on August 29.

     

    Our doors will open at 8:50 AM daily, and will remain unlocked until 9:10 AM as we welcome our students through the front doors.  Students that are planning to eat breakfast at school should stop in the cafeteria to key in their student ID in order to pick up a Grab & Go breakfast on their way to their classroom.

     

    Arrival

    Walkers - Walkers should enter the building from the front doors and proceed to the cafeteria to purchase breakfast, or proceed directly to class. We encourage all families to say their good-byes outside, however, we will work with K/1/new families to ensure a positive and happy first day/week experience. 

     

    Car Riders - Families that are driving to school each morning will enter the school driveway in a single lane, and will travel straight, and then veer left to follow the bend of the car line circle. Families are asked to patiently remain in line along the curb and wait for a staff member on duty to guide you through the circle to a safe stop point where your child will be welcomed to exit the vehicle from the passenger/curbside only. Adults are asked to please remain in the vehicle so that we can move the car line quickly and safely. You may not pass cars that are unloading children. The inside lane of the circle is not for driving or parking.  It should only be used for parents pulling out of parking spaces. All cars will stay in line to exit the lot. 

     

    Bus Riders - The Department of Transportation will be sending separate transportation mailers that contain your child/children’s bus number and pick up/drop off address/location. Times are not exact, so please be at the pick-up/drop off location 10 minutes earlier than the assigned time. Upon arrival at school, buses will park in the bus lot and will wait for our bus duty staff to dismiss the students on each bus and guide them to the main sidewalk. Students will not be crossing any traffic. 

     

    Dismissal

    Afternoon announcements will take place at 3:45 PM, followed by dismissal at 3:50 PM with car riders and walkers, followed by bus riders.  Please note that we will begin the dismissal process a few minutes early during the first week of school.  To ensure the safety of our students, all parents picking up are required to have their photo identification with them EVERY DAY. If you have authorized additional adults to pick up your child/children, they must present photo identification and their names must be listed on the emergency card/office information sheet.

    Walkers - K/1 will wait in the cafeteria with car riders and will be released from the cafeteria doors to an authorized parent. 2nd/3rd will exit from the Wetlands Pod side door, and 4th/5th will exit from the Butterfly Pod doors. All walkers will be escorted by staff on duty to a designated safety zone (tree near bus lane at the front entrance to school or the stop sign near the crossing guard on the side of the school). Parents and guardians will be able to meet their child(ren) at these locations.  Older siblings, who do not attend Brader, may meet siblings at the stop signs located near the crossing guards, but not on school property. Our duties staff will be outside and ready to help our families learn the designated locations on the first day of school. It is very important that families pick up their child/children at the designated locations so that we are able to maintain a safe and orderly dismissal process.

    Car Riders -  Due to having a much higher volume of car riders, we will once again be dismissing our car riders from the cafeteria this year, instead of having the children wait outside. We appreciate your patience as we work together to implement the dismissal procedures at the beginning of the year. Upon your arrival, staff will call/signal for your child to be brought outside for pick up, according to their assigned car tag number.  Duty staff will ask for identification if they do not recognize the adult picking up.  Please notify the office immediately if your car tags are lost or stolen. We hope to disseminate car tags to families at the Meet & Greet on August 29.  To maintain student safety, there is no parking/driving in the bus lane, under any circumstance.

    Bus Riders - All bus riders will be escorted to their bus by a member of your child’s grade level team. Buses are expected to arrive at school beginning at 3:45, and typically depart between 3:55-4:10 PM. An announcement will be made on Class Dojo to notify families when all buses have departed. 

    Child Nutrition Services – Breakfast and Lunch

    All students will be able to receive a free breakfast and lunch daily again this year.  If your child is allergic to food, please provide a signed physician note to our school nurse stating the allergy.  If a special menu is needed, a registered dietician will create a menu for your child. For more information, please contact Child Nutrition Services at 302-454-2400.

     

    Nurse

    Emergency Cards will be sent home with each student during the first week of school.  The card contains a health history.  Please complete ALL PAGES, SIGN IN ALL PLACES and return to your child’s teacher ASAP.  It is very important that you inform the school of any changes to your address and phone numbers or to the additional contact numbers during the school year so that you can be reached in the event of an Emergency.  If your child has a health problem such as Asthma, Seizures or Food Allergies, please inform our nurse so that she can maintain the highest level of care and safety for your child.

    Medical Requirements for New Students: In most cases, when you registered your child for school you were advised of his/her need for any Immunizations, Physical, TB test or Lead Screening.  Please submit this information to the Nurse’s Office ASAP. Visit the school website and weekly newsletters for additional health updates from the school nurse.

     

    School Wide Communications/School Forms

    At Brader, we believe that strong communication between home and school is essential for student success. You will receive school wide communications from us through: 

    • Parent Link - Weekly Sunday evening email/newsletter message at 7PM during the school season with short notification via telephone
    • The Brader Website - Braderes.org - Visit for school forms and to access district links

     

    Please be sure to follow us on social media! You may hear about our day to day fun and exciting experiences through: 

    Schoology - Brader School Community Group, Class Dojo, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram

     

    If your contact information has changed, please email our Administrative Secretary, Ms. Devonne Johnson at Devonne.Johnson@christina.k12.de.us.  

     

    Please be on the lookout for a notification to complete the required annual school forms that will soon be accessible on the website.  We appreciate your prompt attention to this task, as it is important that we have completed forms on file for every student. 

     

    We welcome you to Brader Elementary School and to an exciting new school year! Have a joyful remainder of your summer!

     

    Warmest Regards,

     

    Ms. Gallagher                                   

     

    Jacqueline K. Gallagher                                                                  

    Principal