Get important back-to-school information in this letter from Dr. Stacy Dobbs, Delaware Community School principal. A paper copy of the letter was mailed to families on Aug. 21.
Dear Families:
Welcome to the 2025-26 school year!
I’m excited to begin a wonderful year together, built on great expectations for academic growth, student leadership, and active engagement for achievement. We will also focus on celebrating positive behavior choices through our 3 Bs: Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful. I look forward to working with each of you to make this a year filled with learning, success, and community.
The first day of school for students in kindergarten through grade 5 is Thursday, Sept. 4. Prekindergarten students will begin on Friday, Sept. 5, and students and families will be invited to attend either a morning or afternoon orientation. Pre-K students will return home with their families after orientation, and their first full day will be Monday, Sept. 8.
The following information will be helpful as you prepare for the start of school.
Attendance matters
Every day in school counts! Good attendance is essential for students to reach their full potential. We encourage regular daily attendance to support each child’s success.
School hours
Instructional day: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Students arriving after 9:05 a.m. will be marked tardy.
Arrival procedures
- Students having school breakfast: Doors open at 8:40 a.m. for those eating breakfast. No supervision is available before 8:40 a.m., so please do not drop off students before then.
- Students not having school breakfast: Arrive at 9 a.m. through your child’s designated grade-level door. No supervision is available before this time.
- Pre-K and grades 2 and 3 should be dropped off at the Hurlbut Street side door.
- Grades 1 and 4 should be dropped off at the Bertha Street side door.
- Grades K, 5 and bus-riders should be dropped off at the Hurlbut Street main entrance.
Timely pick-up
Please pick up your child promptly at dismissal. Whenever possible, schedule appointments before or after school so your child misses as little instruction as possible.
Early dismissal
If your child needs to leave early (before 3:15 p.m.), send a note to the teacher that morning. Early dismissal means your child is missing valuable learning time!
Reporting absence and late arrival
Call the school by 8 a.m. if your child will be absent or late: (518) 475-6750. This call does not replace the legal written note required within five days of return. Please make sure to send a note explaining the absence or it will be recorded as illegal.
Attendance support
If you need help with attendance concerns, contact Ms. Lorraine Ruiz, our Home School Coordinator, at (518) 475-6766.
Contact information
During the first week of school, you will receive many important notices. Please check your child’s backpack daily to ensure nothing is missed.
Keeping your contact information current helps us reach you quickly in case of illness, emergencies, or schedule changes. To keep your child safe and ensure timely communication:
- Update your information: If your phone number or address changes at any time, contact the Main Office at (518) 475-6750 and complete the necessary paperwork immediately
- Complete the contact sheet that was mailed to you and return it on the first day of school.
- Authorized pickup list: On your child’s contact sheet, list all individuals permitted to pick up your child. For safety reasons, we will not dismiss a child to anyone who is not listed. No exceptions will be made.
Busing
Yellow bus transportation is provided by First Student and is available for:
- Kindergarten through grade 5 students who live more than 1.5 miles from the school.
- Special Education students (eligibility determined by the district).
Please note there is no transportation provided for prekindergarten students.
For busing questions, call:
- School district Transportation Department: (518) 475-6170; or
- First Student: (518) 445-6372
These offices can help with routes, drop-off and pickup times, and general transportation concerns.
Please note: At the start of the school year, bus schedules may take a couple of weeks to become consistent, and students may arrive home 15-20 minutes later than scheduled. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Open House and Back-to-School Celebration
Our Open House and Back-to-School Celebration will be held on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 5-7 p.m. Additional details will be shared soon. We look forward to seeing you there!
School supplies
Link to our school supply lists.
PTA
Please consider joining our PTA! The Delaware Community School PTA plays a vital role in supporting our school and families. Membership forms will be sent home with your child during the first month of school.
Teacher assignment
Your child's teacher assignment will be in the letter mailed home.
See you soon!
We look forward to partnering with you to make this a year filled with learning, success and community! If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact the school office at (518) 475-6750.