August 2025 ASD Family Newsletter Keep scrolling to read about the people-places-things making news in our district.

The first week of school is fast approaching. We are sending this communication to all ASD families to share important updates and reminders before the new school year begins.

Important Dates:

• Monday, September 1 — schools/offices closed
• Tuesday, September 2 — first day of school for grades 1-9; KN last name A-L
• Wednesday, September 3 — first day of school for grades 10-12; KN last name M-Z
• Monday, September 8 — first day of school for PreK

All ASD families will receive information regarding their child’s transportation the week of August 25. Families will receive an automated email, phone call, and text message with their transportation information. Families who have successfully set up an Infinite Campus Parent Portal will also be able to view their transportation information in their portal. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate our new system.

Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, Appoquinimink School District, and all districts throughout Delaware, is now utilizing Infinite Campus as the student and parent portal.

Parents and Guardians can log into Infinite Campus Parent Portal by clicking here.

All ASD Families will receive an email from Infinite Campus to create their parent portal. If you do not receive an email, reach out to your school for your activation key. The email will come from: noreply@appoquiniminkde.mg.infinitecampus.org. The subject line of the email is: User Account Activitation.

Once you have your activation key, CLICK HERE to activate your parent portal account.

Infinite Campus will replace Home Access Center (HAC)!

Infinite Campus will be your resource for:

• Viewing grades, class schedules, and report cards
• Checking attendance and assignments
• Accessing transportation information
• Registering for school

Please note: Students and staff will log into Infinite Campus using Classlink.

As a result of Delaware HB91, all students in Appoquinimink School District can receive free breakfast at their school!

Students who wish to eat breakfast at school will follow their individual school procedures. Students will enter their student ID number in line, the same way they do at lunch, but there will be no charge.

More information will be shared by Delaware Department of Education later this week, but we wanted to share with our families as soon as possible.

New Systems for Payment & Online Menus

Beginning this school year, families will now use PaySchools Central to manage student meal accounts. This new system offers a variety of great new features for our students and families.

Please note: all funds that were in PayPAMS at the end of last school year will automatically move into each student’s new account. You do not need to do anything for the money to transfer.

While all previous balances will automatically transfer, families will need to set up auto-pay again using the new system. Within PaySchools Central, families can instantly upload funds into accounts. In addition, families will be able to transfer funds between children. Families can also open multiple accounts, allowing more than one family member to access accounts and upload funds. This new system will also allow for email communication to families.

Here’s how to access PaySchools Central: https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

Once on the site, you will find our district, then add your student’s ID to create an account.

Please note: our previous systems did not require a student ID number – the new system does require this information. If you have questions about your child’s ID number, you can call your child’s school.

If you have questions about unused balances, you can contact our School Nutrition Department.

In addition, we are also moving to My School Menus for our online meal menus. This new site offers a lot of great features including language translations, extensive nutrition facts, filters for allergens/preferences, printable menus, and much more!

Here’s how to access My School Menus: https://www.myschoolmenus.com/organizations/2514/

Once on the site, you can select your child’s school and the breakfast or lunch meals. If you visit the site now, you’ll find information about our current summer menu. The meal menus for the new school year will be launched closer to the first day of school.

We are so excited to begin using these two new systems in our cafeterias!

Meal Benefit Applications

Your student may qualify for free meals. Beginning July 1, families can submit applications for meal benefits. As a reminder, families need to apply every year to determine if they qualify.

To ensure that this program is available to your student on the first day of school, please complete the Meal Benefit Application as soon as possible.

The application can be completed through PaySchools Central (the new system). Families can complete the application after they have set up an account. As we shared above – families will need their student’s ID number to create an account.

Here’s the link: https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

If you need help or prefer to fill out a paper copy of the application, call the School Nutrition Office 302-378-5032 or stop by to see the team in the Marion E. Proffitt Training Center at 118 S. Sixth Street, Odessa, DE 19730.

You're invited! Our School Nutrition Team is hosting its first Nutrition Showcase. This event will include a presentation, meet and greet, mini tasting session, and informational displays from the people who work to ensure all students have access to healthy and delicious meals. The showcase will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 26, in the auditorium at Louis L. Redding Middle School. We'll see you there!

While it’s hard to believe, the fall sports season is nearly upon us! Please read below to learn more about ticketing, sports admission guidelines, a spring sports recap, and more.

Ticketing Update

One important change this year is the updated ticket prices for home varsity football games.

Due to rising law enforcement costs associated with event operations, the cost of admission for home varsity football games is now $10. The cost of admission for all other home ticketed events is $7.

Fall 2025 Admission Guidelines

We are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all members of the Appoquinimink School District community. To that point, the following admission guidelines are in effect for ASD home athletic contests. We will continue to monitor admission guidelines and adjust as necessary.

Ticketing

• All tickets must be purchased in advance at GoFan, our online ticket vendor. Please follow GoFan guidelines for ticket purchase and redemption. The link to purchase tickets is posted on the athletics website, and special codes, when needed, are provided by the schools.
• Due to rising law enforcement costs associated with event operations, the cost of admission for home varsity football games is $10. The cost of admission for the other home ticketed events is $7.
• Ticket packages for students are available at each school.
• Tickets must be available for redemption at the gate. No screenshots or email receipts. Spectators must be prepared to show ID if requested.
• Gates open one hour before game time and close at the end of the second quarter.
• ASD has a no re-admittance policy, which means that once you leave the event venue, you will not be permitted to re-enter.

Personal Belongings

• Spectators are encouraged to limit the number of items they bring with them to the venue. This applies to all games, regardless of game time and location.

The following styles and bag sizes are permitted into the stadium:

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12”.
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand but not larger than 5” X 8”, with or without a handle/strap.
• Stadium seats must be less than 18 inches and may not have armrests and pockets.

Security and Screening

• Spectators may not wear full-face ski masks or gators.
• Spectators are asked to remain seated in the bleachers during the game. Loitering inside and outside the event venue, including the parking lot, is prohibited.
• Any middle or elementary school-aged children attending as a guest must be accompanied by an adult and remain with that adult at all times.
• A Weapon Detection System is used at the stadium entrance for football games and at other athletic events as deemed necessary by ASD.
• Spectators will be required to pass through the system before entering the stadium.
• Stadium chairs and umbrellas will not pass through the system, but will be inspected by staff.
• Spectators do NOT need to remove personal belongings such as keys, cell phones, jewelry, belts, wallets, etc.

You can also find this information on our website here.

As we prepare to start a new school year in just a few weeks – we want to share information about our annual New Parent Orientation event, which takes place on Monday, August 25.

All NEW Appoquinimink School District families are invited to join us at A.G. Waters Middle School (1235 Cedar Lane Road Middletown, DE 19709) on August 25 at 6:30 p.m. This event is designed for all new families - in all grades PreK - 12.

You can find more information, including an overview of the event, here.

We hope our Appoquinimink families are as excited about the upcoming school year as we are. We wanted to remind families and students of our cell phone policy as we gear up for the first days of school.

During the last school year, our district convened a committee to review our cell phone policy in conjunction with a pilot program at Appoquinimink High School​​​​​​​. The committee included parents, community members, teachers, administrators, and School Board members. Using data from the AHS cell phone pilot along with research into best practices, we have established new guidelines for cell phone use in our schools beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

At the elementary level, we will continue to enforce current practices.

At the middle school level, students will receive a Yondr cell phone pouch upon entry into their school building. At that time, students will place their phones into the Yondr pouch, and their phones will remain locked in the pouch for the entire school day. The locked Yondr pouch will remain with the student all day – so while the student won’t have access to their phone, it will remain with them at all times. Please know, we will have specific procedures in place that will be shared with all families as part of back-to-school communications.

At the high school level, cell phones will be placed in hanging wall organizers during class time and removed at the end of each period. High school students will have access to their phones during lunch and transitions.

The overall goal of this policy is to promote academic achievement and student well-being, create safe and respectful school communities, and establish clear expectations.

We appreciate our families partnering with us as we make this transition with our policies. Building administrators will be sharing more information with all families before we return to school.

This information was shared in our July newsletter. Keep reading for a refresher on our Parent, Visit, Community, & Non-Student Code of Conduct.

The Appoquinimink School District is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all students, staff, families, and visitors. To maintain this standard, we expect all parents, guardians, and community participants to model and promote civil, courteous, and respectful behavior at all times while on school property or attending district-sponsored events and activities. As such, our district has adopted a new Parent, Guardian, Visitor, Community & Non-Student Code of Conduct.

This code of conduct outlines expectations of behavior, unacceptable behavior, enforcement and consequences, and our district commitment to civility.

Click here to read the new parent code!

The Appoquinimink School District offers a mobile app to help parents stay on top of what matters most.

When the app was originally launched, it was identifiable as a green tile with our apple logo. However, we now have an updated version that appears as a blue app on your phone. While the old app version is not available for download on the App Store or in Google Play, some of our families may still have the green version downloaded. We want to ensure our families have the most up-to-date version, so please be sure to check and make sure you are using the blue app!

On the latest version of our app, you’ll find access to homework and grades, staff email directories, the calendar of events, breaking news, high school sports, menus, an absence notification feature, confidential bullying reports, maps and directions, and more. Users control the settings so they receive information from only those schools they attend. It’s a quick and efficient way to stay connected while you're on the go.

You can find more information and download the app here!

Our Academic Calendar has all the important dates for Appoquinimink families, including professional learning dates, winter and spring break, state/federal holidays, and much more.

You can find our Academic Calendar here!

Be sure to check out our district Arts, Events, and Recognition Calendar, which is available on our website now! This calendar focuses on play and concert dates, as well as fairs and other important happenings in our district. Please note: this calendar is subject to change, so be sure to check it often so you have the most up-to-date information.

You can find our Arts, Events, and Recognitions Calendar here!

Register for our award-winning instrument program today!

Registration for the Elementary Instrumental Program is now open for all 4th and 5th grade students interested in joining their elementary school band or orchestra. Students can choose to learn flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, violin, viola, or cello. Families are invited to attend our Fall Elementary Info Night on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Redding Middle School auditorium. This event is a great opportunity to meet the directors, learn more about the program, and find out how to register. Information on how to sign up will be sent home with students during the first few weeks of school. Don’t forget to visit our department website for registration, FAQs, and resources. Please note that registration will close on September 21, and lessons will begin during the first week of October. If you have any further questions, please contact your school’s band or string director.

The Appoquinimink School District wrapped up an outstanding spring sports season, capturing two DIAA Division I State Championships and showcasing excellence across multiple sports. Visit our website to read more!

A new logo, a new house system for a newly rebuilt school

While Louis L. Redding Middle is currently our newest school building, it has returned to its roots with the establishment of its school colors and logo! Most recently, the school’s mascot has been the Redding Knight with blue and grey school colors. At the request of the Redding Alumni, and in conjunction with the opening of the new school building, LLRMS is returning gold and yellow school colors with the Redding Eagle as its logo. This change reconnects LLRMS to its vibrant history while honoring the active alumni network of the school. Built in 1952, the first iteration of the school was named Louis L. Redding School and served African American students in grades 1 through 12. In 1968, the school was renamed to Louis L. Redding Intermediate School and served students of all races in grades 5 through 8. LLRMS currently serves students in grades 6 through 8. Click here to visit LLRMS's new website.

LLRMS is also instituting a new House System! Inspired by the Ron Clark Academy, LLRMS has established a four-house system, which, as RCA’s website states, is a “dynamic and exciting way to create a powerful and positive school climate.” This House System “builds character, empowers academic excellence, fosters school spirit, enhances relationships, and promotes a culture of belonging for all.” Students will be sorted into one of four houses – Altruismo, the House of Givers; Amistad, the House of Friendship; Isibindi, the House of Courage; and Rêveur, the House of Dreamers. Stay tuned throughout the upcoming school year as we detail the exciting ways the House Systems will unfold at LLRMS.

‘The Learning Lounge’ – a new podcast from our Immersion Program

The team behind our Immersion Program is celebrating the release of its first Dual Language Immersion Podcast, created in partnership with Delaware State University!

You can watch the first episode here!

You can watch the second episode here!

This podcast series highlights the dual language immersion experiences of our students, families, and educators, while also providing helpful information and inspiration. Here are some topics explored in the series:

• A Different Learning Style: Experience in Immersion Classrooms
• Beyond the Hurdles: Building a Bright Future for Immersion Learners
• Smart Tools, Smarter Learners: How Digital Technologies Support Language Learning
• From Kitchen to Craft: Bringing Chinese and Hispanic Traditions Home

Odessa High School FFA travels to Canada for Envirothon