OWL OBSERVER February 21, 2020

Fri, 02/21/2020 - 2:14pm

 DUCKETTS LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

OWL OBSERVER

February 21, 2020

 

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Feb  21  PTA Family Glow Dance  6:30-8:00pm

Mar   6   Interim Progress Reports issued

Mar   6   PTA Family Movie Night  6:30pm

Mar   9   Kindergarten Registration for the 2020-21 school year begins

Mar 15  Go Green Clean Up at DLES- sponsored by the PTA

Mar 17  Chick Fil A Night

Mar 18  2nd Grade field trip to Mt. Hebron High School

Mar 18  Chuck E. Cheese Night sponsored by PTA 

 

MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATION

Dear Families,

 

We are so excited that we have been able to increase the volume of engaging and diverse texts in our intermediate classrooms!  Through the use of Title I funding, we have been able to purchase 240 new books for each Language Arts classroom in grades 3-5.  We are so excited for students to begin enjoying these books as part of their daily independent reading.

 

This month, our PTA partnered with the Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) to secure a free traveling exhibition for our school to celebrate Black History Month. The exhibition is entitled, A Place For All People. These posters are located in the media hallway for all students to view.  Mrs. McAfee and Mrs. Farrelly, our media specialists, will be highlighting this exhibit during media classes. 

 

We are looking for additional indoor recess games such as Connect Four, Uno, Jenga, Twister, Apples to Apples, Headband, cards, Battleship, Legos, and Checkers.  If you have one of these games that you are willing to donate, please send it in with your child to bring to the grade level paraeducator.  Thank you!

 

Have a wonderful weekend,

 

Mrs. Balter and Mrs. Madden

 

First Day of School Next Year- August 25, 2020

The school calendar for the 2020-2021 school year has been approved by the Board of Education.   Click here to view it.  Please note the first day of school will be Tuesday, August 25th.  Please plan your summer vacations with this date in mind. 

 

Save the Date for our Cozy Night of Learning on Thursday, March 26th from 6:30-8:00pm.  Bring your whole family for a fun night of Math and Reading.  We will have milk and cookies as well as resources for you to take and use at home.  Child care for non-school aged children will be available. 

 

MATH AND ELA INFORMATION

Tune in this week to our "News You Can Use" segment on helping your child with vocabulary strategies by clicking here. Next time your child gets to an unfamiliar word during reading time, encourage them to try out one of these strategies! Vocabulary strategies will help your young learner develop independence as a reader.

 

5th Grade CogAT testing results along with Middle School Placement information will be mailed directly to homes on February 21st.

 

PTA NEWS

PTA Family Glow Dance - TONIGHT!!!!

Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM

Where: DLES Cafeteria

 

Come get your glow on wearing your brightest and whitest to light up the night!           Join your PTA for a night of family-friendly fun! Featuring live DJ SoundExpression, face painting, a glow bar, and glow graffiti wall!  Light refreshments will be served.  Want to join the Volunteer Team? Sign up here: PTA Family Glow Party - Volunteer Sign Up

 

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2020-21

Registration for new students or students entering public school kindergarten in fall 2020 will begin on March 9th in all Howard County public elementary schools.  Children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2020 must be 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2020.  Children entering first grade in the fall of 2020 must be 6 years old on or before September 1, 2020.  For details about registration and enrollment, visit www.hcpss.org/enroll/.  If you have any questions or would like to schedule a registration appointment, please call the DLES front office at 410-313-5050.

 

Es hora de Inscribirse a Kindergarten

La inscripcion para estudiantes nuevos o estudiantes que ingresen al kindergarten de escuelas publicas en el otono del 2020 se lleva a cabo la semana del 9 de marzo del 2020 en todas las escuelas primarias del Condado de Howard.  El kindergarten es obligatorio en Maryland. La ley del Estado requiere que los ninos que ingresen a kindergarten en el otono del 2020 tengan 5 anos de edad antes del o el 1 de septiembre del 2020.  Para detalles sobre la inscripcion y enrolamiento, visite www.hcpss.org/enroll/.  Llamar DLES al 410-313-5050.

 

HEALTH ROOM NEWS

The Dental Clinic by Smile Maryland will be coming to DLES on March 26th and 27th.   Please check your child’s Thursday folders for the consent forms that were sent home last week.  All consent forms are due by March 2nd.

 

Health Guidelines for Flu Season

As the flu season continues, please remember to follow the HCPSS guidelines when sending your student to school.  Updated guidelines have been placed on the website and can be accessed via this link: https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2020/01/health-guidelines-help-prevent-flu/

 

Please note: Students should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school without the aid of fever reducing medications such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen).  These medications may reduce a fever, but the student is still contagious and should not be in school.  Flu symptoms include cough, runny nose, headache, body aches, fatigue (feeling tired).  Please monitor your student and contact your primary care provider with any concerns. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact the health room at 410-313-1739 or email the health room staff.  Thank you.

 

Diann Rocha, MSN, RN School Nurse                          Alicia Fleischer, SHA Health Assistant

diann_rocha@hcpss.org                                                  alicia_fleischer@hcpss.org

 

LEARNING TOGETHER PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM

The Ducketts Lane Elementary School Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) preschool programs are making preparations for classes for the 2020-2021 school year.  These classes include children with and without disabilities.  The program’s focus is helping children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor and social skills.  Parents/guardians of children who will be 3 by September 1st or 4 years of age may contact Mrs. Grove or Ms. Lynette in the front office for an application package.

 

All applications must be returned by February 28th to the front office.  A mandatory playdate will be held on March 25th from 11:30am-12:30pm.  A limited number of openings are available for children without disabilities.  Children are selected based upon screening information given on the application form and the “Ages and Stages Questionnaires”, as well as observations of the child’s participation in a playgroup.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Mary Geiser (mary_geiser@hcpss.org), PreK/RECC Team Leader.

 

COUNSELING NEWS

DLES Annual Career Day on April 2nd!

We are looking for volunteers for our annual Career Day for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders for the following time slots:

 

3rd Grade: 1:00-3:00

4th Grade: 9:00-11:00

5th Grade: 11:00-1:00

 

We have presenters present the same presentation four times (student groups rotate), so the presenter would share 10-15 minutes of a presentation, then leave 5-10 minutes for a Q&A session with our students. 

 

Please reach out to Danielle_W_Tobin@hcpss.org for any questions or if you are interested in volunteering.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS AND PROGRAMS

Please visit the Community News and Programs page at

http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/ for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.