Aviator Updates

Hello Duke Aviator Families,

Happy New Year's Eve. We hope the winter break provided many opportunities for creating special memories, time with loved ones, and a whole lot of fun and laughter.

As we transition back to school this week, teachers and staff will be providing opportunities for our students to review and practice our schoolwide expectations. Ask your child how they can show service, ownership, accountability, and respect in each area of our school (including the bus)!

We are all excited to welcome our students back to school on Tuesday. It will be an Awesome Day to be an Aviator.

All the best,

Katie Kortokrax, Principal

Zach Adams, Assistant Principal

• Tues, Jan 2: Welcome back students and staff!
• Thurs, Jan 4: ESPY & TOY Words of Support Due (see below)
• Fri, Jan 12: PTA Movie Night
• Mon, Jan 15: MLK, Jr Day; School Closed
• Thurs, Jan 25: Winter Concert
• Fri, Jan 16: Professional Development Day - No school for students

We would like to express our gratitude for your continued support and outpouring of love to the Miller Family. The amount of toys collected for the hospital was incredible and they surely helped bring a little joy to many children who had to spend their holidays at Johns Hopkins. THANK YOU!

I'm thrilled to announce that our staff members voted, and they selected two INCREDIBLE people to represent Duke as our TOY and as our ESPY!

• Teacher of the Year: Mary Owen (Media Specialist)
• Educational Support Professional of the Year: Kelly Buchanan (Compass Paraeducator)

We are SO FORTUNATE to have them SOARing with us at Duke Elementary. I am writing each of them a letter of recommendation to be considered for the coveted St. Mary's County Public Schools "Teacher of the Year" and "Educational Support Professional of the Year" recognition, and I would love to highlight some voices from our community in my letters. If Ms. Owen and/or Ms. Buchanan have had a positive impact on your child(ren) and you would like to share a few kind words, I would be happy to include them!

Please click here or fill out the form by clicking the button below.

Click here for the Menu. Due to supply chain issues, menu changes occur. We recognize that the decision to bring lunch from home or purchase lunch from school is often dependent on the menu.

• Chicken Quesadilla (sub for Corn Dog nuggets)

• No salad / No wrap on 1/2/2024 possible 1/3/2024 Due to produce delivery

• Monday, December 11
• Tuesday, December 12
• Wednesday, December 13
• Thursday, December 14
• Friday, December 15

Select the links below to learn about available resources in our area.

• Current List of Food Pantries & Soup Kitchens in St. Mary's County
• Local Resources for Children, Youth, and Families in St. Mary's County

Calendar Survey - School Year 2024-2025: The SMCPS Calendar Committee is seeking input in the development of the 2024-2025 school year calendar. Please respond to this Calendar Survey to provide your input.

• Direct Link to survey-- https://bit.ly/SMCPS24calendar

I am so pleased to announce that registration for the 2024 Annual SMAMUN Conference is now open! Our SMAMUN Conference will take place on Friday, February 9th, 2024 and Saturday, February 10th, 2024 at Leonardtown High School and is open to any SMCPS student from 5th to 12th grade. Participants will enjoy exciting exposure to and deliberation on a variety of major real-world issues from across the globe, all through warm collaboration with fellow SMCPS students.

• SMAMUN Website: https://sites.google.com/smcps.org/smamun/home
• SMAMUN Commercial: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mIreZPPxUOy69YbNeIqeGw444g08fH2S/view?usp=sharing

In implementing the requirements and reform initiatives associated with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, St. Mary’s County Public Schools is inviting stakeholders to learn about each pillar of the Blueprint, its requirements, and current status. As part of the Town Hall sessions, stakeholders will be able to ask questions of staff and provide input in responding to the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of the Blueprint.

• Pillar 1: Early Childhood Education - Tue, November 7, 2023

• Pillar 4: Resources for Student Success - Tue, December 5, 2023

• Pillar 3: College and Career Readiness - Thur, February 8, 2024

• Pillar 2: High Quality and Diverse Teachers and Leaders - Tue, March 12, 2024

All sessions will be held at 6 PM at the Dr. J. A . Forrest Career and Technology Center, and will be livestreamed at www.smcps.org/streaming.

We welcome your questions and inquiries. Please call 240-309-4658, refer to the SMCPS Back to School website, or our CWFDES website for additional information.

Katie Kortokrax, Principal

Zach Adams, Assistant Principal

Email: klkortokrax@smcps.org
Website: https://cwfdes.smcps.org/
Location: 23595 Hayden Farm Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Phone: (240) 309-4658
Twitter: @CWFDES_SMCPS