Aviator Updates

Hello Duke Families,

Friday was the 90th day of our 180 day school year! This Friday marks the end of the 2nd Marking Period. Our students are learning and making strides every single day. Our teachers and staff are using formative assessments and midyear data to tailor instruction to meet individual needs. Families, thank you for your continued support and for partnering with us in your student's education!

All the best,

Katie Kortokrax, Principal

Zach Adams, Assistant Principal

• Thurs, Jan 25: Winter Concert (Band, Strings, Chorus)
• Fri, Jan 26: Professional Development Day - No school for students
• End of Marking Period 2
• Tues, Feb 6- Report Card Distribution
• Fri, Feb 9- Two Hour Early Release
• Mon, Feb 19- No School; Presidents' Day

Thursday, January 25, 2024

CWF Duke Elementary School Cafeteria

6:00 p.m. Strings

6:30 p.m. Band

7:00 p.m. Chorus

* Students should report to the MUSIC ROOMS prior to the concert at 5:30 p.m.*

Deadline Extended

The Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant is sponsoring the 24th Annual Black History Month Poster Contest. The deadline for students to bring posters to school has been extended to January 26, 2024.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) will offer a series of Conscious Discipline workshops to Pre-Kindergarten families, Kindergarten families, and local childcare providers.

Participants will learn how to implement effective routines that utilize strategies based on brain science to foster self-regulation skills. These live virtual evening sessions will allow you to interact with a Conscious Discipline Master Instructor from the comfort of your home from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Please select this link for dates and registration information.

The SMCPS Equity for All website showcases monthly celebrations, best practices, instructional strategies, and a Community Resource page.

We are SO close to achieving our average daily attendance (ADA) goal of 94%. If we can get our overall ADA to 94% by the end of January, we will DUCK TAPE a staff member to the wall during lunch one day soon. Thank you for your help with getting your kids to school daily.

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.

• 1/24/24 Chicken tenders
• 1/31/24 Chicken Patty

• Tuesday, January 16
• Wednesday, January 17
• Thursday, January 18
• Friday, January 19

3rd Grade

MCAP ELA: April 15, 17, 22, 24

MCAP Math: April 29, May 1, 6, 8

4th Grade

NAEP: February 27 (more information coming)

MCAP ELA: April 16, 18, 23, 25

MCAP Math: April 30, May 2, 7, 9

5th Grade

MISA Science: March 12 and 14

MCAP ELA: April 16, 18, 23, 25

MCAP Math: April 30, May 2, 7, 9

Capture this year's school memories by ordering your yearbook TODAY!

Click here to order yours today.

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

There are so many fantastic things happening in our efforts to support SMCPS students with disabilities. Please use this survey to share your praise, story, or news about successes here at CWFDES! Thank you in advance for sharing your appreciation for our special education staff members!

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