Aviator Update #3

Hello Aviator Families,

Happy September! I absolutely love this time of year, and it just so happens to be a great month to be an Aviator. We will have our first Duke Community Gathering and we are looking forward to Fall weather and the St. Mary's County Fair! Speaking of weather, please continue to have your children dress in layers, as the temperature in the building can vary from one area to the next. This upcoming week looks to be less stifling outside, and we will embrace the cooler temperatures!

I hope your family enjoys the day off tomorrow. Happy Labor Day!

Respectfully,

Katie Kortokrax, Principal

Zach Adams, Assistant Principal

On Friday afternoon, Kathryn's Crafty Cakes delivered cupcakes purchased for us by some of our Duke families. Our staff sincerely appreciated the thoughtful cards that were delivered and thoroughly enjoyed the delicious cupcakes. It was a wonderful way to end our first full week of school! THANK YOU!!!!!

• Monday, Sept 2nd - Labor Day (Schools Closed)
• Fri, Sept 6th - Deadline for Safety Patrol Applications and Musical Ensemble Forms (see below)
• Thurs, Sept 19th - Two Hour Early Release
• Fri, Sept 20th - Professional Day - No School for Students
• Thurs, Sept 26th* - Fall Picture Day (*CHANGED)

Hey Duke Families! Now that everyone is (hopefully) settled into the new school year, it's time to celebrate our wonderful staff members. Please review the available slots by clicking on the Sign-Up Genius below and click on the button to sign up. Items can be shipped to/dropped off at 41456 Culpepper Way in Leonardtown or sent into the front office. All items need to be received no later than the evening of Monday, September 9th. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Thanks for your support!

For the second week in a row, we crushed the 94% average daily attendance goal by achieving 96.91% ADA. Way to go Aviators!

If your child does have to miss school, please remember to report his/her absences. We appreciate consistent communication with regards to a child’s health and readiness for school. You can report an absences in any of the following ways:

• school website
• Email to your students teacher (please do not use class DOJO)
• Email the records secretary at samagill@smcps.org
• Handwritten note indicating the date(s) and reason for the absence, the full name of the student and signature of the parent can be turned in upon the child's return to school.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

All Dismissal Changes need to be routed through our main office BEFORE 2PM daily.

Please communicate these changes by email to:

• Ms. Magill, our Main Office Secretary, at samagill@smcps.org.
• Please also "cc" our Secretary to the Principal, Ms. Toothacker (cctoothacker@smcps.org) as well as your child's homeroom teacher.

Thank you for your assistance with this matter.

Captain Walter Francis Duke is excited to have the MFLC program to provide continued support to active-duty military students and families. The Military and Family Life Counseling Program helps military families and children navigate challenges by providing free confidential non-medical counseling services to children and youth via formal groups, lunch bunches and individually. Military and Family Life Counselors provide support to assist students with improving behaviors, performance in school and relationships. Military and Family Life Counselors provide support on topics such as feelings identification, bullying, self-esteem problem solving and deployment and reunification. Military and Family Life Counselors provide consultation support to parents, teachers, and administrators, conduct classroom observations, and participate in school wide events.

Our cafeteria will start selling snacks this week!

Check our Nutrislice Webpage to:

• View Helpful nutrition info
• Download our FREE mobile app!
• Print menus

• Monday, August 26
• Tuesday, August 27
• Wednesday, August 28
• Thursday, August 29
• Friday, August 30

Duke takes pride in building a community that recognizes and celebrates students' differences.

September 7th is World Duchenne Awareness Day (WDAD). In 2023 the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to designate WDAD as a United Nations Day in 2023, beginning in 2024. This day is set aside to raise awareness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disease that causes muscle degeneration and weakness. Duke would like to recognize the inaugural World Duchenne Awareness Day and two of our 5th graders Cole and Jackson Thomas. Due to September 7th being on a Saturday, Duke would like to celebrate on Friday, September 6th.

We are asking all students and staff to wear RED to show their support for our fellow Aviators on this day. *If you and your child would like to learn more about Duchenne, please click here.*

Please see the safety patrol application that is available to our fourth and fifth grade students. Applications can be submitted online or can be printed, signed, and returned to classroom teachers by Friday, September 6th. If you need a printed copy sent home, please email your child's teacher.

Information about the Program:

The AAA School Safety Patrol Program assists students by providing leadership and citizenship experiences for our patrol and a safe environment for children in our school. Being a member of the safety patrol means students would be:

• Reminding schoolmates of bus/school expectations

• Reporting safety issues to staff member(s) and/or bus drivers

Each student who would like to apply to be a safety patrol member will need to fill out the application that follows. Being in the safety patrol is a privilege and requires responsibility. Students are expected to demonstrate SOARing behaviors in the classroom and throughout the schoolhouse for the duration of the school year.

"Welcome Back Musical Aviators!

It's time for our intermediate students to enroll in the music ensemble of their choice. Third graders may start Strings this year (violin, viola, cello, double bass), while Fourth and Fifth graders may enroll in Strings or Band (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion/bells) AND Chorus! Students may participate in two musical ensembles, as long as one of those ensembles is Chorus. Please enroll your student by Friday, September 6, 2024. More information and links to enrollment can be found here:

The school nurse will be starting vision and hearing screenings on Pre-K students, Kindergarten students that were not screened last year, all 1st grade students, and new students to SMCPS. The screenings will be conducted as time permits over the next several months.

Vision and hearing screening is a relatively short process. Screenings are not diagnostic, but instead, are used to identify a child at risk for vision/hearing problems. Screenings do not replace examinations performed by a health or eye care professional that provide diagnosis and treatment, if indicated. Vision/hearing problems that go undetected or uncorrected may impair a child’s development, lead to behavior problems in school, interfere with learning, and impact health and well-being into adulthood.

A student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) objects in writing to hearing and vision screening, on the basis of the tenets and practice of a recognized church or religious denomination of which the student is an adherent or member, may not be required to take these screenings. Please contact Nurse Dana if you have any questions or want to opt out of these screenings.

Please review the list of medical forms: https://www.smcps.org/health-safety/immunizations-medical-forms.

If your student takes medication at school, requires an Emergency Action Plan, or has any other unique medical needs, please take the pertinent form(s) to your student's medical provider to complete them before the start of the school year.

Please note the following changes:

• Medication administration - ALL medication requires an order.
• Emergency Medications - Parent must bring meds to school, stock EpiPens NOT guaranteed.

Within the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is the Google Workspace for Education Additional Services Agreement. In order for students to have access to "additional services," the form granting your student access must be completed.

Download the Box Tops for Education app, scan your receipts, and earn cash for our school!

For over 25 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn for schools with products they already buy. Today, you can find thousands of participating products throughout the store — and all you need is the Box Tops app.

Thank you for your support!

Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary

Ms. Katie Kortokrax, Principal

Mr. Zach Adams, Assistant Principal

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

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