Owl Observer News

Greetings Ducketts Lane Friends and Families,

This has been another winter weather filled week. It was wonderful being able to see everyone celebrating kindness week. The smiles that everyone was able to show during class pictures made our Thursday perfect.

We want to remind everyone that there is no school on Monday.

Proudly serving you,

Mrs. Caroland, Mrs. Van Osdel, and Mrs. Yerashunas

On January 30, 2025, the Board of Education approved adjustments to Policy 8080 - Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media that changes the ability for students to use personal devices during the school day. The Board approved the following changes related to the use of personal devices by students at school:

• No students, PreKindergarten-12, will be permitted to use cell phones and other personal technology devices during the student day (first bell to last bell of the day or posted school hours) except for reasons detailed in a student’s IEP, 504, or health plan. Under the prior version of the policy, elementary and middle school students were not permitted to use personal devices during the school day at any time. For high school students, this policy removes access to personal device in between classes and at lunch. For all grade levels, the addition of consequences for violating the policy is new.

• When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, the device will be confiscated for the remainder of the student day. Following the first violation, the student may retrieve the device at the end of the student day. For all subsequent violations, a parent/guardian must retrieve the device from the school.
• A device that is confiscated during the final period of the student day will be confiscated for the entire next student day. The student may retrieve the device at the end of the day it was originally confiscated to take home but must provide it to the front office upon arrival on the next student day.

• Students may be in possession of personal devices, but they must be “away and silenced,” meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set to make no noise. Additionally, devices may not be a distraction.
• Smart watches will be permitted to be worn to check time but may not be a distraction.
• Personal laptops may be used for instructional activities in high school when permitted by the teacher.
• A staff member on a school-sponsored field trip may permit the use of a personal technology device by a student in limited situations where capturing a picture or video may be appropriate or contacting a parent/guardian is necessary.
• School administrators and school administrators’ designees may authorize use of a personal device in rare instances such as an emergency for communication purposes.

These new expectations will take effect on Monday, March 3, 2025. The complete changes and expectationsLinks to an external site. may be found online. Please take time to review these new expectations with your student to ensure they do not violate the new policy.

Our school will adhere strictly to the policy with hopes that the elimination of the distractions that personal devices cause use will result in healthier and more productive learning and social environments during the school day. More information will be shared before the implementation date.

Thank you for your collaboration in the successful implementation of these changes.

The ACTIVATE™ cognitive training program is available for free (right now) for 1st-5th grade students in our school. This program has helped students across the country build important skills like focus, self-control, and memory, and improve their reading and math scores. Students who participate in ACTIVATE will win prizes throughout the year.

To learn more about ACTIVATE™ or sign up today, please visit https://www.brainfutures.org/youth/activate-in-howard-county/

Monday, February 17th- President's Day-School closed for students

Our DLES Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser is coming soon! Fundraising papers will be sent home in Thursday folders on February 20

What is the Kids Heart Challenge?

Building on key learnings from nearly 45 years in America’s schools, the Kids Heart Challenge focuses on whole body wellness, helping students improve their own health and better their character while raising life-saving donations for the American Heart Association to help kids facing heart-health issues

When: Fundraiser activities at home: February 20 – March 14

Donation Options: Online only

To get a head start, click the link below for more info on registration

Kids Heart Challenge

Instrucciones en español para el Desafío del Corazón para Niños

1-2-3 Magic takes the “talking” and “emotion” out of responding to unexpected behavior and reinforces attention to the positive behavior that is desired. 1-2-3 Magic counts stop behaviors and encourages start behaviors. This week, we will share the counting process that is used to stop interfering behaviors.

To review, start behaviors are desired behaviors you want the child to start doing; for example, begin working, cleaning up, transitioning between activities, raising hand, showing kindness, and so on. These behaviors are encouraged and reminded, not counted. Teachers may use praise, timers, charts, and owl feathers to encourage. Stop behaviors, behaviors such as disrespecting others, calling out, yelling, arguing, etc. are behaviors we bring attention to and count, because we want these behaviors to stop immediately.

When using the 1-2-3 counting procedure, be gentle, keep directions simple and direct, and keep the emotion out of it. For example, if a student is being disruptive after expectations have been made clear, calmly say, “Student Name, that’s 1.” Immediately turn attention back to the lesson at hand and keep moving along. If after some time the same student is still exhibiting disruptive behavior, make eye contact and calmly say, “2” and return to lesson or activity. If the disruptive behavior continues, in a calm voice say to the student, “That’s 3, please Get to Green.” Get to Green is a designated space in all classrooms here at DLES, that students access to regulate emotions and ultimately get back to a place of learning. Tools available for students to use are 5 minute timers, fidgets, breathing sheets, and other tools to help students identify the interfering behavior and re-engage with instruction as quickly as possible. This is also a time a teacher may check in privately with the student to remind them of expectations, acknowledge the difficulty the student was having, and help the student re-engage with instruction. A count typically begins at the start of a new class period and counts can be made in conjunction with other staff members in the classroom. Teacher A starts the count, student continues the unexpected behavior so Teacher B continues with “2” and so on. Counts can also be made nonverbally. Making eye contact and holding up fingers is just as effective, sometimes more effective.

Between now and next week, have a conversation with your child. Ask if they know what behaviors get “counted” and what behaviors are praised. Again, this 1-2-3 Magic was originally designed as a discipline strategy for parents, so when comfortable, give it a try.

Sight words (we sometimes call these heart words here at school) are common words that children learn to recognize by sight, rather than sounding them out. We encourage you to ask your child's teacher if there are any sight words that your child could work with at home.

Here is a website that has a list of fun games and activities you can use with sight words to help your child be a stronger reader.

It is extremely difficult to teach students higher order math skills when they are not fluent with their basic facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division). If children are not automatic in responding to math facts, their attention is taken away from the necessary steps to solve more complex problems. If children are not automatic with math facts, it often results in simple, computation errors in higher grade level math. Getting those facts down early is so important!

Here is a website that offers some ideas on how to practice math facts at home.

Here is a website that offers some ideas helping to teach math facts, books to read, songs to sing, and websites that might be helpful with math facts at home.

On behalf of Mrs. Mellendick, Ms. Bresky and the rest of the DLES staff we would like to celebrate Brielle A., Alina T., and Lysander P. who will have their art on display at the HCPSS Department of Education.

We’re excited to invite you to our 2nd Annual DLES Family Fun & Fitness Night! This special event is open to students, staff, and parents, offering an evening full of engaging fitness activities, games, and fun throughout the building.

Enjoy activities like cornhole, mini-golf, bowling, Giant Jenga, Uno, and even Lava Lamps—plus much more!

📅 When: March 27, 2025

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to connect, have fun, and strengthen our school community. We hope to see you there! Please click the link below to register your family today!

DLES Family, Fun & Fitness Night 2025

If you have any questions, please contact Kevin_anderson@hcpss.org. Thank you for your continued support and partnership:

The DLES Family, Fun & Fitness Committee:)

#WEAREDUCKETTS

Ducketts Lane is proud to host its first DLES Talent Show on Friday, March 21st at 5:30 pm! Students will have a chance to share their skills with our school community in an evening performance. We can’t wait to watch our students shine!

If your student is interested in participating, please complete this sign-up form (the form is in English & in Spanish). Participation will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. All acts must be approved to fit the DLES and HCPSS expectations.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Abrams at hana_abrams@hcpss.org.

The Ducketts Lane Elementary school counseling team is looking for volunteers to speak to classes for Career Day on Wednesday, April 2nd.

Please complete this form if you are interested in coming in to share more about your career. You will be asked to share about your occupation/career in an approximately 15-minute presentation and answer questions that students may have. After gathering responses from interested speakers we will contact you to schedule specific times for your presentation on April 2nd (different grades will be presented to at different times throughout the day).

Thank you for your time and consideration!

~The DLES Counseling Team

Take a moment to see all of the amazing options available to show your Ducketts Lane spirit and pride.

Click here to see all the options and deals!

Family Glow Dance/PTA Meeting

Ready to light up the night? Join us on Friday, February 21st, from 6:30-8:00 PM for the ultimate glow party! It will be a glowing good time with music, dancing, and fun for the whole family! Remember, this isn’t a drop-off event – all students must be accompanied by an adult.

Join us from 6-6:30 PM before the Glow Dance for our next General PTA Meeting. You'll get to hear from the administration team and find out all the great things happening with the DLES PTA.

Pazani Spirit Night

Order from Pazani (6060 Marshalee Dr, Elkridge, MD 21075) on Thursday, February 27th from 3-9 PM to support the DLES PTA. A portion of every meal purchased will go directly to the DLES PTA! Just mention you are supporting the DLES PTA when ordering.

International Night

Join us for a trip around the world on Thursday, March 6th from 6:30-8 pm in the cafeteria. We are looking for families to volunteer, join the fun, and share their culture with our community! Let’s all come together to celebrate our community’s diversity through art, food, traditional dress, displays, artifacts, flags, and stage performances from some of the many countries and cultures represented at DLES. Reserve your table and sign up today at https://bit.ly/DLESInternationalNight2025.

We strive to be a school that actively partners with our students, staff, families, and surrounding community members. We welcome your feedback.

Please click on the Feedback Form to share your thoughts with how we can make DLES the best for everyone.

• Principal, Mrs. Caroland Molly_Caroland@hcpss.org

• Assistant Principal, Mrs. Van Osdel Amy_Van_Osdel@hcpss.org

• Leadership Intern, Mrs. Yerashunas Brianna_Yerashunas@hcpss.org

• Principal Secretary, Mrs. Canter Teresa_Canter@hcpss.org

• Registration Support, Secretary Ms. Lynette Carmen_Lynette@hcpss.org

• Attendance, Synergy and Family File Support, Secretary Mrs. Forman Julie_Forman@hcpss.org

• Counselor Mr. Leisawitz Alexander_Leisawitz@hcpss.org

• Counselor Mrs. Baron Krista_Baron@hcpss.org

• Community School Coordinator Ms. Medina Alejandra_Medina@hcpss.org