Aviator Updates

Good evening Duke families.

It's hard to believe we already have a full week of April under our belt. Students, teachers and staff returned from break with enthusiasm and excitement for learning, and we spent time reteaching and reviewing our Schoolwide Expectations. We appreciate all that our families do at home to reinforce the importance of showing Service, Ownership, Accountability, and Respect. Together, let's carry this positive energy forward into the fourth marking period as we continue to SOAR as an Aviator Community.

Respectfully,

Katie Kortokrax, Principal

Zach Adams, Assistant Principal

• April 5-12: Spring Book Fair
  
• April 9: Military Parent Chat @ Duke: Love Languages of Children (see flier)
• April 10 - Report Card Distribution
• April 15-19: Month of the Military Child Spirit Week (see flier)
• April 19: 2-HR Early Dismissal Day; Purple Up Day; Dukes-Got-Talent Show (see flier)

3rd Grade

MCAP ELA: April 15, 17, 22, 24

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

4th Grade

MCAP ELA: April 16, 18, 23, 25

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

5th Grade

MCAP ELA: April 16, 18, 23, 25

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

LEONARDTOWN, MD—A partial solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024, in St. Mary’s County. The eclipse will begin at approximately 2:00 p.m. and end just after 4:30 p.m., with maximum coverage at approximately 3:20 p.m. During the eclipse, there will be 86-88% coverage, during which it will get darker outside, but there will not be total darkness.

All St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) dismiss at some point during the eclipse period. Families and students should be aware of the following safety tips:

• Never look directly at the sun, especially during a solar eclipse. It is dangerous and can cause permanent damage to the eyes. Do not look at the sun through sunglasses, telescopes, or binoculars.
• Anyone using special viewing glasses or filters should only use those that conform to all International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards.
• If you purchase special viewing glasses, ensure they are from reputable manufacturers. There have been reports of counterfeit products labeled as if they conform to international safety standards. The American Astronomical Society, whose products are known to conform to ISO standards, provides a list of reputable companies that conform to safety standards.

Students and families are encouraged to read more about solar eclipses and safety and enjoy experiencing this exciting phenomenon. Families and students can safely view the eclipse via live stream here: NASA live stream of the solar eclipse.

Click here for SMCPS's Solar Eclipse Press Release.

Marking Period 3 Standards-Based Report Cards will be available on the Home Access Center [HAC] on Wenesday, April 10.

• LINK: Directions for Accessing Report Cards from Home Access Center
• LINK: Elementary Standards Based Reporting

If you have questions or need your login information, please contact Ms. Stephanie Magill (samagill@smcps.org).

Teachers will email narrative reports directly to parents/guardians on Wednesday, April 10.

Congratulations to our 4th and 5th grade students who participated in last Thursday's Annual SMECO Math Team Challenge! Special thanks to Mrs. Knauer, Mrs. Morrison, and Mr. Boas, our incredible Math Coaches!

4th Grade Team: Emily Buzzell, Jeb JohnsonAiden Hunt, Ellie Boarman, Hunter Glynn, Cyrus Reynolds and Dexter King

5th Grade Team: Bruce Howell, Colin Medic, Devon Wolcott, Elliot Meek, Ivan Huang, Lawson Bauer, Millie Winings

We are proud of our Aviator Mathletes!

Great job to Ben Aissa, Victoria Gardiner, Addison Taylor, Christian Earl, Melody Bridenbaker, Maxwell Patzelt, and Evie Zilberman. You showed amazing athleticism and fantastic sportsmanship!

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.

• Tuesday, April 2
• Wednesday, April 3
• Thursday, April 4
• Friday, April 5

• https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/recreate/camps

• https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/docs/thescoop.pdf

• Applications for STEM 6 will open on April 2 and close on April 30, 2024. No late applications will be accepted. The online application will be found on the Academies page of the SMCPS website.

• The annual Academy Open House will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 10th starting at 5:30 pm. More information is available via the Academy Open House Google Site.

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