Aviator Updates

Greetings Aviator Families.

Exciting news - spring break is just one week away! Let's rally together and finish the final week of the third quarter with grit and determination. Encourage your student to stay focused, complete assignments, and make the most of these last days before a well-deserved break.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Katie Kortokrax, Principal

Zach Adams, Assistant Principal

P.S. Look for the next issue of Aviator Updates on Sunday, March 31st.

• March 18: Spring Picture Day
• March 22: Virtual Instruction Day and Two Hour Early Dismissal - End of 3rd Marking Period
  
• March 25-April 1: Spring Break – No School for Students and 10-11 Month Employees
• April 19: Talent Show

We gathered as an Aviator Community on Friday to celebrate all the wonderful things happening within our building. We highlighted everyone from our Math Teams, to Battle of the Books members, to our 2nd graders going above and beyond with their research to Aviators with March birthdays. We started a tradition and we can't wait to see what's to come next month! A huge thank you to our MCs: Ms. Knauer, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Byrnes and Ms. Delaney!

If your student would like one of their jokes told at an upcoming Community Gathering, please submit it using the button below!

We want you to share your talents! The show is April 19th, 2024. All acts must be approved and can be NO MORE than 2 minutes long. We will have auditions after school followed by a MANDATORY parent meeting at 5:00pm on Thursday, April 4th. We will have 2 after school rehearsals: Thursday, April 11th and Thursday, April 18th. Students must attend all after school rehearsals and be picked up no later than 5:00pm. Again, the parent meeting is MANDATORY- if your child wants to participate, you must attend!

Additional information is forthcoming.

Thank you to all who donated to the "Sweet as Pi" Bar that the PTA put on for our staff on 3/14. It was so appreciated and SO DELICIOUS. We have the best parents and the best PTA in St. Mary's County Public Schools. I hope you know how grateful we are to you and how these staff appreciation events lift our spirits!

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.

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

Visit the Equity for All website showcasing monthly celebrations, best practices, instructional strategies, and a Community Resource page.

March is Women's History Month. The National Women’s History Month’s theme for 2024 celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination from our lives and institutions.

SMCPS and SMC R&P have partnered to offer the new Summer Sports Academies. Campers will be instructed by area high school coaches. Camps are held Monday -Thursday. Click below for more information. Registration begins March 1st. Don't miss this opportunity.

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

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

The Health Hub is making health and wellness accessible to everyone in our community, especially those who need it most. With a wide range of services, free of charge, they're here to support you every step of the way on your journey to well-being.

Their hours are 8-5 M-F. They have walk-in crisis counseling, mentoring for children ages 7-17, medical services including vaccines, job counseling, housing help, insurance help, etc.

Visit this link for additional information: hub.smchd.org.

The Board of Education approved the school year calendars for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.

View the calendars at http://smcps.org/calendar. Watch the BOE presentation here.

SMCPS is once again offering School-Based Counseling Support in the evening for SMCPS students. Counseling support focuses on the following areas: Healthy Relationships, Social Skills, Self-Esteem, Stress Management, Worry, Sadness, and Emotional Regulation. Services will be located at Margaret Brent Middle School and Greenview Knolls Elementary School on Tuesday evenings from 4-7:30 p.m. Please complete the Parent Contact Form for Evening Counseling to request services.

Parents or guardians of children receiving special education and related services were mailed the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from MSDE during the week of February 12, 2024. Parents are asked to complete the survey and return it in the postage-paid envelope by May 24, 2024. The Survey may also be completed online. Parent feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in SMCPS. To learn more, please visit https://www.mdparentsurvey.com.

The Maryland School Report Card provides information about our school's performance for the 2022-2023 school year. You can find a link to our school's SY23 report card by visiting the Quick Links on our school's website. In addition, you can view the January 11 presentation to the Board of Education about system-wide data or visit www.smcps.org/about-us for additional information. Here is a direct link to Duke's Report Card.

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

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