Aviator Update #6

Hello Duke Families,

Happy 1st Day of Fall! The crisp, cooler air of fall will soon be here to bring a refreshing change to our days. Please remember to have your student(s) dress in layers, as the temperature inside the building can vary throughout the day.

Did you know you can sign up for our Duke Elementary Fun Run? Our goal is to raise $20,000 for school improvements like a brand new sound system and projector in our "cafetorium". If you have been to our events, you know our system is scratchy (at best) and non-reliable (at worst), so we are very excited about this possibility. ⭐️ Signing up is easy and free on MYBOOSTER.COM ⭐️ Video instructions HERE. As always, thank you for working with us to make our school stronger.

Kindly,

Katie Kortokrax, Principal

Zach Adams, Assistant Principal

• Thurs, Sept 26th - Fall Picture Day 📸
• Fri, Sept 27th - [5th Grade Students] Principal's Advisory Application Due
• Thurs, Oct 3 - Boosterthon Fundraiser Kickoff!
• Thurs, Oct 10 - Frank Kros presents "A New View of ADHD for Parents: What Works, What Doesn't, and Why (This is a FREE event, but registration is required. See flier below.)

Our Grade 04 and Grade 05 students participated in Math and English Language Arts MCAP assessments last spring.

Individual Score Reports from those assessments were sent home with 4th and 5th-grade students last week. Please check your student's bookbag if you haven't seen them yet.

Select the link to view the MCAP Score Interpretation Guide for Parents.

We have some incredibly artistic Aviators among us! Congratulations to the following students who had their work on display at the St. Mary's County Fair:

Jackson, R., Gabby C., Ivan H., Grace K., Elise F., Millie W., Bianca B., TJ D., Colton B., Natalie I., Makayla R., Henry H., Ellison J., Dylan R., Tori L., Jacob K., Pierce W., Claire J., Soraya R., Gavin L., Grace R., Elise C., Evie B., Harper I., Mary Ann F., Brynn M., Avery M., Jason T., Brooks P., Delaney K., Nathaniel G., Charlie H., Alaina H., Aria S., Sophie K., Ellie F., Connor D., Isaiah W., Nora L., Sadie D., Adaline H., Harper V., Finley G., Alice U., Margot B., Samuel W., Alicia H., Taylor S., Amelia H., Emily B., Parker A.

Special thanks to Ms. Signorelli who set up our outstanding artwork display and encourages and instills a love of art in our students!

LEONARDTOWN, MD (September 18, 2024) – The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) will host FREE drive-thru flu vaccine clinics for children ages six months to 18 years. No appointments are necessary.
Clinics have been scheduled for the following dates and locations:
Great Mills High School

• Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

St. Mary’s County Health Hub

• Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
• Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

SMCHD Main Office in Leonardtown

• Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

“Annual flu vaccinations are the most effective tool we have for preventing infection and serious illness from seasonal influenza,” said Dr. Meena Brewster, St. Mary’s County Health Officer. “We hope parents will take advantage of these convenient drive-thru clinics to get their children vaccinated and help us prevent influenza complications in our community. Local pharmacies and medical practices are also offering flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine.”

For more information about seasonal flu, please visit smchd.org/flu.

Our attendance is SOARing to new heights! I am so proud of our community's efforts to ensure children are coming to school when they are well. That said, if your child is sincerely under the weather, we do not want them to feel bad about having to stay home! They need to rest and get well, and we need to keep those contagious germs from spreading around the school house. Please reference the "When is sick too sick for school" doc (left), and call Nurse Dana if you have questions. Otherwise, we can't wait to see them each and everyday!

Check our Nutrislice Webpage to:

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

• Monday, September 16
• Tuesday, September 17
• Wednesday, September 18
• Thursday, September 19

Effective communication is critical to the success of St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS). This will be crucial not only for emergencies but for our ability to communicate with families in general. Online Emergency Information Update Forms are now available through the student’s Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. It is vital that all information is updated in eSchool. The deadline for the online submission of Emergency Information Update forms is October 31st, 2024. Please click here for the Blank Emergency Form. If you have any questions, please contact The Department of Student Services at 301-475-5511 ext.32150.

The Principal’s Advisory is important to help ensure that our students have a voice in making Duke the #1 place to work and learn in St. Mary's County Public Schools.

I plan to meet with the advisory at least quarterly during lunch. During our meeting times, students will discuss key issues within the school, school spirit/culture, and any ideas they have to make this the best year of their elementary experience. Mr. Adams and I have some ideas of our own that we would like these student leaders to help us put into action.

Each student who would like to apply will need to fill out the application that follows. Being in the principal’s advisory is a privilege; these students represent and are the voice of the Duke student body. They are expected to demonstrate SOARing behaviors in the classroom, throughout the building, on the bus and in the community.

I look forward to starting new traditions with you!

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 in your school or department!

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.

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