Owl Observer News

Greetings Ducketts Lane Friends and Families,

We hope that everyone had a lovely week, we certainly did! Thank you to all that were able to volunteer and join in last night's event and support our PTA in making this year's International Night a wonderful event. We only hope that this event will continue to grow! We are a rice diverse community. Together we can flourish and learn more about each other while also recognize the commonalities that we have across cultures.

Fasting for Ramadan 2025

We wish those students, families, and community members celebrating, a Blessed Ramadan. If your child will be fasting on certain days and would like to go to another location to read or color during their designated lunch time, DLES staff will provide supervision in a location other than the cafeteria during Ramadan. We ask that you email your child's homeroom teacher so that they can alert staff that your child will need an alternate location during lunch.

Spring Forward

We want to remind everyone that we need to change time due to daylight savings, so please adjust your clocks before we go to bed by 1 hour. This will ensure that we all arrive on time for school on Monday morning.

Proudly serving you,

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

Registration for incoming kindergarteners and newly enrolled first graders opened on Monday, 3/3. As we prepare for our upcoming school year, it is important to have your child registered to ensure we have the correct amount of teachers for our students. Please do not delay! Help us with the process by registering your new kindergartner or first grader as soon as possible.

Children must be 5 years old by 9/1/25 in order to enroll in kindergarten next school year. Every child who is 5 years old by this date must be enrolled in a kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver. HCPSS kindergarten is a full day program.

• Please make certain you are on the screen for 2025-2026 if registering for the next school year.

• Parents or guardians are to register students at the school serving the address where the child’s parent or guardian resides. Information on neighborhood schools can be found through HCPSS School Locator.

• Complete your child’s registration online by providing the documents listed below. The registration process will be more efficient if you upload the required documents during online registration. Otherwise, you will be asked to submit the required documents via email as pdfs, or you may contact the office to make arrangements to bring the documents in and we will copy them for you. The following documents are needed for registration and should be submitted during the online registration process: Click here for a checklist for registration.

  • Child’s evidence of birth (i.e. birth certificate, baptismal certificate)

  • An authorized record of immunizations

  • Proof of residency in the form of your entire signed lease/deed including signature pages.

  • Current utility bill with your name and address that has been issued within the last 45 days. (cellular device bills not accepted)

  • Photo ID of parent/guardian

Additional Documents to bring if applicable to your child:

Proof of custody - only if there is information the school must adhere to during school hours (full document including the signature pages)

• Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for Special Education Services

• 504 plan

• Psychological report or related services reports/plans

• English Language Learner (ELL) plans or previous assessments

These forms should be completed by your child's pediatrician and dentist and emailed to our Health Room prior to the first day of school or as soon as your child has their 5 year check-up

• Blood Lead Testing

• Dental Health Form

• Physical Exam Form

• Immunization Form

It is recommended that you work on a laptop or desktop to complete registration. Cell phone registration is not recommended. Please call our front office at 410-313-5050.

Monday, March 10- Reading Spirit Week Starts

Friday, March 14- Students dismiss at 12:15pm. No half-day preschool classes

HCPSS offers high-quality half-day and full-day prekindergarten programs. Students must be four years old by September 1, 2025 to be considered for enrollment in the 2025-2026 school year. The comprehensive curriculum, taught by certified staff, supports early learning and school readiness and provides experiences that foster children’s academic, social, emotional and physical development.

2025-2026 School Year

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will begin on March 10, 2025.Interested applicants must submit a completed 2025-2026 Pre-K Application for consideration; please note that 2024-2025 applications will not be considered. The HCPSS Pre-K program is made available first to children who will be 4 on or before September 1 and meet first priority criteria: income eligible, homelessness, and foster care. Unlike enrollment for K-12, parents must first apply and be accepted into the program before beginning online registration.

Any applications submitted prior to the official opening of registration will be dated March 10, 2025.

Click here for more information

Click here for the Application

If so, please consider applying for the Learning Together Program at DLES for next year! The LTP program enables all young children to play with each other, develop long-term friendships, and benefit from a diverse and stimulating environment. A limited number of openings are available for children without disabilities. Children are selected based upon screening information given on the application form and space availability. Participation in the Learning Together Program requires a monthly fee and families are required to provide their own transportation daily. You can access the application here or call and ask to speak with Mrs. Canter at 410-313-5050.

In honor of our fifth-grade graduates, we have reserved some pages in our yearbook for dedications. Parents, grandparents, other relatives, and friends have the opportunity to send congratulations messages to a student for $5.00. Let them know how proud you are of them and all of their hard work! Space is limited and dedications will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

https://forms.gle/xqUpJ4XoTvQ75fzD7

Payments can be submitted online through https://osp.osmsinc.com/HowardMD/BVModules/ProductTemplates/Bvc2013/Product.aspx?productid=DA083-145

or $5 in CASH can be sent in to your child's homeroom teacher.

Please email Mrs. Abramson at Jennifer_Abramson@hcpss.org with any questions.

The dedication will include space for 1 picture to be placed with up to 300 characters of text, pictures are OPTIONAL. Our deadline is MARCH 21st!

The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, MCAP for short, began this week at DLES. Our 5th graders take MISA- the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment. This science assessment is for our 5th graders only and is part of our MCAP testing.

For students in 3rd-5th grades, the MCAP assessment helps build students’ career and college readiness skills and provides teachers with timely information to inform instruction and provide student support. This assessment is 8 total days, 4 days of ELA testing and 4 days of Math testing.

Additionally, some students participate in our Alternate MCAP Assessment - called The Dynamic Learning Map. This assessment is administered one-on-one and will take place during the student’s grade level assigned MCAP dates.

MAP, our Measures of Academic Progress assessment that students are very familiar with, will take place for students in 1st and 2nd for both Math and Reading this spring. Additionally this year, students in 3rd and 4th grade will take only MAP Math. The dates are below for these specific grades:

Many children’s books have been adapted into movies. Choose one of these books and read it with your child. Then, watch the movie version of the book together. After the movie is over, discuss the similarities and differences between the movie and the book. Ask your child which version they preferred and why.

Having this conversation is a great way to deepen your child’s understanding of the book and check their comprehension.

Supporting your child in developing their math skills at home can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s been a while since you relied on your own math skills. Additionally, the way that we teach math strategies now is very different than how most of us adult were taught when we were in elementary school.

Here are a variety of suggestions for you to choose from based on what your child is working on in the classroom. If you are unsure of what your child is working on, email your child's math teacher, they are always happy to share.

Computation

• Count orally by twos, fives, or tens (increase the challenge and skip count by 3s, 7s, 9s, etc)
• Complete connect-the-dot pictures
• Complete math fact color sheets
• Have your child make a number book that contains a page for each numeral from one to ten. On each page, have your child glue clippings from newspapers and magazines illustrating that number concept (two dogs, three ducks, or four horses). As your child progresses with number recognition, they can add to the book and add numerical figures used in various ways
• Count and pair objects found around the house and determine whether there’s an odd or even number of items
• Review math facts at home, in the car, waiting in line, or during other downtime
• Provide your child with verbal math problems. “Take the number five. Add six. Multiply by three. Subtract three. Divide by five. What’s your answer?” Speak slowly at first until your child gets better at solving these mental problems
• Help your child identify percentages in signs, newspapers, and magazines
• Encourage your child to read nutrition labels, and have them calculate the percent of a specific nutrient in each item

Measurement

• Teach your child how to set the kitchen timer when you’re cooking
• Draw an analog clock face with the hour and minute hands showing eight o’clock. Ask your child to write the time shown
• Arrange various objects (e.g., books, boxes, and cans) by various size and measurement (e.g., length, weight, and volume) attributes. Talk with your child about how they are arranged using comparison words like “taller,” “shorter,” “narrower,” “wider,” “heaviest,” “lightest,” “more,” “less,” “about,” and “same”
• Use a standard measuring tool to measure objects located in your home
• Gather a tape measure, yardstick, ruler, cup, gallon container, and scale, then discuss the various things you can measure with each
• Review equivalent names for measurements, for example, “How many cups are in a pint?”
• Encourage your child to incorporate terms such as “whole,” “halves,” “thirds,” and “fourths” into their everyday life

Problem Solving

• Encourage your child to figure out answers to real-life situations: “We have one can of tuna and we need five. How many more do we need to buy?”
• Ask questions that involve equal sharing, for example, “Seven children share 49 baseball cards. How many cards does each child get?”
• Help your child look up the population and land area of the state and city in which you live and compare these facts with those of other states and cities

Algebraic concepts

• Encourage your child to count and recognize patterns in the environment by discussing what they see:
  • What is the number on the house across the street?
  • How many objects are left on the table if I take one away?
  • How many exits are there from the school building?
  • How many swings are on the playground?
• Have your child look for patterns on buildings, rugs, floors, and clothing
• Ask your child how many different ways they can show a specific number, say, 18 (they might say 16 + 2, 19 – 1, 10 + 7 + 1, 2 x 9, 580 - 562, 6 x 3, that sort of thing)

Our Spring season of the DLES Running Club is approaching. This will allow students to come together, engage in physical activity, and have fun.

Registration: March 6 - March 21 . Scan the QR code to register! Registration will be first come, first serve, with only 25 roster spots available!

When & Where: Practice will be on Wednesday’s at DLES from 3:20 - 4:20!

Dates: Wednesdays: 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/23, 4/30, 5/14

Final Run: We will have culminating run on Tuesday, 5/20 (pizza to follow)

Who: Open to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade boys.

Cost: This will be FREE and the Run Club will be limited to 25 runners!

For more information, please contact:

Robert_abramson@hcpss.org

The program will begin Tuesday March 18 and will end Tuesday, June 3.

• The 5k will take place on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 8:00 a.m

Girls on the Run is an afterschool program unlike any other. We are proud to be one-of-a-kind, just like the incredible participants we serve. Our program utilizes a research-based curriculum that inspires confidence in 3rd-8th grade girls by:

· Thoughtful group discussions that teach social-emotional skills ❤️

· Participants build confidence through learning 💪

· The intentional fun, physical movement-based curriculum promotes a healthy lifestyle 🏃‍♀️

· Dynamic team-building exercises that unlock empathy and inclusion 🔑

· Setting goals in preparation for a celebratory 5K event 🏅

We take great pride in creating safe spaces of belonging where every participant can thrive, achieve their dreams and unlock their inner power.

The program registration fee is $185, which includes lessons, all program materials, 5K and program shirts, a water bottle, and more. Financial assistance is available and a discount for co-coaching! Visit www.gotrcentralmd.org for a list of program sites and to register. Questions? Call 443-864-8593.

Our DLES Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser is underway, and we have already raised over $1,500! There is still time to register your student today to earn awesome prizes, while donating for a great cause!

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

Donation Options: Online only

Click the link below or scan the QR Code for more info on registration

Kids Heart Challenge

Instrucciones en español para el Desafío del Corazón para Niños

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

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

The DLES Counseling Team is planning a career day at Ducketts Lane, which is set to take place on Wednesday, April 2nd.

We would LOVE to have your student help us mark the occasion by creating a poster that highlights information on a particular career, trade, OR college/university. We would like to create connections between jobs/careers and the major school subjects, so if your child chooses a career, consider selecting one from the following categories:

• Art (Animator, Video Game Designer, Architect, etc.),

• English (Writer, Author, Librarian, Researcher, etc),

• Math (Accountant, Astronaut, Computer Scientist, etc.),

• Music (Music teacher, Music producer, Audio engineer, Conductor, etc.)

• Science (Biologist, Climatologist, Meteorologist, etc.),

• Social studies (Politician, Historian, Police Officer, etc.), or

• Technology (Software developer, Information Security, IT Manager, etc)

  
  

If your child is interested in creating a poster please have them include information such as:

For career/trade

• What is the selected career/trade?

• What are the responsibilities of this career/trade?

• Where does the work typically take place?

• What kinds of education or training are required to attain this type of job?

• Any other information or pictures (drawn or printed out) your student finds interesting and important

For college/university

• What is the name of the college/university?

• Where is this college/university located?

• How many students attend this college/university?

• What are some of the top degrees/programs at this school?

• What is the school's mascot?

• Any other information or pictures (drawn or printed out) your student finds interesting and important

There are no strict requirements on the size or color of posters so please let your creativity run wild! The only thing we ask is that your student delivers their poster to the counselors (Mr. L or Mrs. Barron) by Thursday, March 27th so we can begin to display them around the school.

If you have any questions at all please email or call us at 410-313-5050. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and collaboration!

Mr. L + Mrs. Barron

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!

Ready-set-read: Our Read-a-Thon Kicks Off on Monday, March 10th!
We will be raising money by focusing on reading for the next few weeks and we need your help.
Sign up to activate your child's Read-A-Thon page. From there you can track their reading, and receive donations from friends and family. Together let's show everyone how rewarding reading can be.

Sign up is easy and only takes a minute.
1. Go to: www.read-a-thon.com/readers
2. Enter Code: 3277193
3. Create and share your page.

Spring Clean-Up: Join Us on Sunday, March 16th!
We’re inviting you to lend a hand in sprucing up our school grounds! Meet us at the flagpole from 1-2 pm. Trash bags will be provided, but don’t forget to wear gloves and boots. We look forward to seeing you there!

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