Owl Observer News
June 18, 2025
A Message from Administration
Important Reminder
Today is the last day of school for the 2024-25 school year and all students dismiss at 12:15pm.
As we wrap up another incredible school year, I want to take a moment to extend a heartfelt thank you to our families and community members for your continued partnership, support, and enthusiasm. It has truly been a wonderful year filled with learning, growth, and many celebrations. Together, we’ve accomplished so much — from academic achievements to community events — and we’ve done it with the shared belief that every student is capable of greatness. Our students continue to amaze us with their talents, resilience, and determination, and we are equally grateful to our outstanding staff for their dedication, care, and commitment to excellence.
Although summer is a time to rest and recharge, we encourage our students to continue practicing their reading, writing, and math skills to keep the learning going. Below, you’ll find links to helpful resources and activities to support your child over the break. This will be our final newsletter of the school year, but we’ll continue to share occasional updates throughout the summer with information and opportunities to stay connected. We wish you a joyful and restful summer and look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another great year ahead!
Thank you for your continued support and partnership!
Proudly serving you,
Mrs. Caroland, Mrs. Van Osdel, and Mrs. Yerashunas
Next School Year Dismissal Plans
As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, we are gathering information to help us prepare for afternoon dismissal routines.
*If you have already been accepted into the aftercare program, you can select walker for now.
Even if your plans aren’t final yet, any information you can share at this time will be extremely helpful to our planning process.
We ask that you please take a moment to complete this survey so that we can best prepare for next year.
Summer Curriculum Resources
The elementary curriculum offices have compiled several activities and strategies for students to enhance their learning during the summer. The resources can be found on the Canvas Parent Pages and can be viewed by grade level and subject. Additional resources and suggestions can also be found on the Parent Pages. These resources include games, strategy instruction tips, field trip suggestions and much more.
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
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.
HCPSS Pre-K Program
The HCPSS Pre-K Program is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year! The Pre-K Program is offered at no cost to families that qualify and is made available to eligible children in all attendance areas. Children must be four years old on or before September 1, 2025, to be considered for fall 2025 enrollment and must also meet the eligibility criteria. Families who are interested in applying should submit their completed application along with the required documentation to hcpss_pk@hcpss.org or to their local elementary school. Please visit the HCPSS' Pre-K Program website for an application, information about the program, and eligibility criteria. If you have additional questions about the program, please contact the Office of Early Childhood Programs at 410-313-6836.
Learning Together Program
The Learning Together Program will be accepting applications to attend one of our early childhood classrooms for the upcoming school year. Families of children who will be 3 by September 1 may apply. Locations of RECC programs for the upcoming school year are budget-pending and will be confirmed prior to June 15th or the last day of the current school year. Locations with available LTP programs may vary each year.
Summer Meal Program
To continue meeting the growing need to feed hungry children and families in Howard County and fill the nutritional gap over the summer months, the Howard County Public School System announces its free summer meal program, which will run weekdays June 23-Aug. 1, 2025. Meals will be served only on days schools are open and there will be no meal service Friday, July 4.
There are no applications, enrollment or fees to participate in this program, however children must be present to receive free meals.
Meals will be provided at no cost to any HCPSS students, as well as any children aged 18 and under. In addition, free meals will be provided to all students participating in HCPSS summer programs.
Meal sites and pickup times are subject to change. Any changes will be noted on this webpage.
Meals will be served weekdays, Monday, June 23 through Friday, Aug. 1 (except July 4), from 12:30-2 p.m. at the following locations:
- Atholton High School, 6520 Freetown Road, Columbia
- Bollman Bridge Elementary School, 8200 Savage-Guilford Road, Savage
- Clarksville Elementary School, 12041 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville
- Deep Run Elementary School, 6925 Old Waterloo Road, Elkridge
- Ducketts Lane Elementary School, 6501 Ducketts Lane, Elkridge
- Elkridge Landing Middle School, 7085 Montgomery Road, Elkridge
- Hammond High School, 8800 Guilford Road, Columbia
- Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia
- Murray Hill Middle School, 9989 Winter Sun Road, Laurel
- Talbott Springs Elementary School, 550 Basket Ring Road, Columbia
- Thunder Hill Elementary Schol, 9357 Mellenbrook Road, Columbia
- Wilde Lake Middle School, 10481 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia
- Howard County Library System Central Branch, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
- Howard County Library System East Columbia Branch, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
- Howard County Library System Elkridge Branch, 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge
Happening Around Town
GPHS Boosters - Summer Camps - Registration is OPEN!
GPHS Boosters is offering summer camps for rising 4th-9th graders in football, boys/girls basketball, boys/girls soccer, field hockey, baseball, volleyball, wrestling, and girls lacrosse! Camps will be run by GPHS coaches and all campers will receive a GPHS t-shirt upon the completion of the camp. Registration is now open at https://gphsboosters.com/summer-camp
BAD (Byte-A-Dynamo)
BAD (Byte-A-Dynamo) is a series of workshops to support students (ages 10-16) in Maryland who have no or very limited computing background or experience exploring the computing fields. The participants will have opportunities to have some tastes of basic Python coding, cryptography, and have team-based projects using Arduino. The BAD workshops will be held on July 12, 19, and 26, 2025 in the Howard County Library System (HCLS). The specific activities: Let's Code (Python), AI for Cybersecurity and STEAM (Arduino+Art). This is a free workshop. Click here for more information.
Summer Reading Adventures Celebrate Libraries
Read, listen, learn, connect, and celebrate all summer by participating in one of the Howard County Library System’s summer reading programs for all ages. For book lists, classes, events, and summer fun, visit us in person or online at hclibrary.org/summerLinks to an external site.. Visit one of their branches to select your Summer Reading program. Return completed gameboards for a chance to win a prize.* Pick up a prize after finishing 10 books and/or activities before August 31. *while supplies last.
Community Summer Programs
Click here to find other summer programs that might be of interest during the summer months.
Your Voice is Important
Please click on the Feedback Form to share your thoughts with how we can make DLES the best for everyone.
We are here to help!
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