Owl Observer News

We had a wonderful first week of school! Our students came in with bright smiles, ready to learn, and our staff worked hard to build strong classroom communities. Thank you, families, for helping to make the start of the year such a success.

As we settle into routines, we want to remind everyone of the importance of arriving on time. We know the first few weeks mean adjustments for both students and grown-ups, and we appreciate your efforts as everyone gets used to the schedule. That said, starting next week, we will begin marking students who arrive after 8:45 AM (walkers or car riders) as tardy. In addition, please remember that all absences count toward a student’s total missed learning time. Even if your child is tired, it is best for them to be here—excused absences only provide the chance to make up work, but they cannot replace the valuable learning that happens in the classroom.

This year our school is focusing on four key goals: improving overall attendance, increasing student growth in reading and math, and strengthening belonging through positive discipline and relationships. You’ll hear more about these priorities at our Title I Annual Meeting later in September, and we know that reaching them will take strong partnership between home and school.

As education expert Hedy Chang reminds us: “Children who miss too much school in the early grades often struggle academically in later years. Every day counts, especially in the early years.” Together, we can build strong habits now that will set our students up for success this year and beyond.

Reminder that there is no school on Monday, we will welcome everyone back on Tuesday, September 2nd at 8:30am.

Proudly Partnering with You,

Mrs. Caroland, Mrs. Van Osdel, Mrs. Poquette

Our students follow a color day schedule for related arts. This is especially important for Physical Education (PE) days, as students need to be dressed and ready for physical activity.

✅ What this means:

• Students should wear tennis shoes on PE days.

• Sandals, Crocs, flip flops, and other open-toed shoes are not safe and students will not be able to participate.

• Clothing should allow students to move comfortably—ready to run, skip, jump, and roll safely.

Until students become familiar with their color day schedule, it’s a good idea to dress ready to play every day. This ensures that every child can safely take part in PE from the very first day of school.

Monday, September 1st: Schools are CLOSED for ALL Students

Thursday, September 4th: Back to School Bash 5:30-7:00pm (this is not a child drop off event-there is no child care available)

Tuesday, September 9th: Preschool & PreKindergarten Back to School Night for Parents 5:00-6:00pm

Tuesday, September 9th: Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Back to School Night for Parents 6:00-7:00pm

Thursday, September 11th: 4th and 5th Grade Strings and Band information for Parents 5:30-6:00pm

Thursday, September 11th: 3rd Grade - 5th Grade Back to School Night for Parents 6:00-7:00pm

Wednesday, September 17th: Students dismiss at 12:15pm

Thursday, September 18th: School Picture Day

Tuesday, September 23rd: Schools are CLOSED for ALL Students

Tuesday, September 30th: Annual Title I Meeting 5:30 - 7:00pm

Did you know that without this being done, students are not allowed to attend a field trip? It's true, complete this task today!

Parents/guardians must verify and/or update emergency information for each child every school year. This is completed online in Family File, which has several new updates, including how and where to access. Full details on updating your Family File are available online.

Click Below to Update Now!

HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, which provide families with significant benefits to help save money. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.

Free and Reduced Meals eligibility provides discounts for summer programs, SAT, recreation programs, Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and internet programs. FARMs eligibility can also provide our school with much needed Federal funding.

Families must submit a new application every school year

How to Apply

Please submit only one application per household. We will host some events later in the month for families that need computer or language assistance to apply online. Be on the look out for more information.

Online Applications for the 2025-2026 School Year are available on the new LINQ Connect website. Just click on the button below.

Preorder a party pass for $5!

With the Preorder party pass you will receive 12 tickets that can be used to play games , Enter the cake Raffle, & buy snacks from our concession stand.

BRING A NEW BOX OF TISSUE TO DONATE AND GET 2 FREE RAFFLE TICKETS

Tickets will be available at the event, but you will not get the Preorder Party Pass discount.

Just 5 minutes late each day adds up to over 3 full days of lost learning in a school year. Every minute matters—being on time helps students start the day confident, connected, and ready to learn.

Doors will open for students at 8:30 AM, and the late bell rings at 8:45 AM. All students should be in the building and ready for instruction by that time. Walkers, bike riders, and car riders should plan to arrive no later than 8:38 AM to ensure a smooth start. As a reminder, adults will not be permitted to walk students inside the building, and dogs are not allowed on school property during arrival or dismissal.

Don’t miss your chance to order your child’s grade level color shirt—orders cannot be placed later! The first 200 students to order will also receive a free special DLES surprise gift with their shirt. These shirts will be worn for field trips, spirit days, and field day, making them an important part of building school spirit and unity.

This year we have over 115 families who have chosen for their child(ren) to dismiss as car riders. This is the highest number we’ve ever had, and it has created a significant amount of back-up traffic along Ducketts Lane. As you can imagine, this congestion can become especially challenging—and even concerning—when weather conditions worsen.

If your family has been allocated bus service based on your address, or if walking to school is an option, we kindly ask that you reconsider using those alternatives. In many cases, students actually arrive home more quickly by walking than by waiting in the car line.

For families who continue to use the car rider system, please remember to have your assigned number(s) clearly visible in your windshield. This helps us get your child(ren) to their location quickly and, most importantly, safely.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we work together to keep dismissal running smoothly for everyone!

It's time to join Band, Orchestra, and Chorus! This year, all DLES 4th and 5th graders are eligible to participate in Band (wind, brass and percussion instruments), Orchestra (string instruments), and/or Chorus (vocal music). This week, eligible students learned more about the performing arts options available to them during school hours.

Enroll your child in Band, Orchestra, and Chorus online by next Friday, 9/5/25!

All interested students must sign up online, even if they participated last year.

Direct Form Link: https://forms.gle/EqDTExvHfUsUhPdt6

Please note that this year we are welcoming a new Band Director, Mr. Marsh, to our music team! He will join Ms. Abrams, Ms. Eng and Mrs. McKay to complete our wonderful 2025-26 music team.

For more information about Band, Orchestra, or Chorus, please email:

Mr. Marsh (Band) josiah_marsh@hcpss.org

Mrs. McKay (Orchestra) amanda_mcKay@hcpss.org

Ms. Abrams (5th Chorus) hana_abrams@hcpss.org

Ms. Eng (4th Chorus) taylor_eng@hcpss.org.

4th & 5th Grade Parents are invited to join us for Back to Music Night on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 5:30pm in the DLES Cafeteria to learn more about the music program at DLES.

We can't wait to make music with your students this year!

In accordance with Maryland’s Ready to Read Act (2019), COMAR (2021) and the direction from the Howard County Board of Education, all Howard County Public School System students in kindergarten to grade 5 will participate in the 2025 - 2026 administration of the Amplify mClass with DIBELS 8th Edition universal screener to identify potential reading difficulties during the following windows.

Amplify mClass DIBELS 8th Edition has identified students for whom mClass is not an appropriate assessment. Students for whom this is true include those with limited verbal language skills, with fluency-based speech disorders or oral apraxia, and/or who are blind and/or deaf.

Please see below for screening areas measured in each grade. Students will complete the screener in four to twelve minutes and will be screened three times this year during the windows indicated above in the chart.

How will the results be used?

Performance is an indicator of overall reading status and is not intended to be an in-depth or comprehensive measure of reading. Just like using a thermometer to take a temperature, which provides a quick indicator of general health, these quick assessments provide information about reading health on particular early reading skills.

A student’s scores on the screener give school staff information about whether or not a student is on track for grade-level reading success. School staff can quickly identify students who may require extra help. Parents and guardians will receive a home report with their child’s scores.

Some information on this parent notification is taken directly from the Ready to Read Act and COMAR, while other content was summarized to reflect HCPSS procedures.

https://dibels.amplify.com/

COMAR 13A.03.08 - Students at Risk for Reading Difficulties

Ready to Read Act Senate Bill 734

We value your voice and partnership in supporting our students’ success. You are invited to join us for our Family–School Partnership Meetings this school year. At these meetings, we will:

• Discuss ways families and staff can work together to support student learning

• Gather your input and ideas to help shape future school activities and goals

• Explore ways for parents to get involved in the classroom

If you are interested in joining us for one or more meetings this year, please complete this form. All parents/guardians are encouraged to join virtually on Google Meet using the code: meet.google.com/uzc-wrrx-tgm. You can also scan this QR code to join the meeting.

Welcome back to a great new school year. We are excited for the fall season of the DLES Running Club to get started. This will allow students to come together, engage in physical activity, and have fun. Please be on the lookout in next week's newsletter for sign up.

Registration: September 4th - September 19th. 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: 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5

Final Run: We will have culminating run on Tuesday, 11/18 (pizza to follow)

(rain date for final run: Thursday 11/20)

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

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

Registration for Girls on the Run® Fall 2025 Season opens on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at noon. Girls on the Run® inspires participants in grades 3-5 to be joyful, healthy, and confident by using running to teach valuable life skills. Volunteer coaches facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy. At the end of the season, the team completes a Community Impact Project and a 5K together, which provides a tangible sense of accomplishment and sets a confident mindset into motion. The DLES Team of 20 girls will meet Tuesdays and Thursday after school 3:15-4:30 pm beginning September 25 through December 9th with Coach Rinehart and Coach Auroux. The season-ending 5K for Howard County will be on Saturday, December 6 at 8:30 a.m. The program registration fee is $210, which includes lessons, all program materials, 5K and program shirts, a water bottle, and more. Click here to register. Financial assistance is available, and no girl is turned away! Visit www.gotrcentralmd.org for information and to register. Questions? Call 443-583-7740 or 443-864-8593.

We are looking for parent volunteer coaches. If you are interested in coaching or have any questions, then please email: karen_rinehart@hcpss.org

Flyers have gone home but you can also scan the QR Code and join from your phone.

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) will host a Family Academy Kickoff on Saturday,Sept. 27th from 9 a.m.-noon at Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia. The districtwide event is open to all HCPSS families and will feature:

• An informative session with HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes
• Resource tables hosted by HCPSS offices and local organizations
• Information on programs, resources, and services available throughout the school year

Childcare and language access will be provided.

Registration is encouraged via online form listed below.

• Register in English
• Inscripción al evento 2025
• 家庭学校 2025 年开学典礼注册
• 2025 HCPSS 가족 아카데미 출범 행사 등록
• Event Flyers

For more information about the event or to get involved, contact Dr. Shereé Tilley-Whitaker at sheree_tilley-whitaker@hcpss.org or 410-313-6804.

https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2025/07/hcpss-kickoff-to-build-on-school-family-community-relationships-aug-16-2025/

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. Poquette Laurie_Poquette@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

• Synergy and Family File Support, Secretary Mrs. Haque Puna_Haque@hcpss.org

• Counselor Mr. Leisawitz Alexander_Leisawitz@hcpss.org

• Counselor Mrs. Barron Krista_Barron@hcpss.org

• Community School Coordinator Mrs. De La Cruz- Van Natta ndelacruzvannatta@hcpss.org