Owl Observer News

What a fantastic week we’ve had at DLES! We kicked off our ABC Countdown to Summer, and the energy in the building has been incredible as students enjoy a new theme each day leading up to the end of the school year. Our 2nd graders had a great time on their field trip this week—thank you to our staff and chaperones who helped create such a fun and engaging experience!

A big thank you to our amazing PTA for organizing another successful Muffins in the Morning event on Monday. It was such a joy to see so many families starting their day with smiles, connection, and of course—muffins! We’re also looking forward to our Garden and Campus Clean-Up this Saturday 1:00-3:00pm and hope many of you will join us in making our grounds shine.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to host our We Are Ducketts Day next week—a special field day celebration for our students. Please remember that this is a student-only event, and for safety reasons, only preassigned and approved volunteers will be allowed on campus. While we know many would love to cheer students on in person, we kindly ask that you celebrate with your child by asking them about their day when they return home—we’re confident they’ll have lots of fun stories to share!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

Proudly serving you,

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

Dear Ducketts Lane Parents and Guardians,

As you may know, Ducketts Lane (DLES) is a Schoolwide Title I School. Parent Involvement is an important part of Title I. DLES and Howard County Public Schools (HCPSS) value your input and partnership in supporting the academic success of your child. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey regarding school improvement, climate, and family engagement. This will be used to evaluate our Title I program so that we can better serve you. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential.Please complete the online survey by May 16, 2025.

Estimado Ducketts Lane Padre y Tutor:
La Escuela Primaria Ducketts Lane (DLES, por su nombre en inglés) es una Escuela de Título I a lo Largo de la Escuela. La participación de padres es una parte importante de Título I. La DLES y el Sistema de Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Howard (HCPSS, por su nombre en inglés) valoran su opinión y asociación en apoyo del éxito académico de su niño. Por favor, dedique algunos minutos para completar esta encuesta sobre la mejora escolar, clima y compromiso familiar. Esto será utilizado para evaluar nuestro programa de Título I para poder asistirlo de una manera mejor. Sus respuestas serán estrictamente confidenciales. Por favor, complete el cuestionario en línea antes del Mayo 16 2025.

EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS

Friday, May 16th-Students dismiss at 12:15pm NO PRESCHOOL CLASSES

Friday, June 6th-Students dismiss at 12:15pm NO PRESCHOOL CLASSES

Monday, June 16th-Students dismiss at 12:15pm NO PRESCHOOL CLASSES

Tuesday, June 17th-Students dismiss at 12:15pm NO PRESCHOOL CLASSES

Wednesday, June 18th- Students dismiss at 12:15pm NO PRESCHOOL CLASSES Last Day of School

PLANNED SCHOOL CLOSURE

Monday, May 26th- Memorial Day-school is closed for all

Yearbook order forms were sent home in your student's Thursday folders before spring break. Yearbooks are $12.00 each. Students in Fifth Grade do not need to purchase a Yearbook, each fifth grader will be provided a Yearbook. All payment information is listed on the order form. Yearbooks will be given to students the last week of school. We have a limited number of Yearbooks so please place your order early.

You can use the code to order your yearbook as well.

In partnership with the Community Ecology Institute and UMD Master gardeners we will be planting and bringing the school garden to life! We are calling all the families, staff and Volunteers to help us plant some vegetables, native plants and herbs and clean up some of the school areas.

We need your help! please sign in HERE

There will be some limited tools provided, but feel free to bring yours too!

¡En colaboración con el Instituto de Ecología Comunitaria y los jardineros expertos de la Universidad de Maryland, vamos a plantar y dar vida al jardín escolar! Invitamos a todas las familias, al personal y a los voluntarios a ayudarnos a sembrar vegetales, plantas nativas, hierbas, y a limpiar algunas áreas de la escuela.

¡Necesitamos tu ayuda! Por favor regístrate aquí:

Habrá algunas herramientas disponibles, pero si tienes las tuyas, ¡tráelas también!

Our Spring Concerts continue! If your child is in Band, Orchestra or Chorus, please review the concert flyer linked below.

May 21 Concert @ DLES

6:00pm Concert (students arrive at 5:30pm)

• 4th Grade Advanced Orchestra

• 5th Grade Band

• 5th Grade Orchestra

• 5th Grade Chorus

* If your child is in need of a white concert shirt, black pants or dress shoes, please contact Mrs. McKay, Ms. Abrams or Ms. Eng. We have a small closet of white polo shirts in several sizes, black pants and black dress shoes that are available for students in need.

amanda_mckay@hcpss.org

hana_abrams@hcpss.org

taylor_eng@hcpss.org

It's almost that time of year again, and we're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help support our annual culminating event…
#WEAREDUCKETTS(Field) DAY 2025!

On Friday, May 23rd, 2025, we will come together as a school community to celebrate another year full of amazing experiences. We invite you to join us in making this day truly special for our students — one filled with fun, connection, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Please click the link below to sign up and support our school, our students, and this unforgettable event. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out.

📅 '25 #WEAREDUCKETTS(field) DAY:) Volunteer Sign-Up

As always, we appreciate your continued support and partnership.

#WEAREDUCKETTS

- The P.E. Team

Mr. Anderson & Mr. Abramson

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.

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!

Are you still confused about the difference between HCPPS Connect and Canvas? Did you receive a new Chromebook and are unsure how to use it? Have you forgotten your HCPSS password? If you need any computer assistance, we are here to help you feel confident in accessing your student's grades, emailing a teacher, seeing attendance records, making a parent teacher conference, and downloading the Canvas app on your phone.

If you answered YES to any of these questions, please sign up on this Computer Assistance Request Form. A Ducketts Lane Liaison will then reach out to you to set up a time to meet for Computer, Chromebook, HCPSS Connect or Canvas assistance.

We are here to help you learn how to access HCPSS information on your computer or phone for you to support your student's success.

¿Aún tiene dudas sobre la diferencia entre HCPPS Connect y Canvas? ¿Recibió una Chromebook nueva y no sabe cómo usarla? ¿Olvidó su contraseña de HCPSS? Si necesita asistencia con la computadora, estamos aquí para ayudarle a acceder con confianza a las calificaciones de su estudiante, comunicarse con un maestro, ver los registros de asistencia, programar una reunión de padres y maestros o para descargar la aplicación Canvas en su teléfono.

Si respondió SÍ a alguna de estas preguntas anteriores, complete este Formulario de solicitud de asistencia informática con la computadora. Un enlace de Ducketts Lane se pondrá en contacto con usted para programar una reunión con ellos para obtener asistencia con la computadora, HCPSS Connect o Canvas.

Estamos aquí para ayudarle a aprender a acceder a la información de HCPSS en su computadora o teléfono para que pueda apoyar el éxito de su estudiante.

Join Us for Our Final General PTA Meeting of the School Year!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 21st at 5:15 PM (right before the concert starts) as we wrap up a great year with our last General PTA Meeting. During this meeting, we’ll be holding elections for next year’s Executive Board. Your participation and voice are important—come be part of the decision-making and help shape the future of our PTA!

The DLES PTA Is Seeking New Board Members!
Are you interested in making a difference in our school community? The DLES PTA is looking for dedicated volunteers to serve on the Executive Board. Now more than ever, your involvement matters!

We are currently seeking volunteers for the following roles:

President
Vice-President
Corresponding Secretary
Recording Secretary
Treasurer
Committee Members

Elections will be held at our next General PTA Meeting on Wednesday, May 21st.
Nominations will also be accepted from the floor during the meeting.

Have questions or want to learn more? Reach out to us at duckettslanepta@gmail.com or connect with us on Facebook @dles.pta.

Use code: PEPFREE to enjoy PEP's Live Webinars and On-Demand Videos free of charge

All parents experience moments of anger and frustration from the daily pressures of raising a family. While it's only human to lose our cool sometimes, expressing extreme anger is not healthy or productive.

Learn how to become aware of your thoughts, words, and actions and how they impact interactions with your children. Finding calm in moments of frustration keeps us grounded and models appropriate ways to deal with anger.

Join us to:

• explore the purpose of anger
• understand what's behind your anger
• learn a 4-step process to manage angry moments

For: Parents of children of all ages

When: Wednesday, May 7, from 8:00 - 9:00 PM ET

Cost: $25 Add Coupon PEPFREE

Registration: https://pepparentonline.org/p/managing-anger-2025

Parents, are you searching for ways to empower your children with a positive ‘can-do’ attitude? Do your children fear making mistakes, criticize themselves, or struggle with motivation when facing a challenge? This state of discouragement often leads to nagging, conflict, and feeling helpless by everyone in the family.

Turn the Discouragement cycle into Encouragement. Discover simple tools to infuse the parent-child relationship with the ‘I Can Quotient,’ a useful measure of a child's ability to thrive in life developed by psychotherapists Betty Lou Bettner and Amy Lew.

Learn strategies to increase your child’s:

• sense of feeling connected, capable, competent, and courageous
• ability to flex their ‘can-do’ muscles
• self-confidence to face challenges more independently

For: Parents of children of all ages

When: Tuesday, May 20, from 8:00 - 9:00 PM ET

Cost: $25 Add Coupon PEPFREE

Registration:https://pepparentonline.org/p/raising-i-can-kids-2025

Positive Discipline for Families

May 14, 6:30 to 8 p.m. / Register

Gain insights about parenting and explore tools to reduce power struggles, cultivate respectful family relationships and set limits for your kids.

Positive Parenting Series

May 7 - June 11, 10 - 11:30 a.m. / In-person at the Family Support Center / Register

This six-week series takes a more in-depth look at Positive Discipline tools to enhance your parenting practices. Learn how to gain cooperation from your kids, increase your connection with them, keep your cool and set limits without power struggles.

Effective Parenting Plans: Co-Parenting Across Two Households

May 21, 7 p.m. / Register

Learn how to build a comprehensive co-parenting plan to foster a harmonious environment for your children, focusing on practical steps to ensure a smooth and collaborative experience.

Creating a Calming Corner: Tools to Support Your Child’s Emotional Growth

May 22, noon - 1 p.m. / In-person at the Family Support Center / Register

May 29, 6 p.m. / Virtual / Register

Learn how creating a calming space in your home can support a child's emotional development and build healthy coping skills.

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