Owl Observer News

We had another fantastic week at Ducketts, and it certainly feels good to begin putting those very cold days behind us. We are looking forward to the warmer days ahead and all the energy that spring brings to our school community!

A quick reminder that Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend. Please remember to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night before heading to bed. We don’t want anyone accidentally arriving late to school on Monday morning!

A special thank you to all of the adults who were able to join our second graders for their Author’s Reading. Your presence and support mean so much to our students, and we are grateful for the strong partnership between home and school.

We have many exciting events coming up this month, and our students are also working hard as we prepare for upcoming state assessments. This is an opportunity for them to showcase what they know, demonstrate how much they have grown, and highlight their readiness for the next grade level. We are so proud of their effort and perseverance.

Lastly, the Board of Education has voted to adjust the spring calendar to make up for recent snow days. Please note that school will now be in session on Monday, April 6th, and the last day of school is currently scheduled for June 18th.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are looking forward to a strong and successful spring season together!

For the safety of all our students, please do NOT drop children off on Ducketts Lane. This is extremely dangerous—other motorists are not expecting children to cross the street or cars to stop unexpectedly.

If you are driving your child to school in the morning, please follow all traffic laws and use the designated car loop. Keeping our students safe is everyone’s responsibility!

Way to go, Ducketts! Last week, our average attendance was over 95%—what an amazing effort! 🌟

Let’s keep this momentum going as we work toward being the winning class and grade in our March Attendance Contest. Every day counts, so let’s show up, shine, and keep those numbers climbing!

Our schoolwide attendance contest is off to a strong start! Other than lower attendance rates on Tuesday with the 2-hour delay, our students showed up this week! After week 1, the grade-level leaders are as follows:

Kindergarten - Ms. Zabransky's class

1st grade - Ms. Haley's class

2nd grade - Ms. Rafferty's class

3rd grade - Ms. Albright's and Ms. Schneider-Ratliff's classes

4th grade - Ms. Thomas's class

5th grade - Ms. Wigglesworth's class

The grade-level that is leading the school this week is 1st grade, with 96.7% attendance! They get an extra special shout-out for having perfect attendance on Wednesday!

Who will be ahead next week? Will these leaders remain at the top, or will others take the lead? You can support your class and grade by making sure your students are here unless they are sick!

Friday, March 20th: Schools Closed for Students

Monday, March 30th -Friday, April 3rd: Schools Closed for Spring Break

Monday, April 6th: Schools reopen from break

The SMILE Dental Program is coming to DLES on 4/16/26 and 4/17/26. If you would like your DLES student to see the Dentist at school please fill out this link.

El Programa Dental SMILE llega a DLES el 16/4/2026 y el 17/4/2026. Si desea que su estudiante de DLES vea al dentista en la escuela, complete este enlace.

Registration for the 2026-2027 school year began Monday, March 2, 2026. Parents/Guardians of children who will be five on or before September 1, 2026, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year.

Current HCPSS prekindergarten students do not need to register for kindergarten.

Please visit www.hcpss.org/enroll/. to begin the enrollment process.

We are looking for guest readers to come read their favorite book (or borrow one of our favorites!) to our DLES students. Please use the QR code below to sign-up to one or more of our classrooms!

Welcome back and hope you are having a great year. The spring season of the DLES Running Club is approaching. This will allow students to come together, engage in physical activity, and have fun.

Registration: February 26 - March 12. Scan the QR code below 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: 3/18, 3/25, 4/8, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13

Final Run: We will have culminating run on Tuesday, 5/19 (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

Register here for Girls on the Run Spring 2026 Season! 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. Ducketts Lane GOTR meets Tuesday and Thursday 3:15-4:30 pm March 17- June 2. The season-ending 5K for Howard County will be on Saturday, May 30, 8:00 a.m. The program registration fee is $210, which includes lessons, all program materials, 5K and program shirts, a water bottle, and more. Financial assistance is available! Visit www.gotrcentralmd.org to register. Questions Email info@gotrcentralmd.org

Our DLES Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser is coming soon!

Be on the lookout: Fundraising papers were sent home in Thursday folders on March 5th.

What is the Kids Heart Challenge?

Building on key learnings from nearly 45 years in America’s schools, the Kids Heart Challenge focuses on whole body wellness, helping students improve their own health and better their character while raising life-saving donations for the American Heart Association to help kids facing heart-health issues

When: Fundraiser activities at home: March 5 – March 27

Donation Options: Online only

Want to get started early??? Click the link below for gifts and how to register:

1. Sign Up: http://www2.heart.org/goto/DuckettsLane and download the free “AHA Schools” app.

2. Raise funds to help kids with special hearts.
3. Complete Finn’s Mission: Complete all 7 steps, learn Hands-Only CPR, and be entered to win two Super Bowl tickets!

Kids Heart Challenge (and en espanol)

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Abramson (robert_abramson@hcpss.org

Our children have a lot to learn each year and our curriculum offices have provided a great resource for families to help you understand the material and provide suggestions on how you can support learning at home.

Take a moment to look at each of the of the different grade level Family Community Canvas pages. Make sure you click on the yellow bar in the right corner, to find specific information on each curriculum area.

Grade PreK

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Show your DLES pride and let everyone know you’re part of one of the best school communities! Check out our new school spirit wear store—new weekly deals are added regularly, so be sure to check back often.

Our DLES PTA has been working hard to plan an amazing book bingo and Silent Auction/Raffle night on Friday, March 13 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. Every student will receive a book and a free raffle ticket! Some of the awesome prizes include baskets and experiences donated from our wonderful teachers and staff, PLUS sports and concert tickets, an electric guitar, gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses, a 3-month family membership to The Y in Ellicott City, and so much more!! We hope to see everyone there for a fun evening!

Read-A-Thon

Ducketts Lane Elementary School has decided to hold a Read-A-Thon this year! Read-A-Thons actually get your reader excited about reading and it gives friends and family the opportunity to encourage your child to read even more.

Our Read-A-Thon starts Monday March 9, 2026 and ends March 27th.

We encourage you to activate your reader's account today by clicking on https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/dbHkbl/1?utm=email and following the simple instructions.

We've chosen Read-A-Thon because it will not take much of your time, gives your child a reason to read and helps in the development of stronger reading skills.

Prizes will be awarded for the top 10 readers!

Join today at https://duckettspta.givebacks.com/shop! When you become a member you are supporting the students and teachers at DLES, as well as the nation. Each voice makes the PTA louder when advocating for what they need.

To stay up-to-date on all of our upcoming events, visit our website and Facebook page.

Free and open for all while supplies last.

CrossLife Community Church invites you to an Easter EGGstravaganza on Saturday, March 28 at 11:00 am at DLES. The egg hunt and games are FREE. Pre-registration is requested, but walk-ins are welcome. Easter EGGstravaganza — CrossLife Community Church

This is a fantastic FREE opportunity for parents and caregivers!

The PEP Family Resiliency Program is offering a FREE 8-week virtual program to offer a practical, supportive environment to help navigate the complexities of raising children today, with an added incentive of a $50 gift card for participation.

Program Highlights

• Cost: Completely FREE (funded by a grant from the State of Maryland).

• Focus: Supporting child mental wellness, resiliency, and school success.

• Format: 8-week program, meeting once a week online via Zoom.

• Interaction: Features video presentations followed by facilitator-led group discussions.

• Incentive: Participants who attend at least 5 sessions plus the final evaluation (Week 8) receive a $50 gift card (one per household).

Key Logistics

Because classes are limited to 25 people, it’s a good idea to register early:

• Sign Up: Fill out the PEP Registration Link to choose your preferred dates.

• Learn More: Visit the PEP Information Link.

There are several dates over the summer that your child might be interested in a camp being hosted at Deep Run Elementary.

Higher winter bills are often tied, in part, to increased energy use during extreme cold. There are steps you can take now!

This includes scheduling an HVAC tune-up, using a programmable thermostat, lowering water heater temperatures, and tracking usage with online tools and alerts. See the available resources at www.bge.com/winter.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Service

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