Owl Observer News

Highlights from this past week included a wonderful movie night hosted by our PTA, a fun and engaging field trip for our Kindergarten students, and the opportunity to celebrate several students who presented in the county’s Unheard Perspectives, earning both Gold and Silver awards. We continued our celebration and learning in honor of Black History Month with a meaningful student- and staff-created assembly as we close out the month. We were also excited to finally enjoy outdoor recess again — something students and staff truly appreciated.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us to ensure students are present each day, ready to learn and grow — every day truly matters.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in making our school community strong.

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!

In honor of Black History Month, we are continuing to highlight influential Black leaders and trailblazers during our morning announcements.

This week, students learned about Denyce Graves, an internationally renowned mezzo-soprano who gained national recognition following her 1995 debut at the Metropolitan Opera. Beyond her celebrated performance career, Denyce is a passionate educator and founder of the Denyce Graves Foundation, which promotes equity and opportunity in the arts.

Her story reminds our students that talent, perseverance, and a commitment to uplifting others can create a powerful and lasting impact.

We are getting excited to start our March attendance contest- running from March 2–March 27!

Here’s how it works:

Each day that a homeroom reaches 95% attendance or higher, that class earns one point. Every day counts!

There’s a little friendly competition involved—classes within each grade level will compete against one another, and the class with the highest number of points at the end of the contest will win a special award. But that’s not all! Grade levels are also working together, because the grade level with the highest overall total of points will earn a celebration as well.

It’s teamwork, responsibility, and school spirit all rolled into one! Let’s build strong attendance habits and show up ready to learn each and every day. We can’t wait to see which class—and which grade level—comes out on top! 🏆✨ Remember: Every day matters. Every student counts.

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 begins 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!

We hope your new year has been a great one so far and wish you joy, laughter, and good health in 2026. Here is another segment of the good news and great experiences of the DLES PE Department.

Our PreK-5 students have been enjoying Dribbling with their hands and basketball skills. This unit reinforces fundamental movement concepts and hand-eye coordination. Our 3rd - 5th-grade students have been learning and practicing ways to maintain control while they are dribbling, the fundamentals of a chest and bounce pass, and learning B.E.E.F cues to proper shooting to a hoop. Our K-2 students have been focusing on enhancing their dribbling skills, while our PreK students have been practicing bouncing and catching and introducing them to the concept of hand dribbling.

Additionally, our 3rd through 5th-grade students continue to discuss the importance of Aerobic fitness and cardiovascular endurance and have been practicing finding and calculating their heart rates!! So get up, get the whole family moving, and have your young person help everyone find their heart rate.

As we enter March, we will begin our Gymnastics unit, where students will explore balancing, body shapes, rolling and other various skills. Lastly, we continuously connect, being Determined Learners and Embracers, and are safe daily in P.E., realizing it is equally important to educate them as well-rounded young citizens of DLES and beyond.

As always, we sincerely appreciate your continued support and partnership. Your involvement is invaluable, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.

The P.E. Department

Mr. Anderson & Mr. Abramson

#WEAREDUCKETTS

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

During the month of February - March 13th, students are invited to participate in the Chesapeake Baysox Read & Hit a Homerun Challenge. Students who read at least four books and recorded their participation on their classroom poster will earn two FREE tickets to the Chesapeake Baysox game on Saturday, May 9th at 6:35pm. More information and tickets will be sent home once they meet the goal.

Sincerely,

Media Team: Ms. McAfee, Ms. Riley, and Ms. Jean-Louis

The Ducketts Lane Elementary school counseling team is looking for volunteers to speak to classes for Career Day on March 26th, 2026.

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 March 26th (different grades will be presented to at different times throughout the day).

Whether you plan to speak at our career day or not we would love to hear more about the work that you do and your path along the way. Please take a couple of minutes to share your journey!

Thank you for your time and consideration!

~The DLES Counseling Team

Our DLES Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser is coming soon!

Be on the lookout: Fundraising papers will be 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

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)

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.

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.

Please join us for our Primary Grades Library Night, Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at the Elkridge Library.

See flyer for more details and register HERE.

Free and open for all while supplies last.

Calling all young athletes ready to learn, grow, and compete! The Western Howard County Warhawks football program provides a fun, safe, and supportive environment where players of all experience levels can develop their skills and confidence. Our dedicated coaches focus on fundamentals, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership—both on and off the field.

Whether your child is new to football or looking to build on their experience, the Warhawks offer an inclusive program that emphasizes player development, physical fitness, and a true love for the game. Most importantly, we pride ourselves on building a strong football family where athletes make lasting friendships and unforgettable

See Howard County Rec and Parks Activity Guide or www.gowarhawks.com in February 2026 for registration and cost. Registration is now open.

Registration for our Department of Recreation & Parks' Camp Guide Summer 2026 is NOW open for all. From hands-on science and art exploration to LEGO robotics and engineering, nature discovery, and a wide variety of sports, there is a ton of great camp opportunities available to keep your children active, engaged, and inspired this summer. As spots for some camps fill up quickly, be sure to register online, in-person, over-the-phone, or mail-in today.

If you’re looking to fill a particular week or weeks this summer, check out Recreation & Parks’, “2026 Camps By Weeks” website, which for your convenience, breaks down what camps are being offered each week.

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.

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