Owl Observer News

Greetings Ducketts Lane Families,

We want to thank everyone who was able to join us for our Back to School Night sessions this week. This is one of many important opportunities to better understand the expectations for your child's learning this year and to begin to understand how you can be an active partner in supporting the academic goals that we all have this year.

If you were not able to attend the back to school night sessions, please join us on September 26th for our Annual Title I night at 5:30. Not only will we have an opportunity to learn more about Title I and what that can look like here at Ducketts Lane, but we will also share how our students are performing on various assessments and share ways that you can help your child's educational journey.

We hope that you have a wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone on Monday.

Don't be late-the doors open at 8:30am.

Proudly Serving You,

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

Wednesday, September 18th- Students dismiss at 12:15pm. No 3 year-old preschool classes

Thursday, September 19th- School Picture Day

Thursday, September 26th- All voices needed for our Title I Annual Meeting 5:30pm

Thursday, October 3rd- Schools Closed for all students and staff

The Smile Program Mobile Dentist is coming to DLES on October 1st and 2nd and April 2nd and 3rd. If you would like to sign your student up to be seen by the Dentist at school, please submit a paper consent form that was sent home or click the following link: https://www.myschooldentist.com/DLHCMD_sch

The Howard County Health Department and Howard County Public Schools have partnered to provide health care services in the School-Based Wellness Centers operating in certain schools. The School-Based Wellness Centers offer the following health care services by appointment to all enrolled students regardless of health insurance or family income:

1. Physical exams - annual, sport, camp, and college entry

2. Diagnosis and treatment of urgent illness and injuries – Walk-in appointments may be available

3. Management of chronic health problems such as asthma and obesity

4. Prescription medication and routine laboratory tests such as strep throat, urine infections and sexually-transmitted infections

5. Health screenings - behavioral/mental and reproductive health

6. Referrals for services not provided in the school-based wellness center

7. Health education

If you would like to sign your student up for the School Based Wellness Center program at DLES, you can click here to sign up.

Don't miss out on your chance to get this year's GREAT grade-level t-shirt.

Order Forms have been sent home. You can also print a form and send it in with your child.

Please make all checks payable to Ducketts Lane Elementary School

Student Individual Pictures will be taken on Thursday, September 19, 2024. Order forms were sent home last week in your student's Thursday folder.

Please visit HCPSS Connect to update your Family File for the 2024-2025 school year today! It is mandatory for parents/guardians to complete the Family File every year to ensure that DLES has the most current and accurate information for each year.

Did you know that your child will not be allowed to go on a field trip without this completed?

Parents/guardians will be asked to provide or update the following information…

• Student Information

• Parent/Guardian Contact

• Emergency Contacts

  • Please list multiple emergency contacts!

• Medical Information

• Arrival/Dismissal Procedures and Transportation Options

• Photo Approval

• Data Confidentiality

• Student Creative Work Approval

• PTA/PTSA Directory

Thank you for updating your child’s Family File today in HCPSS Connect!

Helpful Family File Resources:

• FAMILY FILE QUICK REFERENCE CARD (ENGLISH)

• FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (ENGLISH)

• FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (SPANISH)

• FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (CHINESE)

• FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (KOREAN)

• HOMEPAGE FOR HCPSS CONNECT GUIDES & TUTORIALS

As mentioned, being identified as a Title I school goes well beyond free and reduced meals. This is a support that provides so many invaluable resources that benefit our entire school.

We want to share more at our annual Title I meeting, and provide an opportunity to get feedback from our families so that together we can create our compact, which is an agreement among both families and the school to work together to help close the achievement gap that we have so that we can see our students hopes and dreams come to fruition.

What is the purpose of a Title I Annual meeting?

• The purpose of a Title I Annual meeting is to share what it means to be a school-wide Title I school, get input on the Title I Compact & Plan. This will also be the first of many opportunities to become involved in your child’s education, and start to build a sense of community.

Please join us on September 26th at 5:30pm in the cafeteria. Your ideas and thoughts are important to us.

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe, engaging, and supportive school environment that fosters the social and emotional safety, dignity, and well-being of all students. HCPSS acknowledges the need for employees

1. to use an array of research-based positive behavior interventions, strategies, and supports to address student behaviors and keep students safe

2. to minimize the practice of exclusion from the classroom environment

3. to minimize the practice of physical restraint (which may only be used when necessary to protect a student or other person from imminent, serious, physical harm and only after other less intrusive, nonphysical interventions have failed or been determined inappropriate).

It is an expectation that HCPSS employees will be responsive to all incidents of exclusion or physical restraint and appropriately case manage impacted students to minimize unsafe behaviors and maximize instructional engagement.

Additional information can be found at HCPSS Policy 9400 - Student Behavior Intervention. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

Last week we brought attention to our Student Code of Conduct and how this guiding framework emphasizes instruction and restorative practices rather than punishment for our students. This week we will take a deeper dive into its overarching commitments for our students.

For our students, we hold high expectations and values to ensure and empower them to achieve success. Some of these values include:

• Co-create a positive learning classroom community that allows all students to learn. Students are encouraged to express their values, opinions, and beliefs in a respectful and civil manner.

• Build positive and supportive relationships with one another, demonstrating acceptance of differences, in every manner.

• Attend and engage in all learning opportunities showing effort and persistence.

• Seek clarification and ask questions as needed to understand expectations for grading and classroom directions.

• Set personal goals and always seek assistance from teachers and staff when support is needed.

Next week, we will focus on commitments from all school staff, including administrators, teachers and support staff. 😀

Moving into the school year and getting into the swing of new expectations can lead to a lot of strong emotions and conflict in the household for the entire family. Discipline is about teaching and skill building –not punishment. Learn to develop strategies to proactively prevent meltdowns by preparing your home and routine to encourage success. Become familiar with temperament types, tune into different needs and learn how to use this information to individualize your interactions with your child. Monday, September 16, 12:30 p.m. Free Virtual Workshop, Register here

MAP testing begins next week for our first graders. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is a computerized adaptive assessment that measures your child’s knowledge of reading and math. All students are asked the same number of questions, but the difficulty of each question is based on how well the student has answered previous questions.

Our testing window for MAP is:

• 1st Grade: September 16th - October 17th

• 2nd - 5th Grade: September 23rd - October 17th.

Your child’s teacher will be communicating specific dates assigned for your child’s MAP test.

For the 2nd year, I have the honor of serving as a Physical Education teacher and Bridges Site Coordinator at Ducketts Lane. I am excited to announce that Bridges afterschool programming will return on September 30th for select, invited 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-grade students. Please be on the lookout for the invitation and registration packets coming home this Thursday, September 12th.

Note that if your student is interested in the Boys Run Club or Girls on the Run, they are encouraged to participate in both! On the days they don't have running practice they can join Bridges. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you,

Kevin Anderson

DLES Bridges Site Coordinator

Kevin_Anderson@hcpss.org

#WEAREDUCKETTS

Did you know that too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school? In fact, students can fall behind if they miss just one or two days every few weeks. When students attend school regularly, they tend to feel better about school and themselves. But students often cannot form good attendance habits on their own. Here are a few things you can do to help your student form positive attendance habits:

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine;

• Try to schedule non-urgent appointments or trips for when school is not in session;

• If your child is feeling nervous or reluctant to come to school, keeping them home can actually make the situation worse by sending the message that you agree that there is a reason for them to stay home;

• If your child seems nervous about going to school please never hesitate to contact their teacher and/or school counselors for advice on how to make them feel more comfortable.

As always, the school counseling team is here to support you and your students in their ongoing academic and social growth and learning.

~ Mr. L

Alexander_Leisawitz@hcpss.org

~ Mrs. Barron

Krista_Barron@hcpss.org

Community members are invited to attend one of these meetings to help inform the system’s new strategic plan by providing their input about stakeholder values during this virtual, hour-long opportunity facilitated by HCPSS staff. No registration is required.

• September 17, 2024 – 5:00–6:00 pm – Google Meet linkLinks to an external site.

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

We are running a membership promotion through September 13th. All Individual and Family memberships that sign up from the beginning of the school year through September 13th will be placed into a raffle to win a DLES PTA Stanley Cup!

The DLES PTA's Double Good pop-up store will be open online through Saturday, September 15th at 12 pm. 50% of all funds raised will help support the DLES PTA fund for the various activities and initiatives we have planned for this school year! The link for our online store is https://popup.doublegood.com/s/w3ihf875 . You can also share this link with others who may want to support our efforts. Thank you in advance for your support!

Join us for our first Spirit Night on Wednesday, September 18th from 4-8 pm and Cold Stone Creamery (Arundel Mills Location only, 7645 Arundel Mills Blvd, Hanover, MD 21076). A portion of the night's proceeds will be donated to the DLES PTA.

Come out and help clean up the school grounds on Sunday, September 22nd from 1-2 pm. We will be meeting by the flagpole in front of the school. Be sure to wear comfy clothes, gloves, and close-toed shoes. Trash bags will be provided.

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

Last year we supported close to 70 students each week. The needs in our community are great and your support allows us to assist our neighbors in need. Thank you!

The boy's run club is an excellent way for your student to engage in physical activity, fun, and teamwork, all while learning to have an appreciation for running as a way to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Registration: 9/12/24 - 9/27/24. Registration will be first come, first serve, with only 25 roster spots available!

Click the link below to register:

DLES Run Club registration FALL 2024 - Google Forms

When & Where: Practice will be on Wednesday’s at DLES from 3:20 - 4:20!

Dates: Wednesday: 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13

Final Run: We will have culminating run on Thursday, 11/21 (pizza to follow)

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

*NOTE: Bridges students are welcome to join as well!

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

For more information, please contact:

Robert_abramson@hcpss.org

Empower your girl’s next chapter by signing her up for Girls on the Run at DLES. Through movement-based activities, group discussions, and community impact projects, participants gain the confidence to stand up for themselves and others. 92% of participants said that because of Girls on the Run, they feel they can speak up and share their opinions. Click here to secure her spot: “Sign-up! Girls on the Run at DLES.”

DLES GOTR will be on Tuesdays and Thursday beginning Sept. 24th and ends the week of December 9th, with our season ending 5k events on Saturday, December 7th in Howard County.

Hashtags: #girlsontherun #girlsontherunissomuchfun #girlempowermentprogram

#socialemotionallearning #afterschool #afterschoolprograms #community #running #girlpower

The HCPSS Partnerships 2023-2024 Annual Snapshot has just been released. The snapshot includes a link to school system partners including each school’s partners, as well as system wide, curricular, and program office partnerships. The snapshot highlights how partners play a vital role in encouraging students to reach their full potential.

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