Owl Observer News

What a joy it has been to welcome our students and staff back after the long winter break! Our hallways quickly filled with bright smiles, warm hugs, and even a few fresh haircuts that made returning to school feel extra special. Teachers and students wasted no time jumping back into the exciting work of teaching and learning, knowing there is still so much to look forward to this year. Our multilingual learners have begun their state assessments, and all students will soon take part in mid-year assessments in the coming days and weeks. As we move through this season of learning, we are excited for engaging lessons, meaningful moments, and many memories still to be made. With math conferences right around the corner, our teachers are eager to continue partnering with families to celebrate the wonderful progress our students are making. Thank you for being such an important part of your child’s educational journey—every day counts, and together we are making a difference!

We may have started a bit slowly coming back from break, but we are excited to share some great news—97% of our students were present on Wednesday this week! 🎉 That is a strong step in the right direction and a reminder of what we can achieve together.

You may be wondering how this compares to last year. The chart below shows last year’s attendance alongside this year’s. Our goal is to keep the green line (this year) as far below the blue line (last year) as possible, signaling fewer students who are absent. While we met this goal in some months, we fell short in August, September, and most recently December.

This tells us that we must work together, with renewed focus, to shift this pattern. Reaching our School Improvement Plan goal—reducing chronic absenteeism to 12.8%—will take a consistent, collective effort from all of us.

Our vision is ambitious and achievable: moving our average daily attendance from 94.1% last year to 96% this year. Every day matters. Every student counts. And your partnership makes a difference.

Thank you for helping us build strong habits, support student success, and keep our school moving forward—one day, one student at a time 💙📚

Monday, January 19th- Schools Closed-Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Thursday, January 22nd- All Students Dismiss at 12:15- No half-day Pre-K/RECC

Friday, January 23rd- FULL Student day for Prek through 5th Grade students. No school for our preschool students. *Remember our attendance goal*

Tuesday, January 20th-🎩 Hat Day

Baseball caps, beanies, bows (school-appropriate: nothing to cover the face or stop learning).

Wednesday, January 21st- 🧸 Stuffed Animal Buddy Day

Bring a small stuffed friend to school.

Thursday, January 22nd- 👟 Comfy Day

Cozy clothes or athletic wear.

Friday, January 23rd- 🌟 Dress Like a Star Day

Be a rock star, sports star, or “star student.”

Reading together at home is one of the most powerful ways to help children become confident, successful readers. When students read and talk about what they read, they strengthen fluency (reading smoothly and accurately) and comprehension (understanding what the text means). Even just 10–15 minutes a day makes a big difference!

Below are tips and question ideas based on your child’s reading stage.

🌱 Early Readers (Learning Letter Sounds & Blending)

What this looks like:
Your child is learning letter sounds, blending sounds together, and reading simple words and sentences.

How families can help:

• Practice letter sounds and blend them slowly (c–a–t → cat).

• Let your child point to each word as they read.

• Reread favorite books—repetition builds confidence and fluency!

• Praise effort, not just accuracy.

Try asking:

• “What sound does this letter make?”

• “Can you blend these sounds together?”

• “What do you see in the picture that helps you read this word?”

• “Can you read that sentence again smoothly?”

Why this matters:
Strong sound skills are the foundation of reading. When children can blend sounds automatically, their brains are free to focus on understanding the story.

🌿 Developing Readers (Reading Short Books & Paragraphs)

What this looks like:
Your child is reading short stories, beginning chapter books, and working on reading smoothly.

How families can help:

• Encourage reading out loud for fluency practice.

• Talk about new or tricky words.

• Reread sections to build speed and confidence.

• Ask your child to explain what they read in their own words.

Try asking:

• “What happened first, next, and last?”

• “Who is your favorite character and why?”

• “What does this word mean? How do you know?”

• “Does this part remind you of something?”

Why this matters:
Reading smoothly helps students better understand what they read. Talking about books strengthens vocabulary, memory, and comprehension.

🌳 Fluent Readers (Reading Chapter Books & Novels)

What this looks like:
Your child is reading longer chapter books or novels and can read independently.

How families can help:

• Ask questions that go deeper than the text.

• Encourage your child to make predictions.

• Talk about character choices and themes.

• Connect reading to real-life experiences.

Try asking:

• “Why do you think the character made that choice?”

• “What do you think will happen next? Why?”

• “What lesson or message is the author sharing?”

• “How did this chapter change the story?”

Why this matters:
Deep conversations about reading help students think critically, analyze text, and build stronger comprehension skills needed across all subjects.

⭐ Why Reading & Talking About Books Is So Important

When families read and talk together:

• ✔️ Fluency improves

• ✔️ Vocabulary grows

• ✔️ Comprehension deepens

• ✔️ Confidence increases

• ✔️ Overall academic performance improves

Most importantly, children begin to see reading as enjoyable and meaningful, not just schoolwork.

Thank you for partnering with us to grow strong, curious readers—one page and one conversation at a time! 📖✨

Welcome back and Happy New Year! I hope your winter break was filled with rest and quality time with loved ones. As we step into this new season together, I am incredibly excited to see our hallways filled with energy and to continue our journey of learning and growing as a community.

Every Day Counts

Every day a student is in their seats is a day they are building a brighter future. Research shows that students who attend school regularly are 5 time more likely to read on grade level by the end of 3rd grade than those who are chronically absent (Applied Survey Research, 2011). Your partnership is our greatest asset! Please remember to communicate with us if your child must be absent. We are here to support you in ensuring your child is present, engaged, and thriving every single day!

• To report an absence: email dlesabsence@hcpss.org

Supporting the Whole Child

We believe that for a student to succeed in the classroom, their basic needs must be met at home. We are here to help remove any barriers your family might be facing so your child can focus on learning.

With the start of the new year, sometimes new problems arise. If you are going through a hardship, an immediate housing crisis, or are at risk of becoming homeless, do not hesitate to ask for help.

Below is a link to two General Community Support Centers

• Multiservice Center: North Laurel location enriches lives by offering ready access to human services and self-sufficiency supports. View partnering agencies and service schedules.

• Day Resource Center: The Day Resource Center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Meals, laundry, pantry, showers, small medical needs.

Below is a linked resource for the Howard County network of food pantries that provide essential supplies to those in need.

English | Español | Français | 中文 | 한국어

Below is a linked resource bulletin to support Howard County families who may be experiencing temporary housing.

English | Español | 中文 |한국어

Best,

Mrs. De La Cruz-Van Natta

Community Schools Site Coordinator

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 us for a delicious way to support our PTA at Raising Canes (9071 Snowden River Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21046) on January 20th from 4-8 pm.

Order in person and mention the fundraiser at the register.

Join us January 23rd from 6:30-8 pm in the DLES cafeteria for a fun dance night with music from DJ Claw! We will also have snacks, light refreshments, and LOTS OF GLOW STICKS!!!

We are in need of a few more volunteers to make this event a success. If you would like to help out while you are at the dance, please visit our sign-up page at PTA: Glow dance

Please be advised that this is not a drop-off event. All students must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18.

We can't wait to light up the night with you!

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.

Together, we can wrap our school community in warmth this season. Thank you for giving, supporting, and sharing kindness! ✨

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