Owl Observer

Hello Ducketts Lane!

Thank you to our PTA for hosting a Donuts with Dudes morning event last week in our cafeteria. We truly appreciated the many “Dudes” who adjusted their busy morning schedules to join us. While it was great for our staff and me to make connections the "Dudes" who attended, it was even better watching our students enjoy a donut or two with their own Dude. It was such a wonderful way to start off the day.

It was also exciting to host our K, 1st, and 2nd grade families for our Primary Literacy Night. The turnout was robust! Our teachers valued the opportunity to partner with our families as they reviewed information found on the DIBELS Screener Home Report, introduced strategies to promote literacy at home, and offered take-home materials to support home practice of the strategies that were introduced in each grade level.

We look forward to hosting our Intermediate (Gr. 3, 4, and 5) Family Math Night this upcoming Thursday (October 22)!

Sincerely,

Sean

Sean Martin

Principal

Ducketts Lane Elementary

Tuesday, Oct. 20: Bus Evacuation Drill – AM Arrival

PTA Executive Board Meeting

Thursday, Oct. 22: Intermediate (Grs 3, ,4 ,5) Family Night - Math Focus

Wear Your Jersey/Numbers Spirit Day

ECSE In House Field Trip

Friday, Oct. 23: 1st Grade Field Trip – Robinson Nature Center

Saturday, Oct. 24: PTA Trunk or Treat

Tuesday, Oct. 27: End of 1st Marking Period

Wednesday, Oct. 28: No School – Staff PD and Workday

Sunday, Nov. 1: Daylight Savings End – Set Clocks Back 1 Hour

Monday, Nov. 2: Morgan State Band – In -House Assembly

Tuesday, Nov. 3: No School – Election Day

Thursday, Nov. 5: Fall School Picture Make Up Day

Please use thsi link for reminders to the color day schedule for related arts: Related Arts Color Days

If you missed the previous deadline to purchase a DLES Grade Level T-Shirt, you are not alone😊. Back by popular demand – we have worked with our vendor to extend the deadline until October 30. This is the last order for the year. The Grade Level T-Shirts shirts will be worn for field trips, school spirit days, and field day. If interested, please use this link and place your grade level color t-shirt prior to October 30 – no additional orders can be placed after this date.

The DLES’s PTA is sponsoring a Trunk or Treat this upcoming Saturday, October 24th (3pm-5pm). Please consider using this link if you are interested in hosting a trunk space, volunteering during the event, or donating items. There will be a best trunk contest and decorated pumpkin contest. There will be a box outside of the office for candy donations. Please drop off donations by October 23rd. Bake sale item donations can be dropped off in the office box labeled PTA October 19th- 23rd. Thanks so much for your support!

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• Howard County has a variety of programs designed to complement the systematic and explicit first instruction provided by classroom teachers. Reading Specialists assigned in each elementary school are formally trained to implement a variety of evidence-based interventions that address all five core components of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency. An overview of the HCPSS screening process and the research based interventions used to complement primary first (Tier 1) instruction may be found here.

• Please refer to the linked flyer for more information about Student Reading Improvement Plans.

• Please consider donating any extra unopened Halloween candy to the front office in a Ziplock bag between Nov 2-6, 2026. Candy for the Courageous will donate the candy to the USO at BWI airport. The candy donations are given to our troops before they travel overseas. Please also feel free to write letters/create cards to the troops. These letters will be dropped off with the candy donations to the USO and will be given to our military.

• Cheering and supporting high school athletes during their competitions throughout the year builds community and provides an important glimpse into the opportunities for high school participation and school spirit for younger students. In order to ensure a fun and safe experience for all, the following guidelines have been developed and are applicable to the fall, winter, and spring sport seasons.

  Admission & Entry Rules

  • Adult Supervision: All children who are in 8th grade or younger (this includes middle school, elementary, or non-high-school-aged students) must be accompanied by an adult, or they will be turned away from entry. High School students should be prepared to show their Student ID.
  • Prohibited Items: Backpacks, outside food, emotional support animals, and outside beverages are strictly prohibited inside the stadium and school (only bottled water is permitted inside the gymnasium).
  • No Re-entry: Spectators who leave the stadium or school building will not be re-admitted.

  Behavior & Student Code of Conduct

  • Code of Conduct: Athletic contests are considered extensions of the school day. Behaviors that violate the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct or Board of Education policies are subject to the same disciplinary measures as those during school hours.
  • Seating & Facilities: Spectators must remain seated in the bleachers or wait in line; loitering in open areas, hallways, or corridors is strictly prohibited.
  • No Recreational Playing: Ball playing by spectators in the stadium, hallways, or on school grounds is not permitted.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global opportunity to raise awareness of breast cancer and the necesity to improve access to timely diagnosis and quality care.

“Every story is unique, every journey matters” recognizes that behind every diagnosis is a person, a family and a unique journey. Please consider grabbing some pink gear and standing with Ducketts Lane to fight for a cure. Shop Now!

Just as attendance is a crucial component for student success, so is being at school consistently throughout the entirety of school day. Of course, situations arise when it is necessary to be late for school or to be dismissed early. As parents we juggle so many things between our own schedules and those of our children – the occasional late arrival or early dismissal is understood.

However, frequent disruptions in the school day do have impacts upon the student experience.

These impacts could potentially include academic, social, and emotional well-being of our students.

• Academic: Arriving late means students miss important instructions, morning routines, and announcements that help set them up for a successful day.
• Social and Emotional: Frequent tardiness can make it harder for students to feel connected, confident, and ready to engage with their peers and teachers.

We respectfully ask for your partnership with limiting disruptions in the school day and for your continued support in ensuring your children, our students, have the opportunity to maximize the school experience every day.

• Principal, Mr. Martin Sean_Martin@hcpss.org

• Assistant Principal, Mrs. Van Osdel Amy_Van_Osdel@hcpss.org

• Assistant Principal , Mrs. Poquette Laurie_Poquette@hcpss.org

• Principal Secretary, Mrs. Canter Teresa_Canter@hcpss.org

• Front Office/Teacher Secretary Ms. Lynette Carmen_Lynette@hcpss.org

• Front Office/Teacher Secretary Mrs. Forman Julie_Forman@hcpss.org

• Front Office/Teacher 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