Owl Observer News

What a fantastic week it’s been here at Ducketts Lane! We hope you and your families had a restful and refreshing spring break. As always, our students came back ready to shine!

From the moment the doors opened Tuesday morning, our halls were filled with the sounds of collaborative learning, joyful laughter, and bright minds diving back into their routines. It’s been a joy to watch students across all grade levels jump right back into action—working together, exploring new skills, and making memories with their classmates and teachers.

We are so proud of the energy and enthusiasm your children bring each and every day. Here’s to keeping the momentum going as we head into the final stretch of an incredible school year!

Spring has officially sprung—and so has our testing season! We know that attendance is the first ingredient in the recipe for academic success, but during testing time, it’s even more essential. When students are absent on a testing day, they’re required to make it up later, which can lead to even more missed instructional time—and we want every moment of learning to count!

Help set your child up for success by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time, ready to give it their best. This is their moment to shine bright and show off all the amazing growth and hard work they’ve put in this year.

We’re so proud of everything our students have accomplished, and we can’t wait to cheer them on as they show what they know!

We hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Proudly serving you,

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

Dear Ducketts Lane Parents and Guardians,

As you may know, Ducketts Lane (DLES) is a Schoolwide Title I School. Parent Involvement is an important part of Title I. DLES and Howard County Public Schools (HCPSS) value your input and partnership in supporting the academic success of your child. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey regarding school improvement, climate, and family engagement. This will be used to evaluate our Title I program so that we can better serve you. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential.Please complete the online survey by May 16, 2025.

Estimado Ducketts Lane Padre y Tutor:
La Escuela Primaria Ducketts Lane (DLES, por su nombre en inglés) es una Escuela de Título I a lo Largo de la Escuela. La participación de padres es una parte importante de Título I. La DLES y el Sistema de Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Howard (HCPSS, por su nombre en inglés) valoran su opinión y asociación en apoyo del éxito académico de su niño. Por favor, dedique algunos minutos para completar esta encuesta sobre la mejora escolar, clima y compromiso familiar. Esto será utilizado para evaluar nuestro programa de Título I para poder asistirlo de una manera mejor. Sus respuestas serán estrictamente confidenciales. Por favor, complete el cuestionario en línea antes del Mayo 16 2025.

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Did you know April is Math Month? You are invited to your child’s math class during Math month to play a math game with your child on the dates/times below. You will learn a game at school and then take it home so you can play at home again and again. Your child’s math teacher will send you a Talking Points message; please let them know if you will be coming when you receive the message. We look forward to seeing you!

PreK April 25, PreK 10:00 - 11:00, MINC PreK 10:00 - 10:45, MINC PS/PreSchool 10:00 and 2:00

K April 29, 9:00 - 10:00

1st April 29, 12:00 - 1:15

2nd April 25, 9:45 - 11:00

3rd April 10 9:45 - 10:15

4th April 29, 1:00 - 2:15

5th April 30, 10:55 - 12:10

Monday, May 12 @ DLES

6:00pm - 4th Grade Band, Beginning Orchestra, Chorus

7:00pm - 3rd Grade Orchestra

Wednesday, May 21 @ DLES

6:00pm - 4th Advanced Orchestra, 5th Band, Orchestra, Chorus

Yearbook order forms were sent home in your student's Thursday folders before spring break. Yearbooks are $12.00 each. Students in Fifth Grade do not need to purchase a Yearbook, each fifth grader will be provided a Yearbook. All payment information is listed on the order form. Yearbooks will be given to students the last week of school. We have a limited number of Yearbooks so please place your order early.

You can use the code to order your yearbook as well.

We hope you had a relaxing and memorable spring break, filled with good times spent with family and friends, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Here at Ducketts, we’ve returned recharged and excited to begin the final quarter of what has been an amazing school year. In P.E., this season provides a great opportunity to revisit collaborative games. Through this unit, students engage in activities that emphasize the importance of teamwork, positive communication, goal setting, and resilience. These lessons not only support Physical Education but also help reinforce positive behaviors and expectations throughout the gym, the classroom, and beyond.

We truly value your continued support and partnership. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference, and we’re grateful to continue this journey together.

Warm regards,

The P.E. Department

Mr. Anderson & Mr. Abramson

#WEAREDUCKETTS

As we prepare for our upcoming school year, it is important to have your child registered to ensure we have the correct amount of teachers for our students. Please do not delay! Help us with the process by registering your new kindergartner or first grader as soon as possible.

Children must be 5 years old by 9/1/25 in order to enroll in kindergarten next school year. Every child who is 5 years old by this date must be enrolled in a kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver. HCPSS kindergarten is a full day program.

• Please make certain you are on the screen for 2025-2026 if registering for the next school year.

• Parents or guardians are to register students at the school serving the address where the child’s parent or guardian resides. Information on neighborhood schools can be found through HCPSS School Locator.

• Complete your child’s registration online by providing the documents listed below. The registration process will be more efficient if you upload the required documents during online registration. Otherwise, you will be asked to submit the required documents via email as pdfs, or you may contact the office to make arrangements to bring the documents in and we will copy them for you. The following documents are needed for registration and should be submitted during the online registration process: Click here for a checklist for registration.

  • Child’s evidence of birth (i.e. birth certificate, baptismal certificate)

  • An authorized record of immunizations

  • Proof of residency in the form of your entire signed lease/deed including signature pages.

  • Current utility bill with your name and address that has been issued within the last 45 days. (cellular device bills not accepted)

  • Photo ID of parent/guardian

Additional Documents to bring if applicable to your child:

Proof of custody - only if there is information the school must adhere to during school hours (full document including the signature pages)

• Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for Special Education Services

• 504 plan

• Psychological report or related services reports/plans

• English Language Learner (ELL) plans or previous assessments

These forms should be completed by your child's pediatrician and dentist and emailed to our Health Room prior to the first day of school or as soon as your child has their 5 year check-up

• Blood Lead Testing

• Dental Health Form

• Physical Exam Form

• Immunization Form

It is recommended that you work on a laptop or desktop to complete registration. Cell phone registration is not recommended. Please call our front office at 410-313-5050.

HCPSS offers high-quality half-day and full-day prekindergarten programs. Students must be four years old by September 1, 2025 to be considered for enrollment in the 2025-2026 school year. The comprehensive curriculum, taught by certified staff, supports early learning and school readiness and provides experiences that foster children’s academic, social, emotional and physical development.

2025-2026 School Year

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will begin on March 10, 2025.Interested applicants must submit a completed 2025-2026 Pre-K Application for consideration; please note that 2024-2025 applications will not be considered. The HCPSS Pre-K program is made available first to children who will be 4 on or before September 1 and meet first priority criteria: income eligible, homelessness, and foster care. Unlike enrollment for K-12, parents must first apply and be accepted into the program before beginning online registration.

Any applications submitted prior to the official opening of registration will be dated March 10, 2025.

Click here for more information

Click here for the Application

Take a moment to see all of the amazing options available to show your Ducketts Lane spirit and pride.

Click here to see all the options and deals!

Are you still confused about the difference between HCPPS Connect and Canvas? Did you receive a new Chromebook and are unsure how to use it? Have you forgotten your HCPSS password? If you need any computer assistance, we are here to help you feel confident in accessing your student's grades, emailing a teacher, seeing attendance records, making a parent teacher conference, and downloading the Canvas app on your phone.

If you answered YES to any of these questions, please sign up on this Computer Assistance Request Form. A Ducketts Lane Liaison will then reach out to you to set up a time to meet for Computer, Chromebook, HCPSS Connect or Canvas assistance.

We are here to help you learn how to access HCPSS information on your computer or phone for you to support your student's success.

¿Aún tiene dudas sobre la diferencia entre HCPPS Connect y Canvas? ¿Recibió una Chromebook nueva y no sabe cómo usarla? ¿Olvidó su contraseña de HCPSS? Si necesita asistencia con la computadora, estamos aquí para ayudarle a acceder con confianza a las calificaciones de su estudiante, comunicarse con un maestro, ver los registros de asistencia, programar una reunión de padres y maestros o para descargar la aplicación Canvas en su teléfono.

Si respondió SÍ a alguna de estas preguntas anteriores, complete este Formulario de solicitud de asistencia informática con la computadora. Un enlace de Ducketts Lane se pondrá en contacto con usted para programar una reunión con ellos para obtener asistencia con la computadora, HCPSS Connect o Canvas.

Estamos aquí para ayudarle a aprender a acceder a la información de HCPSS en su computadora o teléfono para que pueda apoyar el éxito de su estudiante.

Staff Appreciation Week is just around the corner! We have some exciting things planned for the DLES Staff this year and need your help to make it possible.
Please consider signing up to send in a donation or two. The signup page is located here. Thank you in advance for your support!

The DLES PTA Is Seeking New Board Members!

Are you interested in getting involved with the DLESS PTA? We need your support now more than ever! Please consider becoming a member of the Executive Board. We need YOU!

The PTA is seeking volunteers for the following positions:

President

Vice-President

Corresponding Secretary

Recording Secretary

Treasurer

Committee Members

Elections will take place at our next General PTA meeting on Wednesday, May 21st. Nominations will be accepted from the floor during the meeting. Please help us spread the word. We’d love to have you join us at this important meeting!

If you have any questions or want to learn more, please reach out to us at duckettslanepta@gmail.com or on Facebook @dles.pta.

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

• Counselor Mrs. Baron Krista_Baron@hcpss.org

• Community School Coordinator Ms. Medina Alejandra_Medina@hcpss.org