Owl Observer News

What an interesting week we had! I am so grateful that the weather allowed us to keep schools open and for the kindness, flexibility, and patience shown by our entire community as we navigated delayed openings. Once again, our Ducketts Lane community came together and truly shined. After being unexpectedly off for a week, it was wonderful to welcome our students back for a full week of learning, connection, and routine.

I hope families found the math conferences held yesterday—and those continuing today—valuable and informative. My hope is that you left with a clear understanding of how your child is progressing in math and with actionable steps to support their learning at home. I often say that parents are a child’s first and most valuable teachers, and strong partnerships between home and school make all the difference.

This week, we were also proud to celebrate Mr. Leisawitz (Mr. L) and Mrs. Barron during National School Counselor Week. We are incredibly fortunate to have two of the very best counselors in our county. Don’t forget—today is a spirit day in their honor! Students and staff are encouraged to wear the Zones of Regulation colors to celebrate the important work they do each day to help us understand and manage our feelings.

Lastly, our average attendance rate slipped to approximately 94% over the last 10 days that we have had school. This number represents about 40 students—or nearly two full empty classrooms—missing each day. We understand that winter weather can make mornings challenging, but every day of learning counts. Consistent attendance is essential as we work toward our shared goals, and we appreciate your continued partnership in helping students be here, ready to learn and grow.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our PTA and parent volunteers who generously donated items to create a wonderful Trail Mix Make-and-Take Bar yesterday. It was the perfect way to enjoy a much-needed boost of energy while connecting with families throughout the evening during conferences. We are truly grateful for your generosity, support, and thoughtfulness—your kindness made a long evening feel special and appreciated.

In honor of Black History Month, one of the many ways we are uplifting this important and meaningful time for our students is by highlighting individuals they may or may not have learned about before. Each day during morning announcements, we share interesting and “cool” facts about influential Black leaders, innovators, and trailblazers.

This week, our students learned about Gerald “Jerry” Lawson, a groundbreaking engineer and inventor who helped change the world of video gaming. The image below highlights some of the facts and accomplishments our students explored and discussed together.

Our School Improvement Plan focus with our discipline data is to reduce the overall number of Incident Reports (IRs) for all students. IRs are written in response to violations to our Student Code of Conduct.

With our continued consistency in practices with how we respond to the unexpected while ensuring fair and equitable discipline procedures, we are seeing a positive impact with a decrease in IRs overall. However, there is still work to be done.

Of the 67 IRs that have been documented, 35 (or 52%) are happening in our classrooms. The violations that are most prevalent are Attacks/Threats/Fighting (28) and Disrespect/Disruption (28). Tuesdays seem to be difficult days right now, and the time of day that has been challenging is between 12:00-2:00 PM (25).

Staff will continue to use calm, consistent responses - including regulation support and clear expectations - to help students self regulate, make positive choices, and stay in the green zone to be ready for learning.

Friday, February 6th-All Students Dismiss at 12:15-Parent/Teacher Conferences. No half-day PreK/RECC

Tuesday, February 10th- Vision and Hearing Screening 👀

Thursday, February 12th-Class Pictures 📷

Monday, February 16th-No School for Students

Tuesday, February 17th-No School for Students

Our next Coffee and Conversation will be held on Monday, February 9, 2026, from 9-10 AM in the Ducketts Lane Cafeteria.

Please register using the link below:
2/9/26 Coffee and Conversation Registration Link

Please join us for our Family School Partnership Meeting on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 8:00–8:30 AM, held virtually using this link: http://meet.google.com/uzc-wrrx-tgm

The goals of our meetings are to:

- Strengthen positive home–school connections
- Increase family involvement
- Maintain effective communication with families
- Plan meaningful family events and programs

Your voice and input are essential to our success. We look forward to seeing you virtually Friday, February 13!

DLES is excited to hold its second annual Talent Show on Friday, March 6th! The performance will take place from 5:30-7:00 in the DLES cafeteria. All students who want to share a talent with our community are welcome to participate!

To register your performer, please fill out this form by Friday, February 6th. Performance slots will be first-come, first-served.

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

Sight words (we sometimes call these heart words here at school) are common words that children learn to recognize by sight, rather than sounding them out. We encourage you to ask your child's teacher if there are any sight words that your child could work with at home.

Here is a website that has a list of fun games and activities you can use with sight words to help your child be a stronger reader.

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.

🎬 Movie Night & General Meeting – Thursday, 2/20 6:00pm
Bring your family, grab some popcorn, and enjoy a fun movie night while connecting with our amazing PTA community.

Your involvement—big or small—makes a huge difference in supporting our students and school community. Come join the fun, meet other families, and help make these events memorable!

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

The HCPSS Family Empowerment Academy is designed to equip parents and guardians with practical strategies, resources, and insights to support their children’s academic, social, and emotional success. The academy will take place on four consecutive Saturdays- March 7 through March 28, 2026, from 9:00-10:30 AM- and will feature interactive learning experiences, guest speakers, and opportunities to connect with other HCPSS families. Participation is limited to 30 participants, and registration is first-come, first-served. Attendance is encouraged for all four sessions. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Please complete the application form to be considered for participation.

Higher winter usage and increased delivery rates are impacting Baltimore Gas and Electric customers, but there are programs designed to help you stay warm and manage costs.

From budget billing and deferred payment plans to assistance through the Fuel Fund of Maryland, there are options for renters and homeowners alike. If you or someone you know is worried about affording heating and electricity this winter, these resources can make a real difference.

To learn more, check out this recent The Baltimore Banner online article.

Our CAREAPP is a powerful tool created to ensure all Howard County residents can easily access community resources. Fully translatable into more than 100 languages, available online or on your phone, the CAREAPP helps Howard County residents find the right support, right away.

Visit www.FindHCResources.org or download CAREAPP Howard County today.

Summer Camp Registration Starts Wednesday

Registration for the Department of Recreation & Parks' Camp Guide Summer 2026 is open. From hands-on science and art exploration to LEGO robotics and engineering, nature discovery, and a wide variety of sports, there are 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 you ready to register online as soon as possible.

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