Owl Observer: May 17, 2019

Fri, 05/31/2019 - 2:29pm

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

May 17  School closes at 12:20pm-Staff Professional Day

May 17  International Night  6:30-8:00pm

May 21  5th Grade Field Trip to Thomas Viaduct MS

May 21  Advanced Concert (4th/5th Orch, 5th Band) 6:00pm at Thomas Viaduct MS

May 22  1st Grade Field Trip to Sharp’s Farm

May 23  3rd Grade Field Trip-Baltimore Zoo- rescheduled date

May 24  RECC and PreK Field Day activities- 9:15am/ 2:00pm

May 27  School closed- Memorial Day

May 29  4th Grade Field Trip- Myrtle Woods Farm

May 30  Kindergarten Orientation for NEW 2019-20 students/parents  4:00-5:00pm

May 31  Field Day:  Grades 3-5  9:00-11:30am / Grades K-2  12:00-2:30pm

June   3  Dine & Dance Family Event 5:00-7:00pm

June   4  School closes at 12:20pm- Staff Professional Day

June   5  Chorus Concert  6:00pm at DLES

June   5  Beginner Concert (3rd Orch/ 4th Band) 7:15pm at DLES

June   7  All Media books due back to DLES

June 10  5th Grade Simulated Congressional Hearing

June 13  Library Night 6:00pm

June 14  1st Grade Author’s Tea  9:30-10:30am

June 14  RECC/ PreK End of Year Activity   10:30am / 2:30pm

June 14  2nd Grade Writing Showcase  2:00pm

 

MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATION

Dear Families,

 

What a great week! The Night of Excellence and Art Show were a huge success.  So many families were able to join us to celebrate all the work students have done in reading, math, science, music and art. So much fun! I want to give a huge shout out to Mrs. Mellendick, Mrs. Martinelli, and Mr. West for organizing an amazing event Thursday night! Also, to all the DLES staff volunteers who helped make this a fun event for our students and their families. DLES is so lucky to have your support!

 

Please call the school to register your pre-k or kindergarten child for September 2019.  Our current enrollment for kindergarten 2019-20 is low and we want all of our community members to register as soon as possible!  Call the school Monday to make an appointment.

 

Please let the front office know if you are moving over the summer.  We want to set your child up for success at their new school and will need mailing information to send your child’s records to their new school.  Please call 410-313-5050 with your new address and name of their new school. 

 

Also, save the date for June 3rd when we will hold our annual Dine & Dance event from 5:00-7:00 PM here at school. Pre-order pizza will be available. The flyer to pre-order pizza was sent home yesterday in your child’s Thursday folder and is due to DLES by May 24th.  Join us for this end of the year family event!

 

We are in the home stretch now! We have a lot going on this up-coming week.  Please review the announcements below and dates to join in the fun.

 

Have a wonderful weekend,

 

Mrs. Balter and Mrs. Madden

 

ARE YOU MOVING?

Please let us know as soon as possible if your child will not be attending Ducketts Lane next year.  If your family is moving within the DLES attendance area, please bring your new residency documents into the front office so we can update your child’s records.  If you are moving to another Howard County area, another MD school district or out of state, please notify the front office.  It is extremely important that we have an enrollment number that is as accurate as possible.  Enrollment affects the number of teachers assigned to our schools. You may call us at 410-313-5050 or stop in between the hours of 8:00am- 3:00pm during the summer.

 

PTA NEWS

International Night is tonight!  Take a trip around the world in one fun-filled, delicious evening!  Join us from 6:30-8:00pm as we celebrate our communities’ diversity through food, traditional dress, displays, artifacts, and stage performances from the many countries our DLES families represent. 

 

Join us in congratulating our newly elected PTA Executive Board for 2019-20:

President: Bethany Lightcap

1st Vice President: Tasha Vanterpool

Treasurer: Nancy Millan

Corresponding Secretary: Jacqui Lom
PTA Council Delegate: Christopher Lawrence

 

We still have two open positions that we are seeking committed volunteers to fill-          2nd Vice President and Recording Secretary.

 

PARCC AND MAP TESTING

We would like to share the upcoming dates when the 2019 Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) assessments will be administered at Ducketts Lane ES. Below are the assigned testing dates for students in grades 3 and 5. Testing for most students will occur between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm during each assigned day (listed below). Please carefully review the dates below for your students’ testing days and ensure that your student(s) get a good night’s rest and arrive on time at the start of school each day by 8:35 am.

  • Grade 3:  5/20, 5/21, 5/22
  • Grade 5:  6/3, 6/4, 6/5, 6/6                                                                                                           

Students in Grades 1 and 2 will be taking MAP testing on the following dates:

  • Grade 1:  5/23, 5/24, 5/28
  • Grade 2:  5/29, 5/30, 5/31

 

SPRING INDIVIDUAL STUDENT PORTRAITS

Individual student photos were sent home in your child’s Thursday folder on May 16th.  A price sheet was included in the photo package.  If you would like to purchase any of the photos, please keep the photos you wish to purchase then return the payment and any unwanted photos to DLES.  You may pay online or send a check payable to Strawbridge in the payment envelope to DLES.  Please contact the DLES front office with any questions.  Please return the pictures or payment by May 30th.

 

YEARBOOK ORDERS 

Yearbook order forms will come home in Kindergarten - 4th grade student's Thursday folders on May 23rd.   The cost of each yearbook is $10.00.  Yearbook orders must be placed by Monday, June 10th.  Quantities are limited and orders will be filled on a first paid, first served basis.  The yearbooks will be sent home on June 17th.

 

Instructions to order a Yearbook online are as follows:

Go to www.strawbridge.net

Click on the red box labeled "Pay or Order Online"

Enter our Ducketts Lane code: 110501

Click View Gallery

Click on Yearbook

Enter your email address

Then proceed with the checkout process

 

Or you may send the completed Yearbook envelope to the front office with a CHECKmade payable to Strawbridge for the amount of $10.00. Please do not make the check payable to DLES.  Please do not place an order for your 5th grade student.  Our successful fundraising efforts and a planned donation from the PTA will cover the cost of a yearbook for each 5th grade student!  If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Forman in the Front Office.

 

ADVANCED BAND AND ORCHESTRA CONCERT        Tuesday, May 21st

6:00pm at Thomas Viaduct MS

  • Students need to arrive at TVMS by 5:30pm to prepare for the concert.
  • Concert Dress for all students: white shirts, black pants/skirt, black shoes & socks
  • This performance is mandatory for all 5th Grade Band and 4th & 5th Grade Orchestra students
  • Students are required to stay for the entire performance to support their peers.
  • Please contact Mrs. McKay or Mr. Solomowitz if you have a transportation need or if you have any questions.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION   2019-20

The time to register your child is NOW!  Registration for new students or students entering public school kindergarten in fall 2019 has begun in all Howard County public elementary schools.  Children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2019 must be 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2019.  Children entering first grade in the fall of 2019 must be 6 years old on or before September 1, 2019.  For details about registration and enrollment, visit www.hcpss.org/enroll/.  If you have any questions or would like to schedule a registration appointment, please call the DLES front office at 410-313-5050. 

 

NEW KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION

Incoming 2019-2020 Kindergarten parents and students are invited to join us from4:00-5:00 pm on May 30th to meet the teachers, explore the kindergarten classrooms and enjoy a popsicle!  Parents will receive information about the upcoming school year, and students will get to spend time in a kindergarten classroom!  Please join us!

 

FIELD DAY    May 31st    Grades 3-5  9:00-11:30pm  /  Grades K-2  12:00-2:30pm

Field Day is a fun, school-wide event where your students will participate in fun activities to celebrate and showcase their sportsmanship, teamwork, and leadership skills learned in PE this year.  Please check your child’s Thursday folder for more information on Field Day and a parent volunteer form.  If you can volunteer, please return the form to Ms. Borth by May 24th. 

 

Please dress your child in the following colored t-shirt for Field Day activities:

Kindergarten-Red                               Third Grade- Black

First Grade- Green                               Fourth Grade- Orange

Second Grade- Gray                             Fifth Grade- 5th Grade Class of 2019 t-shirt

 

DINE AND DANCE FAMILY EVENT      Monday, June 3rd       5:00-7:00pm

Join us for our DLES End of the Year Celebration for the whole family!  Fun activities include dancing with Bristol Sounds DJ’s, face painting, tattoos and our always popular cake walk!  Everyone is invited to bring their own picnic dinner or pre-order pizza & 4 bottles of water ($10).

Pizza pre-order forms were sent home in your child’s Thursday folder yesterday and are due by Friday, May 24th.  Payment by cash or check only.  Pizza must be pre-ordered- no extra pizzas will be available for sale that night. 

 

MEDIA CENTER INFORMATION

The end of the school year is fast approaching. The last day for students to check out library books will be Friday, May 24, 2019. All DLES library books will be due back no later than Friday, June 7, 2019. Current overdue book notices are in the Thursday folders. Please locate and return all overdue books as soon as possible. For books that are lost or damaged, we accept cash or check made payable to DLES for the replacement cost indicated on the overdue notices. Any questions-email Cathy_Hastings@hcpss.org. Thank you so much for all your continued support!!

 

KINDERGARTEN END OF YEAR CELEBRATION

Parents are invited to join us in their child's classroom from 2:00-3:00 pm on June 18th to celebrate all we have accomplished this school year!  Mark your calendars!  More information will be coming home soon!

 

UPDATE ON THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

The Maryland State Department of Education has approved HCPSS’ request for a waiver of one school day. As a result, the last day of school for students is Friday, June 21. 

The final, updated calendar for the 2018-2019 school year includes:

  • Tuesday, June 18: Last day for half-day Pre-K/RECC
  • Wed., June 19-Fri., June 21: Schools dismiss three-hours early (12:20pm-DLES)
  • Friday, June 21: Last day of schools for students

SOLVED!  After School Transportation/Childcare and Year-Round Camps - Wow!  The Okinawan Karate Dojo, business partner of Ducketts Lane, will be providing after school transportation (and more!) at their new facility on 4900 Waterloo Rd in Ellicott City  (Rte 103/Montgomery Rd)!  Ready for the 2019-20 school year and fully-licensed by Howard County and MD State, the Okinawan Karate Dojo has your solution!  Services include: transportation from school after dismissal to the dojohomework assistance, game and snack time, recreational activity (traditional karate, tumbling, etc!), a Fitness Ninja Obstacle Course, and so much more!  For information on this and their 9-weeks of summer Fitness Ninja Camp...visitOKDkarate.com or call (443) 574-8999.

 

BEFORE AND AFTER CARE

Registration is now open for the Howard County Recreation and Parks Before and After Care program at Ducketts Lane for the 2019-2020 school year.  For more information please call 410-313-7275 or visithttps://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Recreation-and-Parks/Child-Care/Elementary-School

 

COMMUNITY NEWS AND PROGRAMS

Please visit the Community News and Programs page at

http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/ for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.