IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Jan 15 Hearing and Vision Screening -grades Pre K, K , 1st & new students to MD
Jan 15 5th Grade Band Concert 6:00-7:00pm at Thomas Viaduct MS
Jan 15 4th & 5th Grade Orchestra Concert 7:00-8:00pm at Thomas Viaduct MS
Jan 18 1st Grade Field Trip to Robinson Nature Center
Jan 21 Schools & Offices closed- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan 23 3rd Grade Orchestra & 4th Grade Band Concert 6:00pm at DLES
Jan 24 Middle School Orientation for Parents of Rising 6th Graders 6:30pm at TVMS
Jan 28 School closes at 12:20pm- End of the marking period
Jan 28 PTA Spirit Night at Chuck E. Cheese in Laurel 12noon-9:00pm
Jan 31 Kindergarten (Sneeringer/Shull only) Field trip- Elkridge Library
Jan 31 Cozy Night of Reading 6:30-8:00pm
Feb 1 Read-a-thon begins!
Feb 5 Schools closed for students-Countywide Professional Learning Day for Staff
Feb 6 Report cards issued
Feb 7 & 8 Class pictures
Feb 7 & 8 Dental Clinic at DLES
MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATION
Dear Families,
Thank you for all of your continued patience in the car loop each morning and afternoon at DLES. Safety remains a top priority and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to ensure that our car riders arrive and are dismissed from Ducketts Lane in a safe and timely manner. We encourage all car riders to exit their vehicles on the passenger side when being dropped off in order to further ensure all students remain safe.
As the winter months continue, please see to it that your student dresses for the cold weather by wearing their coats, hats, scarves and gloves each day in order to keep warm in the frigid temperatures. Also, students may check our cafeteria's lost and found for any misplaced items that may have been turned in.
With the extremely cold temperatures we are experiencing, we thought it would be helpful to provide some information on pedestrian safety, particularly as we have a significant number of walkers at our school. With the number of layers of clothes this weather has necessitated, student pedestrians may be bundled up more than usual and not able to pay as close attention to the traffic around them as they are during regular condition.
We would also like to thank you all for talking with your children about safety tips last week. The teachers will continue to remind our students of important safety rules to follow when walking home. Below are the reminders that homeroom teachers shared with their students:
We appreciate your continued support during this school year! We are all looking forward to 2019 and the exciting events that are set to take place at DLES.
Best regards,
Mrs. Balter & Mrs. Madden
PTA NEWS
Join the PTA at Chuck E. Cheese in Laurel (936 Fairlawn Ave.) for a Spirit Fundraiser on Monday, January 28th from 12 noon to 9:00pm. Students are dismissed from DLES at 12:20pm that day so you will have plenty of time to join us!
Let's get ready to READ! The DLES Read-a-Thon starts in a few weeks, and we want to see which classroom can log the most reading minutes from January 31st (Cozy Night of Reading Kick-Off) – March 2nd (Dr. Seuss’ birthday). Students will have interactive online accounts where they can learn and personalize their own “owlvatars" (please check your student’s folders for more information coming in a few weeks). Tell family and friends to sponsor your great students and inspire a love of books while helping to support DLES too!
HEARING and VISION SCREENING
Hearing and Vision Screening will be held at Ducketts Lane for grades Pre K, K, 1st and new students to Maryland on January 15th and rescreen on January 31st. Information will be sent home in the Thursday folders. Please call the Health Room if you have any questions at 410-313-1739.
DENTAL CLINIC FORMS DUE NOW
In school dental care is coming to Ducketts Lane on February 7th and 8th! The required form came home in Thursday folders before Winter Break. If you have not sent in a consent form and are interested, please call the Health Room at 410-313-1739.
WINTER CONCERT INFORMATION
January 15th - 6:00 pm – 5th Grade Band Concert @Thomas Viaduct MS
All 5th Grade Band students should report to TVMS by 5:30 pm.
January 15th - 7:00pm - 4th& 5th Grade Orchestra @Thomas Viaduct MS
All 4th & 5th Grade Orchestra students should report to TVMS by 6:30pm.
January 23rd - 6:00pm - 3rd Grade Orchestra & 4th Grade Band Concert @DLES
All 3rd Grade Orchestra and 4th Grade Band students should report to DLES by 5:30pm.
Students will need their own transportation both to and from the concerts. The Winter Concerts are mandatory for all Band and Orchestra students.
Concert Dress
All students should wear a plain white dress shirt with black/dark dress pants (or skirt) and dark dress shoes and socks. No tank tops please! Ladies, if you are wearing a skirt please be sure that it is knee length or wear black leggings/tights underneath.
CHORUS REHEARSALS START NEXT WEEK!
If your 4th or 5th grade child hasn't signed up yet, please use the links below to do so. Fourth grade rehearsals will be on Tuesdays from 11:30-12:00 and fifth grade rehearsals will also be on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:00. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. McCoy at christen_mccoy@hcpss.org.
4th grade chorus sign up:
https://goo.gl/forms/tAYR7vRbLQ2W82xy2
5th grade chorus sign up:
https://goo.gl/forms/MrtGUAHIhkT1CIy32
MIDDLE SCHOOL ORIENTATION for Parents of Rising 6th Graders
Thursday, January 24th 6:30pm TVMS Cafeteria
If you are a parent of a current 5th grader at DLES, please join the Thomas Viaduct MS staff at the Middle School Orientation. The program will provide information on the Middle School Program of Studies and the Gifted and Talented Program.
Submit Your Videos for our new CARE Connection Morning Announcement
At Ducketts Lane we CARE! We would love videos of Parents/Guardians/Families saying our morning CARE Pledge! You can even say it together with your child in your video. If your family speaks another language, feel free to submit your CARE video in another language. You can submit your videos via email to Mrs. Shappell at misty_shappell@hcpss.org
Be sure to use the following script:
"Hi My name is _______. I am _______ 's (Mom/Dad/Grandparent...etc).
At Ducketts Lane, We CARE.
We are CARING, Achieving, and Ready to Learn Every Day!"
***If you are going to record in a different language, use the script below****
"Hi My name is _______. I am _______ 's (Mom/Dad/Grandparent...etc).
going to teach you how to say the CARE Pledge in ________. (language)
_____ ____ ______, ______, ______ _______ _____ _____ _____ _____."
Now you try it! Repeat after me: __________________________.
"Thank you for learning some _____(language) with us today!"
ROAD TO KINDERGARTEN WORKSHOPS JAN. 23rd, 24th & 30th
Do you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2019?
Please join us for an information session about kindergarten in the Howard County Public School System.
At this workshop you will learn:
Sessions are designed for adults only. Child care is available for children ages 2 and older. Doors will open at 6 p.m. to allow time for parking, child care drop off, and check-in. Sessions begin promptly at 6:30. We anticipate large crowds so please allow yourself ample time. Choose a session that is convenient for you. No registration required. If Howard County public schools are closed for inclement weather, that day’s session is canceled.
All sessions will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia
Centennial High School, 4300 Centennial Lane, Ellicott City
Hammond High School, 8800 Guilford Road, Columbia
COZY NIGHT OF READING January 31st
Please join us for our annual Cozy Night of Reading at Ducketts Lane on January 31st beginning at 6:30pm. Look for additional information coming home in your child’s folder in the coming weeks!
Sign up for "More Than Karate" after school at Ducketts Lane!
Fun and Structured...the perfect way to introduce your child to the benefits of martial arts training! Register NOW online at www.okdkarate.com! Classes will be held at DLES, beginning Thursday Jan. 24th (every Thursday for 10 weeks), 3:25-4:15pm!
Led by adult instructors from THE OKINAWAN KARATE DOJO, students leave class smiling, focused, more respectful, and skilled with sound self-defense basics! Flyers were sent home or REGISTER online at www.okdkarate.com by January 22nd.
Call 443-574-8999 or email morethankarate@gmail.com for more info on our AFTER-SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION and CAMP services! NEW LOCATION - 4900 Waterloo Rd in 21043!
Ducketts Lane ES Winter 2019
Before & After School Classes with Howard County Recreation & Parks:
Learn Now Music After School Drums
Grades K-5/Classes: 6/Wednesdays starting Feb 6/ 3:20-4:20pm/$139
Learn Now Music After School Viva Violin
Grades K-5/Classes: 6/Wednesdays starting Feb 6/ 3:20-4:20pm/$139
Little LEGO® Engineers with Tech Scientific
Grades K-3/Classes: 8/Thursdays starting Feb 21/ 3:25-4:25pm/$145
Robot Rumble with TECH Scientific
Grades 3-5/Classes: 8/Wednesdays starting Jan 30/ 3:25-4:25pm $145
Virtual Reality with Scratch with C3 Cyber Club
Grades 3-5/Classes: 6/Wednesdays starting Feb 13 3:25-4:25pm/$145
TGA Premier Youth Tennis
6-11 yrs/ Classes: 6/Wednesdays starting Feb 13 3:25-4:25pm /$90
No class when schools are closed or have February 6, 6pm!
For Complete information on these Before & After School classes, including how to Register, please go to www.howardcountymd.gov/afterschool
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.