Important Dates
Mar 21- Apr 12 Jump Rope for Heart activities at home
Mar 29 Deadline to return Learning Together Peer program applications (see below)
Apr 4 PTA Silent Auction 6:00-8:00 PM
Apr 5 Career Day for Grades 3, 4 and 5 in the morning
Apr 5 School closes at 12:20 PM-Professional Work Day for staff
Apr 8 2nd Grade Field Trip to the Maryland Science Center
Apr 9 PreK/ RECC Field Trip to the Baltimore Zoo
Apr 9 Celebrity Reader Day- wear your DLES spiritwear!
Apr 10 Volunteer Breakfast 8:00 AM
Apr 10 Plant Sale order deadline
Apr 11 PTA Meeting/ Election of Officers for 2019-20 school year
Apr 15-22 Spring Break- Schools closed
Apr 24 Spring Portraits
Apr 26 3rd Grade Field Trip to the Baltimore Zoo
Apr 27 Home, Health, Harvest event 9:00 AM-12noon
Title 1 Information
Title I Letter to Families.docx
Title I Letter to Families SPA.docx
Volunteer Breakfast
Our Volunteer Breakfast will be held on April 10th. We look forward to celebrating all of the support we have received from our many dedicated volunteers. Please return your Volunteer Breakfast RSVP to your child's teacher by April 3rd.
PTA NEWS
Our PTA Silent Auction will be Thursday, April 4th at 6pm. Gift cards and tickets to Luray Caverns, Mutiny Bar and Grille, Goldfish Swim School and Baltimore’s Center Stage Theater are among the many items awaiting your bid, and best of all, the proceeds go toward amazing cultural arts programs for our students and other family fun throughout the year.
The PTA is looking for volunteers to help with the auction next Thursday. Please click here to sign up. Even if you can't help, we hope to see you at the event!
PTA Elections April 11, 2019
The PTA invites you to consider running for a position on the board of directors for the 2019-2021 school year. The terms of several current members are coming to an end, and we need new volunteers to run. Attached, please find an outline of the responsibilities for each available position, as well as a nomination form to fill out for yourself or another member of the DLES community who might be a good fit.
Please note that the fun and important ways that the PTA supports our school depend on great volunteers like you. If we do not fill these positions, the PTA will no longer function. The workload is quite manageable if we all pitch in and most of it can be done at home, though attendance at monthly meetings is required. Please email DuckettsLanePTA@gmail.com if you have any questions.
International Night is coming! On May 17th, take a trip around the world in one fun-filled, delicious evening! Join us as we celebrate our communities’ diversity through food, traditional dress, displays, artifacts, and stage performances from the many countries our DLES families represent. If your family would like to represent your country of origin or culture, please email Erin Martin Nelson at erin.m.nelson@gmail.com by May 3rd.
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
Information for the Jump Rope for Heart activity was sent home in your child’s Thursday folder on March 21st. The whole family can join in the fun!
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION 2019-20
GREAT NEWS! You can now begin the registration process for Kindergarten online! Registration for new students or students entering public school kindergarten in fall 2019 has begun in all Howard County public elementary schools. The time to register your child is NOW! 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.
For more information please go to: https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2019/03/2019-2020-kindergarten-registration-online-enrollment-open-completion-in-schools-march-11-15-2019/
PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM 2019-20
Enrollment for our half day Pre-K programs at DLES for the 2019-20 school year has begun! The Pre-K program is a high-quality, early childhood instructional program designed to support early learning and school readiness. It aims to provide experiences that foster children’s academic, social, emotional and physical development. The Maryland State Department of Education requires that the Pre-K program be made available to students who meet priority criteria. Parents of children who will be 4 by September 1, 2019 may contact Ms. Lynette or Mrs. Grove in the DLES front office for an application package. All application information will be kept confidential and reviewed only by school staff. The school will review applications and supporting documentation and then invite students to be enrolled according to the criteria described above.
LEARNING TOGETHER PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM 2019-20
The Ducketts Lane Elementary School Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) preschool programs are making preparations for classes for the 2019-20 school year. These classes include children with and without disabilities. The program’s focus is helping children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor and social skills. Parents/guardians of children who will be 3 by September 1st or 4 years of age may contact Mrs. Grove or Ms. Lynette in the front office for an application package.
All applications must be returned by April 10th to the front office. A mandatory playdate will be held on April 24, 2019 from 11:30 AM- 12:30 PM. A limited number of openings are available for children without disabilities. Children are selected based upon screening information given on the application form and the “Ages and Stages Questionnaire”, as well as observations of the child’s participation in a playgroup. If necessary, a lottery process will be conducted. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Geiser (mary_geiser@hcpss.org) or Ms. Kest (amy_kest@hcpss.org) or call DLES.
PLANT and FLOWER SALE
DLES is having our first ever Plant and Flower Sale! The proceeds from this sale will help our school pay for Core Clicks, which is used in every classroom. Please help us by purchasing plants for your home. The plants will be available to pick up on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 9am-12noon at Health, Home, and Harvest. Flyers went home in your students' Thursday folders this week.
All orders are due on Wednesday, April 10th. Cash and checks will be accepted. Please make checks out to Ducketts Lane Elementary School.
CELEBRITY READER DAY
April 9, 2019 is DLES celebrity reader day! Special guests will be reading in classrooms throughout the day! Please wear your Ducketts Lane spirit wear or t-shirts that day.
HEALTH, HOME and HARVEST EVENT
We are hosting our 5th annual Health, Home, and Harvest Festival on Saturday, April 27th from 9:00 am-12:00 pm and we are looking for local Howard County wellness and environmental professionals to set up informational displays and demos at this year's event. This would be an opportunity for you to provide information for our DLES community on your educational resources and promote your business. In addition to being a wonderful outlet to promote your work, it is a chance for our DLES community to improve the health and wellness of their families through a fun and interactive experience. If you are interested in being one of this year's vendors, please contact Meaghan_Liwosz@hcpss.org by April 12th.
Do you have toys, clothes, books, or other items that have been accumulating in your basement or attic??? Sell these items at the Health, Home, and Harvest on Saturday, April 27th! For $20, you can purchase 2 parking spaces in the DLES parking lot to set up and sell your unwanted items. You will provide your own table(s). A limited number of tables are available to rent for an additional cost of $5. You keep the profit of everything that you sell! Remember, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. All proceeds will benefit 5th grade events and activities. For more information, contact Justine Sillers at justine_sillers@hcpss.org.
GIRLS ON THE RUN
Girls on the Run registration ppened February 10: Girls on the Run® inspires girls in grades 3-5 to be joyful, healthy, and confident by using running to teach valuable life skills. Teams of 15-20 girls meet twice weekly after school for 10 weeks. Each season concludes with the girls and their running buddies completing a 5k run. The Spring season started the week of March 17th, with the season-ending 5k scheduled for June 1, 2019, in Columbia, MD. Practices will be Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Registration opened on Sunday, February 10th. Program registration fee is $175 and includes 5k registration, water bottle, t-shirt, and all program materials. Financial assistance is available – no girl is turned away. Visit www.gotrcentralmd.org for a list of program sites and to register. Questions? Call 443-583-7740.
GT SUMMER INSTITUTES
Registration for the G/T Summer Institutes is here. You can view the catalog and find directions to register your child for these classes athttps://www.hcpss.org/f/summer/gt-summer-institutes-talent-dev-catalog.pdf.
Scholarships are available for students participating in the Free and Reduced Meals program. Please feel free to contact either Katie Martinelli (katie_martinelli@hcpss.org) or Gavin West (gavin_west@hcpss.org) if you have any questions at all.
COMMUNITY NEWS AND PROGRAMS
"More Than Karate" after school at Ducketts. Fun and Structured...the perfect way to introduce your child to the benefits of martial arts training! Register NOW - online - www.okdkarate.com!! Classes held at DLES, beginning Thursday April 4th (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 have been sent home. REGISTER ON-Line at - www.okdkarate.com...by April 2nd. 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!