IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
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 and Flower Sale order deadline
Apr 11 Title I information meeting 6:30-7:00pm
Apr 11 PTA Meeting/ Election of Officers for 2019-20 school year 7:00pm
Apr 12 Jump Rope for Heart-last day to turn in donations!
Apr 15-22 Spring Break- Schools closed
Apr 24 Spring Portraits
Apr 24 Report cards issued to students
Apr 25 Chick Fil A Night
Apr 26 3rd Grade Field Trip to the Baltimore Zoo
Apr 27 Home, Health, Harvest event 9:00 AM-12noon
Apr 27 Plant and Flower sale pick up day
MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATION
Dear Families,
Thank you so much to our terrific PTA! The Silent Auction was lots of fun and raised money to help support our Cultural Arts programs at DLES. Please join us during our busy week ahead for our Volunteer Breakfast, Title I information meeting, and PTA elections.
Over Spring Break, consider planning a family outing to see the HCPSS Annual Spring Student Art Exhibition at the Mall in Columbia. Panels displaying artwork from all HCPSS schools will be displayed at the Mall from April 9th-21st, including outstanding pieces from our own DLES students. It is a fantastic display of talent from students in elementary, middle and high schools!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Mrs. Balter and Mrs. Madden
PTA NEWS
PTA Elections April 11, 2019
PTA is looking for dedicated volunteers to run for key officer positions! President, Vice President, Recording Secretary and Treasurer are all up for grabs! Don’t miss out on the chance to make an impact! Please email DuckettsLanePTA@gmail.com by Tuesday, April 9th to nominate yourself or a friend!
Silent Auction
Thank you so much to all of the volunteers, staff, and families who made last night’s auction such a success! With your help, the PTA raised over $3,000 to fund more programs to benefit the students of Ducketts Lane!
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.
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.
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 the Core Clicks program, 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.
All orders are due on Wednesday, April 10th. Cash and checks will be accepted. Please make checks out to Ducketts Lane Elementary School.
TITLE I FUNDING FOR 2019-20
Title I is a Federally funded program that allocates funds based on Free and Reduced-priced Meals (FARMs). HCPSS will be adding Ducketts Lane to the elementary schools receiving Title I funding for the 2019-2020 school year.
Designated Title I schools receive funding to increase staffing, provide additional interventions in reading and/or mathematics, and increase family involvement. Title I, Part A funds are allocated to schools in order to ensure all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. The goal of this Federal program is to close the achievement gap for all students.
Please join us for one of the following family information nights. The first meeting will be on April 11th from 6:30pm-7:00pm in the media center. The second meeting will take place on May 9th from 6:00pm- 6:30pm prior to the PTA Bingo Night.
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
There is one week left in our Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. All online donations/checks are due Friday, April 12th! Thanks so much to all of our families who have helped!
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.
The deadline has been extended! All applications must be returned by April 10thto 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.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION 2019-20
GREAT NEWS! You can now begin the registration process for Kindergarten online! 2019 has begun in all Howard County public elementary schools. The time to register Registration for new students or students entering public school kindergarten in fallyour 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 bySeptember 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.
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.
FREE SPRING BREAK MEALS PROGRAM: The Howard County Public School System is partnering with the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services, the Howard County Library System and the Community Action Council of Howard County to provide nutrition for children in need during Spring Break.
Lunches will be served from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday, April 15 through Thursday, April 18 at the following locations:
All children age 18 and younger will receive a free meal. There is no application, enrollment or cost for this Spring Break meal program.
GT SUMMER INSTITUTE
The HCPSS GT Summer Institutes are still accepting registrations for the summer 2019 program. Spaces are available in a variety of elementary classes that provide enrichment experiences in technology, science, engineering, advanced art, and more. Visit https://www.hcpss.org/summer-programs/ for further information. Please make sure to click on the GT SITD link towards the bottom of the page. Classes with a few open spots are noted on the attached list.
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.