Aviator Updates
SY23 CWFDES FAMILY ISSUE #19
A WEEK: January 9-13
Greetings Duke Families.
We had a fantastic first week back reconnecting with our students! I was truly impressed with every classroom I visited throughout the week. I couldn't even tell that we had just returned from a 17 day break because students were showing SOARing behaviors everywhere I looked.
More good news: I am thrilled to announce that Ms. Stephanie Magill will be joining us in the main office as our new records secretary. Her start date hasn't been finalized, but we expect her to start transitioning from her current role as paraeducator this week. She can be reached at samagill@smcps.org.
Wishing You Well,
Katie Kortokrax
Capture this year's school memories by ordering your yearbook TODAY!
Attention 3rd Grade Parents/Guardians!
Duke PTA Upcoming Events
Let's Make The New Year POP!
Harris Teeter VIC Card: Funds for Duke Elementary (Use Code 5006)
NEW! Menu Changes
[Current] Lunch Changes for this week:
- 1/9 Breakfast Breakfast Pizza (sub for Smoothies)
- 1/10 Peach cup (sub for Strawberry cup)
[Last Week's] Duke Morning News
Stay tuned for this week's Duke's Morning News in next week's update!
CWFDES - Where Children SOAR!
Primary Fridge of Fame Recipients
Joke of the Week!
Q: What happened to the bee that fell in love?
A: It got stuck on its honey.
This week's joke was submitted by Henry H. from Ms. Guy's class. Do you have a joke that you'd like featured in the weekly update? Click here to submit it!
School Resource Officer (SRO) program expands to elementary schools
A Resource for Families: Understood.org
Looking for help and recommendations for a child who may learn or think differently?
To help those who learn and think differently discover their potential, take control, find community, and stay on positive paths along each stage of life’s journey, visit Understood.org.
January is National Radon Action Month!
Model United Nations Opportunity for 5th Graders!
The St. Mary's Association of Model United Nations (SMAMUN) has organized an annual MUN conference for over a decade, which has allowed hundreds of students in the county to engage in the field of international affairs as well as with each other.
This year's conference will be held on February 10th and 11th, 2023, and registration is open until January 10th.
American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge
Our American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge event will kick off on January 9th! All donations will be made online. Students will take part in fun heart healthy activities during the week of February 14 to celebrate their hard work in helping the American Heart Association. The celebration will occur during their scheduled PE time. February 20th will be the last day to raise online donations. Students will receive the wristband and key tag items as they earn them. Any other thank you items (jump ropes, socks etc) will be ordered on or about February 20th and normally ship to our school sometime in March.
We need your help to accomplish our goal of having 100% of our families to know Hands-Only CPR, and you can help us by registering your child and spreading the word.
Here’s how you can help:
Register: CWFDuke Registration
Complete Finn’s Mission: Watch a 2-minute video to know Hands-Only CPR, spot the signs of a stroke and more!
Share with friends and family through social media, text and/or email
Our goal is to have 100% of our students register online and complete Finn’s Mission.
The class that has the most Finn’s Missions complete will get an extra 30 minute PE class.
Helpful Links from Previous Updates
PTA Membership Link: We love our PTA. Members can be as involved (or not involved) as they would like. We appreciate any support you can offer; click here to sign up!
Register to be a Volunteer: New for the 2022-23 school year. Volunteers must apply annually for approval. Vetting of applications can take several weeks. Field trip chaperones must have successfully completed the volunteer application process before they can be considered.
Here Comes the Bus App: This application allows parents, guardians and students to receive push notifications and email notifications for when their student’s bus approaches their bus stop.
CWFDES Absence Reporting: Click here to report absences to ensure they are marked lawful.
MySchoolBucks: MySchoolBucks is an online payment service that provides a convenient way for parents/guardians to pay for school-related purchases by using their credit/debit card or electronic check.Meal Benefit Application: Families must submit an application to receive free or reduced-price lunch.
Interested in Subbing at Duke? You will need to attend a one-day virtual class. Pick one day from the several class dates available. Contact Cindy Toothacker with questions at cctoothacker@smcps.org.
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary
We welcome your questions and inquiries. Please call 240-309-4658, refer to the SMCPS Back to School website, or our CWFDES website for additional information.
Katie Kortokrax, Principal
Zach Adams, Assistant Principal
Email: klkortokrax@smcps.org
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/cwfdes/
Location: 23595 Hayden Farm Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Phone: (240) 309-4658
Twitter: @CWFDES_SMCPS