Aviator Update
October 8, 2021
Thank You For A Great Week, Aviators!
Welcome, Fall! There is a great deal of information in this week's Aviator Update, so please read through it carefully.
Monday is A Week! Please remember that both Monday and Friday of next week are early dismissal days.
Ms. Denise Mandis, Principal
Attention Biker Families
Car Rider Reminders
Beginning Monday, Duke staff will be asking for your help to provide space before the bus turn in, as several of our buses have middle school runs and arrive after our car rider line has begun. We will mark three trees with yellow tape, and staff will be trying to reserve space where our buses can safely turn into the bus loop in the afternoon. Thank you for your assistance there.
- During morning Drop Off, please do not allow your child out of the car if you are parked before the crosswalk at the end of the car loop. This becomes a safety issue if students start unloading and they aren't in the car drop off loop.
- During PM pick up, in the event of rain, please don't leave your car to come to the school and get your child out of line. This becomes a safety hazard when parents leave their cars and we aren't able to keep track of what adult is getting which children.
Thank you for working to keep our Aviators safe!
Congratulations Mrs. Blakely!
MakerSpace Items Needed
Duke Outreach Program
MCAP State Testing Continues This Week
Hello Parents,
Per the Maryland State Department of Education, all students in grades 4 and 5 will participate in state testing this Fall. The students will be given the assessment they would have taken last Spring. 4th graders will take the 3rd grade test and 5th graders will take the 4th grade test. Below are the testing dates. Please make every effort to have your child at school on these days, of course as long as they are healthy and well.
October 11 and 12 - 4th Grade Math 10:00-10:45
October 11 and 12 - 5th Grade Math 9:00-9:45
Students will need their laptops, chargers, and headphones (wireless are not permitted). Please send headphones to school ASAP so we can provide for those students who don't have a set. There is also an attachment from the state department with more information.
If you have any questions about testing at Duke, please email Mrs. Snyder at jasnyder@smcps.org.
Upcoming Flu Clinic at Duke on October 20th
St. Mary's County Health Department and Maryland Partnership for Prevention will be offering flu vaccines in the SMCPS elementary and middle school settings once again this year. The date for Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary is October 20th. If you would like your child to receive the vaccine, you must complete the online registration prior to 10/14/2021. There will be no exceptions for late registration. If your online registration is not complete, or your child has a symptom or medical condition that the vaccinator feels puts your child at risk to receive the vaccination in the school setting, your child will NOT receive the vaccination even if you registered. In that scenario, you will need to contact your child's healthcare provider to make arrangements for the vaccination.
Linked here is a letter from the health department regarding the flu clinics. This link will take you to registration specifically for Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School.
When is TOO Sick for School?
- temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher (without fever-reducing medication)
- throwing up or diarrhea within 24 hours
- pink and crusty eye(s)
- COVID-like symptoms
We have many individuals within our school community who may be particularly vulnerable to illness of any kind. Your concern for their well-being and the health of our entire school is greatly appreciated.
Our nurse, Dana Lowien, is available to answer your questions! As we navigate the return of 530+ students, we appreciate your close communication. Please do not hesitate to call if you have ANY questions about your child's health needs.
COVID Testing Protocols
Free Covid testing is available without an appointment from SMCHD. The testing location has been moved from the Health Department on Peabody Street to Hollywood Volunteer Fire House.
Please check the HD portal for Covid test results. The HD will tell you that the results won't be back for 3 to 4 days but students are often able to get the results back in 1 to 2 days by checking online.
Fever of 100.4 or higher, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, diarrhea or vomiting or new onset of a severe headache or new loss of taste or smell.
A student with any one of the above symptoms will need to have a negative COVID test (either a PCR or an Antigen test) or a doctor's note with an alternative diagnosis for their return to school. Home Covid tests are not acceptable for a student's return. The student's symptoms must be resolved or be significantly improved and the student must be fever free for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medications.
Another option is for the student to remain home for 10 days from symptom onset in case it is a COVID illness.
The Health Department offers free COVID testing with no appointment. SMCPS is now accepting NEGATIVE rapid antigen COVID tests for return to school. If both tests (antigen and PCR) are performed and the send out PCR lab later results in a POSITIVE COVID test, the student will then have to remain home to complete their isolation period as determined by our local health department.
COVID-19 Testing & Vaccine Information
COVID-19 Testing Now Offered at Mass Vaccination Site in Hollywood
LEONARDTOWN, MD (September 20, 2021) - In order to meet increased demand for COVID-19 testing locally, the St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) is moving COVID-19 testing operations to the mass vaccination site at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department beginning September 22, 2021. COVID-19 testing will no longer be available at the SMCHD main office in Leonardtown, though will continue to be available at the SMCHD Hub in Lexington Park.
SMCHD COVID-19 Testing (effective September 22, 2021)
- Locations:
- Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department at 24801 MD-235 in Hollywood
- Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Drive-thru only
- Behavioral Health Hub at 21625 Great Mills Rd in Lexington Park
- Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Drive-thru, bike-thru, or walk up
- Enter from Saratoga Drive and follow directional signage (traffic pattern has changed from former PNC Bank)
- Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department at 24801 MD-235 in Hollywood
- Pre-registering is recommended for reduced wait times at both locations
- No appointment or doctor’s order needed for testing
- Free of charge (no out-of-pocket cost, co-payment, co-insurance, etc.)
- Available for those who live or work in St. Mary’s County
COVID-19 vaccinations are also available in Hollywood and Lexington Park for anyone age 12 and older. Appointments are highly recommended; walk-ups will be accepted as vaccine supply allows. For more information or to make a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, visit smchd.org/covid-19-vaccine or call the SMCHD COVID-19 Community Hotline at (301) 475-4330. Please review the allergy guidance and the FAQs for SMCHD COVID-19 Vaccination prior to registering for a vaccine appointment. Pre-registration is available for those who are waiting to become eligible for their initial or booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
For more information about COVID-19 updates and information, visit smchd.org/coronavirus.
PTA Information
This school year is an election year for the Duke PTA executive board and a new board will be elected in April. If you have at all considered taking a more active role in supporting your school’s students and staff this is the job for you! Have questions or want more information, email the current board at cwfdespta@gmail.com.
Be on the look out for more information from your Duke PTA about some of our upcoming events, including a Chick-fil-a meal sale fundraiser and a Halloween Candy Walk and food truck night!
Did you know the PTA has several ongoing fundraisers? You can earn money for Duke easily in your everyday life!
Amazon Smile: follow these directions to link your Amazon account and earn money for Duke on most purchases.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/homepage?orig=%2F
Scrip Gift Card Program: download the Raise Right app and use the following enrollment code to link your account to Duke. We get a portion of each gift card sale. Any questions about the program email DukePTA.scrip@gmail.com
Enrollment Code: 669ECLCL52733
Box Tops for Education: box tops have gone digital! Download the Box Tops app and scan your receipts to give Duke credit for your box tops purchases.
Box Tops For Education
Upcoming Key Dates
October 11-October 12: MCAP State Testing Grades 4-5
October 11: Two Hour Early Dismissal
October 13: National Walk to School Day (rescheduled)
October 15: Two Hour Early Dismissal
October 20: Chick-fil-a fundraiser meal pickups 5-6pm (more information to come from the PTA)
October 29: PTA Candy Walk & Food Truck Night 5:00-7:00 (More information to come)
November 10: Picture Re-take/Make up Day
Volunteers Needed!
Mealtime At Duke
Visit the Nutrislice webpage to find menus and nutrition information.
We need laptop chargers, iPads & Textbooks Returned
If you attended a different SMCPS school last year, items can still be returned to our media center, as we have a centralized inventory and will get items back where they belong.