CWFDES Back-to-School Update
2022-2023 School Year
Welcome To A New School Year
Greetings Duke Families!
Welcome to the start of the 2022-2023 school year. In just a couple short weeks, the Duke hallways and classrooms will be filled with students ready to learn and SOAR. All of the Duke staff are ready to welcome back our Aviator family.
Weekly newsletters will be sent each Monday morning to parents and guardians, and they will contain upcoming dates of interest, highlights from our classrooms and students, as well as important information from St. Mary's County Schools.
Enjoy the last two weeks of summer!
Kindly,
Ms. Katie Kortokrax & Mr. Zach Adams
Upcoming Dates
HAC Opens for Parents: Friday, August 19th at 5:00 PM
Chalk the Walk: Sunday, August 21st from 4:00-5:00 PM
Open House Compass: Monday, August 22nd from 9:00-10:00AM
Open House K-5: Monday, August 22nd from 1:00-3:00 PM
First Day of School K-5: Wednesday, August 24th
Open House Pre-K: Wednesday, August 24th @ 9:30AM
First Day of School Pre-K: Friday, August 26th
Labor Day (Schools Closed): Monday, September 5th
Home Access Center (HAC) Opening - Fri, Aug 19
Friday, August 19 - Home Access Center opens by 5:00pm.
You will NOT be able to get into HAC prior to 5PM on 8/19.
Parents who are in need of their HAC login information should email Mrs. Kathy O'Keefe at kmokeefe@smcps.org. She will retrieve the information at her earliest convenience and will email the information to you. HAC login information will not be provided over the phone.
Please Note: Official teacher assignments for students will be available at Open House. Information in HAC is subject to change based upon school and student needs. The date for HAC to open to parents/guardians is August 19th, but FINALIZED class lists will be published at Open House.
Open Houses & Supply Lists
Feel free to bring in school supplies the day of Open House to leave in the classrooms!
We can't wait to welcome all of our students and families back into the building. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us. Meet your student's teachers, visit classrooms, visit the PTA table, and enjoy the excitement of a new school year.
*Please note: There will be no classroom changes on the day of Open House.*
- COMPASS Open House: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
- K-5 Open House: 1:00-3:00 pm
Pre-K Open House will start promptly at 9 on Wednesday, August 24th.
Transportation Information
Bus Stop Locator & Here Comes the Bus App
Bus Routes are now available through the SMCPS online look-up feature. These routes and stops will be constantly updated between now and the start of school.
Select this link to learn how to view the real-time location of your child's bus. We highly recommend signing up for this helpful app!
ATTENTION: Every Day Car Riders, Bikers and/or Walkers
If you are electing to transport your child home from school, you need to sign up for a carpool pass PRIOR TO THE 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL by entering information on this form. Your carpool placard will be ready for pick-up on Monday at Open House if you complete the survey by COB Thursday, August 18th. You will be asked to present ID in order to receive your carpool placard.
- Completion of the survey will generate an assigned number that will enable us to match a vehicle with a child/children. You will only need 1 number for your family.
- Up to 3 placards with the same number may be generated for you.
- We are not able to accommodate changes to carpool throughout the week. If you choose carpool, we ask that you use this method each day for pick-up.
- You do not need a pass in order to drop your child off in the morning.
- Student pick up begins at 3:10.
For students who may be walking or biking to and from Duke daily, please fill out this form (also linked below). After you submit, we will print the agreement, but we will also need your hand-written signature which you can provide at Open House on August 22nd. It is recommended that walkers/bikers also complete car rider paperwork to receive a vehicle placard (for cases of inclement weather).
*Please note that all pre-k and kindergarten walkers/bike-riders must be signed out daily by an adult. Permission to sign out a student is reserved for the parent/guardian or an adult who is listed on the child’s emergency contact list.*
Acceptable Use Policy
Elementary Link: https://bit.ly/22022-2023_Elementary_AUPForm
Free & Reduced School Breakfast and Lunch
The meal benefits that allowed us to provide free meals to students regardless of income status have ceased. Free and reduced-price meals are still available, but families must submit an application for this benefit.
An electronic application submission is preferred, though paper copies will be made available.
There are many additional benefits of submitting a meal application form. These perks include waivers on college applications, dual-enrollment courses with the College of Southern Maryland, and discounted fees to participate in St. Mary’s County Parks and Rec programs. Families can request more information by contacting SMCPS' Food and Nutrition Services Office at 301.475.4256, Option 5, or via email at foodservice@smcps.org.
Menus for School Meals are visible through Nutrislice. Check it out!
If you want to view your child's meal purchases and add funds, use the My School Bucks link.
My School Bucks Information for Student/Families.
Join our PTA!
Click here to access the PTA Membership Form or scan the code on the right. We truly appreciate you joining our cause!
Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC)
Duke Elementary is fortunate to get the support of an additional counselor through our military partnerships. Additional information will be forthcoming. Stay tuned.
Fall SMAC Admission Updates
The admission fee for regular-season sporting events will increase from $5.00 to $6.00 at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year for varsity, junior varsity and freshman games including all double/triple headers. Admission fees for SMAC Championship events will be $8.00.
Please click here for additional information: Update for Community
Other Helpful Resources
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: Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School, Hayden Farm Lane, Leonardtown, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 309-4658
Twitter: @CWFDES_SMCPS