Aviator Updates
SY24 CWFDES Family Issue #12
A WEEK: November 13-17
Hello Aviator Families,
November 13th is World Kindness Day and a wonderful way to start our week. We encourage students to wear clothes with kind messages and we invite our community to perform random acts of kindness starting tomorrow and leading into Thanksgiving Week. Let's create a sea of positivity and warmth within our halls, and spread kindness like confetti!
If you haven't filled out the Impact Aid form, it really is imperative that you do so before Tuesday, November 14. We sent a paper copy home with all students who haven't submitted their form online on Thursday. Please check your child's backpack or folder.
Kindly,
Katie Kortokrax, Principal
Zach Adams, Assistant Principal
P.S. Look for the next issue of The Aviator Update on Sunday, November 26th.
We hope our Duke Military Families had a fantastic Veterans Day.
Thanks to all who were able to join us for our Military Appreciation Event!
- Mon, Nov 13 - World Kindness Day: Wear clothes with kind messages.
- Tues, Nov 14 - Impact Aid Deadline (All Students)
- Fri, Nov 17 - Picture Retake Day
- Nov 22-24 - Thanksgiving Break, No School
Our 4th & 5th graders engaged in a data review with Ms. Kortokrax & Ms. Snyder!
CWFDES Yearbook Theme Contest!
Students, please submit your theme ideas by Wednesday, November 15th.
Aviator Nation, we need your help in coming up with a theme for the 2024 yearbook. Some themes from previous years were "Duke - Where Children SOAR!", "Back Together Again!" and last year's "SOARING to New Heights and Beyond!" If your theme is chosen, your yearbook will be FREE! You can submit this form multiple times.
Please submit your ideas using this form.
Our Read-A-Thon continues through Monday, November 20th! We're counting on you and your student(s) to make it a success. If you haven't already, please take a moment to activate your child’s personal reader page by clicking here. It only takes a minute or two, and your support will greatly assist us in meeting our reading and fundraising goals.
At Duke Elementary, we value literacy because the ability to read and write well opens endless possibilities for our students. Our school goal this year is to read 115,000 minutes. We are counting on you to encourage your students to read (or listen to you read) 30 minutes a night during this window. If you'd like to share a picture(s) of your student(s) reading, we'd love to feature it on our Duke Morning News. Submit your pictures here.
Duke Elementary - Where Children SOAR!
Congratulations to Our INTERMEDIATE Fridge of Fame Students!
News from Our PTA
Cafeteria Info (& Menu Changes)
Click here for the Menu. Due to supply chain issues, menu changes occur. We recognize that the decision to bring lunch from home or purchase lunch from school is often dependent on the menu.
Last Week's Episodes of the Duke Morning News
I am so pleased to announce that registration for the 2024 Annual SMAMUN Conference is now open! Our SMAMUN Conference will take place on Friday, February 9th, 2024 and Saturday, February 10th, 2024 at Leonardtown High School and is open to any SMCPS student from 5th to 12th grade. Participants will enjoy exciting exposure to and deliberation on a variety of major real-world issues from across the globe, all through warm collaboration with fellow SMCPS students.
SMAMUN Website: https://sites.google.com/smcps.org/smamun/home
SMAMUN Commercial: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mIreZPPxUOy69YbNeIqeGw444g08fH2S/view?usp=sharing
Helpful Resources & Info Worth Repeating
ATTN 3rd Grade Families: NNAT3 Assessment
NNAT3 testing for grade 3 students will occur during the month of November. Please read this NNAT3 Parent Letter for more information.
Action Item: Submit Your Impact Aid Form (& help your child earn extra recess)!
Congratulations to Mrs. Slack's and Mrs. Cocimano's classes for having the highest percentage of completed Impact Aid forms and earning some kickball fun with guest players Mrs. Kortokrax, Mr. Adams and Mr. Spears.
We are "kicking off" one more chance at extra recess this week as our final deadline approaches. Please log in to HAC and fill out the Impact Aid and emergency update forms by November 14th. Good luck!
SMCPS is encouraging all parents/guardians to please take the time to access and complete the Impact Aid Survey Form online, located in the Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. The form can now be accessed in Spanish by clicking on the Globe in the top right-hand corner once the form has been started. The deadline for the online submission of Impact Aid Program Survey forms is November 14, 2023.
Online Emergency Forms
Online Emergency Information Update Forms are now available through your student’s Home Access Center (HAC).
It is vital that all information is updated in eSchool.
The deadline for the online submission of Emergency Information Update forms is October 31, 2023. Select the link for the Blank Emergency Form.
Thank you for completing this important action item as soon as possible. Effective communication is critical to the success of St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS)! If you have HAC questions, please email Ms. Stephanie Magill at samagill@smcps.org.
St. Mary's County Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine
Blueprint Town Halls
In implementing the requirements and reform initiatives associated with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, St. Mary’s County Public Schools is inviting stakeholders to learn about each pillar of the Blueprint, its requirements, and current status. As part of the Town Hall sessions, stakeholders will be able to ask questions of staff and provide input in responding to the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of the Blueprint.
Pillar 1: Early Childhood Education - Tue, November 7, 2023
Pillar 4: Resources for Student Success - Tue, December 5, 2023
Pillar 3: College and Career Readiness - Thur, February 8, 2024
Pillar 2: High Quality and Diverse Teachers and Leaders - Tue, March 12, 2024
All sessions will be held at 6 PM at the Dr. J. A . Forrest Career and Technology Center, and will be livestreamed at www.smcps.org/streaming.
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://cwfdes.smcps.org/
Location: 23595 Hayden Farm Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Phone: (240) 309-4658
Twitter: @CWFDES_SMCPS