Owl Observer News
January 5, 2024
A Message from Administration
Greetings DLES Families,
We were so excited to welcome all of our students back on Tuesday and we are looking forward to having a wonderful second half of the year. We find it hard to believe that the second quarter will come to an end on January 19th.
We wanted to take a moment to recognize the generosity of so many within our community during the holiday season.
The following community partners and support provided over 159 families with gifts, meals, and holiday trimmings:
- CrossLife
- J J Mcdonnell & Co Inc
- Brighter Hope Wellness Center
- The Cliff Family
Howard County Toys for Tots
Shop with a Howard County Police Officer
St. Augustine and Resurrection Parishes
Grace Community Church
Dorsey Emmanual United Methodist Church
Grace Episcopal Church
We were also given over 80 meals for Thanksgiving all sponsored by:
- Grace Community Church
- AKA Sorority
- Dorsey Emmanuel United Methodist Church
As the cold weather has arrived, we have been gifted and shared over 140 coats that have been passed on to students by the Knights of Columbus and Doug Brice through Operation Warm for our students.
Our blessing in a backpack continues to be a highly needed resource and we wanted to acknowledge Cummins Sales and Service in Glen Burnie who has donated 500 bags of food for our Blessings in a Backpack program.
We hope to see a lot of you at the Glow Dance later this evening. AN IMPORTANT REMINDER-this is NOT a child drop-off event. An adult MUST stay with their child on school grounds for the entirety
of the event.
Stay warm and safe this weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone on Monday.
Proudly Serving You,
Mrs. Caroland, Mrs. Van Osdel, and Mrs. Yerashunas
Save the Date
January 8: Coal Fire Spirit Night to support our PTA
January 15: Schools are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 17: Students dismiss at 12:15. NO half-day Pre-K students come to school
January 18: NO half-day Pre-K students come to school
January 18: Family Reading Night 5:30-7:30pm
January 19: NO half-day Pre-K students come to school
January 22: Schools are closed for Staff Professional Learning and Work Day
Related Arts Schedule
Young Author’s Contest Update
We would like to say a big Congratulations to all of our students who entered our Young Author’s Contest! We enjoyed reading each and every entry that was submitted and we are so proud of all the students who participated! As you can imagine it was not easy to pick just one winner from each category, our judges had a very hard job to do. We look forward to even more students participating next year!
The DLES students with 1st place stories and poems will go on to compete with the other 1st place stories and poems for that grade level throughout Howard County. HCPSS winners will be selected in January! Best of luck to all our students! Here are the DLES winners by grade level:
First Grade:
Kiran Rambharos (short story)
Second Grade:
Davi Moon (short story)
Blessing Igbalajobi (poem)
Third Grade:
Jezelle Bennett (short story)
Fourth Grade:
Kendra Foda Mafosso (short story)
Navneeth Sreekanth (poem)
Fifth Grade:
Oreoluwa Akinmolayemi (short story)
Aleena Ali Ghafoor (poem)
Congratulations to all DLES student participants! Those students are: Gabby D, Lahai, Milan Price, Mary-Feliz Calingacion, Harper Clark, Kerone Tendoh, Alina Thomas, Arielle Rivette, Chigozirim Nwokeh, Alyson Argueta Argueta, Colette Brehm, Adjoa Boateng, Harrison Lightcap, Penelope Stevens, Yasmina, Arianna L, and Nana Ama
Helping Our 4th & 5th Grade Students Understand the Impact of Words
Prior to winter break, we began to see an increase in students using inappropriate terms or degragatory slurs towards peers. As an administration, we felt that this was an opportunity to bring our students together and provide them with a lesson around the impact of terms being used. The term that has been used has been "monkey." Students have reported that they used it in a friendly way and in a manner that was to hurt another person's feelings.
We have had some students report that they use "monkey" as a nickname in their culture and they can use it. Students also explained that they are allowed to use the N-word as it is acceptable for them to use but that anyone outside of identifying as Black/African-American are never to use the term.
When we have spoken to individual students about these slurs, there was really only an understanding around the use of the N-word and why they don't use it. We used this as an opportunity to share how slurs are not acceptable within our school community, and as a school, we also have a culture in which we are embracing of all and that slurs that some find to be okay to use in different scenrios will never be okay here at school, as if one person finds the term offensive, we need to respect that.
Students were very engaged and asked a lot of thought provoking questions. Several students shared that they have personal experience or know of someone that they care about having to deal with the impact that these actions have. Additionally, other students shared that they really did not know that there was a history around the term and understood that as a group, once we know better, we do better, and help others to be better. Furthermore, we did extend that slurs can go beyond race. We shared that in our history, groups have been targeted based on gender, religion, and other forms where one group is trying to establish that they are better or superior to another group. We suggested that they may notice future commericals and ad campaigns as we get closer to the elections later this year, where there will be times when one group will present the other as "animals" or less than human. We were really proud of how thoughtful and caring our children were during this important teachable moment.
We have attached a copy of the slides that were shared with students for you to review. We appreciate your partnership and encourage you to revisit this information with your child. If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Caroland, Mrs. Van Osdel, or Mrs. Yerashunas and we would be happy to discuss with you.
Please note that the attachement shows you the notes that helped us as teachers in speaking but were not visible to students.
Is your child on the road to kindergarten?
If you are the parent of a child who will be five years old by September 1, 2024, save the date for one of the Howard County Public School System's (HCPSS) Road to Kindergarten parent information sessions.
Each session will cover:
- Expectations for school readiness; receive a Ready for Kindergarten toolkit;
- Details about the HCPSS kindergarten program;
- Information about kindergarten registration; HCPSS website; support for families and children during the transition to kindergarten.
Sessions will be held at the following date/time/locations:
- January 18, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. / Centennial High School**
- January 23, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. / Hammond High School*
- January 31, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. / Wilde Lake High School*
* A Spanish interpreter will be present at these sites.
** Chinese, Korean and Spanish interpreters will be onsite.
Childcare is available for children ages two and older; the information session is designed for adults only. The program will include information regarding kindergarten readiness, program components and registration applicable to all HCPSS schools. Specific school information will be shared by schools after registration is finalized. For more information, visit HCPSS online or call 410-313-5693 (voice/relay).
PTA NEWS
Glow Dance: Come get your glow on at the Family Glow Dance on Friday, January 5th from 6:30-8 pm! We will have a DJ, neon face paint, snacks, and lots of glow sticks! This is not a drop-off event, all students must be accompanied by an adult.
To stay up-to-date on all of our upcoming events, visit our website and Facebook page.
Your Voice is Important
Please click on the Feedback Form to share your thoughts with how we can make DLES the best for everyone.
We are here to help!
Principal, Mrs. Caroland Molly_Caroland@hcpss.org
Assistant Principal, Mrs. Van Osdel Amy_Van_Osdel@hcpss.org
Leadership Intern, Mrs. Yerashunas Brianna_Yerashunas@hcpss.org
Principal Secretary, Mrs. Canter Teresa_Canter@hcpss.org
Registration Support, Secretary Ms. Lynette Carmen_Lynette@hcpss.org
Attendance, Synergy and Family File Support, Secretary Mrs. Forman Julie_Forman@hcpss.org
Counselor Mr. Leisawitz Alexander_Leisawitz@hcpss.org