Welcome to Duke
"Where Children SOAR!"
News and Updates
For latest and most up to date information see the weekly Aviator Update from Ms. Mandis.
Parents please review and complete the SMCPS Acceptable Use Policy and Online Platforms for online learning.
Principal's Reading Challenge
Calling all Duke students!!! Ms. Mandis has challenged you to make a committment to reading in the month of December! If 250 students or more complete the challege, Ms. Mandis will video herself being attacked by silly string and share it for all to see!!! Find all the details and a printable PDF at the link provided above or watch Ms. Mandis tell you about it here.
Book Fair
Just in time for Christmas and the Principal's Reading Challenge, this year's book fair will be held online starting November 20th until December 3rd.
Find all the details in Mrs. Owen's smore.
SMCPS to offer FREE 2 part Conscious Discipline workshop for Parents
SMCPS will be offering a FREE 2 part Conscious Discipline workshop for parents. The first part of the webinar is pre-recorded and will be available to parents for a year. The second part is a live Q & A with Master Instructors Amy Speildel and Lety Valero on December 2nd, from 7-8pm. Registration is required. See the attached flyers for more details.
Conscious Discipline Webinar information and registration in English
Conscious Discipline Webinar information and registration in Spanish
Meal Pickup
Meals are available (and free) for pickup every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for all kids 18 and under. Meals can be picked up at Duke between 11am-1pm in the front bus loop.
Return to School
All SMCPS schools will remain virtual through December 4th.
Learn about the SMCPS COVID-19 process for Students.
Hybrid Schedule
| Grade Level | A days: Mon and Wed | B days: Tues and Thurs |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Last names A-J | Last names K-Z |
| 1st Grade | Last names A-J | Last names K-Z |
| 2nd Grade | Last names A-K | Last names L-Z |
| 3rd Grade | Last names A-H | Last names I-Z |
| 4th Grade | Last names A-H | Last names I-Z |
| 5th Grade | Last names A-H | Last names I-Z |
See Dr. Smith's letter for more details.
Head Start and Pre-Kindergarten Registration
Registration is now open. Find out more.
K-5th Registration
Registration is now open and online.
SOAR Mission:
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School implements S.O.A.R. expectations for all students across all school settings.
Service
“Being a helper”
Ownership
“Taking responsibility for your actions”
Accountability
“Holding yourself and others to high expectations”
Respect
“Treating others the way you want to be treated”
S.O.A.R. is an Implementation framework for maximizing the selection and use of evidence-based prevention and intervention practices along a multi-tiered continuum that supports the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral competence of all students. Our S.O.A.R. framework is based on a problem-solving model and aims to prevent inappropriate behavior through teaching and reinforcing appropriate behaviors across school settings.
Our S.O.A.R. mission is to instill characteristics of a great leader in our students. S.O.A.R. seeks to create a learning environment that empowers our students to show service, ownership, accountability, and respect to peers, teachers, and the community.
We are committed to creating a safe and caring environment in which students will show respect to self, others and property, be responsible for their actions and lead by example.
We encourage you to speak with your children about S.O.A.R. at home. We have provided the school wide expectations of S.O.A.R. for you so you can use common language when discussing school expectations at home.
If you have questions about our S.O.A.R. framework or implementation, please contact Ms. Dietz, program facilitator, at (240) 309-4658 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Main Office:
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:10AM - 3:40PM
Hours for registration: 9:30AM - 1:30PM
Phone Number: 240-309-4658
Fax Number : 240-309-4663
Mailing Address: Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School
23595 Hayden Farm Lane
Leonardtown, MD 20650
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