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Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School
Summer 2026 begins on Wednesday, June 10th, and ends on August 25th.
Have a fantastic summer break!
Have a fantastic summer break!
The 2026-2027 school year will begin on August 26th, 2026!
Check back throughout the summer for updates and news.
Summer Office Hours
Summer Office Hours
Days: Monday - Friday
Office Hours: 8:10 am - 3:40 pm
Summer Announcements & Events!
Summer Announcements & Events!
School Supply List for 2026-2027
School Supply List for 2026-2027
CLICK HERE for the school supply list for the upcoming school year.
2026-2027 SMCPS Calendar
2026-2027 SMCPS Calendar
Monday, August 24 - SMCPS Open Houses (see flyer below)
Wednesday, August 26 - First day of school for students!
Registration Information
Registration Information
Welcome to Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School! Your student will love being an Aviator!
Click here to see our registration checklist. To make a registration appointment, please sign up HERE. If you have additional questions, please call the school at 240-309-4658.
Kindergarten & New Families
2025-2026 School Registration
We look forward to assisting you through the registration process!
Kindergarten Registration - Open registration for students who will be five years old by September 1, 2026 continues throughout the summer.
SMCPS Registration Information
Required documents include:
Proof of residence
Evidence of Birth
Immunization Record
Court papers regarding custody (if applicable)
Photo ID of parent/guardian
Out-of-District Transfer Requests
In order to attend CWFDES, valid proof of residence must be provided
If you do not reside within CWFDES district boundaries, you must submit a transfer request (annually). This does not guarantee placement.
Pre-Kindergarten Application
Pre-Kindergarten Application
The SY2026 Pre-Kindergarten Application is now available. Click on the link below to access the online application which includes a link for the Federal Poverty Level Calculator.
Eligible students must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2026.
All Pre-Kindergarten classes for 4-year-olds are full day.
Acceptance is not First-Come, First-Served; it is determined by a tiered eligibility system.
Income verification is required of every applicant.
Summer Reading Information
Summer Reading Information
Dear Parents,
Summer reading is just around the corner, and we’re excited to begin. This year’s theme matches the public library’s Beanstack program, Unearth a Story, which uses a bingo card to guide students through reading minutes and activities. Students will have the opportunity to earn rewards for minutes and tickets for prizes. They have to go to the tickets tab in Beanstack and choose which prizes they are interested in winning when they complete the activities and earn tickets.
The fun begins on June 10 and ends on August 16. I am sending home a Parent Beanstack Summer Reading Bingo next week. This is a great opportunity to read a chapter book together and make "Unearth a Story" a family event! We hope you participate in the fun! Duke staff will also have the opportunity to join in the fun!
You’ll also find a Clever QR code to access your child’s Beanstack account. To get into Beanstack, visit the SMCPS website, click Clever, and use the QR code to sign in. Beanstack can be found under Media Center Resources. Clever will pause at the end of summer for updates. Connecting your child’s Clever Beanstack account with the public library account is the smoothest way to avoid complications.
Beanstack Directions and Resources:
Directions to link the school and public library accounts
How to manage multiple children’s Beanstack accounts
Happy Summer Reading,
Mrs. Owen, Media Specialist
Google Additional Services Agreement SMCPS 26-27
Google Additional Services Agreement SMCPS 26-27
Google Permission and Acceptable Use Policy → Students need permission to use Google's Additional Services. The Google Permission must be completed each school year. Only a parent or guardian can complete the Google Permission form.
If a student fills out the permission form, the submission is invalid; SMCPS does not notify students that the form needs to be resubmitted. If a student fills it out, the form IS NOT PROCESSED. A parent/guardian must complete the form.
Acceptable Use Policy (English)
Acceptable Use Policy (Spanish)
Changes in the Cockpit
Changes in the Cockpit
The 2026-2027 school year will bring some changes to the administrative team at CWFDES. Mr. Zach Adams has accepted a transfer to Esperanza Middle School. While we are certainly sad to see him leave the Aviator family, we are excited for him as he begins this new chapter in his career. Mr. Adams has been a tremendous support for our students, staff, and families, and his dedication to helping our Aviators SOAR has made a lasting impact on our school community. Please join me in thanking him for his service to CWFDES and wishing him continued success in his new role.
I would also like to welcome Mr. Todd D'Imperio to the Aviator family. Effective July 1, Mr. D'Imperio will be the assistant principal at CWFDES! We are very excited for him to join our Aviator family. Mr. D'Imperio most recently joined us from Esperanza Middle School, where he served as assistant principal. Mr. D'Imperio is excited to SOAR with the Aviators as we begin the new school year. Check out his welcome below!!
We know that change can be hard but please be assured that this transition will be smooth as we welcome the new school year. Both Mr. D'Imperio and I, along with our dedicated team of teachers and staff, remain committed to providing the high-quality learning environment, support, and care that our Aviators deserve. ✈️
Enjoy your summer!
Mrs. Kelsey Kiehlmeier, Principal
A message from Mr. D'Imperio
Hello Aviators,
I wanted to take a moment, as the summer kicks off, to introduce myself and say how incredibly excited I am to join the Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School community. I began my career as an elementary school teacher at Benjamin Banneker Elementary, teaching students with special needs for 9 years. I then did the same at Spring Ridge Middle School before becoming an Esperanza Middle School Assistant Principal. My 17 years at Esperanza have been an incredible way to engage with students and families and learn from so many wonderful people in our St. Mary’s County Schools community. It is always my goal to build strong relationships with students, staff, and families in order to ensure that everyone has the support they need to be successful in their educational and social-emotional development. I look forward to working with all of you, parents, students, and CWFDES staff alike, to create meaningful experiences, build positive relationships, and learn from each other during the 2026-2027 school year. I am always available and open to questions, thoughts, concerns, and ideas that we can implement together to ensure success for our students. It has been my experience that through open communication and transparency, families and schools can accomplish amazing things. We will give our students opportunities to grow that extend beyond educational value and expand into life experiences that will shape their future. I am wishing you all a safe and wonderful summer vacation as I excitedly anticipate SOARing together in the upcoming school year.
Warmly,
Mr. Todd D'Imperio
Welcome to CWFDES!
Thank you, Mr. Adams. Best wishes!
A message from Mr. Adams
Hello Aviators,
Reflecting on these past four years, I am filled with profound gratitude for the experiences that I have had during my tenure at Duke. The school community here welcomed me with open arms from day one, fostering a great environment that made every day rewarding. As I have had the privilege to support your children along their educational paths, I have also experienced significant personal and professional growth that I will always value.
While the time has come for me to embark on a new chapter of my career at Esperanza Middle, I want to express how deeply I value the connections I have made during my time here. Supporting the growth of all our Aviators will be a highlight of my career, and the lessons I have learned within these halls will stay with me for years to come. Please know that although I am moving on, I will always cherish my time at Duke and remain a proud supporter of this remarkable community.
Mr. Adams
Mark Your Calendars!
Mark Your Calendars!
Additional Helpful Information
Additional Helpful Information
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