About KDLM

Sveiki! Welcome to Kristijonas Donelaitis Lithuanian School (KDLM)!

School Address:
St. Jude Regional Catholic School
4820 Walbridge St.
Rockville, MD 20853

School Principal: Sigutė Bertulytė-Harton, email: direk@kdlmdc.org

This Saturday day school serves the Lithuanian community of the greater Washington, DC area (including the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland.) We are a non-profit organization, supported by the Lithuanian-American Community, Inc. and US Lithuanian American Community Educational Council. It is the school’s 63rd year. Back in 1960 Father Znotinas taught seventeen pupils Lithuanian language, history, and geography in the basement of St Peter’s Church in Washington’s Southwest area.

When the number of pupils increased, at the initiative of Mr. Dambriunas, a meeting of the Lithuanian Community Organization was called together. It was decided to form a Lithuanian Saturday school. The school officially opened on February 11, 1961 with 13 students. Classes were held in the old Latvian parish hall basement. In 1964 the parents renamed the school the Kristijonas Donelaitis Lithuanian School, after the Lithuanian writer who initiated fiction in Lithuania. In his main work “Years” Donelaitis raised the issue of equality among people, highly valued the work ethic, Lithuanian nationalism, and indicated that nationalism was an ideal.

The KDLM Lithuanian School has its traditional events including a fall excursion, an All-Saints Day Commemoration, the creation of Christmas toys and crafts, Easter egg painting and egg roll, Mardi Gras, February 16th Lithuanian Independence Day, Freedom Defenders Day, March 11 Lithuanian re-Declaration of Independence Day, Mother’s Day, and a Spring outing.

Students range from 2 to 14 years of age. KDLM is a very active school. The school and the Lithuanian community have one common goal to teach our children the Lithuanian language, history, customs, and traditions. We are very happy with the results; our school is growing. Students and parents who come to KDLM find a pleasant atmosphere and many friends.

Kristijonas Donelaitis Lithuanian School is a part of the non-profit Lithuanian Educational Council of the USA, Inc.
We would appreciate your financial contribution.

We are now accepting online donations through Paypal. Click the Donate link below to support our school.