Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments

Michelle Leader - Principal

Jaime Gittleson - Assistant Principal

Website: cces.hcpss.org
Location: 10320 Quarterstaff Road, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: (410) 313-6866
Facebook: facebook.com/ClemensCrossingElementary
Twitter: @hcpss_cces

For another language, click "Translate Newsletter" tab and select the language of choice in the upper right-hand corner.

Spanish

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Korean

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Chinese

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Urdu

دوسری زبانوں کے لئے ، نیوزلیٹر کا ترجمہ کریں پر کلک کریں اور اپنی پسند کی زبان کا انتخاب کریں۔

Dear Families,

Thank you to the many family members who came to visit this week for American Education Week! It was great to see so many of you in our classrooms to see the great instruction that occurs at CCES every day!!! Thank you to our staff for their continued dedication and support of our students!

Parents have until noon today to log in to schedule a conference with your child's homeroom teacher. Directions to sign-up are here. Please call the office if you need assistance. Just a reminder that conferences on Monday are in person and conferences on Tuesday are virtual.

Thank you!

Michelle Leader, Principal

Jaime Gittleson, Assistant Principal

For a complete list of dates and events visit cces.hcpss.org/calendar.

November

• 20 & 21 - Schools Close 3 hours early at 12:50 p.m. for Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 20 & 21 - Parent/Teacher Conferences, 1:15 p.m. - 7:35 p.m.
• 22 - Schools Closed for students, Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 24 & 25 - Schools and Offices Closed, Thanksgiving Holiday
• 28, 29, 30 - PTA Holiday Shop after school, 4:30p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

December

• 4 - Inclusive Schools Week begins
• 4 - Autism Acceptance Day: Wear Autism shirt or wear blue
• 5 - Spirit Day: Be a hero for inclusion. Dress up as someone you look up to.
• 5 - PTA Restaurant Day, Chick-fil-a (Johns Hopkins Rd.), 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• 6 - Spirit Day: Exercise your right to be different. Wear athletic wear.
• 6 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 7 - Hanukkah Begins
• 7 - Spirit Day: Acceptance Day. Wear a shirt with an inclusive/kind message.
• 8 - Spirit Day: Rainbow Kindness Day. Wear something with rainbows.
• 13 - 3 Hour Early Dismissal, Professional Work & Wellness Day, 12:55 p.m.
• 21 - Ugly Sweater Day
• 21 - CCES Winter Concert, 6:30 p.m. at Atholton HS
• 22 - Pajama Day
• 25 - Christmas
• 25 - Winter Break December 25 through January 1, Schools Closed.
• 26 - Kwanzaa

To subscribe to the CCES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system use the calendar ID sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com.

We have had many students bringing cough drops to school recently. Cough drops are allowed in school with the following guidelines:

Non-medicated cough drops (pectin based, and menthol) may be self-carried at school with parent permission and specific instructions for administration in writing. The instructions should
include name of the product, reason for administration, amount and frequency of
administration. Products must be provided by the parent/guardian. Administration should be
limited to no more than 3 cough drops per day (every two hours) for no longer than 5
school days.

Cough drops that contain additional medications (Robitussin with dextromethorphan and
Cepacol with benzacaine) require a prescriber’s order.

Please call the Health Room with any questions you may have. Thank you!

There are many items in our lost and found. Please check the tables in the front lobby during American Education Week or during conferences for any items your child may have lost. Thank you!

The Howard County Literacy Association invites students in grades 1-5 to submit their original poems and/or short stories to the annual writing contest called The Young Authors' Contest. Please see the attached Young Authors’ Contest Guidelines for information about the rules and guidelines. All entries must have a completed YAC Cover Sheet sent as a PDF. Submissions may be emailed to jane_choi@hcpss.org by December 11, 2023. Contact Jane Choi with any questions. All Young Authors’ Contest information can be found on the HCLA website.

Howard County Literacy Association welcomes parents as members. Visit the HCLA Welcome Page for information about joining.

We are collecting gift cards to support some of our families in need this holiday season. If you would like to contribute, please bring gift cards to the front office. (Do NOT send them in with your child.) There will be a donation box available during American Education Week or on the first day of parent conferences. Please select gift cards from the following stores in $25 increments:

~Safeway

~Giant

~Target

~Walmart

If you are a family in need of support, or have any questions, please contact Ann Rogers: ann_rogers@hcpss.org

Thank you for your generosity!

Our PTA Holiday Shop is coming up the week following Thanksgiving!! This kid favorite generates huge excitement among our students each holiday season!

It's a wonderful opportunity for kids (CCES students & their siblings) to shop for the holiday that's special to their family and choose gifts for their loved ones - for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or New Year - or just for fun!

The Shop will run over 3 consecutive afternoons after school - Tuesday Nov 28th to Thursday Nov 30th. Gifts will range in price from 50 cents to $20, with the vast majority of gifts costing less than $5 each.

Don't forget we are collecting donations of new or like-new small gift items to supplement our inventory for this year’s holiday shop ✨⛄️🎁 So many of us have items lying around the house that our kids have lost interest in - but are still in perfect condition! What a great opportunity to clear stuff out of your house!! It could be kids' toys, activities, jewelry, or stuff for adults - really any item a child might like to give to a loved one for the holidays! Send items in (or drop them in) to the front office at school marked "holiday shop". If you are coming in-person to conferences on Monday 11/20, what a perfect opportunity to drop off items then!!

We also need plenty of volunteers to help run the shop! Sign up to help here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4AAEAD29ABFE3-45648522-cces

Holiday Shop is fun for our kids and a fundraiser for our PTA - all profits go straight back into enrichments, events and activities for our wonderful CCES students!

Who doesn't feel a bit peckish throughout the workday? And who wouldn't get excited to find something tasty or fun in the lounge? For sure our CCES teachers & staff love a good pick-me-up and we want to give it to them!

Please consider helping the PTA "Stuff the Staff Lounge" with goodies throughout the year. It's an easy way to show our appreciation for all the hard work that goes on in our school! You can signup here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49AEAE2DA5F8C07-45327230-stuff

The Family Guide - The ABCs of CCES is a lengthy document that provides information about our school. Click below to download the CCES Family Guide. The guide is also located on the main page of the CCES website.

The Student & Parent Handbook can be found online and outlines districtwide practices and policies related to parents and students, including the Student Code of Conduct, school procedures, student responsibilities and more.

Do you want to get a head start on the school year? We encourage all parents/guardians to visit the link below to learn what your child will learn this year in grades PreK-5! Once you click on your child’s grade level, use the yellow “course navigation” box in the top right corner to navigate standards, free games, and family activities for each subject area. Happy learning!

https://www.hcpss.org/academics/what-your-child-will-learn-guides/

The Howard County Public School System is committed to providing a safe, engaging and supportive learning environment where all policies are enforced fairly and consistently. HCPSS policies and regulations emphasize instruction and rehabilitation rather than punishment and are designed to foster and reward appropriate behavior and keep students connected to school so they can graduate college and career ready. Please read and review the HCPSS student code of conduct with your child(ren) before the school year begins:

https://www.hcpss.org/f/aboutus/student-handbook/student-code-of-conduct.pdf

HCPSS parents/guardians are required by Board of Education Policy 9000 Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment to notify HCPSS if they move to a new home address by submitting residency documentation to their student’s current school. Students who have a change of residence on or after the first day of the 2023-2024 school year must request a student reassignment in order to complete the school year at their previous school.

Listed below are the many ways to stay informed at Clemens Crossing Elementary School.

Twitter

• Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hcpss_cces
• We use Twitter to inform, celebrate, and engage our community.
• Twitter is used to share what is going on in our school, our community, and throughout the Howard County Public School System.
• Turn on notifications to get information the second it is tweeted.
• We live-stream our concerts on Periscope through Twitter.

Facebook

• Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ClemensCrossingElementary
• We have found that Facebook is the social media most used by our parents so we are now on Facebook, too!
• Our Facebook page is updated automatically from our Twitter feed.
• Please use Facebook to share the good news from CCES with your friends and families.

Instagram

• We use Instagram periodically. We do post pictures and information there.

Website

• Our website, cces.hcpss.org, is updated regularly.
• Important news and information is located on the main page of the site including an archive of our weekly newsletter, Cougar Comments.
• Staff information and email is located under the "Our Staff" tab.
• A subscribable google calendar is located on the "Calendar" tab.

Email

• Email is our main form of communication.
• You will receive news and information automatically to the email address you provide in your Family File. We will not inundate your inbox with email. Look for the weekly Cougar Comments on Friday mornings.
• If you would like email sent to different email addresses, update your email in Family File with the email address you prefer.
• You can subscribe additional email addresses by visiting the HCPSS News site here. http://www.hcpss.org/hcpss-news/
• Weekly announcements, important information and updates, and more will primarily be sent through email.
• You also have the opportunity to opt-in for text messaging

Do you know how to put up and take down a tent? Our scouts do, and your child could too! Camping is just one of the many awesome activities that Clemens Crossing Cub Scout Pack 618 does every year, and while it isn't required, it sure is fun and we make it easy on the parents! We are open to girls and boys in all grades K-5. If you're interested in checking us out, join us on November 18th at 5pm at Rockburn park for a chilly evening of jokes, skits, and songs around the campfire. Find out more on our website at www.pack618md.com and contact us at Cubmaster@pack618md.com.

November 2023 Parent Pages Newsletter www.howardcountymd.gov/parentpages

Upcoming Workshops from Office of Children and Families

* For assistance with registering, call 410-313-5992 (voice/ relay) or email children@howardcountymd.gov

* To request sign language, interpreter or other accommodations to attend, call at least one week in advance.

Picky Eating: How to Help Your Child Grow and Eat a Balanced Diet

Helping your infant and toddler build healthy eating habits for life is very important yet daunting. Review typical infant to toddler development, eating patterns, growth, and how to determine when to ask for help.
Thursday, November 30, 7:00 p.m. Free Virtual Workshop Register here

Parenting Apart: Navigating Co-Parenting through the Holiday Season and Beyond

The holiday season is a time of joy and togetherness for many families, but they can also be reminders of who and what we have lost. For those co-parenting during or in the aftermath of divorce, the holidays can bring unique challenges and disruptions to the usual routine. This presentation is tailored to parents who are going through divorce or separation and are eager to create a parenting plan that minimizes conflict and promotes stability and harmony for your children. Explore essential considerations when creating an access schedule that prioritizes your children's well-being throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. Gain insights into effectively managing common co-parenting issues that can arise. Learn valuable communication and co-parenting strategies to navigate this period of transition, and as well as resources for ongoing support and assistance.

Monday, December 4, 7:00 p.m. Free Virtual Workshop. Register here