Edward Cosentino, Principal

Jaime Gittleson, Assistant Principal

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

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February

• 20 - No School - Presidents Day
  
• 22 - Clemens Crossing Day - Happy 44th Anniversary of our first day - Wear CCES Spirit wear
• 23 - CCES Parent University Session 1, 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center
• 24 - Spirit Day: My Name Is - dress up as an influential black leader
• 28 - PTA Restaurant Night - Chick-fil-a Johns Hopkins Road

March

• 1 - Women's History Month begins
• 2 - Hearing & Vision screening
• 8 - Class/group/individual picture day
• 8 - PTA meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 9 - Hearing & Vision re-screening
• 9 - CCES Parent University, Session 2, 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center

• 12 - Daylight Savings starts
• 14 - Pi Day - School spirit day
• 15 - Schools close 3 hours early, professional work and wellness day
• 16 - CCES Parent University, Session 3, 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center
• 23 - CCES Parent University, Session 3, 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center
• 24 - Maryland Day - School spirit day
• 24 - International Night, 6:30 p.m.
• 24 - PTA Book Fair starts and continues through March 30
• 30 - Baseball Day - School spirit day
• 31 - Schools close 3 hours early; professional work
• 31 - End of 3rd quarter

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

Last week we had a great time engaging families during the mathematics parent-teacher conferences. We hope that connection will help your child enjoy and thrive in mathematics in elementary school and beyond. Inspiring a love for math can open up a world of opportunities for kids. Yet, for many, math can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. These feelings of stress and anxiety have been compounded by the effects of the pandemic over the past three years. Mathematics performance data at Clemens Crossing is consistent with trends in HCPSS, Maryland, and throughout the country; math performance took a hit over the past few years. Parents can help reduce the negative effects of math stress by working on the basic math facts to help build up their automaticity in math fact recall. Math anxiety can affect anyone, but it becomes more stressful when basic foundational skills are missing. Research shows a strong negative relationship between math anxiety and achievement. It can create a vicious circle: If kids perform poorly, they might become anxious—and that anxiety can lead to poor performance.

Below, please find a publication from the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Report to Parents, 6 Ways to Help Kids Overcome Math Anxiety.

Mr. Cosentino, Principal

1. Foster a Positive Attitude

Parents’ math anxiety can influence children's attitudes. Many adults still believe math myths—like that someone is a “math person” or not. Kids need to hear that math is for everyone.

2. Make Math Relevant

Use the 5E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) lesson model at home to engage kids in hands-on learning and real-world tasks.

3. Set High Expectations

Challenging kids helps them develop strong problem-solving skills. When students work through difficult problems, they engage in productive struggle and develop grit.

4. Create a Safe Environment for Learning

Making mistakes is part of learning. Getting the wrong answer doesn’t mean your child can’t solve the problem; it just means they haven’t solved the problem yet. While learning math, children should feel comfortable enough to take risks and share their approaches to problem-solving. They’ll see mistakes as opportunities to learn and feel more comfortable persisting in the struggle.

5. Use Positive Language

Negative language can fuel self-doubt and contribute to burnout. Suggesting positive

alternatives can help students change the way they think about math. Instead of “I’m bad at this,” say “I can improve.” Or instead of “This is too hard for me,” try “Learning takes time.”

6. Write It Out

Research shows that kids who write out or discuss math anxiety tend to do better on tests. Asking your child to write out their thoughts and ideas—expressing both their intellectual and emotional reactions to math content—can help them reflect on their comprehension,

engagement, and feelings about a lesson. Soon, they will see more choices in how they respond to difficulties. When students take control of their anxiety, they can focus more on the math and less on their worries about math. They can begin to see moments of struggle as fruitful learning opportunities, rather than sources of stress.

Kindergarten Registration begins Monday, March 6, through Friday, March 10, at Clemens Crossing Elementary School. Children who will be five years old as of September 1, 2023, must enroll in Kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year. Registration is online. Please visit the Howard County Public School System website for complete information about enrollment and registration. In addition, there is information on the HCPSS website, Getting Ready for Kindergarten, which provides an overview of the kindergarten program in Howard County.

Please share this information with neighbors who have children entering kindergarten in the fall.

On February 22, 1979, Clemens Crossing opened its doors for the first time. Due to building delays and a harsh winter in 1978, the school's opening did not occur until after the middle of that school year. Students and staff were moved from neighboring schools mid-year. Therefore, we celebrate our anniversary each year on February 22.

Temporary Employee Opportunity

We are looking for caring and compassionate individuals to assist students with disabilities who require direct adult supervision throughout the school day. The position works under the daily supervision of the school administration and the direction of a special education teacher and/or a classroom teacher. Some experience working with children or individuals with disabilities preferred. Below, please are details regarding the position.

• Temporary Employee (TE) positions are with Social Service Consultants, Ltd.

• Compensation is $15.00 per hour

• The hours are 9:15 AM – 3:45 PM Monday-Friday.

To apply, please email Robert Tencher at Rtencher@gmail.com to request an application packet. Please specify the school you are interested in. You can also apply using this link. Please contact Jaime Gittleson at Jaime_Gittleson@hcpss.org or at 410-313-6866 when you have completed all parts of the application.

Spring picture day is coming up on March 8! Individual portraits as well as classroom group photos will be taken. Students will receive proofs of their individual portraits to bring home. If parents would like to purchase the individual portrait, then you will keep what you receive and send payment. If you do not wish to purchase the portraits, simply return the entire photo package to school with your child. Classrom group photos must be purchased on or before picture day, using the Classroom Group Photo envelope that will be sent home with your child. The cost for classroom group photos is $10 each. Both the individual and classroom group photos are a fundraiser for our school.

My name is Mr. Allen, and I am a 4th-grade teacher at Clemens Crossing! I will host an after-school program for you to attend called Parent University. Parent University is designed to help you, the parent, help your child at Clemens Crossing and in their time in the Howard County Public School System. During the sessions, I will be able to provide you with resources that will allow your child to receive the best education possible here at Clemens Crossing. These sessions will take place in February and March in the Clemens Crossing media center.

Session 1 (February 23rd, 2023, 7 pm-8 pm) - Overview of K-5 Curriculum with a preview of what to expect in middle and high school - This session will allow you to prepare for what is to come throughout your child's experience at HCPSS.

Session 2 (March 9th, 2023, 7 pm-8 pm) - Navigate Canvas and the many online resources - This session will provide you with an opportunity to explore the available resources our county has available for you to use.

Session 3 (March 16th, 2023, 7 pm-8 pm) - Digging Deeper into Math Standards - This session will allow you to take a look at the math common core standards that your child is and will be working on.

Session 4 (March 23rd, 2023, 7 pm-8 pm)- The Importance of English Language Arts - This session will develop your understanding of the English Language Arts common core standards that your child is and will be working on.

Don’t miss these sessions, as they will be essential to giving your child the best possible education. Please fill out this survey to RSVP for the sessions. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at dale_allen@hcpss.org.

Thank you so much!

Mr. Allen