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

• 1 - Black History Month begins
• 3 - Parent/Teacher Conference Scheduling Window Closes 4:00 p.m.
• 8 - PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
• 9 - Schools close 3 hours early, 12:45 p.m. (Math Parent-teacher Conferences)
• 10 - Schools close 3 hours early, 12:45 p.m. (Math Parent-teacher Conferences)
• 10 - Spirit Day: Football Friday, Wear your favorite football team colors, jersey or hat
• 14 - Spirit Day: Valentine's Day, Wear Hearts, Pink or Red
• 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
• 24 - Spirit Day: My Name Is - dress up as an influential black leader
• 28 - PTA Restaurant Night - Chick-fil-a Johns Hopkins Road

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

The Importance of Goal Setting

Now that report cards have been issued, and conferences are upon us, this is the perfect time to assess where your child is academically so that you can work with them to establish or reestablish goals for the second half of the school. Please read the selection below from the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

REPORT TO PARENTS: GOAL SETTING

The middle of the school year is a great time for families to check in with students on goals. Setting academic and personal goals help to motivate, energize, and focus students, and it is a valuable skill that will benefit learners throughout their lives. Parents can help students set and achieve these goals.

Goal-setting can be tedious, even intimidating, for some students. Parents can support students in this process by following these steps: pick it, map it, do it, own it, and celebrate it.

Pick it. Encourage your child to consider his or her dreams and passions and pick goals that are important and meaningful. Guide your child to think about, “What motivates me? What would inspire me to give my best effort? What would make me feel good while I’m doing it? What achievement would make me feel proud?”

Map it. After your child picks a goal, help map the path from where he or she is now to where the child wants to be. Offer the following analogy: If we want to drive across the country from New York to California, we don’t just get in our car and start driving—we get a map, pick a route, and follow it until we get to California. With your child, analyze different approaches and define clear steps to reach their goal. For instance, if the goal is to get a higher test grade in a tough subject, each quiz or project is a step on the path to the higher goal: earning an A.

Do it. Once you and your child have mapped a path to their goal, encourage him or her to take action, focus on the first step, and give it his or her best effort. Remind your child that no goal is ever reached without focused action.

Own it. As your child makes progress toward their goal, help him or her to take responsibility for making it happen. Teach the mantra, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me!” Reflect with your child. Ask, “How are you doing? What’s working? What’s not working? What can you or your family change to get to this goal?” From there, analyze the map and make changes to the plan if necessary. Help your child keep a positive attitude and own mistakes as well as successes. Remind your child that if something comes along that holds him or her back temporarily to look at the experience as feedback. Failures, or bumps in the road, can provide us with information we need to succeed. Reinforce the message that we can learn from our mistakes and move on with new, valuable knowledge.

Celebrate it. Acknowledgment and celebrations are huge parts of achieving goals. Acknowledge every effort and celebrate your child’s mini-successes along the way to achieving a goal. This builds his or her confidence and motivation. Your child will feel good and understand that perseverance will result in another mini-success, and finally, goal achievement. Try going through the goal-setting process as a family. Pick a family goal (perhaps a charitable activity) and work together to achieve it. After the family experience, have each family member pick a personal goal. Support and acknowledge one another as you move through the above steps. Success is assured when students believe in themselves and in their ability to achieve. Parents are key to helping them believe and succeed. The middle of the school year is a great time for families to check in with students on goals. Setting academic and personal goals help motivate, energize, and focus students, and it is a valuable skill that will benefit learners throughout their lives. Parents can help students set and achieve these goals.

Report to Parents, written to serve elementary and middle-level principals, may be reproduced by the National Association of Elementary School Principals members without permission. It can be posted to school websites, blogs, or sent via email. Back issues are available to members at naesp.org.

Report cards are available via HCPSS Connect Synergy. Parents/guardians may access them following the instructions for accessing report cards online. Answers to frequently asked questions on grades and testing can be found online.

Throughout each year we celebrate the incredible diversity of all of our students at Clemens Crossing. In February, we focus on Black History Month and highlight the important contributions of Black and African Americans who have helped shape our country and contributed to our society.

Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today. This newsletter has resources that can be utilized in the classroom or at home to celebrate Black History Month. Throughout the month of February, Clemens Crossing Elementary School will recognize Black History Month and highlight the many accomplishments of African Americans.

There are a number of resources our teachers use throughout the school year and in February. There are quite a number of excellent resources including the PBS Kids video below that are examples of resources teachers use during their instruction.

We also want to share read-aloud books for kids from Netflix Jr. Many of these books can be found in our library and the Howard County Public Library. When our entire staff took a field trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, we processed our experience as individuals and a collective group. One outcome was the expectation that we share a wide and diverse range of literature with our students. We want our students to see themselves and their friends in the literature that is used for instruction and for reading pleasure.

Grab a book, grab a friend, and join Netflix Jr. in celebrating Black voices during Black History Month. Full Episodes of Bookmarks included are:

• "I Love My Hair" read by Tiffany Haddish
• "I Am Enough" read by Grace Byers
• "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut" read by Caleb McLaughlin
• "Sulwe" read by Lupita Nyong'o
• "ABCs For Girls Like Me" read by Marsai Martin
• "I Am Perfectly Designed" read by Karamo Brown
• "Pretty Brown Face" and "Brown Boy Joy" read by Jill Scott
• "Firebird" read by Misty Copeland
• "Let's Talk About Race" read by Common
• "The Day You Begin" read by Jacqueline Woodson
• "Antiracist Baby" read by Kendrick Sampson
• "We March" read by Marley Dias

National School Counseling Week (#NSCW23), sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be February 6 thru 10. The purpose of the week is to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems, Howard County, and here at Clemens Crossing ES. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success.
The special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who implement comprehensive school counseling programs. We are fortunate to have school counselors in each of our schools throughout Howard County. At Clemens Crossing, our school counselor,
At Clemens Crossing, we are fortunate to have two school counselors. Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Braxton-Cheek are a vital part of our school and student services team. They actively engage in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents. They both help to partner with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today's world. Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Braxton-Cheek also provide support for teachers to help them meet the social, emotional, and academic needs of our students. Please join us in thanking Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Braxton-Cheek for her dedication to our students and community.

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.

Howard Community College is offering free and low-cost dental clinics. See details below to make an appointment.

PTA is hosting a bake sale at the Scouts Pinewood Derby on Saturday, Feb 11th. We need you to be part of it! Donate homemade or store-bought goodies - all proceeds support Clemens PTA. Baked goods can be dropped off at the school cafeteria between 1:30-2:00 pm on the day. Additionally, you are welcome to stay (optional) and check out the amazing derby cars the Scouts have made! (If you need to arrange to drop off your items earlier or day before, simply email me at president@clemenscrossingpta.org and we can figure it out.)

Sign up here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4CA9AC29ABF49-ptabake

Clemens Crossing will administer the Measured Academic Progress (MAP) assessment to all students in 1st through 5th grades in Reading and Math between January 24 - February 24th. The data from the MAP assessment will help schools and teachers measure your student’s academic progress. The MAP test does not affect grades and the difficulty adjusts depending on how your child responds. It is normal for students to only answer about half the questions correctly. Please check with students to see if they need headphones to use at school. The HCPSS website contains detailed information about MAP testing here. If you have questions about MAP testing, please contact Jaime Gittleson at Jaime_Gittleson@hcpss.org.

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

Howard County Parks and Recreation

• The 2023 Camp Guide is now available online: http://howardcountymd.gov/rap. Online registration for Howard County residents begins 2/1 at 6 pm, w/ over-the-phone, mail-in & in-person beginning the next day.

Columbia Association

• Columbia Association offers a wide variety of camps each summer. Their registration starts March 6. More information can be found here -https://www.columbiaassociation.org/community-program/camps/

Howard Community College - Kids on Campus

HCC is for kids, too!

• Registration for Summer 2023 Begins January 26
• HCC’s well-known Kids on Campus program provides enrichment education for youth ages 6 to 17. Summer classes include morning and afternoon programs from June 26 to August 17. Supervised lunch, before-care, and aftercare are also offered.
• More information here - https://www.howardcc.edu/programs-courses/continuing-education/courses/kids-on-campus/

HCPSS Summer Programs

Online enrollment requests for currently enrolled HCPSS students will open Wednesday, February 1 at 6 p.m. for the following programs:

• BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9)
• Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8)
• Summer Math Scholars Program (Entering Grades 6-8)

NOTE: Invitations for eligible HCPSS students for Academic Intervention and Extended School Year Special Education programs will come directly from the school or special education team in the spring.

Enrollment requests can be made by a parent, guardian, school counselor or school achievement liaison. Please carefully review the course descriptions, dates, times and locations in the program course lists before submitting an enrollment request.

Enrollment requests are made via HCPSS Connect Synergy. Directions are available online.

For more information visit the HCPSS website.