Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments

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

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Spanish

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Urdu

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Dear Families,

We have had many students and staff highlighted in many ways recently! Congratulations to Mrs. Yeager and our students who performed in the String Fling at Wilde Lake High School last night as part of a cluster concert with the feeder schools to WLHS. They were fantastic!!!! We also want to commend Mrs. Denkeli and Mrs. Aristidou for their work with our children as they develop fantastic art work! You can see some of our awesome student work in the Columbia Mall display!

We also want to thank our Math Team who coordinated a terrific Math Night last night! We had many students and families join us to play math games that reinforce our math standards! Fun was had by all!!! There are pictures from last night below!

Last, we want to highlight Mrs. Renee Goode, our Day Chief Custodian! She was recognized in Acting Superintendent Barnes' comments last night during the Board of Education meeting. Mrs. Goode not only ensures we have a pristine building, she works hard to make connections with our students and support them. This is reflective of her and our outstanding staff here at CCES!!! Congratulations to Mrs. Goode!

Thank you!

Michelle Leader, Principal

Jaime Gittleson, Assistant Principal

• 17 - Report Cards Issued, 4:00 p.m.
• 18 - CCES School Play "101 Dalmatians Jr."
• 22 - Earth Day, Wear colors of the World, Brown, Green, Blue and/or White
• 23 - Hat Day, Wear a hat and/or bright colors
• 24 - Stuffed Animal Day or wear animal print
• 24 - PTA Talent Show Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m.
• 25 - Wear green to remind us to "Think Green"
• 25 - PTA Talent Show, 6:30 p.m.
• 26 - Wear something with kind words
• 26 - PTA Talent Show, 6:30 p.m.

May

• 2 - Wear green for "Think Green Thursday"
• 7 - PTA Restaurant Day - Chick-fil-a Johns Hopkins Rd. (all day)
• 8 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 10 - PTA Carnival, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
• 14 - Schools and Offices Closed - Primary Election Day
• 17 - 3 Hour Early Dismissal - Professional Learning Day, 12:55 p.m.
• 20 - SCH - 5th Grade Simulated Congressional Hearings
• 27 - Schools and Offices Closed - Memorial Day
• 30 - Fifth Grade Middle School Visit Day
• 31 - Field Day

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

Parents/guardians whose children are eligible for bus transportation are asked to register to receive bus service each year. Families whose students have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan that includes transportation do not need to register.

The transportation registration process is completed online via HCPSS Connect Synergy and must be done for each child eligible for bus service. See the Transportation Opt-In Directions for details on how to complete.

It is that time of year when we enroll kindergarteners and new students to first grade for next year! If you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1st, please enroll them now! If you know anyone who has a child this age, please have them enroll their child now!The link to on-line enrollment is below! Please feel free to call the office at 410-313-6866 with any questions!

https://www.hcpss.org/enroll/#docs

The Howard County Library System will be hosting Kindergarten, Here We Come classes this summer!

• Offered in July and August
• 45-60 minute classes
• Classes include an opportunity for participants to practice boarding a school bus
• Some classes will be offered in English and some will be offered in Spanish
• Registration required

​​The Gifted and Talented (G/T) Summer Institutes for Talent Development offers additional advanced-level instruction and enrichment experiences not regularly available during the academic school year for students entering grades 1-8. Rigorous instruction focusing on talent development is offered in mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, technology and fine arts.

No testing nor prior G/T coursework is required for enrollment in these enrichment offerings.

For Summer 2024, we will be offering one two-week session from July 8 - 19 at Burleigh Manor Middle School. While the program is half-day, before and after care is available on site via Howard County Recreation and Parks.

A few highlights ---

• Bus transportation to area collector stops!

• Exciting courses in Humanities, STEM, and the Arts!

Financial assistance is available for students participating in the Free and Reduced Meal Program.

Families of HCPSS students may enter registration requests through HCPSS Connect beginning on April 2 at 6 p.m.

For more information on how to register, please see this registration guide.

• G/T Course Listing

• G/T Course Matrix

Contact: GTSummer@hcpss.org or 410-313-6671.

A huge THANK YOU to all who have donated so far!

Starting on April 2, CCES will be collecting for Grassroots Center. Donating and giving to those in need is as easy as ABC!

A: Amazon Link! Go to the Amazon wish list and purchase an item or two. It will come directly to our school to donate to Grassroots.

B: Bring in items!! We are accepting canned goods, body lotion and wash, toothpaste, towels, washcloths, shampoo, conditioner, juice boxes, and baby wipes. You can simply place the items in the box in your pod.

C: Cash or coins! You can also bring in cash or coins or go to the direct donation page to donate. Your teacher will be collecting any money that you bring in.

Thank you so much for your donations!

~Mrs. Register and some fifth grade friends 🙂

The Clemens Crossing artists have been working hard over the last few weeks to create beautiful pieces you can order on items such as bags, keychains, travel mugs, aprons, journals, matted prints, and more. These items are a great way to showcase your artist’s work, to give as gifts, and to have as a keepsake. The proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly toward the art room and back to your students through supplies and new art experiences. Ordering information is coming home today! -Mrs. Denkeli and Mrs. Aristidou

Add these dates to your calendar! There are plenty of exciting PTA events coming up through the spring. All the details coming soon!

April 1 - Year Book online sales begin

April 18 - School Play "101 Dalmatians Jr."

April 25 - Talent Show (K-2nd)

April 26 - Talent Show (3rd - 5th)

May 6-10 - Staff Appreciation Week

May 10 - Spring Carnival

The Talent Show is coming up in April!!

We would love to see all kinds of talent represented: playing a musical instrument, singing a song, dancing a Tik Tok dance, telling great jokes, solving a Rubik’s cube, reciting poetry, acting, hula hoop tricks, karate demonstrations, sports tricks, juggling, magic tricks or anything else that our students would like to share! We would love a couple of student volunteers to help out during the shows as well.

Tuesday, April 23: Grades 3-5 Dress Rehearsal

Wednesday, April 24: Grades K-2 Dress Rehearsal

Thursday, April 25: Grades K-2 Talent Show

Friday, April 26: Grades 3-5 Talent Show

Sign up here:

Grades K-2nd

https://forms.gle/jM8SievartCenK9c8

Grades 3rd-5th

https://forms.gle/4scjJB2AyfD7Ttz78

Deadline for signing up for the Talent Show is Friday April 12th.

Questions? Contact Christine Porras at christineporras@gmail.com

Order your child’s yearbook now! What a beautiful memento of their year at Clemens. This is not just for 5th graders - kids in every grade love the year book. Preorders close April 30.

Yearbooks disappear fast! We can't guarantee there will be enough books left over if you don’t pre-order one. PLUS the price goes up.

Preorder price: $25 per book

End-of-year scramble because you didn’t order one: $30 per book

Get your copy here: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/LookupJob?jobNumber=15206524

Are you interested in stepping up and getting more involved in PTA next year? Nominations are now open for Executive Board positions for the 2024-2025 school year. We warmly welcome all who may be interested -- it can be lots of fun to be more involved! In particular, the PTA is looking for a new Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, as our amazing current team members are finishing their terms in those roles. Interested?

Executive positions will be voted on at our meeting on the evening of May 10. Contact Jen Nwosu for all the details president@clemenscrossingpta.org

iCook: Spicing Things Up🌶️ 🌿 (MONDAYS starting April 22) Our chefs-in-training will learn how the addition of spices and herbs can transform food and provide added nutritional benefits too. Each class will highlight an herb or spice including basil, rosemary, garlic, vanilla, and cinnamon! We will make Black Bean Sliders, Rosemary Crackers, Enchiladas, and more! Our little chefs will build on their knowledge of cooking safety and the fundamental cooking techniques including peeling, breading, blending, melting, slicing, dicing, chopping and more.

Sign up on our website: https://www.icookafterschool.com/events/clemens-crossing-monday-1

iSTEAM: Color Lab 🎨 (Wednesdays starting April 24) Our young scientists will get to experiment with creativity and outside of the box thinking while learning about science. Scientific concepts are introduced through hands-on projects like exploring the water cycle with colorful raindrops, learning about molecular binding through painting, and exploring what traits make animals special by creating their own creatures! Our young scientists are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, experiment, and explain their reasoning and problem-solving. As a result, they will deepen their collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking skills, as well as their understanding and interest in science.

Sign up on our website: https://www.isteamafterschool.com/event-details/clemens-crossing-wednesday-1

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.

• 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

If you wish to “opt-in” to receive CCES and HCPSS texts with emergency information or reminders, please follow the directions below:

Send a text to the number: 67587

Text “Yes” in the message.

Reply “Yes” when prompted if you want to “opt-in”

Clemens Crossing ES Registration Page

Does your child love sports? Atholton High School coaches are ready for a fun and exciting summer! Coaches and staff will help your child grow their skills in several sports. Registration is now open. Click on the link below.

https://www.atholtonboosters.org/packet/76811653

Do you have an aspiring filmmaker in your family? Sign them up for video production camp! Three sessions are running this summer at River Hill High School where campers can make their very own short film. Camera use, storytelling techniques, and editing skills will exercise participants’ creative and technical abilities. Sessions run from 8:30am - 12:00pm Monday through Thursday with a film festival at the end, and children ages 9 to 17 are welcome to enroll.
Sign up at https://riverhill.membershiptoolkit.com/camp2024

April showers bring May campouts! Isn't that how that saying goes? There's still time to join Pack 618, your local Cub Scouts, for some awesome outings this year. We make camping fun and easy, and even if you don't have experience or a tent, we can help. Cub Scout camping means the kids have a great time outside and away from screens, and the parents don't have to do much at all since the Pack provides the meals and the cooking equipment! Our campout is scheduled for May 17-19 this year, and we'd love to have you along. Another neat activity is on April 27th: we're going to take part in the flag-raising ceremony at Ft. McHenry. Remember, it's never too late to join Cub Scouts and we'd love to have you! To check out the Pack, go to our website at www.pack618md.com and contact us at Cubmaster@pack618md.com.