

Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
Volume 45, Issue 26 - February 16, 2024
Clemens Crossing Elementary School
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
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From the Administrators
Dear Families,
We appreciate everyone's assistance with notifying us of dismissal changes by 3:30pm. We also ask that if your child needs early dismissal, that you also get your child before 3:30pm to assist us during this very busy time of the school day. If you come after 3:30pm, we will need to ask you to wait until students dismiss to get your child.
We thank you for your support and assistance!
Thank you!
Michelle Leader, Principal
Jaime Gittleson, Assistant Principal
Important Upcoming Dates and Events
February
- 16 - PTA Bingo Night, 6:00-8:00pm
- 19 - Schools and Offices Closed, Presidents' Day
March
- 4 - Kindergarten Registration Begins
- 6 - Picture Day - Individual and Class Photos
- 6 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- 7 - Wear green for "Think Green" day
- 13 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early - Professional Work and Wellness Day
- 15 - PTA Scholastic Book Fair begins (through March 21)
- 15 - PTA International Night
- 25 - Schools and Offices Closed, Spring Break begins (through April 1)
To subscribe to the CCES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system use the calendar ID sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com.
Opting into CCES and HCPSS Text Messages
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”
National Pan-Hellenic Council of Howard County Black History Expo 2024
The annual Black History Expo sponsored by the National Panhellenic Council of Howard County and the Howard County Public School System will be held on February 17 at Long Reach HS from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The theme of this year’s event is “African Americans and the Arts.”
HCPSS student organizations are invited to participate with exhibits that speak to the theme "African Americans and the Arts" (exhibit fee is waived), as assistants in various areas, or provide program performances. Students can receive community service hours for their participation. Registration forms for exhibitors, vendors and program performances are included in the Black History Expo packet. The deadline to register to participate is January 20,
For more information please contact Muriel G. Mitchell, Black History Expo Coordinator at (410) 461-4717 or blackhistoryexpo@gmail.com.Pull those TABS, Cougars! Let’s turn TRASH into TREASURE.
Why: Our school will be participating in the “Pull Tab Program” to help benefit the Maryland Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Who: Everyone! Led by our very own 5th Grade Eco-Leaders.
Where: Send your tabs in with your student and have them place them in the bin in their pod area.
When: We will collect tabs through the first week of June.
Our Eco-leaders would like to remind you that our Earth is important!
For more details visit https://rmhcmaryland.org/pull-tabs/.
Please email Mrs. Seifert with any questions. jhonna_seifert@hcpss.org
PTA News
PTA Spring Events
Add these dates to your calendar! There are plenty of exciting PTA events coming up through the spring. All the details coming soon!
March 15 - International Night
March 15-21 - Scholastic Book Fair
April 1 Year Book online sales begin
April 25 - Talent Show (K-2nd)
April 26 - Talent Show (3rd - 5th)
May 6-10 - Staff Appreciation Week
May 10 - Spring Carnival
PTA Bake Sale at the Scouts Pinewood Derby
Saturday afternoon Feb 24th 2pm-4pm
Each year the Scouts run Pinewood Derby and they support our school community by giving the proceeds of the bake sale at the event to CCES PTA!
Would you be part of this great fundraiser by donating some baked goods to the bake sale?
Treats can be homemade or store bought!
Let us know what you'll bring by signing up here! Can you spare some time to volunteer?
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4CA9AC29ABF49-48007373-ptabake
Let's Stuff the Staff Lounge!
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
In Case You Missed It
February 2024
March 2024
April 2024
Family Guide - The ABC's of CCES
HCPSS Student & Parent Handbook
Family Guides: What your Child Will Learn this Year
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/
HCPSS Student Code of Conduct
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
Change of Address
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.
Connect with CCES and Stay Informed
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.
- 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 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
Community News
STEM Fair
Date: April 6th, 2024
Time: 12 pm - 3 pm
Location: Howard High School (8700 Old Annapolis Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043)
Who? 3rd to 8th graders in Howard County (parents will need to stay at the event)
THERE WILL BE PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES FOR ALL WHO COMPETE
About the Fair
This STEM fair is a platform designed to inspire and showcase the creativity and talent of young students from grades 3 - 8. This event invites participants to present their projects across various STEM categories, with the opportunity to win exciting prizes! The purpose of this event is to encourage a passion for learning and exploration, allowing children to express their unique ideas. Judges will score each project, provide constructive feedback, and give out medals at the end of the event but all participants will nevertheless receive certificates.
Parents/Guardians must stay during the entire event.
PLEASE READ ALL THE GUIDELINES HERE:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mlbzNFQOPIateiW2pUyp_b4gA6IbhJkxpPGcDULSxfk/edit?usp=sharing
Contact Information:
Email - hohs.stemroots@gmail.com
Cub Scout Pack 618
Mark your calendars for the big race! On February 24th at 2pm in the school cafeteria, Pack 618 will be holding our annual Pinewood Derby, where scouts become racecar designers and drivers! Come and support your friends as they compete with their homemade cars for fastest time and best design. This year, the best design and the three speediest cars all get to compete in the first district-wide Pinewood Derby! Don't forget to bring a dollar or two for a tasty snack at the PTA bake sale, and support the scouts and the school at the same time! If you want to do more than watch, join us, and we'll help guide your racecar creation and even provide the necessary tools. To check us out, go to our website at www.pack618md.com and contact us at Cubmaster@pack618md.com.