Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
April 30, 2021 - Volume 42, Issue 34
Clemens Crossing Elementary School
We're Here to Help You!
Edward Cosentino, PrincipalSonia Hurd, Assistant Principal
Stacey Wells, Principal's Secretary
Jennifer Aballo, Teachers' Secretary
Dulce Boyer, Teachers' Secretary
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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Spanish
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Important Upcoming Dates and Events
May
- 5 - MAP Reading Testing: Gr.1 thru 5 at 9:40 a.m.
- 12 - MAP Math Testing: Gr.1 thru 5 at 9:40 a.m.
- 19 - MAP Testing: Makeup Test Date - 9:40 a.m.(Reading) and 1:00 p.m.(Math)
- 13 - School Closed for Students - Professional Learning/Articulation Day
- 19 - Science Fair
- 31 - Memorial Day - Schools and Office Closed
June
- 9 - 5th Grade Promotion Drive-Thru
- 10 - Professional Work Day - Schools Close 3 Hours Early
- 11 - Professional Work Day - Schools Close 3 Hours Early
- 14 - Professional Work Day - Schools Close 3 Hours Early
- 15 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL Professional Work Day - Schools Close 3 Hours Early
From School Administration
End of Year Testing
Due to our school year being a combination of virtual and hybrid, MSDE has decided to waive state testing again this year. This means that students will NOT participate in MCAP The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program in grades 3-5.
Although students will not take state-mandated assessments, we will administer the county-administered MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) in early May in grades 1 through 5.
We encourage all students to take the computer adaptive assessment. It is computer-adaptive because it adjusts to your child's level based on the correct and incorrect responses provided by your child. This is why we ask that you do not help your child with the content of the assessment. Having the most accurate data from this assessment will help teachers individualize instruction this year and next year.
Teacher Appreication Week
Next week is our annual Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. Traditionally, it is an amazing week in school for our staff and teachers. This year, our PTA is coordinating the week so it can be memorable for our staff. What additional things can you do for Teacher Appreciation Week? You can do any of the following and email pictures, videos, or letters to your teachers. Here are some ideas:
- Make a sidewalk chalk drawing or message
- Type a thank you letter
- Send a video of your child saying thank you in sign language
- Let your child practice using Canvas inbox to send a funny joke to a staff member
- Record your child singing a favorite song or playing an instrument
- Take a picture of something beautiful you find outside. Send it along to brighten someone’s day!
- Send an inspirational quote.
- Parents - a word of encouragement from you would be much appreciated!
Please take care of our incredible teachers next week! It's been a challenging year overall, and they have done an amazing job keeping the learning moving forward this year.
NEW INFORMATION
Did you Move? Are You Moving?
According to HCPSS Policy 9000 - Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment, and Assignment, "A student attending a public school in Howard County will attend the designated school serving the school attendance area in which the parents have bona fide residence unless reassignment is granted or administrative placement occurs."
If you have moved or are moving soon, please notify us as soon as possible. Please do not wait for us to find out through other means. We are available to assist you with transitioning to your child's new school. Whether it be another HCPSS school, a private school, or a school out of the HCPSS district, we are here to help. If you are transferring to another HCPSS school, our registrars will partner to make the transition as smooth as possible.
If you have an address change, please fill out the attached fillable Address Change Form below and email it back to us with your new deed or lease. This way we can electronically verify your school district and update your new address on file. If you have any questions, contact our registrar, Jennifer Aballo: jennifer_aballo@hcpss.org
It is very important for us to have the most accurate information about your residency.
Columbia Association's Summer Swim League (CNSL)
CNSL (Columbia Neighborhood Swim League) registration begins May 3rd! Students who attend Clemens Crossing Elementary School are assigned to either the Clemens Crossing Cyclones Swim Team or the Clary's Forest Sundevils Swim Team depending on where they live.
We are excited to report that Columbia Neighborhood Swim League (CNSL) will resume summer swim leagues this June. Changes have been made, due to the pandemic, making swim team a great way for children to safely socialize, make friendships, and grow in confidence!
Please check out the CNSL Website to learn more about this season.
Yearbook Order Closes 4/30
CCES PTA Support Statement for Educators
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
Commit to Participate in the HCPSS 2021-2022 Digital Education Center by May 5, 2021
HCPSS is planning for a full-time online option for students entering grades K-12 who wish to learn virtually for the 2021-2022 school year. Once finalized, the Digital Education Center (DEC) program will give students the opportunity to take classes and earn credits virtually, while receiving support services from both the DEC and their assigned home school.
Parents/guardians who wish to commit to the DEC should login to HCPSS Connect Synergy by Wednesday, May 5 at 4 p.m. (see directions below). Families must commit to the DEC for the full 2021-2022 school year. Click here for more information.
To access the commitment form:
- Log in to HCPSS Connect Synergy using parent/guardian credentials
- Select More Options from the left panel
- Select Digital Education Center Commitment from the middle of the page
- Complete the questions in the form for each child and select “save”
Staff Appreciation Week: May 3-7
This year for Staff Appreciation Week, the PTA will be buying food and other small gifts for the staff, but we would like your help in showing our staff just how much we appreciate them!
We ask that students and families write notes or cards of appreciation for their teachers and other staff members and deliver them to the school in one of three ways. You can either mail in the notes/cards to the school address, you can drop them off in a collection box that will be in the vestibule at school all week, or if your child is hybrid they can hand it to their teachers. If you wish to celebrate staff in additional ways, many staff members have Amazon Wishlists (available on the PTA website) or you can send gift cards to individual staff members (gift cards of $25 or less are allowed). We also ask your help in celebrating other staff members using the following guide per grade:
Kindergarten- Related Arts Teachers, 1st Grade- Administration and Front Office Staff,
2nd Grade- Health Staff and Paraeducators, 3rd Grade- Special Education Staff,
4th Grade- Academic Support and Student Services, and 5th Grade- Custodial Staff and Cafeteria Staff/Monitors. (Names of staff can be found on CCES Website.)
Thank you for your help in celebrating our amazing staff!
Final MAP Testing Cycle
On Wednesday, May 5th, 12th, and 19th, students in grades 1-5 will take the Measured Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment. 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. To learn more about the MAP assessment, please visit: https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/common-questions-families/
The Reading test will be offered on May 5th at 9:40 a.m. The Math test will be offered on May 12th at 9:40 a.m. If your child is unable to attend, makeup testing will be offered on May 19th. Teachers will share Google Meet information and your student’s testing group as we get closer to the May dates.
Ongoing Donation Drive - Buy a teacher lunch!
The PTA is collecting money to buy all staff members food on our upcoming Chick-fil-A restaurant Spirit Day on May 5th. We are grateful for any contributions! You may choose a staff member to sponsor and can leave them a personal note if you wish. Fill out the form then proceed to PayPal to make your donation. Thank you!
CCES Virtual International Week Celebration
Clemens Crossing's International Celebration goes virtual this year - and we need your help! The CCES PTA invites you to help us celebrate our school's amazing cultural diversity from May 17-21, 2021. We are seeking video submissions of what makes your family's culture or country special and unique. We want to learn all about your family's country/culture!
Throughout the week, we will share videos created by our students and families on our PTA Facebook page, and on Friday, May 21, we have invited a chef to teach a virtual international cooking class for the entire CCES community to participate!
Some good examples of simple videos would be:
- A slideshow presentation teaching us about your country or culture
- A cooking tutorial featuring traditional food from your country/culture
- A video of you dancing a traditional dance from your country/culture A video featuring music from your country/culture (if you are playing it, that's even better!)
- A video showing traditional costumes from your country/culture
- A video featuring traditional stories from your country/culture
- A video featuring art from your country/culture and explaining where it comes from
- Anything else creative and fun that teaches us about your country/culture!
Please try to keep your videos on the shorter side if possible (2 to 6 minutes in length is ideal). Your entire family can participate to make it special!
If you plan to participate, please let us know by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/qc1LtW64VwGMWGUu8
We can't wait to learn all about your family's country/culture! Thanks for helping us celebrate!
Please email a link to your family's video by May 15 to culturalarts@clemenscrossingpta.org. Feel free to email any questions as well!
Consideration Form Open
Consideration Form - Planning for 2021-2022
The Clemens Crossing staff is looking ahead to the 2021-22 school year. As part of this process, we would like to give you the opportunity to share some information that you would like for us to consider as we begin to make class groupings for the next school year. This consideration form is for you, as parents, to relate specific information about your child that you feel would be beneficial as our teachers meet to determine next year's placement.
When placing students, the staff, and administration utilize a wide range of criteria that are supportive of the Howard County philosophy of heterogeneous grouping. Some of these criteria include, but are not limited to:
- the personality of the child
- the gender balance in each classroom
- math strengths and needs
- written output
- test results
- reading strengths and needs
- special education requirements; IEP goals
- structured versus non-structured needs
- information from previous teachers and school counselor.
There are certain concerns that we cannot consider as part of this Consideration Form, therefore, we ask that you not use this form to propose the following:
- specific teacher requests
- grouping based on siblings’ experience
- grouping based on friends
- grouping based on hearsay.
Your input on this form will be used in our planning for your child rather than a letter requesting a specific teacher. Your response is OPTIONAL but is a very valuable source of information to the school staff and to the next teacher.
The form is embedded in this newsletter program below. If you cannot see the form below, you may need to use a computer.
The form closes on May 12th. Thank you for your help.
Community News and Programs
Please find the link to the Howard County Public School System's Community News and Programs page.
In alignment with Howard County Board of Education Policy 10010, Distribution and Display of Materials and Announcements, the following announcements have been approved by the Public Information Office for distribution. Please visit Distributing Community Information through the School System or contact the Public Information Office at 410-313-6682 if you have any questions.
The below community notices are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Howard County Public School System.