Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
September 2, 2022 - Volume 44, Issue 3
Clemens Crossing Elementary School
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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Spanish
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Korean
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Urdu
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From School Administration
We had a wonderful opening week of school! Our first week went smoothly as we welcomed 550 enthusiastic students back to Clemens Crossing. Everyone seems to be getting used to the routines that the new school year brings.
As Mrs. Gittleson and I have walked throughout the building, we are pleased to see students engaged in learning in their new classrooms. Throughout the week, each teacher explicitly taught students about our behavioral expectations. Included in this newsletter, this week you will find information about PBIS (Positive Behaviors Interventions and Supports) so you can learn and help reinforce the school's expectations. Each classroom established consistent behavioral expectations used throughout our school. We expect all students to learn and follow those school rules.
Parents/Guardians, each of you should get a "Paw Ticket" because our arrival and dismissal plan is working. Despite a very long car loop, the arrival car line is mostly complete by 9:10 a.m., and the dismissal car line is mostly complete by 4:00 p.m. Thank you! I am also pleased to report that we have very few late buses. Our bus route schedule is working well with all buses (except one) arriving before 9:10 a.m. At dismissal, all buses are on schedule too with the last bus leaving the school before 4:00 p.m. Please keep doing what you are doing so we have safe and consistent routines throughout the school year!
It was also great to see parents/guardians on Tuesday night for our intermediate Back-to-School Night. Our primary Back-to-School Night is September 6. We look forward to seeing parents of students in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade that night.
It is great to see such an engaged school community.
Mr. Cosentino, Principal
Important Upcoming Dates and Events
September
- 5 - Labor Day - Schools and Offices Closed
- 6 - Back-to-School Night for Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade 6:30 p.m.
- 8 - HCMS & WLMS Back-to-School Night (feeder middle schools)
- 9 - PTA Welcome Back Family Picnic 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- 14 - PTA Kick-Off Meeting: Social & Dinner at 6:30 p.m.; Meeting 7:00 p.m.
- 15 - National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month Begins
- 22 - Fall Individual Picture Day
- 26 - Rosh Hashanah - Schools and Offices Closed
To subscribe to the CCES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system use the calendar ID sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com.
HCPSS Calendars
There will be no printed 2022-2023 calendars. Staff, students, and families may add our online calendar to their own mobile/online calendar by
- Going to https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/
- Scrolling down to Subscribing to a Calendar
- Right-clicking on the calendar you wish to subscribe to
- Selecting Copy Link Location/Address/Shortcut
- Adding to your calendar of choice (See your calendar for specifics on adding a new calendar)
You also may view and/or download printable PDFs of the full calendar and/or important dates only. Updates to the PDFs will be noted on the HCPSS calendar page.
PLEASE NOTE! The calendar is subject to change. The online calendar reflects the most recent version.
Calendars in Spanish, Chinese, and Korean
Calendario en españolSeptember 2022
September 2022
October 2022
October 2022
NEW INFORMATION
Back to School Picnic
Friday, September 9 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on the school grounds. We will have playground games for the kids. This fun event is for both families and staff.
There will be a sno-ball truck, but no other food truck as previously shared.
**BRING YOUR OWN FOOD **
PBIS AT CCES
PBIS – POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS
What is PBIS? PBIS is a research-based behavior system that uses incentives and acknowledgments to motivate students to make positive choices. Each PBIS school identifies three to five easy-to-remember behavioral expectations for students which are communicated frequently and reinforced with student acknowledgments. Staff members make it a point to call attention to moments when a student demonstrates desired behaviors. This positive reinforcement is for all students and also provides an excellent model for students who need extra encouragement in making appropriate choices.
PBIS is an important aspect of Clemens Crossing. The staff of Clemens Crossing Elementary School is committed to working with students and their families to promote a safe and nurturing environment in all school settings.
Below are the guiding principles of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS):
- PBIS is a behavioral support system to promote and recognize positive behavior.
- The program rewards students for exhibiting positive behavior.
- Expectations, language, and consequences concerning behavior are consistent throughout the school.
- The program promotes the development of intrinsic motivation.
We have three school expectations that are reinforced daily.:
Our expectations are:
- Perform Resiliently
- Act Respectfully
- Work Responsibly
Consequences for Inappropriate Behavior
Students are taught the school rules for classroom and non-classroom settings. All students are told what the expected behaviors or tasks are in each classroom. If a child does not exhibit the expected behavior, any of the following strategies may be used to help redirect and reteach that behavior:
- Individual verbal warning with an explanation about expected behavior.
- Time out in the classroom.
- Time out in a different classroom or the pod area.
- Students are given an opportunity to calm down using a Self-Calming Kit.
- Minor Incident Report/Reflection Form (MIR) is completed and sent home to parents/guardians to be signed and returned the following day.
- If the behavior still does not improve, an administrator will be called in to intervene.
*Certain actions, such as fighting, using inappropriate language, harassment and threats warrant immediate administrative involvement.
We recognize students may have situations or incidents at school that require consequences. As adults, it is our responsibility to help teach children acceptable and appropriate behavior in our school setting. These are teachable moments to reiterate and reinforce our expectations in a school community of learners. Overall, this helps to create a positive learning environment and maximize children's opportunities to learn. We know a strong home and school connection will help reinforce those expectations.
How Can You Help at Home?
Please review the information on this page with your child.
- Ask your child to tell you the school rules.
- Ask your child to discuss ways that he or she can use these rules to help them to learn and participate at school.
- Ask your child how his/her behavior affects others.
- Discuss ways that your child can be a helpful and kind classmate.
- Discuss ways that these rules can be used at home and in the community.
If you have any questions about our PBIS Program, please ask your child's teacher, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Braxton-Cheek, Mrs. Gittleson, or Mr. Cosentino.
Paw Tickets
PAW PRINT TICKETS
Students who are following the school rules and displaying appropriate behavior may be recognized for their efforts by receiving Paw Print Tickets from any member of the school staff.
- Staff members distribute tickets to students to recognize their positive behavior.
- Once received, the students collect their tickets to trade in for various rewards.
- Rewards are special privileges the students can earn. A few examples are sitting in a special seat for the day, being first to pick classroom jobs, or lunch with a staff member or administrator.
- Students are also recognized when they earn 25, 50, 75, and 100 Paw Print tickets. At 25, they receive a certificate and have their picture taken and displayed on the bulletin board. At 75, they earn a coupon for the school store, and at 100, they earn a wristband and are recognized at a PEP rally.
- Students with exemplary behavior will participate in quarterly celebrations!
CLIMBING COUGARS
The "Climbing Cougars" bulletin board in the front hallway displays the students who earned ROAR tickets in 25, 50, 100 increments.
WEEKLY COUGAR OF THE WEEK AWARD WINNERS
Students who earn a Cougar of the Week Award get their picture taken as a group. Teachers write a positive note about each student. Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Gittleson, or Mr. Cosentino call each Cougar of the Week Award Winners' parent/guardian to share the positive comment from the teacher. Cougar of the Week Award winners gets a Cougar of the Week Award charm.
BULLETIN BOARD FOR COUGAR OF THE WEEK AWARD WINNERS
The Cougar of the Week Award Winners Bulletin Board is displayed in the front hall. This shows the groups of students (one per homeroom class) who earn the Cougar of the Week Award.
Gifted and Talented Seminars
GT Seminars are offered to all students in grades 2 - 5 during their recess time. Mrs. Register and Mrs. Seifert presented to each grade this week with information about the seminars. If your student is interested in a seminar, they will bring home a paper explaining it and for you to sign in order to grant permission. Please see the list below of seminars that are currently being offered. If you have questions, please email the corresponding GT teacher.
Grade 2:
- Zoobs Challenge (laura_register@hcpss.org)
- Flying Paper Machines (jhonna_seifert@hcpss.org)
Grade 3:
- Unheard Perspectives (jhonna_seifert@hcpss.org)
Grade 4:
- Nature Time (laura_register@hcpss.org)
- Eggbert Engineering Challenge (jhonna_seifert@hcpss.org)
Grade 5:
- Create Your Own Game (laura_register@hcpss.org)
- Cryptology (jhonna_seifert@hcpss.org)
Band and Strings Information
There is no better time for your child to participate in the performing arts!
- Learn to play an instrument and/or sing
- Engage live and build relationships with peers and teachers
- Build a healthy, productive, and fun routine
- Does not conflict with other synchronous classes
- Develop a passion for music
- Emotional, social, and kinesthetic benefits
- Sign up for band, orchestra, and/or chorus online!
Who can participate?
- STRINGS: 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders
- BAND: 4th and 5th Graders
Participation options
- STRINGS: Learn a string instrument
- Choose from violin, viola, cello, or bass
- BAND: Learn a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument
- Choose from flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion & more
Instruction
- STRINGS: Two (2) 30-minute lessons a week
- BAND: Two (2) 30-minute lessons a week
What will your child learn?
- Creativity and Expression
- Problem Solving Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Teamwork and Responsibility
- Performance and Presentation
- Time Management
- Many Styles of Music
- Fine Motor Skills
- Intrinsic Motivation and Confidence
- Cultural Awareness
- Attention to Detail and Precision
- And so much more!
Questions?
- Email Band and Strings Teacher - Mrs. Elizabeth Yeager elizabeth_yeager@hcpss.org
Sign-up
- Use the form below or this link to sign-up for Band or Strings.
Parent Volunteer Procedures at CCES
We value our volunteers and the contributions they make to our students and schools. Parents who wish to volunteer must complete a brief training course online and submit a certificate of completion to their school. This also includes anyone who chaperones a field trip.
Details are available on our website.
Birthdays at CCES
Student birthdays are announced during the morning announcements. At that time the birthday students will get a birthday ribbon and pencil in the front office.
Celebrations are encouraged outside of the school building. Class lists are not provided to parents. Staff members do not participate in disseminating birthday party invitations. If you want to invite classmates to birthday parties outside of school, look at the school directory in HCPSS Connect and the Family File.
Balloons are not permitted in the school building. Birthday food celebrations are appropriate outside of the school day.
Early Release of a Student
In order to minimize disruptions to the classroom, the early release of students should be limited to emergency situations and unavoidable circumstances. Parents are asked to avoid scheduling non-school related activities that conflict or interfere with CCES’s regular dismissal times.
Students may not be released from the office after 3:20 p.m.
Once dismissal starts, your child will depart as scheduled by either taking their assigned bus home or exiting the building as a walker or car rider.
In order for your child to be released to anyone other than the parent/guardian, that person MUST be listed on the emergency card and present photo identification to the Front Office. Please make sure to indicate on your Family File Emergency Form who you are allowing the school to release your child to by checking the box "☑ release to".
Parents of student bus riders must provide WRITTEN NOTIFICATION to have their children dismissed with the walkers or car riders.
Everyone’s cooperation in this regard is important to ensure safe and smooth school operations.
Photographing, Video Taping or Audiotaping
Parents have a right to expect a certain level of protection and privacy for their children while they are in the care of HCPSS. As a protective measure, parents and others who are not school employees who intend to photograph, videotape or audiotape students in school or on school grounds during the regular instructional day using smart phones, cell phones or other devices must have prior approval from the building administrator. This does not apply to photographing, videotaping or audiotaping during extracurricular activities, such as public concerts and athletic events.
Dogs are Not Permitted on School Property
As much as we enjoy seeing family dogs at arrival and dismissal, all HCPSS schools are expected to adhere to the following policy:
Animals in schools or offices, leashed or not, present safety, environmental, and liability issues. Students and staff may be exposed to potential physical hazards, such as bites, and/or allergy related health problems. As a result, animals are prohibited within HCPSS buildings. Animals are also prohibited on school system property during arrival, dismissal, recess or other HCPSS sponsored outdoor activities. Service animals or service animals in training per MD Annotated Code Section 7-705 (Service Animals) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as animals approved for instructional purposes are exempt from this prohibition.
Parents who bring dogs on their walks to school must wait for students off school property. We want to ensure the safety of our students as they arrive and leave school. Thank you for adhering to this policy.
DRESS CODE
Please help your child come to school prepared for learning. HCPSS Policy 9210 provides information about the dress code in all Howard County Schools. Please review the policy here. Here are a couple of highlights:
- Hats, hoods, headwear are permitted as long as the face is visible, and it does not interfere with instruction.
- Tank tops and tops with spaghetti straps are okay but....
- Clothing that exposes or reveals the chest, midriff, pelvic/groin area, and buttocks is not permitted.
We encourage students to wear sneakers to school. They are the safest shoe for PE and for recess.
We are seeing an increase in spinner and popper toys being brought to school. These items should be kept at home or in your child's backpack during the school day.
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
Our Weekly Newsletter, The Cougar Comments
PTA - Parent Teacher Association
Message from the PTA President
Welcome to our new school year! I’m so excited for the year ahead. Please join the PTA! It costs only $15 per family for the yearly membership. PTA is all about creating wonderful opportunities for enrichment, fun and interesting experiences for every child in our school.
We encourage families to choose an extra amount to donate to PTA, over and above the annual membership, if you can. This is simply because our PTA is a nonprofit that runs on donations, and unlike elsewhere, we don’t ask you to sell things for school fundraising - there’s no selling candles or wrapping paper or candies to your family & friends. Simply choose an amount you would like to give as your way of investing in PTA, and be part of building our marvelous CCES community!
(Just because you join PTA doesn't put you on the hook for volunteering your time - I know for some people it is easier to give a monetary gift or donate items from time to time for a specific event, whereas for others, they are able to give of their time and volunteer for different things. All of the above are great!)
Join the Clemens PTA here:
https://clemenscrossingpta.org/get-involved/family-membership/
First PTA meeting:
Our first PTA meeting is coming up soon! Please come and join us on September 14th in the Media Center (6:30 pm snacks and meet & greet; 7:00 pm meeting start). If you are planning to make just one PTA meeting this year - make it this one!! Learn all about the different events, activities and programs that PTA runs and find out how you could be involved. We welcome all different levels of volunteer involvement and commitment and you can learn alongside other parents who can show you the ropes.
As the year progresses our monthly meetings will continue on that schedule - 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:00 pm in the media center.
Check out our website to see all the different activities and events and available roles:
https://clemenscrossingpta.org/
Email me anytime at president@clemenscrossingpta.org - please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions or suggestions throughout the year. I would love to hear from you!
Jen Nwosu,
CCES PTA President
PTA Kickoff Meeting and Dinner
Clemens Crossing Elementary School Media Center.
Please come and share your knowledge and ideas!
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2022, 06:30 PM
Clemens Crossing Elementary School, Quarterstaff Road, Columbia, MD, United States
COMMUNITY NEWS
Cub Scout Pack 618
Clemens Crossing Cub Scout Pack 618 is open to all Girls and Boys in grades K - 5. We have a fun year planned with campouts, rocket launches, campfires and more! Please join us Sat, Sept 10th at 5pm at Martin Rd Park for our Fall Picnic. There will be food and fun. We will also be having an Information Night at CCES on Wed, Sept 7th at 6:30. Join us and learn all about Cub Scouting and our Pack. Please visit our website at www.pack618md.com or contact Cubmaster@pack618md.com.