Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
January 28, 2022 - Volume 43, Issue 21
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
Important Upcoming Dates and Events
January
- 28 - Conference Scheduling Opens
- 31 - Report Cards Issued
February
- 1 - Black History Month Begins
- 1 - Schools Closed for Students - Professional Learning Day
- 4 - Conference Scheduling Closes
- 4 - PTA Virtual Bingo Night (date moved from 2/25)
- 8 - PTA Restaurant Day - Chick-fil-A (Johns Hopkins Road)
- 9 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- 10 - Schools Close 3 hours Early 12:45 p.m. - Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences
- 11 - Schools Close 3 hours Early 12:45 p.m. - Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences
- 14 - CogAT for 3rd grade
- 15 - CogAT for 3rd grade
- 18 - CogAT for 3rd grade
- 21 - JUST CHANGED Schools and Offices OPEN - President's Day. On 1-27, the Board of Education changed this to an inclement weather make-up day.
To subscribe to the CCES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system use the calendar ID sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com.
School Calendar
Related Arts Color Days
From School Administrators
Parent-Teacher Conferences
- You will find instructions for signing up for parent-teacher conferences below. This conference time is a great opportunity to meet with your child's Math teacher so you can review progress and focus on ways to help your child at home for the rest of the school year.
- You will also find information about our PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). This is our schoolwide behavior plan that has been in place for many years. We updated our plan this past summer. Please review how we focus on positive behaviors and help correct less-desired behaviors in a caring and collaborative manner with support from home.
Curricular Resources
- We frequently get questions about the curricular progression throughout the school year for each grade level. You will find links to the HCPSS pages, "What your child will learn" resources for each grade level here at CCES. These are excellent resources to see the progression of learning in each grade level.
SEL - Social Emotional Learning
- We provide time daily to focus on social-emotional learning. This is so important for the overall well-being of children. You will find resources from the National Association of Elementary School Principals providing an overview of SEL.
Contact Tracing Resumes 2/1/22
In December, the Howard County Health Department took over the role of contact tracing for positive COVID-19 cases in HCPSS schools, while the school's main role was identifying and providing guidance to student and families of positive cases. Contact tracing in Elementary Schools will resume by staff on February 1. It is one major method to help prevent the spread of cases. HCPSS has improved the technological logistics to contact trace more efficiently with the recent increase in numbers.
- Parents/guardians of unvaccinated students who are identified by our staff as a close contact of someone in school who tested positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by email notifying them their child needs to quarantine.
- Parents/guardians of vaccinated students who are identified by our staff as a close contact of someone in school who tested positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by email notifying them their child does not need to quarantine unless they become symptomatic. A student is considered fully vaccinated on the 15th day after the second dose of the vaccine.
- Although our school nurse has access to the Maryland ImmuNet database, we encourage you to complete the vaccination status Google Form embedded in this newsletter. You may need to use a computer if it is blank on your phone/device. The vaccination status form helps staff expedite contact tracing.
NEW INFORMATION
Schedule Parent-Teacher Conference Today
Parent-Teacher Virtual Conferences February 10th & 11th
- Due to the limited number of available time slots, you may choose to only schedule a conference if you have a concern or question.
- Scheduling opens in Synergy ParentVue on Friday, January 28th and closes on Friday, February 4th.
- Grades 1 - 5: schedule with your child’s Math teacher
- Kindergarten: schedule with your child’s homeroom teacher for a Math conference.
- Click here for directions to schedule a conference.
- If you would like to conference with a Related Arts teacher, please email the teacher to set-up a conference.
- If you have a situation that requires you to conference in-person, email the teacher to coordinate a possible time after the virtual conference dates.
Conference Days/Times
Please note that teachers have flexibility in determining schedules. Not all teachers will be available at all times listed below:
- Thursday, February. 10th 1:00pm - 4:00 pm or 7:00 pm
- Friday, February 11th 1:00pm - 4:00 pm
- Conferences are 15 minutes.
Logging onto Google Meet for your Conference
- You will use your child’s HCPSS credentials to join the conference.
- To prevent “overlap” of conferences, teachers will be using Google Meet room joining security features. You may have to wait to be admitted into the Google Meet room.
- Google Meet Codes: You will see the meeting code for your conference in Synergy when you sign up for a conference. You will receive a reminder email with the room code from the Synergy system a few days before your conference.
Help Needed from PTA
Hello CCES Families!
Congratulations on making it through another grading period! In honor of our wonderful teachers, the PTA provides a meal during teacher conferences. This time we will be providing pizza and sides on Thursday, February 10. If you are able to contribute, we would greatly appreciate your support! Please see the signup for details.
Thank you! - Your PTA
Signup: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B48AAAF22A6F58-teachers
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 requires 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. Gittleson, or Mr. Cosentino.
PAW PRINT TICKETS
Students who are following the school rules and displaying appropriate behavior may be recognized for their efforts by receiving ROAR 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 ROAR 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 student who earned ROAR tickets in 50, 75, 100 increments.
WEEKLY COUGAR OF THE WEEK AWARD WINNERS
BULLETIN BOARD FOR COUGAR OF THE WEEK AWARD WINNERS
Accessing Quarter 2 Report Cards
Report cards will be accessible via HCPSS Connect Synergy after 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31. 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
PTA Read-A-Thon Results
Congratulations to Mrs. Thomerson's Homeroom for having the most participation in the Read-A-Thon! They have won their teacher a $35 Starbucks Gift Card! Thanks to all who participated and donated and a special shout-out to Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Seamonson, Ned Marshall and our Media Center for making Read-a-thon extra special by being our partners this year!
What Your Child Will Learn Guides
“What Your Child Will Learn” Guides
What Your Child Will Learn guides provide an overview of the instructional program for your child’s grade, as well as student goals and expectations. The guides include information to help parents monitor and support their child’s progress during the school year.
Individual guides are provided for each grade level. Each grade level guide provides information categorized by curriculum area, e.g., Language Arts, Science, etc.
The guides are available online only; print versions are no longer distributed. Specific guide webpages may be printed from the website.
Specific student programs may differ depending on instructional needs.
Fostering Social and Emotional Learning at Home
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a framework that gives students the skills to recognize and manage emotions and help solve problems effectively by establishing positive relationships. According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), encouraging SEL yields positive results for students, adults, and school communities. Parents can use these tips to help foster SEL at home.
Focus on Strengths
When your child brings home a test, talk first about what they did well. Then talk about what
can be improved. Praise specific strengths; don’t just criticize things that were done wrong.
Ask Children How They Feel
When you ask your child about their feelings, the message is that feelings matter and you
care. It shows the importance of being a good listener and helps children feel heard in a way that fosters a strong parent-child relationship.
Be Willing to Apologize
Parents need to be able to apologize to their children if what they said was not what they
meant. Calmly explain what you really wanted to say. By doing this, you’re being a good role model. You’re showing how important it is to apologize after hurting someone. You’re
teaching that it’s possible to work through problems with respect for the other person.
Give Children Choices—and Respect Their Wishes
When children have a chance to make choices, they learn how to solve problems. If you make
all their decisions for them, they’ll never learn this key skill. Giving children ways to express
preferences and make decisions shows that their ideas and feelings matter.
Ask Questions to Help Children Solve Problems on Their Own
When parents hear their child has a problem, it’s tempting to step in and take over. However, this can harm a child’s ability to find solutions on their own. A helpful approach is to ask good questions. Examples include, “What do you think you can do in this situation?” and “If you choose a particular solution, what will be the consequences of that choice?”
Published with permission from the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
Through a partnership with the HCHD and several local pharmacies, HCPSS is pleased that students have multiple opportunities to get vaccinated.
Virtual Bingo Night
The CCES PTA is excited to bring you Virtual Bingo Night!
**NOTE DATE CHANGE! Bingo is being moved up from Feb. 25th**
Log on through Google Meet for a fantastic evening of family fun - absolutely FREE!
The Google Meet code on any device is:
https://meet.google.com/ehs-hesy-ysm
Advance registration is required. Please fill out this brief form by Friday, January 28th to sign up:
https://forms.gle/sgqkw4CkM2mCavj29
Questions? Please contact Lisa Scata: scatalisa@gmail.com
Friday, Feb 4, 2022, 06:00 PM
undefined
Reporting Absences
Absence Notes
All students are required to have a note explaining why they were absent. Please send an email to your child's teacher as well as ccesabsence@hcpss.org.