Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
September 15, 2017 - VOLUME 39, ISSUE 2
Clemens Crossing Elementary School
Elizabeth Yankle, 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
Events Coming Up
September
- 18 - Back-to-School Night for Grades K, 1 & 2 at 6:30 pm
- 19 - Gifted & Talented Information Session, 6:00 pm
- 19 - Back-to-School Night for Grades 3, 4, & 5 at 6:30 pm
- 21 - Schools and Offices Closed
- 22 - Schools Closed for Students - Professional Learning Day
- 25 - PTA Read-a-thon begins
- 27 - In-school Banking
- 27 - PTA Room Parent & Committee Chair Meeting, 7:00 pm
- 27 - Fall Individual Picture Day
October
- 3 - PTA Restaurant Night at Chick-fil-a (Johns Hopkins Road)
- 6 - Flu Clinic
- 11 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm
- 13 - 3rd Grade Ellicott City Day
- 18 - 2nd Grade Fire Safety House
- 19 - 4th Grade Family Fun Night
- 25 - In-school Banking
- 31 - Halloween parade, 2:45 pm
To subscribe to the CCES Calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system use the calendar ID sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com.
From School Administration
Back-to-School Night for Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade are on Monday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. Third, Fourth, and Fifth grades will host Back-to-School Night on Tuesday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. We will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. with short information sessions from school administrators and our PTA.
This is a great opportunity to learn about our school, meet your child's teacher, and see your child's classroom. We value the connection between our school and parents, and we look forward to seeing you next week.
September is National Emergency Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month. We encourage you to visit ready.gov and take advantage of so many planning resources for families.
As a school, we take emergency preparedness seriously. In addition to ten fire drills a year, we conduct six emergency drills to prepare for an emergency situation.
Our Clemens Crossing Emergency Preparedness Team meets regularly to review our school-based emergency plan. During that meeting, staff members had an opportunity to learn their roll in our plan. Furthermore, different scenarios were discussed so we can respond in a coordinated manner in the event of an emergency. Our primary goal is to keep all students and staff safe.
There are four types of emergency scenarios; duck, cover and hold-on, shelter-in-place, lockdown, and modified lockdown. Each scenario requires a different response by the emergency team.
Duck, Cover, and Hold On - The “duck, cover, and hold on” command would be given in the event of an explosion (bomb, mechanical malfunction), severe winds (tornado, extreme weather), earthquake, or other situations that might cause significant structural damage to the school. Students, staff, parents, and any visitor to the building should drop to the ground where they are and cover their heads until the extreme activity subsides.
Shelter-In-Place – The purpose of a shelter in place emergency response is to protect the inhabitants of a building from dangerous fumes or other environmental poisons that are outside the building. This means moving students into the school building if they are outside. In some situations, the school’s HVAC system would be shut down and doors and windows would be sealed and locked. Shelter-in-place emergency procedures would be initiated in the event of a hazardous materials spill in the area (especially with our close proximity MD Route 29 or 32) or in the event of some type of bioterrorism in the region.
Modified Lockdown – This command would be given if there were a potential for violent or criminal activity but not an imminent threat to our school. The day-to-day operation of the school would continue, but with modifications. Students would not be permitted to go outside for recess or physical education and classes in the portable classrooms would be relocated.
Lockdown – This emergency command would be given in the most extreme and threatening situation such as violence or criminal activity inside the school or in the surrounding area. Students, staff, parents, and any visitor to the building are expected to stay where they are and follow instructions given.
Off-Site Evacuation – In the event that our building is no longer safe, we may determine that we need to evacuate the students. We have designated three locations for our off-site evacuation. If necessary, transportation to those sites may be provided by HCPSS. Students will be released to parents or other individuals listed on the student's emergency form. Please keep in mind that no student is released to any individual who is not specifically listed on the student's emergency form, including an older sibling. All adults must show photo I.D. when picking up a student.
Parents can help by:
- Giving and updating the most accurate, up-to-date health and emergency information on your child to our school office and your child’s teacher.
- Ensuring your own safety.
- Do not call the school during an emergency situation; it jams the phone lines.
- Do not rush to the school to pick up your child in the event of an emergency. It creates congestion which can delay the tasks of emergency responders and school staff in responding to the emergency.
- Tuning in to local radio and television stations and checking the HCPSS website.
Staff Spotlight - Mrs. Jennifer McBrien
Mrs. McBrien lives in Columbia with her husband in a blended family. Her two sons, Calvin and Drew, are high school seniors, and her daughter is a junior in college.
In her spare time, she enjoys crafting, eating at local restaurants, watching reality TV, and playing Scrabble (or any word games).
Redistricting Information
On June 22, the annual Feasibility Study was presented by HCPSS staff to the Board of Education. During the summer, a committee of parent volunteers from around the county served (and continue to serve) on the Attendance Area Committee (AAC). The AAC is charged with providing feedback and possible alternative plans for redistricting to the Superintendent. In October, Attendance Area Adjustment recommendations are made by the Superintendent and presented to the Board of Education meeting, taking into consideration the input from the AAC and the public.
Below, you will find a list of important dates over the next two months after the Superintendent makes his recommendations to the Board of Education.
Superintendent’s Redistricting Recommendations
- Tuesday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. - Presentation to the Board of Education of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan
Board of Education Public Hearings and Work Sessions
- Thursday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. - Public Hearing I
- Wednesday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. - Work Session I
- Thursday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. - Work Session II
- Tuesday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. - Public Hearing II
- Thursday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m. - Work Session III
- Tuesday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. - Work Session IV
Approval of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan
- Thursday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m. - Approval
Please look for information in future editions of the Cougar Comments related to the implications of redistricting on Clemens Crossing Elementary.
PARCC Home Reports for 4th and 5th Grade Students
CCES Continues Educational Partnership with First National Bank
CCES teamed up with First National Bank to provide banking opportunities for our students. In-School Banking takes place once a month on the last Wednesday of each month. You can find all of the dates on our school calendar.
Our first In-School Banking date for the school year is September 27 between 9:00-9:30 a.m. in the Cafeteria.
Students can start banking at any time during the year. Please find a letter from First National Bank below. In addition, the In-School Banking form is required to open an account with First National Bank.
School Dismissal Procedures
School is dismissed at 3:45 pm. Buses typically leave our lot by 3:55 pm. If your child has a change in the normal daily dismissal routine on any day, the office must receive a written note from the parent. The school will not accept a student’s verbal report of a change in dismissal at any time.
If you need to pick your child up from school during the school hours, you must come into the front office and your child will be called to the office for you. The instructional day does not allow for students to be called to the office to wait for the parent to arrive. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Front office personnel will not call students to the office for early dismissal until the parent is present in the office. Additionally, we ask for all early dismissals to be done
before 3:15 p.m.
Absent Note Procedures
When your child is absent from school, please provide either a written note or email to the teacher why your child is absent. If emailing, please cc: Dulce Boyer in the front office. For the absence to be excused, we must have one or the other.
The note/email should include the child's FULL NAME and the reason why the child is absent. Illness and doctor appointments are excused absences. No details need to be provided. Also, you do not need to phone the school if your child is absent. An email/note is sufficient.
If your child is going to be absent for a length of time due to travel, there is a form that must be filled out. The form can be downloaded from the main Howard County Public School website - extended leave form or you may pick one up in the office.
Any questions, please call Dulce Boyer in the front office.
Asking for Student Work During Student Absence
When students are absent from school, missed work will be sent home upon their return to school, within 48 hours. This includes absences for illness, or otherwise. Requests will not be necessary. Please do not request work in anticipation of your child's absence. We will not send work home before the student has returned to school unless the student has been out due to illness more than three consecutive days.
Riding a Different Bus
A change in a student’s bus can only be made with an administrator’s approval. We cannot approve bus changes for play dates and/or parties. In a true emergency, please put your request in writing and an administrator will contact you. We want our students to be safe. In the event of a bus accident, we need to know who is on each bus. Our bus capacity is also based on the number of children at each stop. So, adding a student to a bus for even a day can create safety issues.
Non-Transportation Zone (Walkers)
Walkers may not travel to a bus stop to get on a bus and ride it to school. Only assigned students may ride their assigned bus.
Car Riders and Walkers
Walkers are dismissed after car riders and bus riders. Walkers include any student not picked up in the car loop (this includes the students who are picked up in a car that is parked legally on Quarterstaff Road). If you park along Quarterstaff Road, parents must meet their child at the front of the building.
Front Office Hours
Please note that the Clemens Crossing ES Front Office is open Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:00 am - 4:15 pm. Due to these hours, students and adults are not permitted to re-enter the building to retrieve lost or forgotten items after 4:15 pm.
Fire Lanes
During the summer, our fire lanes were repainted. Please do not park in the fire lanes. The designated curbs are the fire lanes and cannot be accessed if blocked. We have had incidents in the past when an emergency vehicle could not pull to the curb because of parked cars. This impacts the safety of everyone in the building.
Parent Volunteer Procedures at CCES
"According to HCPSS Board Policy, all parent volunteers must complete a Confidentiality Training Course about protecting the privacy of our students, staff, and schools. Please complete this course before registering to volunteer at your child's school. The course takes about 5 minutes to complete. Please click the following website and follow these 3 steps":
Step One: Training Course - Click through each page of the training course.
Step Two: Certification of Completion - Print and complete the Parent Volunteer Certification Form.
Step Three: Register to Volunteer - Bring the completed and signed Certification Form to school before or on the day you volunteer.
Giant Food Stores A+ Rewards - Register Your Giant Card - Earn Cash for CCES!
Clemens Crossing Elementary earns cash every time you shop at Giant Food Grocery Stores and use your Giant card. All you need to do is register your card online and designate CCES as your school of choice (school ID: 01008) through Giant's A+ School Rewards Program. Follow the steps below to register your card and designate CCES as your school today:
- Visit www.giantfood.com/school-rewards/ and select the purple box that says "Log in to get started."
- Log-in or following the prompts to create your online account. You will need your 12-digit Giant Card number.
- (If you don't know your Giant card number, call 1-877-366-2668, Option #1)
- Under the "Rewards and Savings" tab, follow the prompts to designate Clemens Crossing Elementary as your school. You will need the School ID # for CCES, which is 01008.
- If you need assistance selecting your school, call or email the A+ Hotline at 1-877-275-2758 or askaplus@cranecommunications.com
NOTE: If you registered your Giant card last year - you do NOT need to re-register. CCES will automatically start earning money from your purchases once the program begins this school year!
CCES starts earning money October 6, so register today! Last year this program earned more than $4,600 for our school!
Don't forget to encourage your friends and family members to register their cards for CCES, too!
If you have questions about this program, contact CCES's Giant A+ Rewards Coordinator Angela Stark at stark.angela@gmail.com.
CCES PTA Fall Play "Beauty and the Beast Jr"
The CCES PTA, in conjunction with School House Theater Arts, is proud to announce that the Fall play for this year will be
"Beauty And The Beast Jr."
Registration will begin for 4th and 5th graders beginning Monday, September 11th. If there are remaining openings, registration will then be expanded to 3rd graders starting Monday, September 18th. The deadline for registration will be Monday, September 25th. The cost to participate in the play is $170 per child (there is a discount for siblings.)
Rehearsals will be held on Wednesdays starting September 27th. Performance dates are November 16th and Friday, November 17th. Stay tuned for updated information!
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Molinari at joshandjasek12@gmail.com or at 410.707.5786.
Don't Delay, Join Your PTA and Get Your CCES Car Magnet!
The 2017-18 membership rates are $15 for a family and $10 for an individual.
Consider all the programs your PTA brings to the school -- Cultural Arts assemblies, after school classes, field trip support, the Science Fair, International Night, Talent Show, Carnival, etc., etc., etc., and support your PTA! This year we are encouraging families to pay their membership and/or direct donation with a check payable to: CCES PTA. We pay a fee for every electronic transaction processing, and the fees add up fast. Please consider writing a check so all of your contributions support students and programs here at school.
When you join PTA, you will receive one magnet for individual membership and two magnets for family membership.Print and handwrite (PDF Version)
PTA Sponsored After School Activities
Kids Art - Thursdays 3:50-5:05
Sessions for Fall, Late Fall, Winter, and Spring
Fall starts Sept 28
https://campscui.active.com/orgs/KidzArtMaryland#/selectSessions/2111103/filter/location=612801
Open to grades K - 5
Silver Knights Chess Club - Mondays 3:50-4:50
Fall session starts Oct 2
Open to grades K-5 - no experience necessary
Need based Scholarships are available - contact Silver Knights to inquire
Silver Knights Coding Club - Fridays 3:50-4:50
Fall session starts Oct 6
Open to grades 2-5 - no experience necessary
Need based Scholarships are available - contact Silver Knights to inquire
There are also a variety of after school programs offered through Howard County Parks and Recreation
https://apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty/Activity_Search
Please visit the HCPSS Community News and Programs page (http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/) on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.
Stay tuned for Schools Out Day Activities!
Girls on the Run Fall 2017 Season
SECAC - Special Education Community Advisory Committee
What is SECAC?
The Howard County Special Education Community Advisory Committee (SECAC) is an organization established to seek meaningful input from parents, community partners, service providers, educators, and administrators on local issues relative to the provision of a free appropriate public eduction (FAPE) and the achievement of students with disabilities in the county. SECAC enables local directors of special education to collaborate with others on local issues. It has the potential to facilitate positive changes in the delivery of special education services and the achievement of students with disabilities.
SECAC Monthly Meeting Schedule
9/25/17, 10/30/17, 11/27/17, 1/3/18, 2/26/18, 4/23/18, 6/4/18
All meetings are 7-9pm
Ten Oaks Fire Station, Freedom Room
If you have a child with an IEP or 504 Plan, please join us to share your experiences, hear important school information, learn from other parents, and help to shape our work towards improvements in Special Education. We welcome all! For more information please contact
Lori Scott at secacchair@gmail.com.
Grade-Level Facebook Pages
Did you know that each grade at Clemens Crossing has a class facebook page? PTA helps facilitate these pages. The pages are "closed" groups (requiring approval to join the group) and intended only for parents of children in that particular grade. It's a great way to converse and interact with other parents and hear about activities and events in your child's grade.
These pages are supplemental to the schools Twitter feed and Facebook page, so please be sure to use those social media tools as well.
Class of 2023 Kindergarten
https://www.facebook.com/groups/273259629757201/
Class of 2022 1st grade
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1192490200797854/
Class of 2021 2nd grade
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cces2021/
Class of 2020 3rd grade
https://www.facebook.com/groups/209176809506924/
Class of 2019 4th grade
https://www.facebook.com/groups/948888608590212/
Class of 2018 5th grade
Adding the CCES Google Calendar to Your Personal Online/Email Calendar
Did you know you can subscribe to the CCES Calendar and see events on your computer and/or smartphone?
Why subscribe to the calendar? You will have all of CCES's events embedded in your calendar. If events change, the calendar will be updated immediately.
The calendar ID is: sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com. There are many "how to" tutorials online you can view to learn how to properly sync your calendar. It depends on your email provider, computer platform, and brand of smartphone.