Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
October 30, 2020 - Volume 42, Issue 12
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
Important Upcoming Dates and Events
November
- 3 - Election Day - Schools Closed
- 6 - Professional Work Day: School ends 3-hours early at 12:45 p.m. There will be a modified schedule. The day is designated as a YELLOW day.
- 11 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - Use your child's computer and login. CODE: cces-pta
- 13 - Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling Opens
- 20 - Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling Closes
- 23 - Professional Work Day for Parent/Teacher Conferences: School ends 3-hours early at 12:45 p.m. There will be a modified schedule. The day is designated as a YELLOW day.
- 24 - Professional Work Day for Parent/Teacher Conferences: School ends 3-hours early at 12:45 p.m. There will be a modified schedule. The day is designated as a YELLOW day.
From School Administration
I hope that each of you had a satisfying week! I continue to be in awe of the support that we receive from our families during virtual learning. Working together, we are successfully ensuring that children are learning valuable content. Thank you for continuing to reach out to our teaching staff, Mrs. Hurd, or me with your questions and celebrations. Feedback is important, including noting those positive moments! One parent this week commented on the amazing resilience by a class of 3rd graders. I am so proud of our students!
Please also note that the end of Quarter 1 is on November 6, 2020 which is also an early dismissal day. First Quarter Report Cards will be issued on November 19 and Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on November 23 and 24. Grades for the first quarter will be based on student participation in synchronous learning, completion of asynchronous assignments (including LexiaCore and Dreambox) as well as observation information collected by teachers during synchronous teaching/learning sessions. Two weeks ago, each family was sent information through Canvas regarding reading groups. Please be sure that your children are attending both the whole group reading lesson (20 minutes) and the small group reading lesson (20 minutes). Student participation in both sessions serves as attendance for the Reading portion of the school day. I appreciate the care that you are providing for your children and for our community.
I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. Take care and stay safe!
Mr. Cosentino
NEW INFORMATION
FALL PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 23, 24, and 25.
Conferences will be with homeroom teachers and will focus on Language Arts.
To schedule conferences, you will need to login to HCPSS Connect.
HCPSS Connect will be open for all schools to schedule conferences starting Friday, November 13. Please take the time to schedule your conference while the conference scheduling window is open. It is very difficult to accommodate last-minute appointments once the scheduling window closes.
The directions for parent conference registration linked here from the HCPSS website. You can also download the directions from the icon below.
If you have any questions, please call the front office at 410-313-6866.
Please note: This is the first of two conference periods for the school year. There will be conferences following the end of the second quarter in February. The focus of those conferences will math where you will be able to meet with your child's math teacher.
Half Day Schedule on Friday, November 6
School Meals and Support
Did you know we have school meals at Clemens Crossing and any school (except BMMS and HaHS)? Meals consist of Grab-and-Go breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks served Monday through Friday from 8–9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Meals will be provided at no cost for any HCPSS student and all children 18 and under, throughout the 2020-21 school year.
Anytime you go in the morning or afternoon distribution times you can pick up breakfast, lunch and dinner for that day (without preordering). Parents don't need to have their children with them and children don't need their parents with them.
Full details on HCPSS meal offerings can be found online.
If you are unable to pick-up pre-ordered food on Mondays and Thursdays, please reach out to Mr. Cosentino and/or Mrs. Hurd. We can help by delivering pre-ordered food.
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Information
At this time, The Cognitive Abilities Test, referred to as CogAT, will not be administered virtually for students in grades three and five. As plans are finalized for the second semester, the HCPSS assessment office will continue to explore options for the administration. The Gifted and Talented Office will provide additional guidance on placement processes as part of overall articulation later in the school year.
Haunting out Hunger
Don't forget to come by the school blacktop anytime Sunday, Nov. 1 from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. to pick up your goodie bag. It's not too late to support Blessings in a Backpack. You can bring donations on Sunday as well. Thank you all for your support!
SAVE THE DATE: Chick-Fil-A Spirit Day! Wednesday, November 4
We will send a flyer with instructions, through email, as soon as Chick-Fil-A provides it to us. That will also serve as a reminder for the fundraiser.
Wednesday, Nov 4, 2020, 06:00 AM
Chick-fil-A, Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD, USA
PTA Survey
In this brave new world of virtual school, we're trying to come up with new ways to engage with our school community.
Please help us out by taking a brief survey on your interest and preferences for virtual activities: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6HD3RHX
HCPSS Invites Stakeholder Input on the School Resource Officer Program:
The Howard County Public School System invites students, parents and guardians, staff members, and community stakeholders to share their input about the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program in HCPSS schools. Feedback about the program may be provided by emailing SROinput@hcpss.org. All messages will be reviewed; however, due to the anticipated volume, individual responses should not be expected. The feedback provided will inform HCPSS' ongoing review of the roles, purpose, and outcomes of SROs in Howard County schools.
An update was presented at the October 22, 2020 Board meeting.
Reminder: Google Meet Expectations for Students and Parents/Guardians
To maintain a positive, productive learning environment and assure confidentiality for students and teachers during virtual learning, students and parents/guardians are asked to continue following the guidelines and expectations detailed on the HCPSS and SJLES websites. Again, thank you for your partnership as we navigate this new virtual instructional model.
Stakeholder Input on Spring Semester Instructional Model
Parents/guardians, students, staff, and other stakeholders may provide input and feedback to the Board of Education regarding the spring semester instructional model by emailing spring-input@hcpss.org. The Board will review all emails; however, due to the anticipated volume, individual responses should not be expected.
Blessings in a Backpack
Did you know we have a NEW Blessings in a Backpack Program at Clemens Crossing Elementary School? Blessings in a Backpack sends additional food resources home to students on the weekend. During a traditional school year, bags are discreetly put in a student's backpack on Friday afternoons.
Our NEW Blessings in a Backpack Program is entirely funded by PTA donations, individual donations, and community-based donations such as our recent donation from our new business partner, T-Mobile. This is not funded by HCPSS.
If you are interested in receiving Blessings in a Backpack, you must click the registration link below. Volunteers will deliver those items to your home.
Tech Tip
Chromebook Tips
ISSUE
Student on a Chromebook can login but when he/she goes to GSuite or other Google apps it just spins. Account works fine on other devices.
SOLUTIONS
Cookies:
- On your computer, open Chrome
- At the top right, click the 3 dots and then Settings
- Under "Privacy and security," click Cookies and other site data
- Check the Cookies setting and remove any settings that were added
To Clear Cache:
- On you computer, open Chrome
- Click the 3 dots in the upper right corner
- Click history > click history again
- Click clear browsing data in the left navigation pane
- Change the Time Range to All Time
- Click the clear data button
Chromebook System Errors:
Use the linked directions to correct or repair unexpected Chromebook system behavior. Begin with the quick Refresh Procedure. If the issue continues, complete the Reset Procedure.
https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/77796/pages/chromebook-system-errors?module_item_id=3556756
Holiday Help
Information Worth Repeating
Limited 2019-20 Class Photos /Yearbooks Available for Purchase
Are you interested in purchasing a class photo or yearbook from last school year?
We have a limited number of extra copies here at the school for sale. This sale will be on a first come, first serve basis. Please contact Stacey Wells at stacey_wells@hcpss.org if you are interested.
Please note the following:
- Yearbooks are $20 each (cash or payable to CCES PTA)
- Class Photos are $10 each (cash or payable to Clemens Crossing ES)
- Cash or checks are accepted
- Checks should be written out to Clemens Crossing PTA for yearbooks and Clemens Crossing ES for class photos
- Parents will need to bring payment to the school when picking up order
- Call the front office at 410-313-6866 and a staff member will come out to meet you
- Collected payments given to PTA/Strawbridge Rep when sales are completed
As always, thank you all for supporting Clemens Crossing and our PTA.
CCES Front Office Staff
Book check-out
The Clemens Crossing Library Media Center is now open for students to check out books! Please discuss this with your student if you would like to take advantage of this service.
Check your student's Library Media course to learn how to place holds on books.
Mrs. Marshall and Mrs. Seamonson will locate those books and sign them out to the students. Labeled books are available for pickup outside the school's front doors between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM each school day.
Students may borrow 1, 2, or 3 books at a time.
There is a labeled book return bin outside the school's front doors for book returns. Please return books within two weeks. There are no late fees.
Returned books are quarantined for a week before returning to circulation.
Books that were borrowed in the spring may also be returned to the bin outside the front doors. Reminder notes will be emailed home soon.
Please email Mrs. Marshall with any questions and please be patient as we work out these new ways of putting books into students' hands.
Read every day!
Join the PTA – Family Membership
PTA Membership will allow you to be active with the PTA and enjoy discounts with Maryland PTA partners. Most of all, your membership dues support the many programs we offer to the CCES community. While we encourage all of our families to be involved with PTA, membership does not obligate you to volunteer your time.
After trying many fundraisers over the years, the CCES PTA’s major fundraiser is a direct donation program (and later in the fall, a Read-a-thon). Rather than sell wrapping paper or other merchandise, we ask each family to contribute $50 in addition to their membership dues to support the programs we sponsor throughout the year.
To join the Clemens Crossing PTA, please fill out the form below and pay the membership dues (plus any donation you choose to give) through the PayPal link that follows. If you prefer to pay by check, please contact our membership chair, c/o president@clemenscrossingpta.org.
To report a problem with this form, contact web@clemenscrossingpta.org.
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.