Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
September 10, 2021 - Volume 43, Issue 4
Clemens Crossing Elementary School
Sonia Hurd, 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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Important Upcoming Dates and Events
September
- 10 - PTA Welcome Back Family Picnic, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- 13 - RESCHEDULED Band/Strings Information Night, 6:00 p.m.
- 13 - RESCHEDULED Back-to-School Night for 2nd & 3rd Grades at 6:30 p.m. (In-Person)
- 14 - Back-to-School Night for Kindergarten & 1st Grade at 6:30 p.m. (In-Person)
- 15 - National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month Begins
- 16 - Yom Kippur - Schools and Offices Closed
- 22 - Fall Individual Picture Day
October
- 13 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- 15 - Schools Closed for Students
- 21 - Flu Clinic
- 29 - Pumpkin Run (Grades 3-5)
- 29 - Halloween Family Fun Night & Fall Festival
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
September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. The early closing, due to the weather, on the third day of school illustrates the importance of being prepared for emergency situations. We all need to be prepared at any time for the challenges that an emergency might cause. How we prepare for and react to situations as adults will help reassure and keep our children safe. As stated last week, please be sure to keep your Family File up-to-date and communicate your instructions to your child.
We encourage you to visit ready.gov and take advantage of so many planning resources for families. Additionally, please review how we prepare for a variety of emergency situations below as a school community.
NEW INFORMATION
Emergency Preparedness at Clemens Crossing Elementary School
As a school, we take emergency preparedness seriously. In addition to evacuation drills,
we conduct emergency drills to prepare for an emergency situation.
Our Clemens Crossing ES Emergency Preparedness Team meets regularly to review our school-based emergency plan. During our initial meeting, staff members had an opportunity to learn their role 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.
Protective actions below are used in times of emergency.
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 to 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 visitors to the building are expected to stay where they are and follow instructions given.
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 visitors to the building should drop to the ground where they are and cover their heads until the extreme activity subsides.
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 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.
- Keep your Family File up to date throughout the year especially when information changes.
Lunch Seating
Now that we are at the end of our second week of school, we are no longer taking requests to eat outside. All students have been assigned a regular seat either in the cafeteria or under the tent. In the event of inclement weather, students who normally eat outside will be relocated to classrooms with proper plexiglass dividers.
Chromebook Expectations:
Please continue to remind students and families that it is our expectation that students in grades 2-12 bring the Chromebook that was issued to them to school daily. Schools have a limited number of devices to loan to students. Information related to HCPSS technology and devices is online and may be shared with families.
Flu Clinic
Food Services Menus at CCES
Lunch is free to all students again this year. There is no pre-ordering or any need for adding funds to your MySchoolBucks.com account.
The breakfast and lunch menu website can be found on the main page of the CCES website under Food Services. The direct link is below.
Cub Scout Pack 618
Clemens Crossing Cub Scout Pack 618 is open to all Girls and Boys Grades K - 5. We have a fun year planned with campouts, rocket launches, campfires, and more! Please join us this Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at Martin Rd Park. We will also be having an Information Night at CCES on Wed., Sept. 15th at 6:30 p.m. in-person and virtual.
Please visit our website at www.pack618md.com or contact Cubmaster@pack618md.com.
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
Band and Strings Information
Students in Grades 3 through 5 may participate in the Strings program.
Our band and strings information night is rescheduled for Monday, September 13 at 6:00 p.m.
You can also preview the information in the YouTube video below and register for the instrumental music program by using the form below the video.
From the Health Room
Children exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 may not attend school.
These students need to be evaluated for COVID-19 or an alternate medical diagnosis by a doctor. They may not return to school until the School Nurse gives clearance. Parents/guardians should keep their children home if they are experiencing:
Any ONE of the following:
- fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
- sore throat
- cough
- difficulty breathing
- diarrhea or vomiting
- new onset of severe headache (especially with fever), or
- new loss of taste or smell
Unvaccinated students who have been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 must remain in quarantine for the designated period of time. If vaccinated and showing symptoms, students must be medically evaluated prior to entering the building.
Free Student Meals for 2021-2022 School Year
Beginning Monday, August 30, breakfast and lunch will be provided at no cost to all students through the entire 2021-2022 school year, on days schools are open.
Join the CCES PTA (Parent Teacher Association) – 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.