Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
September 25, 2020 - Volume 42, Issue 7
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
From School Administration
Entering our Fourth Week of Virtual Learning
We are entering our fourth week of virtual learning and our students are in full swing with their learning! We continue to appreciate the communication that our families have shared and the positive stories that they have shared. It was so nice to see parents and guardians in our virtual Back-to-School Nights this week. We hope those sessions were meaningful for you as we build and strengthen our school and home partnerships. If you need to refer to any grade level presentation, we have those presentations on our website.
We love seeing the students during the live Google Meet sessions where they are able to get the instruction with their teacher! Having that live instruction is critical in students accessing the information from the lesson, to complete the daily activities that the teacher assigns.
All Students should have picked up their supply bags at the school. If you have not yet picked up your supply bag, we have them ready for pick-up in the blue bin outside the front doors at school. If you need someone to deliver the materials, please call or email me. Additionally, we have extra school supplies for anyone in need. Again, if you need them, please reach out.
Finally, please note that there is no school on Monday, September 28. Have a great weekend!
Mr. Cosentino, Principal
Important Upcoming Dates and Events
September
- 28 - No School - Yom Kippur
October
- 7 - MAP Reading Test
- 14 MAP Math Test
- 16 - 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.
NEW INFORMATION
October 2020 HCPSS Free Flu Clinics
NOTE CLOSEST CLINIC to CCES is at AHS on 10/7
HCPSS, the Howard County Health Department and the Maryland Partnership for Prevention will offer flu clinics at no cost for both students and staff again this year. Students/staff do not have to go to a clinic at their home school and may attend any clinic. Staff may find additional information online (staff login required).
Pre-registration is required during which parents/guardians and/or staff will schedule an appointment at the clinic of their choice. Registration will be open September 21-30 at www.vaccineconsent.com.
Flu Clinics will take place outdoors and will utilize a drive-through or walk-through system. Anyone attending a clinic will be required to wear a mask or protective face covering.
All clinics will be held from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at the following dates/locations:
- Atholton HS - CLOSEST TO CCES!
- Centennial HS
- Ducketts Lane ES
- Stevens Forest ES
- Applications and Research Laboratory (ARL)
- Jeffers Hill ES
- Glenelg HS
- Hammond HS
- Wilde Lake HS
- Hammond MS
- Howard HS
- Laurel Woods ES
- Marriotts Ridge HS
- Bryant Woods ES
- Cradlerock ES
- Mt. Hebron HS
- Reservoir HS
- Deep Run ES
- Harper’s Choice MS
- Lisbon ES
- Oakland Mills HS
- Gorman Crossing ES
- Longfellow ES
- Long Reach HS
- River Hill HS
Please contact the health room staff at your school with any questions.
MAP Testing
The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments are computer adaptive achievement assessments in Reading and Math. As a student responds to questions, the test responds to the student by adjusting the difficulty of the questions presented, up or down, to the student. MAP assessment items align to objectives in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards. This assessment is designed to measure student growth in Math and Reading, both during the school year and across multiple school years. The assessment allows teachers to see instructional strengths and needs for each student.
At the conclusion of the assessment, each student receives a score that aligns to an instructional level. MAP, in conjunction with other measures throughout the school year, helps teachers differentiate instruction within their classrooms. Home reports will be sent at the end of the testing window. A reminder will be shared with families for when these reports are being sent home.
On Wednesday, October 7 and 14, students in grades 2-8 will take the Measured Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The data from the MAP assessment will help schools and teachers measure where your child is starting the year academically. The HCPSS intends to also give the assessment in winter and spring to measure how your child’s learning is progressing throughout the year. The MAP test does not affect grades and the difficulty adjusts depending on how your child responds. It is normal for students to only answer about half of the questions correctly. To learn more about the MAP assessment, please visit: https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/common-questions-families/
The Reading test will be offered on October 7 at 9 am and 1 pm. The Math test will be offered on October 14 at 9 am and 1 pm. Students may choose to attend either the morning or afternoon session. If your child is unable to attend, makeup testing will be offered during asynchronous learning times. Teachers will share Google Meet information and your student’s testing group as we get closer to the Oct 7th date.
Oakland Mills High School Food Pantry - Wednesday, September 30
The OMHS Food Pantry is pleased to announce that, for the first time since February, we will be OPEN on Wednesday, September 30 from 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
If you, or anyone you know, is experiencing food insecurity, PLEASE come to Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia, MD 21045 for food assistance. Please bring a photo identification with you. No information is collected from your photo ID - we just verify that you have one for Maryland Food Bank purposes.
Please see the linked website for more information regarding the new curbside pickup procedures for our Food Pantry.
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.
Information Worth Repeating
School Meals
The food services program during the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year will consist of Grab-and-Go breakfasts and lunches served Monday through Friday from 8–9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. at Clemens Crossing ES (and Atholton HS and Swansfield ES). Schools meals are free for all students!
PTA Staff Appreciation
The PTA needs your help to show our staff how much we appreciate all their hard work during this challenging time.
We are going to be starting “The Pandemic Games” for the staff. Once every couple of weeks, from now until we get back into the school building, the PTA will be running games and raffles for the staff. We need your help with donated items to give away as prizes. We are asking for donations of gift cards ($10-$20) or holiday-related items for gift baskets (Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc). If there are any parents or guardians that love to do art or craft, we are also looking for donations of arts or crafts to give away.
Please contact Rachael Kelly and Raghavi Patel at staffappreciation@clemenscrossingpta.org for questions or donations.
What if we need technical support?
Please find below information regarding technology support for fall virtual instruction that includes both self-help resources and how to request technology support.
Student Technology Resources: Provides guides, resources and videos for HCPSS student technology. Below are some direct links to commonly used resources:
Canvas Orientation - includes how to navigate Canvas
Google Meet - includes a video overview of how to login
Chromebooks - provides a variety of resources for using an HCPSS Chromebook
Password and Username Self-Service: Allows families to request a password reset or student’s username. New students can use this application to retrieve their account information. This application is also linked off the hcpss.me website, which also includes user directions.
HCPSS Connect Parent Resources: Provides HCPSS Connect—including Synergy, Canvas, and Family File—guides and videos for parents.
If after reviewing these resources, your family continues to need support, please complete CCES Tech Support Form and one of our staff members will reach out to you as soon as possible. If you cannot access the online form for any reason, please call the school at 410-313-6866.
Staff will attempt to resolve the issue, and if unsuccessful will provide directions for exchanging the broken device for a working one at the school system’s Onsite Technology Center.
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.