Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
November 2, 2018 - Volume 40, Issue 10
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
Upcoming Events
November
- 2 - Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling Opens, (Nov.2 thru Nov.16)
- 2 - PTA Bingo Night 7:00 p.m.
- 5 - End of 1st Quarter
- 5 - Gr.5 Field Trip, Living Classroom
- 6 - Schools and Offices Closed - Election Day
- 7 - Schools Closed - Professional Work Day
- 8 - Picture Make-Up Day
- 9 - No Cougar Comments today due to the short week
- 12 - American Education Week Begins
- 12 - PTA Cultural Arts: Story Pirates Assembly Gr. K thru 2, 9:30 a.m.
- 12 - Strings Bootcamp, 7:00 p.m.
- 12 - Book Fair Begins
- 13 - Band Bootcamp, 7:00 p.m.
- 14 - Gr.K Field Trip. HC Library, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
- 14 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- 15 - Gr.K Field Trip. HC Library, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
- 16 - Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling Closes, 4:00 p.m.
- 16 - PTA Reflections: Heroes Around Me - Entries Due
- 19 - Parent Teacher Conferences - Schools Close 3-hours Early, Dismissal 12:45 p.m.
- 20 - Parent Teacher Conferences - Schools Close 3-hours early, Dismissal 12:45 p.m.
- 21 - Parent Teacher Conferences - Schools Closed
- 22 - Thanksgiving - Schools and Offices Closed
- 23 - Schools and Offices Closed
- 28 - In-School Banking, 9:00 a.m.
For a complete list of dates and events visit cces.hcpss.org/calendar.
To subscribe to the CCES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system click the +Google Calendar icon in the bottom right-hand corner to add our calendar to your personal device. By subscribing to the calendar, school events and activities will always be up-to-date.
From School Administration
Another opportunity to visit CCES is for our Parent-Teacher Conferences. Parent-Teacher Conferences provide a great way to connect, collaborate, and plan for future success and growth of your child in school. Conferences will be with homeroom teachers with the focus on Language Arts. We encourage you to schedule time to meet with your child's teacher.
Please remember, next week is a shortened week. School is closed on Tuesday, November 6 for Election Day and November 7 for a teacher workday.
The Cougar Comments will not be issued next week due to the short week. Look for the next issue of the Cougar Comments on November 16.
American Education Week
Reach, Educate, Inspire
During American Education Week, November 12—16, 2018, Americans nationwide will join the National Education Association (NEA) in raising awareness about the need to provide every child with a quality public education. The celebration highlights the importance of bringing together educators, parents, students, and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools. It also reflects NEA's vision of calling upon America to provide public school students with quality schools so that they can grow and achieve in the 21st century. As part of the celebration, we provide parents and guardians the opportunity to visit their child’s classroom during the week. Feel free to visit your child's classroom any day during the week. Please refer to the CCES Master Schedule below to help you guide your visitation.
When you visit, please be prepared to sign-in through the Lobby Guard kiosk in the office. You will need your driver's license to sign-in with Lobby Guard. As a reminder, we do not allow younger children in the classrooms when parents visit. Additionally, we ask for visitors to refrain from using their phones in the classroom. Please put your phone on silence or vibrate. If you need to use your phone or devise for any reason, please go to the front lobby or outside the building.
We look forward to our continued partnership in your child's education, and we are excited to see you in school during American Education Week.
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 19, 20, and 21.
Conferences will be with homeroom teachers with the focus on Language Arts.
In order to schedule conferences, you will need to login to HCPSS Connect.
HCPSS Connect will open to schedule conferences on Friday, November 2 at 9:00 a.m.
The program will be open until Friday, November 16 at 4:00 p.m. 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 for those conferences will be meeting with your child's Math teacher.
Band/String Parents
~ Are you standing by watching your child struggle to learn an instrument and feeling helpless because you don’t know how to help him/her?
~ Are you a little jealous of your child because he/she is learning to play an instrument and you never had the chance to do this yourself?
~ Are you curious as to what all those strings, knobs, and keys do on the instruments?
~ Have you always wanted to learn to read music?
This is a great opportunity for you to learn about what your child is learning during lessons, and get tips for ways you can help your child at home; try out the instrument yourself; learn the basics of reading music.
These sessions are only for parents and their child(ren) enrolled in the CCES Band/Strings program. There will not be room for siblings, etc.
Please use this link to sign up for this session or go to www.ccesbandandstrings.weebly.com for the link!
WHEN: Monday, November 12th (for Strings) or Tuesday, November 13th (for Band)
TIME: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
LOCAITON: CCES cafeteria.
Columbia Association Bridge Replacement
Columbia Association will be replacing two bridges near Clemens Crossing Elementary.
This project will begin on Nov. 5. On November 6 and 7, the bridges will be out of service temporarily. Bridges will be passable by the end of the day on November 7.
The pathway to the left of the school is the access point for this project.
We will post no parking signs and place cones at pathway entrance.
Help Needed for Teacher's Conference Dinner
Our Fall 2018 Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up in a few weeks. Traditionally, the PTA hosts a dinner for teachers who stay late to hold conferences. Our dinner this year will be on Monday, November 19th at 5:00 p.m.
Please sign up and help us create a delicious dinner for our CCES teachers and staff! This year we are hosting an American Picnic themed dinner. Thank you in advance for all your support! http://signup.com/go/buRVpzh
Read-A-Thon Ending
It is time to get those Read-A-Thon forms turned in! The grade with the most participation in the Read-A-Thon will get a Popsicle Party at lunch! And ALL students who turn in their Read-A-Thon form will get a coupon worth $1 to spend at the Book Fair!! Let's meet our fundraising goal!
All Read-A-Thon forms must be turned in by THURSDAY, November 8. Thank you!!
Bingo Night Volunteers Still Needed
We're still looking for a few volunteers to help with Bingo Night on Friday November 2.
To volunteer, please sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080948AAA62FABF49-bingo. Please contact Christy Pine (thegapines@gmail.com) or Dani Gardner (dnr318@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Book Fair is coming! It will be open in the CCES Media Center on November 12 thru 16 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and November 19 and 20 from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. during conferences.
This is a big fundraiser for the PTA and a lot of fun, so please come shop and support CCES! Also, watch your email for a volunteer sign up sheet coming soon.
PTA STUDENT DIRECTORY
The 2018-2019 Student Directory was distributed last week electronically -- only to CCES PTA members. Paper copies will only be available upon request. To request a paper copy of the directory, please email directory@clemenscrossingpta.org. Include your child's name and grade in your email so that the directory can be sent home in your child's communication folder.
This directory is only for the use of CCES families -- it cannot be shared on social media or other websites, with outside vendors or third parties. Please help maintain everyone's privacy.
Every student that enrolls will get a role in the play. On the evening of the final performance, the students get to celebrate by having a cast party after the performance.
Registration for 4th and 5th graders will begin Monday, October 8th and registration will be open to 3rd grade (if there are openings) starting Monday, October 22nd.
The deadline for registration will be Wednesday, November 14th.
Rehearsals will be on Wednesdays after school starting November 28th. The dress rehearsals and performances will be held at Wilde Lake Middle School this year. The dress rehearsals will be in the evening at 6 pm. The performances will be held in the evenings on 1/24/19 and 1/25/19.
Stay tuned to Cougar Comments for more information and to register once registration begins! For more information, contact Jennifer Molinari at joshandjasek12@gmail.com
NATIONAL PTA REFLECTIONS
Creative Arts & Writing Contest
Reflections is a National PTA program to encourage all children to participate in the arts for fun and recognition. Students work independently to present their artistic interpretation of this year's theme. Works can be literature including prose, poetry, drama, reflective essay, narrative, short story; visual art such as drawing, painting, collage; and musical composition.
There is also a Special Artist Division for students with disabilities who receive services under
IDEA or Section 504.
HOW TO ENTER:
1. Reflect on the theme “Heroes Around Me” & create an original work in one (or more!) of the following categories: Literature, Music, or Visual Arts
Please check Rules for your Category to be sure your entry can be accepted!
2. Fill out an Entry Form, and be sure to include your Artist’s Statement (that is 50% of your score from the judges!).
3. Turn in your artwork and entry form to the Front Office by November 16, 2018!
QUESTIONS?
Contact Risa Carlson, Reflections Chair at reflections@clemenscrossingpta.org
Artwork will be judged in 3 categories:
- Primary (Grades K-2)
- Intermediate (Grades 3-5), and
- Special Artist (for students with challenges as covered in the ADA).
Entries will be reviewed by experienced arts and education judges. All participants will be celebrated with certificates of participation, the top three entries will receive ribbons and the first place entry will receive a medal. The top three entries in each category will move on to the Howard County Reflections Contest; the top three County entries will move on to the Maryland State Reflections Contest, and State winners in each category will compete in the National PTA Reflections Contest.
EVERY entry will be displayed and celebrated at the Annual Schoolwide Showcase in May.