Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
May 3, 2019 - Volume 40, Issue 30
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
May
- 6 thru 10 - Teacher Appreciation Week
- 6 - Fourth Grade Days of Taste Farm Field Trip (part 1)
- 8 - Fourth Grade Days of Taste In-School Presentation (part 2)
- 9 - Kindergarten Field Trip to Baltimore's B&O Museum
- 11 - PTA sponsored DIY Wood Pallet Paint Night Fundraiser, 6:45 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
(NEW DATE moved from 3/29) - 14 - Spring Chorus Concert, 7:00 p.m.
- 15 - Schoolwide Showcase (GT Enrichment Fair, Science Fair, Classroom Displays) 6:30p.m.
- 16 - Interim Reports Issued
- 17 - Professional Learning/Articulation Day - School Closes 3-Hours Early, 12:45 p.m.
- 17 - Kindergarten Preview Day 2:00 p.m.
- 17 - PTA Spring Carnival (May 24 - rain date) - 5:00 p.m.
- 21 - Fifth Grade visits Wilde Lake Middle School, 9:15 a.m.
- 22 - String Concert, 6:30 p.m. -and- Band Concert, 7:30 p.m.
- 23 - Field Day (May 24 - rain date)
- 27 - Memorial Day - Schools and Offices Closed
- 29 - In-School Banking
June
- 3 - Fifth Grade Simulated Congressional Hearings
- 3 - SPIRIT DAY- Wear Red, White, and Blue
- 4 - Early Dismissal 12:45 p.m. - Professional Work Day
- 5 - Career Day (Grades 3-5) Morning Only
- 5 - SPIRIT DAY - Dress for Success Day
- 6 - 2nd grade Entomologist Visit
- 7 - Kindergarten End of Year Celebration, 10:00 a.m. Followed by Picnic, 11:00 a.m.
- 10 - Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, 2:30 p.m.
- 10 - Howard County Library Visits all grades for Summer Reading Program
- 17 - 2nd grade picnic, 12:35 pm
- 17 - Full Day of School
- 18 - Full Day of School
- 18 - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 9:30 a.m. - Just added
- 19 - 1st grade picnic, 11:00 a.m.
- 19 - School Closes 3-Hours Early, 12:45 p.m.
- 20 - 4th grade picnic
- 20 - School Closes 3-Hours Early, 12:45 p.m.
- 21 - 5th grade picnic, 11:30 am
- 21- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: School Closes 3-Hours Early, 12:45 p.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
Input for Next School Year
May is a very busy time for schools! We're working hard to continue to teach students and wrap up the year's work. At the same time, we are working to plan for next year while we have staff and other school support personnel present so that we can gather input and make informed decisions. If you are interested in completing the "Consideration Form" embedded in this newsletter, it is often helpful for us when we make placement decisions. That form closes on May 17. Despite all of the work at this time of year, it is always exciting to see how our students have grown and matured over the course of the year.
Next Week Is Teacher Appreciation Week!
The National PTA and The National Education Association have designated the first week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week. What a wonderful way to show our admiration and gratitude to those that teach our children every day! We are so fortunate to have such a terrific group of teachers at Clemens Crossing. Each teacher has worked so hard to provide a consistent and caring learning environment for all of the students. To show them our appreciation for all that they do, our incredible PTA is coordinating something special each day next week. Please be sure to visit the PTA's Sign-Up Genius website to see how you can help.
Additionally, we would like to invite you to complete the Google Form below as one of the many ways to thank our amazing staff and teachers. Those thank you posts will be shared with staff and teachers.
May and June
There are many exciting activities planned by the school and by the PTA over the next seven weeks. We encourage you to enjoy the exciting time of year and take advantage of the connections and experiences that this time of school year brings.
HELP WANTED: Field Day Volunteer Sign-Up
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Our Annual Field Day will take place on May 23, 2019 with a rain date of May 24th.
Each year we require many parent volunteers to run our events. Please indicate below if you would like to assist us. You will receive notification from us to let you know we received your correspondence. Plan to arrive at school at 9:00 a.m. and no later as your punctuality is imperative to a successful start!
Our Field Day emphasizes team spirit and good sportsmanship. The morning events will end at 12:40 p.m. If you are selected for Scores table, you will be required to stay until at least 1 p.m.
You are welcome to bring your own lunch and eat with your child once Field Day is over.
The students are being asked to wear the color T-Shirt that matches the squad color they sit in during PE. (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Purple, or Orange).
Mr. Robinson/Mr. Griffis
From the Health Room
SPRING ALLERGIES! Is your child suffering from itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose?
The following are some things you can do to help your child during the allergy season:
- Regularly give allergy medication as prescribed by the doctor
When your child comes in from outdoors: - Wash hands with soap and water.
- Wash face, including glasses, with a wash cloth or splash water on face.
- Wipe down from head to toe with the wet cloth (hair, ears, neck, front, arms).
- Change clothing, if not going back outside.
Children's Mental Health Awareness week - May 5-10
Children’s Mental Health Matters! is a statewide education campaign to raise awareness of children’s mental health needs and enhance outreach efforts to families and communities.
The Campaign is coordinated by the Mental Health Association of Maryland and the Maryland Coalition of Families and carried out through generous support and resources provided by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – Behavioral Health Administration.
Remember, a child’s mental health is just as important as his or her physical health!
Did you know 70% of school-aged children with a diagnosable mental illness do not receive treatment?
Mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, behavioral & mental well-being.
It impacts how we think, feel and act, including how a child
- FEELS about him/herself
- RELATES to other children and adults
- HANDLES change, stress and other life situations
You can visit, www.ChildrensMentalHealthMatters.org for more information on the Campaign, our partnerships, media outreach, publications, resources, and other helpful information.
Thank You for a Successful Casey Cares Campaign
On behalf of Casey Cares and my daughter, Sarah, I would like to thank the CCES community for the wonderful donations of pajamas and gift cards. Together, we have contributed to a very worthwhile organization which does so much for critically ill children and their families. If you find that you would still like to contribute, please feel free to send the items in to school with your child.
Ms. DeSantis, Instrumental Music Teacher
Consideration Form Open for 2019-2020 School Year
As the fourth quarter continues, the Clemens Crossing Staff is looking ahead to the 2019-20 School Year. As part of this process, we would like to give you the opportunity to share some information that you would like for us to consider as we begin to make class groupings for the next school year. This consideration form is for you, as parents, to relate specific information about your child that you feel would be beneficial as our teachers meet to determine next year's placement.
When placing students, the staff, and administration utilize a wide range of criteria which are supportive of the Howard County philosophy of heterogeneous grouping. Some of these criteria include, but are not limited to:
- the personality of the child
- the balance of female and male students
- math strengths and needs
- written output
- test results
- reading strengths and needs
- special education requirements; IEP goals
- structured versus non-structured needs
- information from previous teachers and school counselor
There are certain concerns that we cannot consider as part of this Consideration Form, therefore, we ask that you not use this form to propose the following:
- specific teacher requests
- grouping based on siblings’ experience
- grouping based on friends
- grouping based on hearsay
Your input on this form will be used in our planning for your child rather than a letter requesting a specific teacher. Your response is OPTIONAL but is a very valuable source of information to the school staff and to the next teacher.
The form is embedded in this newsletter program below. If you cannot see the form below, you may need to use a computer.
The form closes on May 17th. Thank you for your help at this busy time of year.
Are You Moving?
If you have moved or are moving soon, please notify us as soon as possible.
We are available to assist you with transitioning to your child's new school. Whether it be another HCPSS school, private school, or to a school out of the HCPSS district, we are here to help. If you are transferring to another HCPSS school, our registrars will partner to make the transition as smooth as possible.
If you have an address change, bring your new residency documents to the front office and we will update your address in the system. If you have any questions, call Jennifer Aballo, our Registrar.
Career Day 2019 – Volunteers needed!
Clemens Crossing Career Day is Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Would you like to spark an interest in the next generation? Do you have a job that you like to talk about? Can you spare an hour or two? We invite you to be part of this exciting day! We are in need of parents to speak to students in Grades 3-5 about their careers. Presenters will speak to individual classes during 30-minute blocks. You may sign up for as many or as few blocks as you like. Our goal is to expose students to a variety of occupations. Whether your child is participating or not, we would love to have you! Please consider sharing your experiences and helping the children to begin thinking about the world of work. If you would like more information, please email our School Counselor, Ann Rogers at ann_rogers@hcpss.org.
PARCC Testing Dates at Clemens Crossing, Grades 3-5 Only
Grade 3
ELA: May 6th, 7th, 8th
Math: May 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st
Grade 4
Math: May 16th, May 20th, May 21st, May 22nd
Grade 5
Math: May 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th
Happy Ramadan
Happy Ramadan to our CCES families who will be celebrating next week through June 4th! If your child will be fasting any day during the holiday and would like to choose to spend his/her lunch period in a space other than the cafeteria, please call or email our school counselors,
Mrs. Rogers. We can find an alternative activity for your child during the lunch period if needed.
Teacher Appreciation Week
We use PTA funds to purchase some of the activities, but also rely on donations of food and other items from families. We appreciate your help in signing up for an item on this sign-up list! Remember all contribution are optional. Many Thanks!
Community News and Programs
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.