Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
February 12, 2021 - Volume 42, Issue 24
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
February
- 12 - Schools closed - Professional Work Day
- 15 - Schools and Offices Closed for President's Day
- 17 - MAP Test Make-up Sessions (optional)
- 17 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - Google Meet code: cces-pta
- 25 - Schools close 3 hours early
- 26 - School close 3 hours early
March
- 1 - NEW Schedule will Start
- 1 - PHASE 1: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified Students in Group E (5 days a week)
- 8 - Kindergarten Registration Begins
- 15 - PHASE 2: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified A-Day Students in Grades K, 1, and 2
- 18 - PHASE 2: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified B-Day Students in Grades K, 1, and 2
- 17 - School Picture Day
- 29 - PHASE 3: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified A-Day Students in Grades 3, 4, and 5
April
- 1 - PHASE 3: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified B-Day Students in Grades 3, 4, and 5
- 2 - Spring Break - Schools and Offices Closed
- 5 - Spring Break - Schools and Offices Closed
- 6 - Spring Break - Schools Closed
- 14 - End of 3rd Quarter Marking Period - Schools Close 3 Hours Early
From School Administration
Now that the instructional preference survey is closed, we are busy planning for the new hybrid model starting next month. Thank you for completing the instructional preference survey last week. I am happy to report that we will be able to accommodate all students in the hybrid model based on the selected preference. This means if you selected the five-day-a-week model (if eligible), the two days a week model, or to remain in the virtual model your choice will be accommodated.
There is a lot of work that we need to do in preparation for the phased-in reopening. We will share a new schedule shortly for all students. We are also organizing rooms with proper distancing measures, sanitization resources, and personal protection equipment. As we get closer to each group's return, we will be communicating directly to the cohort groups who are returning to school. Additionally, we are in the process of planning orientations for each group prior to the return to school so students and parents know what to expect when they return to the school building. If you are in any of the phased-in groups, please look for emails in the coming days and weeks, depending on your child's return timeline.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at ecosentino@hcpss.org.
Mr. Cosentino, Principal
NEW INFORMATION
Bridge to Normalized Instruction - Hybrid Instructional Model
Staff Changes at CCES
Ms. Morstein is Retiring
First grade teacher, Ms. Morsteinm will be retiring effective March 1, 2021. Her final day at Clemens Crossing will be Friday, February 26, 2021. Ms. Morstein has been an integral part of Clemens Crossing Elementary School for the past twenty years. Her calm and caring approach to teaching will be greatly missed. Please join me in congratulating Ms. Morstein on a well-deserved retirement, and thank her for her dedication to our school.
New First Grade Teacher
Please extend a warm welcome to Ms. Evanna Dahan. Ms. Dahan recently graduated from Towson University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She student taught at Rockburn and Gorman Crossing Elementary Schools in Howard County. Prior to attending Towson University, Ms. Dahan was a pre-school teacher in Baltimore County. Ms. Dahan is eager to work with our students in first grade!
Calendar Update
MAP make-up sessions
Optional MAP make-up sessions will be offered for Reading and Math on February 17th.
Reading MAP make-up information
At 9:00 a.m. on February 17th:
Students in grades 1-2 should use this code to enter the Google Meet:cces-map1
Students in grades 3-5 should use this code to enter the Google Meet:cces-map2
Math MAP make-up information
At 1:00 p.m. on February 17th:
Students in grades 1-2 should use this code to enter the Google Meet:cces-map1
Students in grades 3-5 should use this code to enter the Google Meet:cces-map2
Once in the Google Meet, a test examiner and proctor will be available to assist and support your child by logging in while they are completing the test.
If your child is unable to attend this makeup session and you still wish for them to test, please contact Sonia Hurd at sonia_hurd@hcpss.org and we will find a time to administer the test.
Final Pandemic Games
Last week we had our last Pandemic Game for the Staff. We called it “You Get What You Get” after the phrase “you get what you get and you don’t get upset.” We took all of the leftover donations from the whole semester and divided them up among 6 bags and raffled them off, without the staff knowing what was in the bags. The winners of this last raffle were: Ms. Yung, Ms. Costley, Ms. Parks, Ms. Warner, Ms. Billingsley, and Ms. Marshall! After picking up their bags, they found many things in them including two-$10 Amazon Gift Cards, various school supplies, various yummy treats, and other items donated by our awesome families. Thank you to all the staff that participated this semester, and thank you to all the families that donated for the Pandemic Games! The staff loved knowing that you were thinking of them and appreciating them throughout the first semester!
Digital Tools
The purpose of this message is to update you on the availability of digital tools on HCPSS Chromebooks. Recently an Opt-In letter was sent home requesting parent/guardian consent in order for students to have access to the HCPSS authorized set of digital tools used for virtual instruction.
Update:
The following digital tools do not require consent because they are already available to students in HCPSS computer labs: Book Room, Word Work, Scratch BluBot, Scratch JR, Sketch-Up, Collector Classic, JamBoard, and Google Earth.
These supplemental digital tools are approved by HCPSS and comply with federal, state, and Howard County Board of Education student data privacy policies.
Please note that your student(s) will have access to these digital tools when the second semester starts through the Google Play Store icon on the Chromebook when logged in with an HCPSS account.
If your elementary school-aged child has not been issued a Chromebook, one can be picked up at a Technology Support Center.
Please note:
HCPSS cannot guarantee that apps are available on devices other than HCPSS Chromebooks.
Teachers may or may not choose to use any or all of these apps during instruction. Students will be notified when a particular app will be used for instruction.
In addition to these Google tools, HCPSS has approved a robust set of supplemental digital tools. Your child’s teacher will notify you of the particular supplemental digital tools being used in each class via email or on their Canvas course page.
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
Hybrid Model Starts March 1
- Hybrid Model - The new hybrid model will start on Monday, March 1 with Group E students starting in-person instruction at school. Students in Group E are students who have individualized learning plans and/or other needs identified by our student support team.
- New School Hours - Starting March 1, CCES will have new school hours for all students both in-person and at home in the virtual setting. Our new hours will be 9:35 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.
- Extended and Updated Schedule - Starting March 1, we will operate using a schedule that looks very similar to our pre-COVID school schedule. The new school schedule will be for both in-person and virtual students. Classes will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for all students; Asynchronous Wednesdays.
Group E students will have in-person instruction in the mornings on Wednesdays. We will share the schedule for the entire school very soon. Additionally, grade-level teams and teachers will communicate details for breaks, small group meetings, independent work within the larger schedule window.
Once we process all of the survey preferences, we will cohort students in order to implement the phased-in start for hybrid learning. The phase-in approach for CCES is as follows:
- Phase 1 - Group E starts in-person March 1
- Phase 2 - Group A/B in Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade start March 15
- Phase 3 - Group A/B in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades start March 29
Students who are not opting to come into school are called Group V (virtual). Group V will start following the new schedule on March 1 just like Group A, B, and E.
Prior to the start of each phase, we will have online orientations for students and their families.
Mr. Cosentino
COVID-19 Vaccinations for Staff
If their appointment conflicts with a synchronized lesson, they have been approved to take that available time slot. They will do their best to avoid any conflict. If their vaccination appointment does conflict with their teaching schedule, teachers will create a video lesson and/or asynchronous work, and they will clearly communicate that change to students and parents/guardians ahead of time. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding.
HELP WANTED: Lunch and Recess Monitors & Classroom Monitors
We would like to make our community aware of several temporary positions that will be available.
- Lunch/Recess Monitor- These individuals supervise students at lunch and/or recess, under the supervision of CCES staff.
- Classroom Monitor- If a teacher is unable to return to teaching in person due to health issues, a monitor would be hired to supervise the classroom of 6-7 students while the teacher continues teaching virtually.
These are temporary employment positions with no benefits except for Sick and Safe Leave.
The normal rate is $11.75 but this will be increased during this hybrid period to $14.25 per hour for LRM's and Classroom Monitors.
If interested please file an application at the Human Resources, https://www.hcpss.org/employment/
Do you need to exchange or return your Chromebook?
Devices may be exchanged or returned at any of the following Technology Support Centers:
- Old Bushy Park Elementary School, Room E2 (door to the left of the front entrance), 2690 Route 97, Glenwood (Building is between Glenwood Middle School and Bushy Park Elementary School)
- Applications Research Laboratory (ARL), Room B37 (door to the right of the front entrance), 10920 Clarksville Pike
Hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 2-5 p.m. Please note that Technology Support Centers are closed any day that HCPSS offices are closed.
February PTA Meeting
Please use your child's Chromebook to access the Google Meet. The code is cces-pta.
Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021, 07:00 PM
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February is Kindness Month at CCES
We are declaring February to be Kindness Month! February 17th is “Random Acts of Kindness Day.” Although we cannot all be together this year to celebrate, we are providing our families with a calendar of kind ideas: CCES Kindness Calendar. Doing something kind for others can brighten up our days and lift our spirits!
As your child completes activities, feel free to send photos to Mr. Cosentino (ecosentino@hcpss.org) so that he can share on our social media accounts.
Road to Kindergarten
Kindergarten Registration kicks off the week of March 8, 2021.
The HCPSS Getting Ready for Kindergarten page, which includes resources to support kindergarten readiness and online registration, has been updated with additional information and resources for families. This includes information that is typically covered in the Road to Kindergarten live event, such as kindergarten readiness, the kindergarten program, and registering children for school. The live Road To Kindergarten events will not take place this year due to the pandemic. We also encourage families to visit the HCPSS Grade K Family and Community Resources page for more information about the kindergarten instructional program and ways families can support their children at home. The Prekindergarten Family and Community Resources page also contains resources for families and providers for children currently in their prekindergarten year. The Transition to Kindergarten Workgroup is working on additional readiness resources that can be implemented at home or in early learning centers - these resources will also be posted on the Getting Ready for Kindergarten page this winter.
"Books & Bundts" Reading Program
Nothing Bundt Cakes at 10730 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia is offering a youth reading incentive program for Grades Pre-K to 5th from January 15 to March 31, 2021! Click the flyer below describing the program.
Just use the attached Book Tracker to keep track of the books and minutes your child reads. When they reach 400+ minutes, take the tracker to Nothing Bundt Cakes and your child will receive a free "Bundtlet" and an award certificate.
Happy Reading!
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.