Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
January 11, 2019 - Volume 40, Issue 16
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
January
- 12 - PTA Roller Skate Night at Supreme Sports Club
- 17 - Strings Concert, 6:30 p.m.
- 17 - Band Concert, 7:30 p.m.
- 21 - Schools and Offices Closed
- 22 - Restaurant Night: Zoe's Kitchen at the Mall in Columbia
- 24 - School Play
- 25 - School Play
- 28 - Parent Conference Scheduling Opens, 9:00 a.m
- 28 - The Great Kindness Challenge Begins
- 28 - End of 2nd Quarter
- 28 - Schools closes 3 hours early, 12:45 p.m.
- 29 - Wilde Lake Middle School Information Night for Rising 6th Graders, 6:30 p.m. at WLMS
- 30 - In-School Banking, 9:00 a.m.
February
- 8 - Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling Closes, 4:00 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
You can also visit the section of the HCPSS website listing the many ways you can be informed of weather-related school closings. Clemens Crossing ES will not send any additional email out because that communication comes directly from the HCPSS Communications Office. We will re-Tweet closing or delay information on Twitter.
Unscheduled Emergency Early School Closing
In the event that schools need to close early due to an unexpected weather event, please be sure to share with your child how he/she will go home if it is different than their normal dismissal routine.
All parents were asked to indicate how children are to go home in the event of an emergency/unscheduled closing when they completed their Family File information in August or September.
Saturday Math Academy
The Howard County Public School System’s BSAP Saturday Math Academy (BSAP-SMA) has been in existence since 1992. The program was developed in collaboration with the HCPSS and parents as a response to requests for opportunities to network. The priority was to learn instructional mathematical strategies to support their children at home and to accelerate academic achievement.
Certified teachers work with a diverse population of students on all levels of mathematics. Teachers assess student levels before placement in classes and plan accordingly. In addition to receiving weekly instruction, students have multiple opportunities to engage in STEM-related activities such as robotics and MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) and 30-minute chess instruction which is taught by chess tutors and community volunteers.
The BSAP Saturday Math Academy is open to all students in grades 3 thru 12 in the Howard County Public School System. Students must be registered in order to attend the fall or spring sessions which meet on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at
Oakland Mills Middle School (new location).
Community members and parents of enrolled students and are introduced to a variety of math-related topics during weekly information meetings.
Registration
Spring registration will open January 12, 2019
Spring Session Dates
Sessions are from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- February 2, 9, 23
- March 2, 9, 16, 23
- Chess Tournament, March 23
Payments can be made either online or in-person. Parents can make on-site payments until
12:00 p.m. at Oakland Mills Middle School. Online payments can be accessed until 11:59 p.m. (link will be posted during registration).
The registration fee is $80 and must be paid on January 12, 2019.
Supports for Families During Government Shutdown
Howard County families who have lost pay due to the federal government shutdown may immediately apply for the Free and Reduced-Priced Meals (FARMs) program and the HCPSS Food and Nutrition Office will determine their eligibility status within 24-48 hours. Families that would not ordinarily qualify for the FARMs program could be eligible for the remainder of the school year because of the current loss of income.
Families that are adversely impacted, including those who do not receive FARMs assistance, will have the remainder of the school year to pay off any meal balances incurred during the government shutdown.
Additionally, many students may be suffering fear or anxiety about their family’s current financial situation. Student Services staff at each school are prepared and available to assist students at any time during the school day. Additionally, numerous resources for families are identified on the HCPSS website, and other supports are available through the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services.
" No child should go hungry and no parent should fear their child will not eat because they cannot afford to pay for meals during this government shutdown period," said Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano. "The shutdown of the federal government has caused financial insecurity for so many of our friends and neighbors and undue stress and anxiety on their children. I encourage families to take advantage of the resources available in the county and contact their school principal if they have any additional questions."
Celebrating Black History Month
Thank you to those who contribute to our display case in the front of the school. It ’s time to start thinking about our next display, which will be for Black History Month in February. We are once again encouraging the community to participate by sending in anything that represents this culture. You may begin sending in your items as soon as possible. Please be sure to label items with your child’s name and homeroom so we may return it. Thanks in advance!
Cultural Awareness Schedule
- Jan/Feb: Black History Month through 2/15
- Feb: Black History (cont.)/CCES 40th Anniversary 2/15-2/28
- March: Women's History Month
- March: Youth Art Month
- April: Arab American Heritage Month
- May: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Additionally, if you have items to share relating our CCES's 40th Anniversary, feel free to send those items in soon.
Parent/Teacher Conferences in February
Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for February 14 and 15.
Conferences will be with your child's Math Teacher.
In order to schedule conferences, you will need to login to HCPSS Connect.
HCPSS Connect will open to schedule your conferences on Monday, January 28 at 9:00 a.m.
Conference scheduling will be open until Friday, February 8 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 second of two conference periods for the school year.
Road To Kindergarten
Do you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2019?
Do you have a neighbor who has a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2019?
If you said yes to either question above, please review and/or share this information.
Please join us for an information session about Kindergarten in the Howard County Public School System.
At this workshop you will learn:
- Expectations for school readiness (and receive a Ready for Kindergarten toolkit).
- Details about the Kindergarten program.
- Information about HCPSS Kindergarten registration.
- Ways that families and children can be supported during the transition to Kindergarten.
Sessions are designed for adults only. Child care is available for children ages 2 and older. Doors will open at 6 p.m. to allow time for parking, child care drop off, and check-in.
Sessions begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. We anticipate large crowds, so please allow yourself ample time.
Choose a session that is convenient for you. No registration required.
All sessions will be held from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 23
Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia
Thursday, January 24
Centennial High School, 4300 Centennial Lane, Ellicott City
Wednesday, January 30
Hammond High School, 8800 Guilford Road, Columbia
If Howard County public schools are closed for inclement weather, that day’s session is canceled.
To learn more information about preparing for Kindergarten, visit the following page on the HCPSS website: https://www.hcpss.org/enroll/kindergarten/
Kindergarten registration begins Monday, March 11 in person and online.
Winter Concerts
Feel free to share the information with family and friends.
- Strings - January 17 at 6:30 p.m.
- Band - January 17 at 7:30 p.m.
40th Anniversary Celebration
Come join us to celebrate Clemens Crossing Elementary School's 40th Anniversary on February 22, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. (SNOW DATE: 3/1/19)
- 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Open House: reconnect with teachers, friends, colleagues
- 5:30 p.m. - Memories and Remarks in the Cafeteria
- 6:00 p.m. - Food Trucks will be on site for dinner (Previous staff members will gather off-site. More information to follow.)
- 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - PTA Family Fun Night (Current students and families)
PTA Roller Skate Night
If families need to rent skates they will need to bring $3.75 per skater in cash only.
Saturday, Jan 12, 2019, 04:30 PM
Supreme Sports Club, Deepage Drive, Columbia, MD, USA
LIMITED TIME ONLY CCES APPAREL ON SALE NOW
PTA Restaurant Night - Zoe's Kitchen, The Mall in Columbia
Tuesday, Jan 22, 2019, 05:00 PM
Zoës Kitchen, Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD, USA
Clemens Crossing Reflections Winners for 2018-2019
We are happy to announce our Clemens Crossing Reflections Winners for 2018-2019.
We had 20 wonderful entries!
Our Winners are:
Literature:
Primary (K-2)
- Award of Excellence: Dominic Vega
- Award of Merit: William Arant
Intermediate (3-5)
- Award of Excellence: Magnolia Rinehart
- Award of Merit: Cameron Vega
- Honorable Mention: Lily Stoll
Visual Arts:
Primary (K-2)
- Award of Excellence: Trey Scata
- Award of Merit: Michael Arant
- Honorable Mention: Ellie Scata
Intermediate(3-5)
- Award of Excellence: Marco Platino
- Award of Merit: Henry Rinehart
- Honorable Mention: Samuel Nelson
Here are all the students who participated:
Michael Arant
William Arant
Parker Bagrosky
Emma Bates
Mirabella Childs
Mikhail Khan
Zaviyar Khan
Samuel Nelson
Marco Platino
Stella Platino
Elizabeth Pullen
Kathryn Raney
Henry Rinehart
Magnolia Rinehart
Eve Samuel
Ellie Scata
Trey Scata
Lily Stoll
Cameron Vega
Dominic Vega
Annual Pinewood Derby
All CCES families are invited to join Cub Scout Pack #618 for our Annual Pinewood Derby on Wednesday, Jan 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the CCES Cafeteria. The Scouts have worked hard and built amazing cars that they will get to race against each other.
If you have been interested in Cub Scouts, please join us and let your child cheer on their friends. There will also be a bake-sale supporting the PTA. For more information, please visit www.pack618md.com, or email cubmaster@pack618md.com.
PTA Bake Sale:
Come cheer on Clemens Crossing Scouts and enjoy yummy treats! The PTA will host a Bake Sale at the Scouts' Pinewood Derby on January 16 at 6:00 p.m. If you are interest in contributing treats for the bake sale, please email Christina Pabon-Buck at christinapabon@gmail.com.
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.
Clemens Crossing ES Winter 2019 - Before & After School Classes with Howard County Recreation & Parks
Learn Now Music After School Drums: Grades K-5/ Classes: (6) Mondays starting Feb 4 3:50-4:50pm /$139
Learn Now Music After School Viva Violin: Grades K-5/ Classes: (6) Mondays starting Feb 4 3:50-4:50pm /$139
Kid Empowerment: P.E.T. Power: Grades 2-4/ Classes: (6)Wednesdays starting Feb 6 3:50-5:20pm /$119
Science Club with Club SciKidz/Grades K-3/ Pull Your Own Weight/ Classes: (8) Wednesdays starting Jan 23/ 3:50-4:50pm $145
Science Club with Club SciKidz /Grades 3-5/Newton’s Toy Box/Classes: (8)Wednesdays starting Jan 23 3:50-4:50pm/$145
Bricks4Kidz LEGO® After School - Pirates Quest/Grades K-5/ Classes: (6)Thursdays starting Jan 31/ 3:50-4:50pm/$99
Visual Programming Game Design/Grades 1-3/ Classes: (6)Wednesdays starting Feb 20/ 3:50-4:50pm/ $145
Kiddie Basketball/5-7 yrs/ Classes: (5) Mondays starting Feb 25/ 4:55-5:55pm/$42
After-School Basketball/8-10 yrs/Classes: (5)Mondays Feb 25/ 3:50-4:50pm /$42
TGA Premier Youth Tennis/6-11 yrs/Classes: (6)Fridays Jan 25/ 3:50-4:50pm /$90
For complete information on these Before & After School classes, including how to Register, please go to www.howardcountymd.gov/afterschool