Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
May 4 2018 - VOLUME 39, ISSUE 30
Clemens Crossing Elementary School
Edward Cosentino, Principal
Elizabeth Yankle, 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
Events Coming Up
visit cces.hcpss.org/calendar.
May
- 7 - Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week Begins
- 9 - National School Nurse's Day
- 9 - Visiting Author: Chris Barton
- 9 - Screenagers Movie, 6:30p.m. (see information below)
- 10 - Kindergarten Field Trip to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
- 10 - Spring Strings Concert, 6:30p.m.
- 10 - Spring Band Concert, 7:30p.m.
- 14 - Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, 2:30p.m.
- 14 - Rube Goldberg Celebration
- 16 - PTA Meeting, 7:00p.m.
- 17 - Interim Progress Reports Issued
- 17 - Spring Carnival, 5:00p.m.
- 18 - Crazy Hair Day
- 18 - Schools are Open for a Half Day- Inclement Weather Make-up Day #4
- 18 - CCES dismisses at 12:45p.m.
- 21 - Schoolwide Showcase (Science Fair, Enrichment Fair, PTA Reflections, and Classroom displays), 6:30p.m.
- 22 - Middle School Visitation, 9:30a.m.
- 23 - Spring Chorus Concert, 7:00p.m.
- 24 - Field Day (Rain Date on 5/25)
- 25 - WLHS Graduation, 2:30p.m.
- 28 - Schools Closed - Memorial Day
- 30 - 5th Grade - Simulated Congressional Hearing
- 30 - In-School Banking (final for the year)
- 31 - AHS Graduation, 11:00a.m.
June
- 5 - PTA Restaurant Night: Chick-fil-a - Profits will support our Green School Initiative
- 8 - Kindergarten End of Year Program and Picnic
- 12 - REVISION - Full School Day
- 13 - REVISION - Full School Day
- 14 - REVISION - Full School Day
- 14 - Flag Day - Wear red, white, and blue
- 14 - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 9:30a.m.
- 15 - Early Dismissal - All schools close 3-hours early. CCES dismisses at 12:45 p.m.
- 18 - Early Dismissal - All schools close 3-hours early. CCES dismisses at 12:45 p.m.
- 19 - Last Day of School - Schools are Open for a Half Day.
CCES Dismissal at 12:45 p.m. Inclement Weather Make-up Day #5.
From School Administration
The end of the school year is a very busy time for schools! We're working hard to continue to teach students and wrap up the year's work, and then 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" below, it is often helpful for us when we make placement decisions. 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.
We also know that the end of the year can sometimes be a challenge for students as they get ready to leave the classrooms in which they have built relationships and worked with teachers and peers throughout the year. This is especially true this year as we prepare to say goodbye to 80 students who will transition to Pointer Run Elementary School in addition to our fifth-grade class who will transition to middle school. As we move closer to June, we continue to watch students, make sure that they are engaged learners, and support them with the upcoming changes they will face. As we move towards the end of the year, please continue to communicate with us if you know that your child is nervous or sad about the school year ending. Our goal is to help them have a smooth close to the year!
There are many exciting activities planned by the school and by the PTA over the next six 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.
Our Annual Field Day will take place on May 24, 2018 with a rain date of May 25.
Each year, we require many parent volunteers to run our events. Please use the Google form 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 by 9:00a.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 12:40p.m. with the students gathering together at 3:00p.m. for the awards ceremony. (Space limitations for the awards ceremony allow for students only). If you are selected for Scores table, you will be required to stay until at least 1:00p.m.
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).
If you are available to volunteer, please complete the form below.
Mr. Robinson/Mr. Griffis
Spring Concerts on Twitter and Periscope
- Strings - May 10 at 6:30 p.m.
- Band - May 10 at 7:30 p.m.
- Chorus - May 23 at 7:00 p.m.
From the Health Room
Allergy Season
The Health Room is seeing many children with pollen and seasonal allergy symptoms, mostly itching eyes & congestion. We are seeing students as they get off the bus and at recess. Please consider giving your child their allergy medication prior to school.
Sunscreen
Please consider applying sunscreen on your child before school. The application of sunscreen is not allowed during school by our staff or by students.
Arrival Reminder
Arrival and Dismissal Safety is Everyone's Responsibility
Lost and Found
We will donate all items to a local charity if they are not claimed.
The donation date will be May 17.
Are You Moving and Not Returning to CCES for the 2018-19 School Year?
Elementary Solo and Ensemble Festival
We would like to congratulate one more student who performed at the Howard County Elementary Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, April 21.
We inadvertently left Katelyn Brown out of last week's Cougar Comments.
A Friendly Reminder for Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade Parents
With the warmer Spring weather finally here, the Clemens Crossing Health Room asks that you please provide a climate appropriate change of clothes for your student to be available during the day. We ask that each Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade student have an extra pair of pants, underwear, socks, and a shirt that will be kept in their classroom cubbies. Please place the clothes in a zip lock bag with your student's name clearly printed on the front of the bag. Thank you in advance and have a happy and healthy Spring!
Movie: SCREENAGERS
Wednesday, May 9, 2018, 06:30 PM
Clemens Crossing Elementary School, Quarterstaff Road, Columbia, MD, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Screen Free Week - April 30-May 6, 2018*
Please find 101 Screen-Free activities and an activity log below. If you participate in the Screen-Free Week, complete the activity log and turn it into your teacher to get a ROARing event.
*except for work and school assignments
Teacher Appreciation Week
Staff Appreciation Week (May 7-11) is coming up soon! This is a fun week where we get to say, “thank you” for all that our amazing teachers and staff do for our children. The PTA and room parents have organized a number of activities for the staff throughout the week and there are many ways for students and families to participate.
Here are three ways to be involved and help shower our staff with appreciation!
Homeroom Teachers: Look for a message from your room parent with details about activities for your child’s homeroom teacher. This will likely include collecting for a class gift, and organizing days for your child to bring in a flower, a note, a treat, etc. Also, each class is “adopting” another staff member or two, to bring a flower, note, treat, etc. daily. If you don’t know your room parent please look here!
Related Arts and other teachers: Help show non-homeroom teachers some love by offering to buy a gift card and send a note to them. Sign up here.
All CCES Staff: The PTA organizes daily activities for the entire CCES staff. Follow this link to see the planned activities for this year and sign up to donate meals and prizes and/or volunteer your time.
We have A LOT planned and wanted to make it easy to participate —in any way that works for your family. Please do not feel obligated to participate in every planned activity. If your family would prefer to give an individual gift or some other kind gesture to show your appreciation to a homeroom teacher or other staff member, that is wonderful, too!
Slate of PTA Executive Board Candidates for 2018 - 2019
The PTA's Nominating Committee is pleased to propose the following slate of executive board candidates for the 2018 - 2019 year. Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in the open board positions.
On May 17, we will have an election during the general meeting at the Spring Carnival to approve new board members. We will gather on the blacktop at 6:45pm for a brief general meeting and election. We will also accept board position nominations from the floor during the election.
President - Karen Pang
Vice President - Dani Gardner (NEW)
Recording Secretary - Vanessa Beltran (NEW)
Corresponding Secretary - Denise Giuliano (NEW)
Treasurer - Hyung Chang (NEW)
PTA Council Rep 1 - OPEN
PTA Council Rep 2 - OPEN
School Improvement Team (SIT) Rep - Vanessa Castleberry (NEW)
If you have questions about the nominating process or election, please contact a member of our Nominating Committee:
Hyung Chang hschang23@gmail.com, Risa Carlson risa@risacarlson.com, or
Dani Gardner dnr318@gmail.com) for more information.
Regards,
CCES PTA Nominating Committee
Cereal Collection for Grassroots
What's your favorite cereal? Next time you're at the grocery store, pick up an extra box of your favorite cereal to donate to Grassroots*. The collection will be May 14-18. (For questions, contact outreach@clemenscrossingpta.org.)
*Grassroots provides supportive and professional 24-hour crisis intervention, suicide prevention, shelter, and outreach services to individuals and families experiencing a personal, situational, mental health, or shelter crisis.
Message from Cub Scouts
Your local Cub Scout Pack is inviting everyone to join them for their Annual Spring Picnic on Wednesday, May 16, from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. at the Martin Road Park (6701 Martin Road, Columbia, MD 21044).
Cub Scouts is a great way for children Grades K - 5th to learn about our community, the outdoors, and teamwork in a safe and established environment. Starting in June, our pack will be open to girls and kindergartners, so pass this invitation to any incoming families that might be interested. All children attending will get a chance to build a small sailboat and race them in our Raingutter Reggata. In case of rain, our rain date is Tuesday, May 22nd, same time. For more information, or if rain is expected, please go to www.pack618md.com. If you have any questions, contact our Cubmaster, Charlie Beard, at cubmaster@pack618md.com. Food and drinks will be provided.
Note: The Public Information Office encourages all community organizations to distribute notices electronically through this online resource. However, organizations may choose to distribute printed documents, such as the 2018 Parent Guide, through student backpacks, etc. per the provisions of HCPSS Policy 10010. For more information, please refer to Distribution Guidelines for Schools. Contact the Public Information Office with any questions, at 410-313-6682 or publicinfo@hcpss.org.