Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
December 1, 2017 - VOLUME 39, ISSUE 11
Clemens Crossing Elementary School
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
December
- 1 - 2nd Grade Field Trip to Toby's Dinner Theater
- 6 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- 7 - Holiday Shoppe, 4:30 p.m.
- 8 - Holiday Shoppe, 4:30 p.m.
- 11 - Holiday Shoppe, 4:30 p.m.
- 20 - In-School Banking, 9:00 a.m.
- 20 - Interim Progress Reports Issued
- 20 - Winter Chorus Concert
- 22 - Pajama Day
- 23 - Winter Break Begins
From School Administration
We hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend. It was great to see so many of you here at school for Parent/Teacher Conferences during the week that led up to Thanksgiving.
The opportunity for parents and teachers to talk about the growth that students are making is always so valuable. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to be here for a conference. We would also like to thank the PTA Staff Appreciation Committee for sponsoring a delicious dinner for all the staff members who were here on Monday night for conferences. The food was excellent and helped everyone make it through the long day!
The Hour of Code is Coming to CCES!
We are preparing for the official Hour of Code, which begins on Monday, December 4 and will last throughout the week.
During technology classes, all students in grades K-5 will participate in coding activities. Students will interact with online tutorials, games, and coding courses. Students have been engaged in unplugged activities this week to introduce them to basic computer programming skills and help to develop problem-solving skills, algorithmic thinking, pattern recognition, and persistence they will need to use next week during the Hour of Code. If you would like to create a code.org account for your student at home, you are welcome to do so. This will allow students to continue their work at home if they wish.
Staff Spotlight - Mr. DiMaggio
Mr. DiMaggio's first year at Clemens Crossing. He is serving as our new .5 Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher. He works the Atholton Elementary community in the same role.
Before coming to Clemens Crossing, Mr. DiMaggio taught third, fourth, and fifth grades at Jeffers Hill Elementary School in East Columbia. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Towson University and his Master's Degree from McDaniel College in Western Maryland. He lives in Catonsville with his wife, 8-year-old son, Jaden, and his 21-month-old daughter, Vera.
Lost and Found
The Lost & Found is located in the front hallway across from the music room. Please be sure to check the Lost & Found soon.
We will donate all items to a local charity on December 22.
HELP WANTED
The Media Center is in need of a volunteer to help shelve books on Fridays. If interested, please email Lisa Lang at lisa_lang@hcpss.org.
Smoothie King Wilde Lake - New Business Partner
NOTE: Students who already earned an ACE Award this school year will receive their coupon this week.
Weather Guidelines for Outdoor Recess
Exercise outdoors is healthy and is strongly encouraged. It provides a break from the regular school routine, a chance to get some outside air, and an opportunity to run off excess energy.
If conditions preclude the full recess time, even a five-minute break can revitalize children and prepare them for more sitting and academic learning. Children are expected to wear warm clothing to protect them during cold weather when participating in recess or outside activities.
The decision to go out or stay in for recess is the decision of the Administrator at individual schools. However, the following are to be considered in determining if recess is to be held outside:
- Temperature and Windchill
- Age of students
- Length of time outdoors
- Adequacy of the children’s clothing
- Condition of the playground
- Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)
Generally, it is assumed that students will be outside for recess when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Children with certain health conditions may need special accommodations during extremely cold weather. Parents of those children should provide medical documentation and may be consulted to determine if other arrangements are necessary.
CogAT Testing for Grades 3 and 5
The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) is a reasoning and problem-solving test used by schools to help identify students for gifted and talented programs. The test is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and is comprised of a verbal battery, quantitative battery, and nonverbal battery. Each battery consists of three different subtests that require a focus on specific areas of cognition.
Clemens Crossing will administer CogAT for Third Grade on December 5, 6, and 11 at 9:20 a.m. Students in Fifth Grade will take the CogAT on December 5, 6, and 8 at 10:45a.m. Results will be available in February. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Yankle.
Early Dismissal Reminder
before 3:15 p.m.
Check-out November's Storify
Upcoming School Spirit Days
Below, you will find information about School Spirit Days in December.
Holiday Shoppe
The CCES PTA Holiday Shoppe is returning this year on December 7, 8, and 11 from
4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in the CCES Library. The Holiday Shoppe provides kids with the opportunity to purchase gifts for their family and friends that cost between $0.25 and $12. Please note that the gifts are not specific to the holidays and can be given for any occasion like birthdays.
To make this a successful event, we are in need of parent and middle/high school volunteers who can assist the shoppers with their purchases and help wrap their gifts. Student volunteers are eligible for community service hours. If you are interested in volunteering and for more information, please visit the following link:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C094CA9AD2DA5FC1-cces1. Also, if you have spare wrapping or tissue paper that you no longer have a use for, please consider donating it to the Holiday Shoppe so our kids can spruce up their wrapping. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Katy Petty at KPetty79@aol.com. Thanks in advance!
Vendor Showcase at the Holiday Shoppe
This year we have organized several CCES community members to sell items for parents while the kids are shopping the Holiday Shoppe. Parents can browse the Vendor Showcase in the First and Third Grade Pods, which will feature jewelry, LulaRoe, baked goods, health and beauty items, personalized items, and Native American journals and beads. And there's no waiting in line this year -- students will be called into the Holiday Shoppe in the order they arrived, so everyone is free to wander and browse the Vendor Showcase while they wait. Parents -- come shop while your kids shop!
Calling All Singers!
This is for grown-ups, not kids. Did you sing in a choir in high school or college? Do you miss singing with other people in 4-part harmony? We are looking to find a group of singers who want to rehearse once before the holidays and perhaps go caroling around Clemens Crossing neighborhoods (or sing to residents of a nursing home or patients in the hospital). We will rehearse on Monday night, December 11 at 8:00 p.m. (most likely in the music room of CCES -- Mrs. Ritchie will be singing, too!) and "perform" on Friday evening, December 22. Please contact Karen Pang, nerakpang@gmail.com, if you are interested!