Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
March 19, 2021 - Volume 42, Issue 29
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
March
- 24 - Phase 3 Virtual Orientation (check your email for Group A&B returning week of 3/29)
- 25 - CCES PTA Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser
- 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
May
- 19 - Science Fair
From School Administration
This week marks one year since the initial shutdown of schools due to COVID-19. We cannot neglect the challenges, obstacles, and hardships our community has faced this past year, but this week also brought much hope as we welcomed back kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students as part of the phase 2 Hybrid Plan. Our classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, and playground have students in them for the first time in a year. We are grateful for our students and staff who adhere to health and safety guidelines as they remain masked and socially distanced throughout each school day. We look forward to the third and final phase of the hybrid plan on Monday, March 29 when we will welcome our 3rd - 5th grade students for hybrid learning. One of the greatest joys of this reopening is seeing students engage with peers they have only seen on Google Meet due to the previous cohort model. We also want to thank families and students who are remaining virtual for their patience as we all adjust to the new schedule and hybrid model.
We are working very hard to honor requests to move from Virtual to In-Person.
Please be patient with any requests. Those requests are granted if there is enough space in the child's Homeroom, Math, and Related Arts classes. We also have to look to see if we can accommodate students in the Cafeteria when we have whole groups for lunch. Finally, if transportation is needed, we need to see if there is space for safe socially distanced transportation on our buses. In some cases, we can make the change quickly. In other situations, we might need to place students on our waitlist.
If you are scheduled for in-person, and you want to go back to (or remain) virtual, please email me. We will make the necessary changes.
Again, thank you for all of your patience as we navigate through this time period.
Mr. Cosentino, Principal
NEW INFORMATION
Our Students Are Our Foundation
To help get plenty of pictures for our ‘20/‘21 Yearbook, the PTA has decorated eight Clemens Crossing bricks and placed them all around our school building for families to hunt for. When you have found a brick, take a picture of your child/children with it, and place the brick back where you found it for the next family to find. Then send in your pictures to president@clemenscrossingpta.org so that it can be included in our Yearbook.
Pictures will need to be received by March 26th.
Giving Thanks to Staff
The CCES PTA is buying cake & lunch for our amazing CCES staff. If you would like to contribute and send a message of thanks, please visit https://clemenscrossingpta.org/get-involved/donate/. We appreciate our extraordinarily supportive families and community!
Changes to the HCPSS Technology Support Center
Effective Monday, March 22, the HCPSS Technology Support Center site at the ARL will close for device exchanges, returns and support. A new support center will open at the nearby Old Cedar Lane building in Columbia.
At that time, 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) - Old Cedar Lane, Gymnasium (door on the left side of the building; follow the signs),
5451 Beaverkill Road, Columbia (Building shares a parking lot with Harper’s Choice Middle School)
Note! Both locations are in old school buildings that are not located at the same sites as the new schools with similar names. Anyone seeking assistance should go to the locations listed above and not go to or call the current schools regarding the Technology Support Center.
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.
World Down Syndrome Awareness Day - #LotsOfSocks
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.
The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
The #LotsOfSocks campaign exists to raise awareness of Down syndrome. All you need to do is choose some socks that are going to get noticed - they might be mismatched socks or your craziest and most colorful socks, whatever takes your fancy!
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
National Student Art Competition
The White House Historical Association is hosting a National Student Art Competition to celebrate its 60th anniversary and the legacy of its founder, First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy, with the theme "The White House: An American Story."
WHHA seeks submissions from students across the country that depict and reflect the White House, its collection and its diverse history - that of presidents and first families, dedicated staff, and the American public.
The competition is open for submissions until May 7, 2021 and will have three grade-level categories: grades K through 3, grades 4 through 8, and grades 9 through 12. Winners in each category will be chosen via a panel of three judges and will be announced in July as part of the Association’s annual celebration of Mrs. Kennedy's birthday.
Image Credit: Library of Congress
Yearbook Photo Submissions
If your child did not get an official school photo through Strawbridge this week, you can still upload a portrait for the yearbook using this link: plicbooks.com/go/WGLnY
We are also looking for candid photos from this year, especially pictures on the playground or during virtual Related Arts classes. You can use this link to upload them directly to the yearbook website: plicbooks.com/go/XTCkz
Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser
Come get a sweet treat and support CCES! Nothing Bundt Cakes is having a CCES Spirit Day Thursday, March 25. 20% of purchases will be given back to our school! Be sure to mention the fundraiser or bring the flier with you!
HELP WANTED: Clemens Crossing School Garden
Would your family like to be involved with the Clemens Crossing School Garden? Families can sign up for a gardening project or task that they can do as a family. Families will complete the gardening project/task as an individual family unit, rather than in a group of multiple families. All food grown in the CCES garden will be donated to the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. If interested in helping, please email Chris McDonald at r.christopher.mcdonald@gmail.com.
Possible gardening projects and tasks include:
- Planting seeds and caring for plants in a raised garden bed.
- Watering plants on a weekly schedule.
- Weeding garden areas.
- Planting flower seeds or seedlings in the front of the school building.
- Creating attractive and durable garden art, such as wooden signs.
- Painting rocks to decorate the garden.
CCES VIRTUAL SCIENCE FAIR 2020
Your child is invited to participate in this year’s Virtual Science Fair on Wednesday, May 19 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
If your child is interested in doing a Science Fair Collection, Investigation, or Invention at home, please download the corresponding attachment below. Students may do projects individually or as a group. Once your child has identified a project, please complete the online, “Intent to Participate form.” More details will be shared once participants register. We are excited to highlight the commitment shown and the hard work done by the CCES students this year. Many thanks for all of your support at home and in the building this year.
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.