Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
November 1, 2019 - Volume 41, Issue 10
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
Important Upcoming Dates and Events
November
- 1 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early for Students - End of 1st Quarter
- 1 - National Native American Heritage Month Begins
- 8 - Student Picture Make-up Day
- 11 - Q1 Report Cards Issued
- 11 - Conference Scheduling Window Opens (more information will come out soon)
- 11 - PTA Restaurant Night - Common Kitchen
- 13 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- 15 - PTA Book Fair Starts
- 15 - PTA Bingo Night (moved from 11/8), 6:30 p.m.
- 18 - American Education Week Begins
- 20 - In-School Banking
- 20 - Kindergarten Library Field Trip
- 25 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early for Students - Parent-Teacher Conferences
- 26 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early for Students - Parent-Teacher Conferences
- 27 - Schools Closed for Students - Parent-Teacher Conferences
To subscribe to the CCES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system use the calendar ID sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com.
From School Administration
November brings many opportunities to visit CCES. Please take time to visit CCES during American Education Week. More information is in this newsletter to help you plan your visit.
Another opportunity to visit CCES is for our Parent-Teacher Conferences. Parent-Teacher Conferences provide a great way to connect, collaborate, and plan for future success and growth of your child in school. Conferences will be with homeroom teachers with the focus on Language Arts. We encourage you to schedule time to meet with your child's teacher.
New Information
Final Phase of Boundary Review Process
Feasibility Study
The school system issued its annual Feasibility Study in June. The Feasibility Study recommended changes to the Clemens Crossing ES boundary by sending approximately 80 students to Swansfield ES. Bryant Woods ES would send 42 students to Clemens Crossing ES resulting in a loss of 38 students overall. The second option in the Feasibility Study is the same as the first option except we would not receive 38 students from Bryant Woods. This would result in a loss of 80 students from CCES.
Superintendent's Plan
During the summer, the school system asked for the public to provide input and feedback on the Feasibility Study. The results were posted on the HCPSS website. The superintendent also assembled the Attendance Area Committee to review Feasibility Study and provide recommendations for his plan after community input sessions. In late August, the superintendent shared his recommendations to the Board of Education. The superintendent's plan would send 111 students from Clemens Crossing ES to Swansfield ES. Clemens Crossing ES would receive 20 students from Bryant Woods ES resulting in a net loss of 91 students from our school.
The Final Phase - The Board of Education
The Board of Education ultimately makes the final decision to adjust school boundaries. Their plan could align with published plans outlined during the process or it could involve sections of communities that have not been part of initial proposed plans.
The Board of Education listened to the public through a series of public hearings throughout September and October. A record of the public hearings is posted on the HCPSS website.
The Board of Education is in the final stages of this process. They are currently in the third of seven Board Public Work Sessions where they work out the details of a final plan in an open forum. The public may attend the work sessions, but they may not participate in the sessions.
In recent days, a few board members have shared their own individual plans where Clemens Crossing ES would not be impacted at all or could be significantly impacted. In one plan, Clemens Crossing ES could send a total of up to 250 students from CCES to Swansfield ES and Bryant Woods ES while Running Brook ES and Bryant Woods ES would send Clemens Crossing ES 200-250 students.
Ultimately, the Board of Education will make the final decision regarding redistricting. It is encouraged that the public pays close attention to the work sessions, because of the likelihood of its impact on Clemens Crossing ES. The preliminary decision will be made during the final Board of Education work session on Monday, November 18. The Board of Education will take that final decision to a vote on Thursday, November 21 at the scheduled Board of Education Meeting.
If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to contact Mr. Cosentino.
American Education Week
Reach, Educate, Inspire
During American Education Week, November 18—22, 2019, Americans nationwide will join the National Education Association (NEA) in raising awareness about the need to provide every child with a quality public education. The celebration highlights the importance of bringing together educators, parents, students, and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools. It also reflects NEA's vision of calling upon America to provide public school students with quality schools so that they can grow and achieve in the 21st century. As part of the celebration, we provide parents and guardians the opportunity to visit their child’s classroom during the week. Feel free to visit your child's classroom any day during the week. Please refer to the CCES Master Schedule below to help you guide your visitation.
When you visit, please be prepared to sign-in through the Lobby Guard kiosk in the office. You will need your driver's license to sign-in with Lobby Guard. As a reminder, we do not allow younger children in the classrooms when parents visit. Additionally, we ask for visitors to refrain from using their phones in the classroom. Please put your phone on silence or vibrate. If you need to use your phone or devise for any reason, please go to the front lobby or outside the building.
We look forward to our continued partnership in your child's education, and we are excited to see you in school during American Education Week.
CCES Master Schedule 9:00 a.m. - Noon
CCES Master Schedule
CCES Master Schedule Noon - 3:45 p.m.
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 25, 26, and 27.
Conferences will be with homeroom teachers and will focus on Language Arts.
To schedule conferences, you will need to login to HCPSS Connect.
HCPSS Connect will be open for all schools to schedule conferences from Monday, November 11 through Friday, November 22. Please take the time to schedule your conference while the conference scheduling window is open. It is very difficult to accommodate last-minute appointments once the scheduling window closes.
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 first of two conference periods for the school year. There will be conferences following the end of the second quarter in February. The focus of those conferences will math where you will be able to meet with your child's math teacher.
Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
Right-Hand Turns PLEASE!
REMINDER
Quarterstaff Road and the crosswalk are not drop off locations. If you park on Quarterstaff Road, it is expected you walk your child to the front of the building in the morning and meet your child at the front doors for afternoon pick-up. As adults, we have to create safe and predictable routines for our children. The way we have designed our arrival and dismissal helps to create safe routines. Thank you for your help.
Picture Make-Up Day 11/8
Picture day make-up will be Friday, November 8th. If you want a make-up picture taken of your child, return the original pictures to the front office. Ms. Wells will collect and we will give them back to students on make-up day.
Information Worth Repeating
Young Authors’ Contest 2019-2020
Who: Students in Grades 1-5
What: Write a poem or short story
- Entries must be original work.
- All entries must use no smaller than
- 12 point font in Times New Roman.
- Short story entry must range between 100-400 words (gr. 1-2) and 300-800 words (gr. 3-5).
- Poem entry will consist of a single poem, any style, and must range between 25-150 words (all grade levels).
- Entries must not include graphics.
- Each entry must include a completed cover sheet signed by the student author’s parent.
For additional details and guidelines,
contact your local literacy association Young Authors’ Contest Chairperson: Maria Moy, Howard County Literacy Association maria_moy@hcpss.org
Entries due to Mrs. Webster:
no later than Dec. 2, 2019
(Winning entries will be forwarded from local chapters to SoMLA by January 1, 2020.)
Fall Book Fair - Volunteers Needed
The Book Fair is coming! It will be open in the media center during Bingo night on November 15, November 18-22 from 4-7 pm, and November 25 and 26 from 1-7 pm during conferences. This is a big fundraiser for the PTA and a lot of fun so please come shop and support CCES! We could use help with set-up and shifts throughout the week. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4FAEA62BA6FF2-cces
Space Telescope Science Institute's Youth for Astronomy & Engineering (YAE)
Registration is now open for Space Telescope Science Institute's Youth for Astronomy & Engineering (YAE) Program annual “Parent and Son Evening Under the Stars”, which will be held on Friday, November 1, 2019 and “Parent and Daughter Evening Under the Stars”, which will be held on Friday, November 15, 2019. Both events will take place from 6:00 p.m. to
9:00 p.m.
Come join us for a dinner reception, followed by an opportunity to:
- Learn more about astronomy
- Engage in night star observation through JHU Offit Telescope
- Planetarium viewing
- Hands-on STEM demonstrations
To register online, click HERE
You can also complete the attached registration form and mail it to the address indicated on the form. Please feel free to make as much copies as needed to distribute to your students. Or you can contact us at yae@stsci.edu and request copies to be mailed to your school or organization. Scholarships/Financial aid is available for students who would like to attend but have financial hardships. Large groups/classes are welcome.
For more information about the YAE Program, please visit www.stsci.edu/yae.