Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
January 18, 2019 - Volume 40, Issue 17
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
- 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 Close 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.
- 31 - RESCHEDULED CONCERTS String at 6:30 p.m. and Band at 7:30 p.m.
February
- 1 - Black History Month Begins
- 5 - Schools Closed - Countywide Professional Learning Day
- 6 - Report Cards Issued
- 8 - Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling Closes, 4:00 p.m.
- 13 - Vision and Hearing Screening
- 13 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- 14 - School Closes 3-Hours Early, 12:45 p.m.
- 14 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- 15 - School Closes 3-Hours Early, 12:45 p.m.
- 15 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
- 22 - 40th Anniversary Celebration, 4:30 p.m. and Family Fun Night, 6:30 p.m.
- 27 - In School Banking, 9:00 a.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
Your child is part of a powerful and positive bullying prevention initiative that will lead to more kindness, unity, and respect at school and beyond. To help build upon this momentum, we are participating in a unifying service project: Change Matters!
Change Matters! is a collection of spare change to benefit our local homeless shelter, The Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center.
All students are invited to participate by giving their extra coins! The money we raise will go towards supporting this important service in our own neighborhood. This is a great opportunity for our students to respond to the needs of others, which teaches empathy and compassion.
Additionally, we are going to have a fun spirited week during The Great Kindness Challenge. Each day is designated as a Spirit Day with a theme (see below).
For more information on The Great Kindness Challenge, please visit: www.greatkindnesschallenge.org. Thank you in advance for helping to create a culture of kindness and compassion in our community and beyond!
The Great Kindness Challenge Spirit Week 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."
REMINDER: Keep Emergency Contact Information Current
As inclement weather events may interrupt the school day, please be sure to update your emergency contact data and review plans for child care during an emergency dismissal event.
Recently, we have had several incidents where we have been trying to reach parents and find that either their voice mailbox was full or not set-up to receive messages. We also have several situations where the emergency number(s) we have on file is/are no longer in service.
We would appreciate it if you could take a moment and make sure of the following:
1. Please have a voice mailbox in place that can receive messages. If need be, please clear the messages currently in your mailbox so that your mailbox can receive new messages.
2. Please take a moment and update any emergency numbers that may need to be updated.
Thank you!
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.
NEXT WEEK! 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.
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)
After School Abrakadoodle
Don’t let the winter doldrums get you down! There is still a window of opportunity for your child to Travel the World with Abrakadoodle. We have lots of exciting art projects planned. We provide all of the supplies, and take care of the mess! Mondays after school from 3:55 -4:55 p.m. For more details and to register go to: www.abrakadoodle.com/md-howard-county-register!
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.