Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
December 11, 2020 - Volume 42, Issue 17
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
December
- 18 - PTA Virtual Bingo (new date)
- 24 thru 31 - Schools Closed: Winter Break (24 & 25 - state mandated holiday)
January
- 1 Schools and Offices Closed: New Year's Day (state mandated holiday)
December Related Arts Schedule
December 2020 calendar
January 2021 calendar
FROM SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
A School Culture that Welcomes Every Child
“Our diversity won’t be a barrier but rather a reason for our success” -Unknown
Do you remember being in elementary school? Did you ever go back to your old elementary school? How did you feel entering your child’s school for the first time? I can recall all those feelings, and as principal, I am committed to ensuring that every child has positive memories of their school-age experiences. Unfortunately, the reality across our nation is not every school or classroom welcomes diverse learners. As for this school, we measure excellence in how we form relationships and connections with each child and their family. To be a school of excellence, there must be a focus on the development of the whole child. As a result, a strong academic culture results and ultimately, our student’s suCCESs.
Whether we are face to face or virtual, school culture is critically important. The culture and climate of a school is visible and it is felt. A positive school culture says, “I am growing smarter every day.”
“I belong here.” In addition, by focusing on high academic standards, students have goals that they can and want to achieve. For example, our vision at Clemens Crossing ES is a school community where academic excellence is achieved and social-emotional well-being is developed as a foundation of success. In this process, students and teachers can clearly see the goal and work together to fulfill this vision.
This past week was Inclusive Schools Week. It was one week where we highlight and celebrate our continued commitment to every child, every day throughout the entire school year. Clemens Crossing Elementary School is that place of inclusivity. The place where every child is valued. The place where every child is respected. The place where every child is loved. The place where every child is welcome.
During this holiday season, I want you to know how much I enjoy serving you and the Clemens Crossing ES community.
Mr. Cosentino, Principal
NEW INFORMATION
Elementary Student Workload During Virtual Instruction
Families, particularly of primary students, have expressed concerns about the virtual elementary workload including the complexity of asynchronous lessons, the number of content areas taught, and the number of weekly asynchronous assignments. In order to support elementary students with successfully navigating during virtual instruction, the following adjustments have been made:
- Students will only have asynchronous assignments in Social Studies, Science, or Health during a given week. There will not be an overlap of instruction or assignments for these content areas.
- Health lessons will be taught for one week during the marking period and include two synchronous lessons and two asynchronous lessons instead of five asynchronous lessons as assigned in the first quarter.
- The length and complexity of Social Studies, Science, and Health asynchronous assignments have been reduced.
- Related Arts asynchronous assignments have been streamlined.
Instruction During the Week of December 21
During the week of December 21st, no asynchronous assignments in Content, ELA, Math, or Related Arts should be assigned to students. This includes Dreambox and LexiaCore.
Students will have synchronous Related Arts as scheduled but no asynchronous Related Arts assignments. Likewise, synchronous Social Studies instruction will occur on Monday, December 21 for grades K, 2, and 4 and on Tuesday, December 22 for grades 1, 3, and 5; however, there will not be Social Studies asynchronous follow up lessons.
Week of December 21... Great Time to Catch-Up
Do your kids have any missing work to still complete for school? Are they caught up on all assignments for ELA, math, science, social studies, health, art, music, PE, media, and technology? With no asynchronous work assigned during the week of December 21, this is a GREAT time to catch-up on any missed work. Teachers will be able to answer questions during the short week.
Students can submit assignments throughout the Winter Break, but teachers will not be able to check their work or respond to email until January 4.
Please do not wait until the end of the quarter to complete asynchronous work.
Winter Break Meal Services: Adjustments for December 21, 2020–January 4, 2021
Howard County public schools will be closed for winter break from Thursday, December 24, 2020 through Friday, January 1, 2021. There will be no meal service during this time. To ensure children have access to essential nutrition during the holiday period, families may pick up additional meals in advance of the break.
The following adjustments will be made to meal services:
- There is no meal service Thursday, December 24 through Friday, January 1. Meal service will resume on Monday, January 4, 2021.
- Meals for December 23–27 will be available for pickup at any HCPSS meal site on Wednesday, December 23.
- Pre-ordering will not be available for meals picked up December 21–23 or January 4–6. Walk up (non-pre-ordered) meals may be picked up those and other days schools are in session.
- Pre-ordering services will resume Monday, January 4 for meals to be picked up beginning Thursday, January 7.
Meals are provided at no cost to any HCPSS student or any child under age 18. More information about 2020-2021 meal services is provided online.
How HCPSS Supports Mental Health
HCPSS promotes the mental health and wellness of each of our students to develop their unique strengths, abilities, and characteristics towards success and well-being. Staff consider the variety of factors that impact a student’s functioning such as age, cultural background, social-emotional skills, academic outcomes, and access to resources.
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
Student’s Preferred Names to be Displayed
Display of Student Preferred Name in Google, Synergy, and Canvas:
A new process will be enabled in January 2021 to allow students to show a preferred name in Synergy, Canvas, and Google. Students can follow this process:
- Go to hcpss.me
- Go to Synergy
- Click on “Student Info” in the lower left
- Look for the “Preferred First Name” field to see what is there now.
- This name will show in Canvas and Google beginning the first week of January 2021
- If you do not want this name to show or would like something else to show, contact your administrator by December 21, 2020.
- If you do want this name to show, you don’t need to do anything.
Note: The preferred name will carry over from year to year unless a change is requested. Once a requested change is made, that preferred name will remain for the student’s HCPSS career unless another change is requested through the school secretary/administrator.
For students who are transgender or gender non-binary, there is an additional procedure to mask their legal name and/or gender assigned at birth, providing additional confidentiality. If you think this may apply to you, please reach out to your school counselor to discuss. Let your counselor know that you are interested in learning about the presenting name option/masking process.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Cosentino at ecosentino@hcpss.org
Library Media Center books are available for checkout!
Students are welcome to borrow up to 3 books at a time from the Library Media Center.
Mrs. Seamonson and Mrs. Marshall fill orders on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Books are available on the pickup cart outside the school's front doors each school day from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Families will be emailed when your books are placed outside.
Students in Grades 3 - 5 can place their requests in the PAC website at:
https://hcpss.tlcdelivers.com/?config=cces#section=home
Students in Grades K - 2 can also use the primary PAC at:
https://hcpss.tlcdelivers.com/kids?config=cces and they can place their requests at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1K6d2jeVy8IAEGPhqNzXcQGM3zBDKmNy4-1kJmLShi3g/edit
Please return Media books within 2 weeks to the blue plastic bin outside the school's front doors.
CCES PTA Virtual Bingo Night
The CCES PTA is excited to bring you...
VIRTUAL BINGO
Friday, December 18
6-8 pm
Log on through Google Meet for a fantastic evening of family fun - absolutely FREE!
Advance registration is required. Please fill out this brief form to sign up:
https://forms.gle/DshvyQbo2nYAiMVj8
Questions? Please email Bingo Coordinator Alex Kent at alexkentny@gmail.com
RSVP Deadline is Thursday, December 18 at 5:00 p.m.
Volunteens Social Justice Art Contest
Volunteens 1st Annual, Social Justice Art Competition
This competition is open to all elementary school, middle school, and high school students.
The theme is broad; simply asking students to “interpret social justice in their own way.”
Cash prizes are offered to those who place. **Rankings are separated by age group, so all have an equal chance of winning.
The proceeds can also be donated towards a charity of the recipient’s choosing.
- 1st- $150,
- 2nd- $100,
- 3rd- $75
The deadline for submissions is 12/15, and results will be announced on 12/30.
In today’s socially tense environment, this competition poses as a means for learning, and therefore a catalyst for change.
The goal of this non-profit is to teach students about social justice through art, and for this reason.
Please note: Submissions need to be emailed to awards.volunteens@gmail.com
If you have questions, Mr. Schmitt is the CCES contact for this award.
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.