Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments
October 22, 2021 - Volume 43, 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
October
- 22 - School Spirit Day - Stuffed Animal Day
- 25 - MOD Pizza - PTA Restaurant Day
- 29 - PTA Halloween Family Fun Night: Trunk-or-Treat & Fall Festival 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
November
- 1 - National American Indian Heritage Month Begins
- 3 - First Quarter Ends
- 4 - Schools Closed for Students - Professional Work Day
- 5 - Fall Picture Make-up Day
- 8 - Conference Scheduling Opens
- 8 - PTA Fundraiser: Taharka Bros.
- 10 - Report Cards Issued
- 10- PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- 15 - American Education Week
- 15 - PTA Book Fair Starts
- 18 - Conference Scheduling Closes
- 22 - School Closes 3 hours early for Parent/Teacher Conferences
- 23 - School Closes 3 hours early for Parent/Teacher Conferences
- 24 - School Closed for Parent/Teacher Conferences
- 25 - School Closed for Thanksgiving
- 26 - School Closed for Thanksgiving Weekend
To subscribe to the CCES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system use the calendar ID sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com.
October 2021
November 2021
December 2021
From SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
Although we are doing our very best to get back to normal, we simply cannot proceed as normal with a few annual traditions and routines. In a typical year, we invite parents into the school for American Education Week, the week before Thanksgiving. Hopefully, we will resume that tradition next year. The annual book fair will not take place in November either. The book fair will take place in the spring. Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility.
We hope to see you at the upcoming PTA events next week. There is a restaurant day at MOD Pizza on October 25 and the new PTA Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival on October 29.
NEW INFORMATION
The National PTA Reflections Arts Recognition Program
The National PTA Reflections Arts Recognition Program is a program designed to inspire and celebrate your kid’s creativity. To participate, students create a piece of art in any of 6 different categories that reflect this year’s theme, “I Will Change the World By...”. Every student who enters receives a certificate celebrating their work! Each artwork is evaluated on the interpretation of the theme, creativity, and artistic merit. Reflections is not just for “artsy” kids- it’s for EVERY kid!
And this is a great year for kids to think about how they will change the world! Click here for a video about Reflections at CCES this year.
HOW TO ENTER:
- Reflect on the theme “I Will Change the World By...” and create an original work in one (or more!) of the following categories (click on the hyperlinks for more information about each):
- Fill out an Entry Form, and be sure to include your Artist’s Statement, which is how your artwork connects to the theme (this is 50% of your score from the judges).
- Turn in your artwork and entry form to the office at Clemens Crossing by November 29, 2021! OR, if your submission is electronic, please email it to me: reflections@clemenscrossingpta.org.
Artwork will be judged in 3 categories:
- Primary (Grades K-2)
- Intermediate (Grades 3-5), and
- Special Artist (for students with challenges as covered in the ADA).
Entries will be reviewed by experienced arts and education judges. All participants will be celebrated with certificates of participation, the top three entries will receive ribbons and the first place entry will receive a medal. The top three entries in each category will move on to the Howard County Reflections Contest; the top three Howard County entries will move on to the Maryland State Reflections Contest, and State winners in each category will compete in the National PTA Reflections Contest.
EVERY artwork will be celebrated!
QUESTIONS?
Contact Risa Carlson, Reflections Chair
Atholton High School Homecoming Parade
Atholton High School is our largest feeder high school. We have been invited to have our Cougars (future Raiders) participate in Atholton's Homecoming parade on Saturday, October 30 at 11:00 a.m.
If you child is interested in participating in the parade, please complete this form below. Please complete an entry for each child interested.
If there is good interest, we will accept the invitation to participate in the parade. You will be notified Monday, October 25 at noon. More details will follow at that time.
This survey closes on 10/25 at 9:30 a.m.
*Parents must accompany children at the start of the parade route, as a spectator along the route, and meet the group at the end of the parade.
PTA MOD Pizza Restaurant Day
Mod Pizza 10/25/21 10:30 am - 10:30 pm; mention at the register or use our promo code (GR204555C) on their official website. RSVP here: https://www.groupraise.com/events/204555
Monday, Oct 25, 2021, 10:30 AM
MOD Pizza, Town Center Avenue, Columbia, MD, USA
School Rainbow Representatives
Rainbow Representatives ensure that schools are allies and advocates for LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and families. The school Rainbow Representative attends quarterly meetings; receives and disseminates information regarding LGBTQIA+ topics of interest to the school and school community as appropriate; and provides instructional support for educators. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact one of our Clemens Crossing Rainbow Representatives:
- Jenn Aballo: jennifer_aballo@hcpss.org
- Evanna Dehan: evanna_dehan@hcpss.org
Planning for Vaccinations for Eligible 5-11 Year-Olds
This message was sent to families directly this past week in case you missed it.
In anticipation of upcoming COVID-19 vaccination opportunities for children ages 5-11,
HCPSS and the Howard County Health Department ask that families of eligible students complete a brief vaccination interest survey by Friday, October 22. This is for informational and planning purposes only; it is not a commitment or a guarantee of vaccination availability.
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
First Annual PTA Trunk or Treat & Fall Festival Friday, October 29th, 5:00-7:00 PM @ CCES
Friday, Oct 29, 2021, 05:00 PM
Clemens Crossing Elementary School, Quarterstaff Road, Columbia, MD, USA
Trunk or Treat & Fall Festival Information
Come one, come all for some family fun this Fall!! Wear your costume and participate in any or all the events below. The Fall Festival is free, but Cougar Pumpkin Raffle tickets will be available for purchase ($0.25/each or 5 for $1.00). If you can help in any way, please sign up here. If you plan to attend, just show up – no sign-up required!
5:00 – 5:45: FALL FUN
- Eat (Bring your own dinner or eat before you arrive)
- Dance in the Monster Mash
- Create free Kidz Art crafts under the tent
- Pose for a smile in front of the photo wall
- Get your ghoul game on near the blacktop
- Enter the Cougar Pumpkin Raffle for the chance to win a special pumpkin decorated by CCES staff/grade levels! (Kids will have already voted for their favorites in school the week before the Fall Festival!)
5:45 – LINE UP ON BLACKTOP FOR COSTUME PARADE
6:00-7:00 – COSTUME PARADE & TRUNK OR TREAT
- Parade will begin on the Blacktop, move past the playground, wind onto the field, and will end near the entrance to the parking lot.
- Parade is for CCES students/siblings & staff (and their kids) only. All other family members are asked to watch.
- Kids will reunite with their families at the end of the parade for Trunk or Treating!
- Games, Crafts, Music, etc. will still be open
- Cougar Pumpkin Raffle winners will be announced at 6:50 PM!
TRUNK OR TREAT DETAILS
- All children can participate in Trunk or Treating, regardless of whether their family is bringing a decorated vehicle
- Children should bring their own bags or buckets to hold treats.
- For those bringing a decorated vehicle…
- Arrive in the parking lot no later than 5:20 PM. Overflow trunk or treating will occur in the bus loop, but the parking lot will be filled first. Only decorated cars will be allowed to park in these areas.
- Please supply your own candy or some other treat to hand out (non-edible items such as stickers, pencils, small toys, etc. are also fun!)
- PTA will supplement your treats with donations from families attending the event, but not bringing a decorated vehicle.
- Make sure an adult is stationed at your vehicle to hand out your treats
- For those not bringing a decorated vehicle, but still trunk or treating…
- You may not park on campus. Instead, please park at the Clemens Crossing Pool, or on Quarterstaff Road/surrounding neighborhoods.
- Please consider donating a bag of treats to help the cars that are participating! A bin will be available near the parking lot to drop off your donation. Extra treats will be distributed amongst cars participating in Trunk or Treat.
Label Your Child’s Items
This is a reminder to make sure items such as lunch boxes, jackets, and water bottles are labeled with your child’s first and last name. This will help us get items back to your child if they misplace them at school.
We do have a Lost and Found bin for your student to check which is located at the end of the Music Room Hallway. But items without names will be donated to a local charity after a month or two in the lost and found.
5th Grade School Leaders Food Drive
The 5th Grade School Leaders group researched various organizations and decided to support the Community Action Council of Howard County.
During the week of October 25th, we are asking for donations to support this organization. Please see the flyer below for a list of items. Each grade level will have a box in their pod that will be the drop-off location for the donations.
On behalf of the 5th Grade School Leaders group, we thank you for your donations!
Thankful Thursdays
Thankful Thursdays
The PTA would like your help saying “Thank You” to our teachers and staff by signing up to provide snacks on Thursdays for the months of October and November. Use the Sign-up Genius below to be 1 of 5 volunteers per week to send in a snack big enough for about 15 people. It could be salty or sweet, but store-bought/pre-packaged items only at this time, please. You or your child can drop it off in the main office on Thursday or earlier in the week. Don’t have time but still want to participate? Donate money to our PTA PayPal account and we will pick something up for you! (Indicate using Sign-up Genius what week the donation is for and write “PayPal” in the comments.) Questions? Email Rachael Kelly at rachael.christine@gmail.com
SchoolStore.com Update
Thank you to all the families that have signed-up for our SchoolStore.com Fundraiser!
To date we have already earned $1,529.02!!! These funds will come directly to our school and will be used for needed materials, supplies, and support student activities. Please note that this fundraiser goes through the end of the school year. Your help is truly appreciated!
SchoolStore.com Fundraising
Our school will be participating in the School Store fundraising program this year. This online program helps our school earn cash without students selling door-to-door, collecting money or delivering products. Over 400 merchants, including Sears, Target and WalMart.com, have joined together to offer up to 50% of sales to our school for shopping through SchoolStore.com.
To shop and support our school, simply go to www.schoolstore.com and select our school (151709).
Participation is key in helping get the word out about our School Store. Soon your child will come home with a parent letter requesting you to help them enter email addresses to friends and family. When you enter just 3 email addresses you'll receive a prize code your child can return the next day for a prize.
Thank you for your support!
Reporting Absences
Absence Notes
All students are required to have a note explaining why they were absent. Please send an email to your child's teacher as well as ccesabsence@hcpss.org.
Community News and Programs
Please click the Community News and Program button link below to access a wide range of programs based in our area.
Programs on the HCPSS website are grouped in the following way:
- Academic Enrichment
- Afterschool and Camps
- Arts & Music
- Child Care
- Culture/Diversity
- Environment/Nature
- Health
- Sports/Recreation
- Tutoring/Mentoring
- Volunteering
- Other
The website lists the activity or event, the organization's sponsor, and the ages that the activity or event is geared to serve.
This link will remain in our Cougar Comments newsletter throughout the school year. Programs and events expire and are added regularly. Feel free to check it regularly to learn about area programs and events.