Centennial Lane Elementary:

Centennial Lane Elementary School

Mrs. Debra Anoff, Principal

Mrs. Siobhan Drumgoole, Assistant Principal

3825 Centennial Lane

Ellicott City, MD 21042

(410) 313-2800

(410) 313-2804 - Fax

(410) 313-1710 (Health Room)

Student Hours: 8:45a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

cles.hcpss.org

We are approaching the midpoint of the first quarter, which is a great time to review your child’s progress in Canvas and set goals for the remainder of the quarter. Please remember that our school does not issue interim reports, so it is very important to regularly check Canvas for up-to-date information on assignments, grades, and teacher feedback.

Instructions for accessing grades in Canvas are listed below. Please note that some assignments are still in progress.

Regularly Monitoring Your Child's Progress

The purpose of grading and reporting is to provide timely, meaningful feedback to students and their parents/guardians. Instead of interims, parents/guardians are encouraged to regularly monitor progress via the gradebook in HCPSS Connect.

Parents/guardians can use the directions below to access current course assignment scores and grade averages.

Accessing Progress Grades in Canvas

To access grades in Canvas:

1. Log in to HCPSS Connect with the email address you provided in Family File.

2. Select the Canvas (Gradebook) tab on the left side of the screen and select the Canvas link in the middle of the page.

3. In Canvas, navigate to the Grade Overview page by selecting the Grades icon on the dark grey navigation bar or select the View Grades button at the bottom of the Coming Up/To Do list on the right side of the screen. The Grade Overview page will show the current averages for each of your middle or high school children’s courses.

4. Select a course name to view the individual assignment scores for that course.

Grades can also be viewed in the Canvas Parent mobile app for iOS or Android. See the guide linked below for more information.

Any questions regarding assignment scores or current course averages should be directed to that course teacher.

Additional Resources:

I need to reset my password

HCPSS Connect Orientation (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4wmGcTUNDo&feature=youtu.be

Connect Orientation - Canvas Overview only (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4wmGcTUNDo&feature=youtu.be&t=361

Canvas Orientation (scroll down to Parent Features)

Parent Mobile App Guide

Mrs. Debra A. Anoff, Principal

Mrs. Siobhan Drumgoole, Assistant Principal

October

• 7-PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
• 8- PTA Restaurant Night (Soft Stuff)
• 13 & 14 Fall Individual Picture Day-more information coming soon
• 14- CLES Music/Boosters Restaurant Night at Chin Xi’an Style Restaurant, Princess Plaza
• 17 - Professional Work Day, schools closed for students
• 20- Diwali, schools & offices closed
• 29 -PTA Trunk or Treat Family Heritage Event at CHS(6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
• 29 - PTA Restaurant Night (Ledo's)
• 31 - Professional Work Day, schools close 3 hours early (12:15 p.m.)

November

• 4- PTA Meeting TBD
• 12-Picture Retakes and Pictures for new or absent students
• 12-Professional Learning/Wellness Day, schools close 3 hours early (12:15 p.m.)
• 13-PTA Math Night (Mathnasium of Ellicott City)
• 17-21-American Education Week
• 18- 2nd grade FT to Maryland Science Center-more information coming soon.
• 19 & 20- 3rd grade FT to BMI-more information coming soon.
• 24 & 25- Parent/Teacher Conferences-schools close 3 hours earl7 (12:15 p.m.)
• 26-Parent/Teachers Conferences-schools closed for students
• 27 & 28- Thanksgiving Break-schools and offices closed.

For another language, click "Translate Newsletter" tab and select the language of choice at the top of this page.

Spanish

Para otros idiomas, haga clic en Traducir Newsletter y elija el idioma que prefiera.

Korean

다른 언어의 경우 뉴스 레터 번역을 클릭하고 원하는 언어를 선택합니다.

Chinese

对于其他语言，请单击翻译新闻通讯，然后选择所需的语言。

Urdu

دوسری زبانوں کے لئے ، نیوزلیٹر کا ترجمہ کریں پر کلک کریں اور اپنی پسند کی زبان کا انتخاب کریں۔

There will be no printed 2025-2026 calendars. Staff, students, and families may add our online calendar to their own mobile/online calendar by

1. Going to https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/
2. Scrolling down to Subscribing to a Calendar
3. Right-clicking on the calendar you wish to subscribe to
4. Selecting Copy Link Location/Address/Shortcut
5. Adding to your calendar of choice (See your calendar for specifics on adding a new calendar)

You also may view and/or download printable PDFs of the full calendar and/or important dates only. Updates to the PDFs will be noted on the HCPSS calendar page.

PLEASE NOTE! The calendar is subject to change. The online calendar reflects the most recent version.

Calendars in Spanish, Chinese, and Korean

西班牙语日历

스페인어로 된 달력

Lifetouch will be at CLES on October 13th and 14th to takeFall individual student portraits and the yearbook.

Your child’s teacher will notify you of the specific day your student’s photo will be taken as we get closer to Picture Day.

Order forms will be sent home on Wednesday, October 8th for families to review and select the portrait package that best fits your needs.

📅 You have two ways to order:

• Send the completed order form with your child on Picture Day

• Order online anytime before October 13th at www.mylifetouch.com
  ➡️ Use Picture Day ID: EVT4M386G

Support CLES!
A portion of every portrait package sold goes back to our school. Thank you for your support!

National Custodial Day was October 2nd!

This day serves to acknowledge and show appreciation for the hard work of custodians and custodial staff who keep schools, offices, and other facilities clean, safe, and well-maintained, often behind the scenes.

Thank you to Mr. Howard, Mr. Barnes, and Ms. Reed!

Join our team as a Lunch & Recess Monitor — help create a safe, fun, and caring environment for students each day!

🕒 Hours: 10:15 a.m.–2:15 p.m., Monday–Friday (when school is open)
💵 Pay: $16 per hour
📍 Location: Centennial Lane Elementary School

If you’re dependable, enjoy working with kids, and want to make a difference, we’d love to have you!

Contact: Siobhan Drumgoole
✉️ Siobhan_drumgoole@hcpss.org | 📞 410-313-2800

Due to extenuating circumstances, HCPSS will not offer in-school seasonal flu or COVID vaccination clinics this year. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their child’s pediatrician for vaccination information, or consider accessing vaccinations from local pharmacies, urgent care centers, retail stores, etc. Additionally, the Howard County Health Department will offer free flu shots at various community events this fall.

The snapshot includes a link to school system partners including each school’s partners, as well as system wide, curricular, and program office partnerships. The Snapshot highlights the essential role our partners play in ensuring every student has the tools to succeed beyond graduation.

Fourth and 5th Grade students brought home paper copies of their Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) Assessment Reports last week on Friday, September 26th. These reports identify how your child scored on this assessment for the 2024-2025 school year. There are two reports; one for English Language Arts/Literacy and one for Mathematics. If you have any questions please reach out to Mrs. Drumgoole at siobhan_drumgoole@hcpss.org.

The Howard County Literacy Association invites students in grades 1-5 to submit their original poems and/or short stories to the annual writing contest called The Young Authors' Contest. Please see the attached Young Authors’ Contest Guidelines PDF for information about the rules and guidelines.

All entries must have a completed YAC Cover Sheet sent as a PDF. Submissions may be emailed to jaimie_shirokobrod@hcpss.org by December 15, 2025. Contact Jaimie Shirokobrod with any questions.

Please save and email documents in the following format:

5 SS My Story Title or 3 P My Poem Title

(student names should ONLY appear on the Cover Sheet)

*SS- short story *P- poem

All Young Authors’ Contest information can be found on the HCLA website.

Howard County Literacy Association welcomes parents as members. Visit the HCLA Welcome Page for information about joining.

Get ready to show off your CLES Music pride! Spirit wear sales kick off next week with our brand-new t-shirt design and a few exciting new items. Details will be sent to Band, Orchestra, and Chorus families—look out for a flyer and messages from your director.

Tuesday, October 14 – Chin Xi’an Style Restaurant, Princess Plaza
Support our young musicians while enjoying a great meal! Mention Centennial Lane ES Music Boosters when ordering, and 15% of your purchase will be donated to support our Band, Orchestra, and Chorus programs. Whether your student is currently in a performing ensemble or planning to join, this is a wonderful way to give back. More details coming soon!

Volunteers coming to CLES or chaperoning a field trip are required to complete two training sessions. Please follow the steps below to complete and submit the training certificates.

Step 1: Complete the required Confidentiality Training for volunteers & chaperones.

https://www.hcpss.org/parents/volunteer-information/

Step 2: Complete the Confidentiality Training Certificate to verify you completed the training. https://www.hcpss.org/f/parents/volunteer-confidentiality-certificate.pdf

Step 3: Review the Training Powerpoint about How to Report Child Abuse

MD State Law & HCPSS Policy 1030 (PDF)

• Reporting Form

• Reporting Procedure (PDF)

Step 4: Complete the Abuse Training Certificate to verify you completed the training. Abuse Training Certificate (PDF)

Step 5: Complete and submit this Volunteer & Chaperone Google form below to submit your certificates: https://forms.gle/EJwVvp2sqq4isZS98

Students whose families do not qualify for free or reduced lunch will be required to pay the daily meal price. Many HCPSS families are eligible to participate in the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program, which provides children with a wide range of benefits including free or discounted college tuition, testing and application fees, academic and athletic program fees, and many others in addition to free or discounted meals. Families are urged to check their eligibility and complete a FARMs application as soon as possible. Families must submit a new application every school year. Details on the Free and Reduced Meals program, including a link to apply, are available online.

Parents can email CLESabsence@hcpss.org to report a student’s absence. Please include your child(ren)’s full name, parent’s/guardian’s full name and phone number, the date your child(ren) was absent and the reason. Parents may instead choose to send in a paper excuse note to their child’s teacher with the same information when the student returns to school.

For families requesting local discretionary absences, please complete a Local Discretionary Absence Request Form and submit it to the front office at least one week in advance.

CLES Staff Coffee Bar

As the new school year starts, we are restocking our coffee bar for all of the amazing CLES staff. Last year the coffee bar was a simple pleasure for staff and they were so grateful for your contributions. Everyone enjoys a little pick-me-up throughout their day!

We appreciate any donations you are willing to provide for the CLES Staff Coffee, Tea, and Beverage bar.

Click on the link below to view the Amazon wish list:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1T3AJH1CKVMWR?ref_=wl_share

(Please ship all items directly to: 3825 Centennial Lane Ellicott City, MD 21042 to the attention of ATTN: CLES Coffee Bar or drop them off in the front corridor.)

Second PTA Meeting (PTA Members Only)

Tuesday 10/7 at 6:30pm at CLES (blacktop/picnic tables)

Bring your kids to play on the playground and come prepared with ideas and feedback for our PTA events this year! Any early ideas or comments for our meeting, please email us at Questions@clespta.org.

Restaurant Night - Soft Stuff (Balt Natl Pike)

Wednesday 10/8

Say a farewell to summer with sweet treats from Soft Stuff!

Restaurant Night - Ledo’s (Balt Natl Pike)

Wednesday 10/29

It’s a PTA Pizza Party! Hit the easy button for dinner with Ledo’s pizza for the whole family before you head over to the Trunk or Treat Heritage Event at CHS (a joint event with CLES and CHS)!

Trunk or Treat Heritage Event

Wednesday 10/29 at CHS

Come join us for an amazing family event! This year we are joining forces with CHS: 2 great events, all combined in one amazing day! CHS will have fun indoor activities like they had last year and CLES will host our trunk or treat like we have in the past except it will be in the parking lot of CHS! Email social@clespta.org to get involved. Stay tuned for more info and for ways to volunteer!

The Importance of Being a PTA Member

Joining the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to support our school community. PTA members help strengthen the connection between home and school, ensuring that families have a voice in decisions that impact students. Membership directly supports programs, events, and resources that enrich the learning experience for every child. Whether you attend meetings, volunteer, or simply join to show support, your membership makes a difference—it demonstrates a shared commitment to student success and a thriving school community. We are hoping to have over 80% of our school community in our PTA this year, so please join today!

As a friendly reminder.... Membership must be renewed every school year!

Help Needed:

THANK YOU to those of you who have reached out - we have filled a few critical positions!! We still have leadership roles open including: DEI, Community Outreach, Reflections, and more! We are STILL at risk of cancelling events that we have hosted in the past. Reach out if interested in learning more about these roles or any others: Questions@clespta.org

The PTA Website is linked HERE.

In alignment w/ Policy 10010, the following announcements have been approved by the Public Information Office for distribution.

The below community notices are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the HCPSS.