Clemens Crossing Cougar Comments

Jaime Gittleson - Assistant Principal

Website: cces.hcpss.org
Location: 10320 Quarterstaff Road, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: (410) 313-6866
Facebook: facebook.com/ClemensCrossingElementary
Twitter: @hcpss_cces

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۔

November

• 17-21 - American Education Week
• 19 - PTA Restaurant Night at Ledo Pizza (Clarksville)
• 20 - Parent/Teacher Conference Scheduling Window Closes
• 24 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early, 12:55 p.m. - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 25 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early, 12:55 p.m. - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 26 - Schools Closed for Students - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 27 & 28 - Schools and Offices Closed, Thanksgiving

December

• 2, 3, 4 - PTA Holiday Shop, 4:15-7:00pm
• 8 - Be a HERO for inclusion! Dress up as someone you look up to or a superhero you admire.
• 9 - Exercise your right to be different! Wear athletic wear.
• 10 - Acceptance Day! Wear a shirt with an inclusive/kind message.
• 10 - Annie Jr. Play, 6:30
• 11 - We are UNIQUE! Dress to show what makes you unique.
• 11 - PTA Restaurant Night @ Red Robin
• 12 - Unity Day! We are all INCLUDED in the CCES community! Let's wear our CCES gear!
• 22 - Sweater Day - Wear your ugliest, most interesting, or favorite sweater
• 23 - Pajama Day - Wear your coziest pajamas
• Dec. 24 - Jan. 2 - Winter Break

To subscribe to the CCES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system use the calendar ID sqspkjkbr6v6arss44js3n21eg@group.calendar.google.com.

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

1. Go to https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/
2. Scroll down to Subscribe to a Calendar
3. Right-click on the calendar you wish to subscribe to
4. Select Copy Link Location/Address/Shortcut
5. Add 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

Dear Families,

National American Education Week, during which we celebrate our school community and our continued dedication to excellence in education, is held this year from Monday, 11/17/25, through Friday, 11/21/25.

Our designated visit day is Monday, November 17. We encourage you to visit on this day and remain for an hour or less. This helps limit the disruptions to learning. If you need to visit on another day that week, please email your child’s teacher so he/she knows to expect you and can confirm it is a good time to visit the classroom. Thank you!!!

IMPORTANT: Tips to remember when visiting during American Education Week:​​​​​​​

• For safety purposes, please report to the Front Office with your driver’s license to sign-in and wear your visitor sticker for the duration of your visit. Guests will only be authorized to enter and exit through the front doors.

• You will be asked to fill out the visitor/volunteer forms when you sign-in to ensure confidentiality if you have not already done so this year.

• Parking will be tight. Please do not block the road and entrance in and out of our school. Please consider walking to help with parking concerns, or carpool with a neighbor/friend when visiting. Parking in the bus loop will only be authorized between 9:45AM and 3:00PM.

• Please silence electronic devices. If you need to make a call, please do so outside of the building.

• Please remember not to take any pictures of any other child than your own due to the privacy and confidentiality of all our students. This includes students present in the background of the photo.

• Participation in American Education Week is for ADULTS ONLY. Unfortunately, due to classroom and safety regulations, we are unable to accommodate siblings or other children in the building. This includes infant siblings.

• If you are visiting for lunch, please remember that we must ensure that all of our students can sit comfortably, so guests might need to stand. Visitors are not authorized on the playground during recess.

Once your visit is over, please exit through the main entrance only.

Thank you!

Michelle Leader, Principal

Jaime Gittleson, Assistant Principal

We are collecting gift cards to support some of our families in need this holiday season. If you would like to contribute, please bring gift cards to the front office. (Do NOT send then in with your child.) There will be a donation box available during American Education Week or on the first day of parent conferences. Please select gift cards from the following stores in $25 increments:

~Safeway

~Giant

~Target

~Walmart

If you are a family in need of support, or have any questions, please contact Ann Rogers: ann_rogers@hcpss.org

Thank you for your generosity!

Families that have been affected by the federal government shutdown and who would not ordinarily qualify for the Pre-K program could now be eligible due to their current loss of income. Howard County families who have lost pay due to the shutdown, even those families who have previously applied and did not meet Tier I eligibility, may apply. If your family qualifies, the Pre-K program would be offered at no cost to your family for the remainder of the school year. Please submit a completed application and the required income documentation to: hcpss_pk@hcpss.org. Application submissions must include the required income documentation in order for our office to determine eligibility. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Early Childhood Program by email at hcpss_pk@hcpss.org or by phone at 410-313-6836.

The Howard High School Food Pantry will be open this month due to the Government Shut down and while folks are waiting on SNAP Benefits. There will be signs directing all guests to the pick-up area.

Follow these directions to access your students’ Fall MAP score reports.

Each year, families update/complete their child's Family File with all emergency information. Please be sure to update your information when anything changes. We appreciate your assistance!

https://www.hcpss.org/connect/

Quick Reference Guide

The HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Those eligible for Free and Reduced Meals receive both breakfast and lunch for free.

Parents/guardians must submit a new application every school year to maintain their student’s eligibility. Click the button below to apply.

Please do not send medication to school with your child. If you plan to keep prescription or over-the-counter medication in the Health Room this school year, an adult must bring it to the Health Room with the HCPSS medication form signed by a health care provider.

If your child will be attending school with a brace, sling, crutches, or cast, or needs to be excused from P.E. for more than three days, please provide a doctor's note to the School Nurse, at jessica_schrumm@hcpss.org.

Thank you!

The Health Department will not be administering the flu shot at schools this year. Below is a list of other opportunities for getting the flu shot.

Sat. Nov. 15

Sun. Nov. 16

Walk-ups are accepted at all Health Department flu clinic events. No pre-registration is required. Additional dates for walk-up flu vaccination at the Health Department will be announced later in the fall.

The Howard County Health Department will offer FREE flu shots at various community events this fall. Below please find more information about the flu vaccines available: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/health/seasonal-flu

• Many local healthcare providers and pharmacies also have flu and other fall respiratory vaccines available. Contact your preferred location directly for more information.

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 for information about the rules and guidelines. Stories and poems must be typed and saved as a Word Doc or Googledoc. All entries must have a completed YAC Cover Sheet sent as a PDF. Submissions may be emailed to Stephanie Pazornick, CCES Reading Specialist, at stephanie_pazornick@hcpss.org by December 1, 2025. Contact Stephanie Pazornick with any questions. 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.

Please note, any change of residency/address must be reported through Family File within 10 school days of the move. Current residency documentation must be provided to the school each time residency changes. Also, please call the office so we can assist you with navigating how your child might remain at CCES for the duration of the school year.

Parenting Classes: Free! On Zoom and open to parents, guardians and grandparents residing in HoCo or with school-age children/grandchildren residing in HoCo. Evidence-based, interactive prevention program that provides families with the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will use drugs and alcohol or engage in other dangerous behaviors. The curriculum was written for families with children 9-14 years old, but it is appropriate for K-12 families. Class dates: November 11, 13, 18, 20 and December 2 from Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. Visit HC DrugFree’s website for more information and register at https://tinyurl.com/GGC-Fall2025

Free Newsletter: Stay up to date with HC DrugFree's free events offering Community Service Hours to HoCo students, resources, and a variety of substance use and behavioral health information! Sign up for HC DrugFree's free digital newsletter: https://hcdrugfree.org/enews-signup/

The best and easiest way to support the PTA is through your membership dues. Remember, PTA membership is annual and must be renewed each year. Thank you for supporting our PTA by becoming a member today! bit.ly/ccesPTA

KidzArt is a FUN, art-enrichment program designed to enhance drawing skills and build each child’s confidence. By using our simple drawing method and specialized format, students will learn to focus, relax and think creatively. Within each session, students will explore a variety of artist grade materials, such as oil and chalk pastels, watercolor, clay, metal tooling, specialty papers and much more. Younger children practice following directions and using fine motor skills. Older children love having the creative freedom and guidance to further their skills. KidzArtists will bring home a new masterpiece each week with a kid-tested and educationally rich curriculum that NEVER REPEATS!

REGISTER HERE

Get ready to fall in love with READING! Our annual Read-A-Thon kicks off next week on Oct. 21. This annual initiative helps our students find joy in reading while also raising money for our school. Our primary goal is to get kids reading - on their own, with their family, with a sibling or even with a pet! All types of reading counts- reading to your student, having them read to you, or reading together as a family. This step-by-step guide includes details on how to register your student, track minutes, and collect donations. Be sure to track your student’s minutes read. The classes with the most minutes read will win a popcorn party!

Our PTA Holiday Shop is coming up the week following Thanksgiving!! This kid favorite generates huge excitement among our students each holiday season! It's a wonderful opportunity for kids (CCES students & their siblings) to shop for the holiday that's special to their family and choose gifts for their loved ones - for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or New Year - or just for fun!

We also need plenty of volunteers to help run the shop! Sign up here to help https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4AAEAD29ABFE3-60066444-cces

The Shop will run over 3 consecutive afternoons after school - Tuesday December 2nd to Thursday December 4th. Gifts will range in price from 50 cents to $20, with the vast majority of gifts costing less than $5 each. Don't forget we are collecting donations of new or like-new small gift items to supplement our inventory for this year’s holiday shop ✨⛄️🎁 So many of us have items lying around the house that our kids have lost interest in - but are still in perfect condition! What a great opportunity to clear stuff out of your house!! It could be kids' toys, activities, jewelry, or stuff for adults - really any item a child might like to give to a loved one for the holidays! Send items in (or drop them in) to the front office at school marked "holiday shop". If you are coming in-person to conferences on Monday 11/25, what a perfect opportunity to drop off items then!!

Alternatively, if you'd prefer to make a donation of new items to our Shop , check out our Amazon wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2STYDZSERJ55P?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_8leYpYgO6ag6H

Holiday Shop is fun for our kids and a fundraiser for our PTA - all profits go straight back into enrichments, events and activities for our wonderful CCES students!

The CCES Science Fair will be February 12, and it's time to start thinking about project ideas! Students in all grade levels can present a science investigation or an invention. Students in K-2 also have the option to present a collection. More details and sign-ups will be shared in December!

🎒 We’re officially BOOKED on baggers for Backpack Bundles through the rest of the year — wow!! 🙌 A massive THANK YOU to all the scout troops, sports teams, and incredible parent volunteers who showed up and made this initiative shine. Your support means the world! 💙 But the mission isn’t over. If you’ve been wanting to get involved, there’s still a way to make a big impact:

🛒 Shop our Amazon Wish List

💸 Make a monetary donation

🛒 You can support Backpack Bundles by dropping off shelf-stable food items in the school lobby! Each year, the need grows every donation helps us keep students nourished and ready to learn. 💙 Let’s keep the momentum going and continue supporting our school and community together!

💪 #BackpackBundles #CommunityStrong

Science Olympiad is coming to Clemens Crossing again! Available to Students in grades 3-5. They will be meeting on alternate Tuesdays Starting November 4. Competition is likely to be Saturday May 2.

Please fill it this form if your student is interested. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4mitPslQGhib-YrIGTpEv-pdq8iIMYL3KNUTOQnqXHdPLPw/viewform?usp=header

In Pack 618 we believe it's important to teach children to be caring citizens, but also to have fun doing it. We were lucky to have a presentation from the Howard County Police at our November Pack meeting this week, in which the kids learned personal safety tips and got to ask all the questions they've ever wanted to ask a police officer! We also collected food for Backpack Bundles and will soon have a "snowball fight" with socks - they'll be donated to Grassroots after a good washing. It's not too late to join: we welcome all children in Kindergarten - 5th grade. If this sounds like something you want your kid to be a part of, email us at Cubmaster@pack618md.com or visit our website at www.pack618md.com.