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۔

October

• 24 - PTA Trunk-or-Treat, 5-7pm
• 31 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early - Professional Work Day, End of 1st Quarter

November

• 5 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 7 - Parent/Teacher Conference Scheduling Window Opens
• 10 - Q1 Report Cards Issued in HCPSS Connect
• 11 - Veterans Day - Wear Red, White, and Blue!
• 12 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early, 12:55 p.m. - Professional Learning / Work & Wellness Day
• 13 - School Picture Make-Up Day
• 13 - World Kindness Day - Hats off to Kindness! Wear your favorite hat or something with kind messages on it
• 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

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

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

Dear Families,

Our PTA has planned a wonderful Trunk-or-Treat for this evening! We hope to see everyone there!

Thank you!

Michelle Leader, Principal

Jaime Gittleson, Assistant Principal

Each year, families update/complete their child's Family File with all emergency information. Please complete this info ASAP so that we have this information prior to school starting. This is required EACH year. We currently have 83% of our forms completed!!!!! Let's get to 100%!!!!!! 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.

HCPSS is not offering flu or Covid vaccine clinics during school hours this year. Here is a list of other opportunities for the vaccines.

Health Services information can be found online and will be continually updated. All students, staff and visitors should perform daily health checks and may not enter an HCPSS bus or building if they exhibit any signs of a communicable disease. Details, including infection control protocols for communicable diseases like COVID-19, are available online.

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

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. 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.

Wed. Oct. 29

Sun. Nov. 2

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.

Registration opened this week for Battle of the Books. Registration closes on November 3rd or when we reach capacity. Please see the link below for more information and the registration links. If you have questions, feel free to email our Media Specialist, Anna Chou, at anna_chou@hcpss.org.

Battle of the Books Info

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.

This fall HCPSS is offering SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) parent groups for parents of HCPSS students experiencing anxiety. More info at the link below.

https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2025/09/hcpss-to-offer-training-program-for-parents-guardians-of-anxious-students/

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

Drive-Thru Medication Disposal: Saturday, October 25 in the Wilde Lake Village Center Parking Lot near the Swim Center from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Safely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medication, vitamins, pet meds, vape devices, inhalers, and more. Unlike previous events, we will not collect sharps (needles, syringes and EpiPens). Need student, adult, and medically-trained adult volunteers. Earn Community Service Hours! Giving away 100 medication lockboxes. For more information and to volunteer visit HC DrugFree's website: https://hcdrugfree.org/drug-take-back-day-1/

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

We are just one week away from our annual Trunk or Treat fall festival! This is a longstanding CCES community tradition and we can’t wait to celebrate with students and families. We still need many parent volunteers to make this a fun and safe event. Please consider signing up to help in one or more of the following ways.

• Volunteer – We need a few parent volunteers to help sell raffle tickets, serve as candy runners, and direct traffic at the start of the event to make sure kids stay safe. Please consider giving an hour of your time to help make this a fun and safe event for all!
• Host a trunk – Sign up at the link below to host a trunk! Be creative and decorate a trunk as a candy station during the event. Those “trunking” can arrive at 4:30 to set up.
• Please note, no other vehicles will be permitted in the parking lot. Please consider carpooling, walking, or street parking.
• Donate candy – We’ll need plenty of candy to replenish our “trunkers” during the event. There will be a bin near the playground/blacktop. Drop off a bag of candy when you arrive.

Sign up today! http://bit.ly/CCEStrunkortreat2025

For additional event details including a full event timeline, visit the PTA website: clemenscrossingpta.org

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!

🎒 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

Bring your family to enjoy an evening of Fall fun! Join the Harper’s Choice and Homewood Center Community Schools for FREE food (grilled burgers and vegetarian/gluten-free options will be available), performances, a DJ, face-painting, and more at HCMS! We hope you can join us for a GREAT evening of fun on Wednesday, October 29, at 5:30 p.m.

RSVP Here BY October 24 to reserve a ticket for Food & a chance to win a $25 Grocery Gift Card.

We hope you are looking forward to enjoying the long weekend and can spend time to outside in the lovely autumn weather. What we're looking forward to are our upcoming November events: our annual Rocket Launch, marching in the Veterans Day parade on 11/9 starting in the Merriweather District, and a campfire full of songs, skits, and jokes. 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.