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

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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۔

August

• 17 - PTA Playdate for Incoming Kindergarteners - 2:00-3:00pm on the CCES Playground
• 19 - PTA Playdate for Incoming Kindergarteners - 5:30-6:30pm on the CCES Playground
• 22 - 10:00-10:45am - Open House - Kindergarten (Last Names A-L)
• 22 - 11:00-11:45am - Open House - Kindergarten (Last Names M-Z)
• 22 - 12:00-12:45pm - Open House - Grades 1 & 2
• 22 - 1:30-2:15pm - Open House - Grades 3, 4, & 5
• 25 - First Day of School

September

• 1 - Labor Day - Schools and Offices Closed
• 5 - PTA Back-to-School Picnic - 5:00-7:00pm on the CCES Playground/Blacktop
• 9 - 6:30-7:30pm - Back-to-School Night - Grades K, 1, & 2
• 10 - 6:30-7:00pm - Back-to-School Night - GT Info Session
• 11 - 6:00-7:00pm - Band/Strings Information Session
• 11 - 6:30-7:30pm - Back-to-School Night - Grades 3, 4, & 5
• 17 - School Dismisses at 12:55pm - Professional Learning/Work & Wellness Day
• 23 - Rosh Hashanah - Schools and Offices Closed
• 27 - HCPSS Family Academy Kickoff - 9:00 a.m. - noon, Oakland Mills HS

October

• 14 - CCES Lit Night - 5:45-7:30pm

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 2024-2025 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,

We hope everyone has been having a wonderful summer! We are so excited for the 2025-26 school year!!!!

We want to remind you that Open Houses are on Friday, August 22nd during the following times:

• 10:00-10:45am - Kindergarten (Last Names A-L)
• 11:00-11:45am - Kindergarten (Last Names M-Z)
  
• 12:00-12:45pm - Grades 1 & 2
  
• 1:30-2:15pm - Grades 3, 4, 5
  

Open House is a time for students to meet their teachers, meet their classmates, and to drop off school supplies.

We look forward to seeing parents/guardians on Back-to-School Nights:

• September 9 - Back-to-School Night - 6:30-7:30pm - Grades K, 1, 2
• September 10 - GT Info Session - 6:30-7:00pm
• September 11 - Band/Stings Info Session - 6:00-6:30pm
• September 11 - Back-to-School Night - 6:30-7:30pm - Grades 3, 4, 5

If you have any questions or need any help, please reach out to us. We look forward to a great partnership with you this year!

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 appreciate your assistance! Anyone who has it completed by Wednesday, August 20th will be able to access their child's teacher information later that day.

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.

The supply list for the 2025-26 school year can be found on the main page of our school's website.

We encourage you to drop off your school supplies during Open House on August 22. Please be sure to clearly label your child's supplies with his/her name.

Use the link below to learn more about CCES!

CCES Family Guide

Zum RFID Cards:

Again this year, students who are bus riders will use their Zum RFID Bus Cards to scan on and off the bus each day. Students who were at CCES last year should use their card from last year and attach it to their backpack again. It should be used starting the first day of school, Monday, August 25th. If your child's card was lost, we will note this at the start of the year and request a new one.

If your child is new to CCES, we will request a card for them at the start of the school year. All kindergarten students will begin using the cards later in the year. Communication will come out later with the start date for our kindergarteners.

Bus Locator Information:

The HCPSS Bus locator will be updated before school starts. Please be sure to check your child's bus stop location, bus time, and bus number as they may have changed from last year. Please be sure to arrive at your bus stop at least 5 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time.

https://www.hcpss.org/schools/transportation/

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) will host a Family Academy Kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9 a.m.-noon at Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Rd. The districtwide event is open to all HCPSS families and will feature:

• An informative session with HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes
• Resource tables hosted by HCPSS offices and local organizations
• Information on programs, resources, and services available throughout the school year

Childcare and language access will be provided.

Registration is encouraged via online form listed below.

• Register in English
• Inscripción al evento 2025
• 家庭学校 2025 年开学典礼注册
• 2025 HCPSS 가족 아카데미 출범 행사 등록
• Event Flyers

For more information about the event or to get involved, contact Dr. Shereé Tilley-Whitaker at sheree_tilley-whitaker@hcpss.org or 410-313-6804.

https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2025/07/hcpss-kickoff-to-build-on-school-family-community-relationships-aug-16-2025/

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.

Welcome back, families! We’re excited to kick off another great school year. The CCES PTA is here to support our students, staff, and families, and we look forward to partnering with you. Our first meeting is Sept 10 at 7pm in the Media Center. We hope you will join to share your ideas and learn about ways to get involved with PTA!

Mark your calendars for the upcoming PTA events:

- Kindergarten Playdates (for incoming kindergarten students and their families): Aug 17 2-3pm, Aug 19 5:30-6:30pm at the CCES playground

- CCES Back-to-School Picnic: Sept 5, 5-7pm at the CCES playground/blacktop

- 1st General PTA Meeting: Sept 10, 7-8pm in the CCES Media Room / on Zoom

Join here: https://clemens.givebacks.com/

The single most important thing you can do to support PTA this year is to join! Your $15 membership goes a long way to help us run programs like the Science Fair, International Night, Trunk or Treat, the Book Fair, Holiday Shop and so much more. Did you know that our PTA helps reduce the cost of school field trips through direct sponsorship? PTA also offers scholarships for students to participate in after school activities. All of these things and more are made possible through families and staff joining our PTA!

Our CCES PTA makes a big contribution to our school through family events, student enrichment and staff appreciation. Be part of it! Becoming a member does not obligate you to volunteer your time. There are many ways big and small to be involved in PTA throughout the year but if there is only ONE thing you're able to do for PTA , simply become a member and make a contribution to the excellence of our Clemens school community.

Join here: https://clemens.givebacks.com/