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

AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK 2025

Together for Safe, Just & Equitable Schools

What is American Education Week?

During American Education Week, November 17—21, 2025, Americans nationwide will join the National Education Association (NEA) in raising awareness about the need to provide every child with a quality public education. The celebration highlights the importance of bringing together educators, parents, students, and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools. It also reflects NEA's vision of calling upon America to provide public school students with quality schools so that they can grow and achieve in the 21st century.

Invitation to Visit Your Child's Class During American Education Week

As part of the celebration, we provide parents and guardians with the opportunity to visit their child’s classroom during this week. Please see below for the designated days and times for each grade level's visitation day. If you cannot make it to visit on the particular day your child's grade level event is, you are welcome to visit your child's classroom any day during the week. Please refer to the CLES Master Schedule below to help you guide your visitation.

Pre-K: Wednesday, November 19th - 9:00 - 10:00

Kindergarten: Monday, November 17th -9:00 - 10:00

1st Grade: Tuesday, November 18th - 9:30 - 11:00

2nd Grade: Thursday, November 20th - 10:00 - 11:00

3rd Grade: Wednesday, November 19th -10:00 - 11:00

4th Grade: Tuesday, November 18th - 8:45 - 9:45

5th Grade: Thursday, November 20th - 12:00 - 1:00

What to Expect When You Arrive

When you visit, please be prepared to sign in at the sign in table in the foyer. We do not allow younger children or siblings in the classrooms when parents visit. Additionally, we ask visitors to refrain from using their phones in the classroom. Please put your phone on silent or vibrate. Unfortunately, due to privacy and confidentiality, we do not allow photographs! If you need to use your phone or device for any reason, please go to the front lobby or outside the building. For safety purposes and per HCPSS protocols, we do not permit visitors out at recess.

We look forward to our continued partnership in your child's education, and we are excited to see you in school during American Education Week.

Mrs. Debra Anoff, Principal

Mrs. Siobhan Drumgoole, Assistant Principal

November

• 2-20- PTA Gobble Gobble Give: Food Drive
• 7- Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling Window Opens to Everyone at 8:00 am
• 10-Report Cards Issued
• 11-CLES Veteran's Day Celebration 9:45 am- Information below
• 12-Picture Retakes and Pictures for new or absent students
• 12-Professional Learning/Wellness Day, schools close 3 hours early (12:15 p.m.)
• 12-PTA Restaurant Night (Yama Sushi)
• 13-PTA Math Night @ CLES (2 sessions: 6:15 pm and 7:15 pm-Pre-registration required!)
• 17-21-American Education Week
• 18- 2nd grade FT to Maryland Science Center-more information coming soon.
• 20-Parent Teacher Conference Schedule Window Closes at 4 pm
• 20-Gobble Gobble Give: Market Night (NEW Family Community Service Event!)6:30 pm @ CLES
• 24 & 25- Parent/Teacher Conferences-schools close 3 hours early (12:15 p.m.)
• 26-Parent/Teachers Conferences-schools closed for students
• 27 & 28- Thanksgiving Break-schools and offices closed

December

• 9- PTA Restaurant Night (Chipotle)
• 12- PTA Reflections final submission due
• 15- PTA Cookie Bar Donations due - CLES Staff
• 15-Band/Orchestra Concert @ CHS-more information coming soon
• 24-Winter Break-Schools closed, reopens January 5, 2026

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

Report cards will be issued on Monday. This is an excellent time to pause, reflect on your child’s progress during the first quarter, and set goals for the second quarter and beyond.

Please see the information below for details about report cards, including how to access them in Family File and how to interpret the information they provide.

The CLES PTA is once again excited to host the 2025-2026 Reflections Program. This year‘s theme is “I Belong: Explore the arts and express yourself!“ Submissions will be considered in the areas of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts! There is also an Accessible Artists Division!

To indicate your child's interest in participating, please complete this google form: https://forms.gle/eXiiWPZ5xGPUmNc59

Official entry forms will be sent by email in November to those who have indicated interest in participating. Official submissions are due December 12, 2025.

Also, if you have an idea for the 2027-2028 theme (due by 11/14), email reflections@clespta.org

More details to follow. For now, please review the attached general guidelines and rules for each category.

2025-2026 General Guidelines

Rules Sheet for the Six Categories

We are looking forward to celebrating the immense creativity within our community! Please see our pta website for more details:

https://www.clespta.org/reflections

We are thrilled to share our heartfelt appreciation to the Centennial Lane PTA for their generous donation of our new Electronic School Sign! Your kindness and continued support help make CLES such a special place for students, staff, and families. Your generosity is both appreciated and valued—thank you for all you do for our school community! 💙

Dear CLES Families,

As the holiday season approaches, we know this time of year can bring both joy and added stress. Our school community is committed to supporting one another, and we want to ensure that all families have what they need to enjoy the season.

If your family could use some extra support this holiday season—such as food, gift cards, or other essential items—please let us know by clicking here to complete this form.

We will do our best to assist as many families as possible, though resources may be limited. All information shared will remain confidential and will only be used to connect families with available support.

If you are interested in helping to support CLES families this year, please keep a lookout for more information on how to donate coming soon.

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance in any way.

CLES is very excited to invite and honor the veterans and active-duty service members of our CLES students to an assembly and breakfast on Tuesday, November 11th @ 9:45am. If you or a family member can attend with their CLES student, please RSVP using the link below by Friday, October 31st so that we can plan accordingly.

RSVP for CLES Assembly & Breakfast

If you have not yet sent us pictures of your veteran and/or active-duty service member from your family, please do so that we can share these in the hallways for all of our students to see and read about throughout the month of November. Please complete this link by Friday, October 24th so that the pictures can be printed and added to our wall together.

2025 Veterans Day Community Pictures

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Lawson at Carrie_Lawson@hcpss.org

Families can begin signing up for parent-teacher conferences on November 7th. Conferences will take place on November 24-November 26. For your planning purposes, please note the schedule below:

• In- person conferences will be held on Monday, Nov. 24th only
• Virtual conferences will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 25th and/or Wednesday, Nov. 26th only, depending on teachers' schedules

• Additional Information:
• Fall conferences will focus on ELA
• Mr. Pellegrino(GT) will hold math conferences for his 4th Grade GT Math class only. Math conferences for all other grades/teachers will be available in February.
• Related Arts teachers will have a limited number of conferences slots available as well as offering office hours.

To schedule your conference, please log in to HCPSS Connect to view and select your time slot:

1. Go to https://www.hcpss.org/connect/
2. Select “Conference” from the left menu.
3. Choose “Parent Scheduled Conferences” at the top right.
4. Pick a convenient time slot.

Click on link for step by step directions: https://www.hcpss.org/connect/guides/

If you have trouble accessing HCPSS Connect, please contact the front office for assistance. The scheduling window will remain open from Friday, November 7th, at 8am through Thursday, November 20th, at 4pm.

Lifetouch Pictures will be on campus Tuesday, November 12th to photograph:

• Students who were absent on the original picture day

• Students who registered after the original picture day

• Students who were photographed on the original day and would like a retake

If your student would like a retake, please make sure they return their original picture package or proof envelope to the photographer on retake day.

📘 Note: Any students photographed on retake day will have their original photo replaced with the retake photo.

The message below was shared to all of HCPSS, but we are reposting to ensure that folks who need the assistance know what is available:

As many Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) families are impacted by the federal government shutdown, we understand that many people in our community may experience financial hardship or uncertainty. HCPSS remains committed to supporting all students and families during this time.

Howard County families who have lost pay due to the shutdown may apply for the Free and Reduced-Priced Meals (FARMs) program and the HCPSS Food and Nutrition Office will determine their eligibility status within 24-48 hours. Families that would not ordinarily qualify for the FARMs program could be eligible for the remainder of the school year because of the current loss of income.

Families that are adversely impacted, including those who do not receive FARMs assistance, will have the remainder of the school year to pay off any meal balances incurred during the government shutdown.

Additionally, many students may be suffering fear or anxiety about their family’s current financial situation. Student Services staff at each school are prepared and available to assist students at any time during the school day. Numerous resources are also available for families on the HCPSS website, and other supports are available through the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services.

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.

PTA EVENTS SECTION

Gobble Gobble Give: FOOD DRIVE

November 2-20, Anytime

CLES

Support Centennial Lane Elementary Schools annual Gobble Gobble Give where we provide Thanksgiving meals for local families in need! Last year, the CLES community donated 20 meals! This year, help us meet our new goal of 30 Thanksgiving meals! ALSO, please consider joining us for food basket assembly on 11/20 - see below for more details!

Please use our sign up genius to help us keep track of donations (Gobble Gobble Give Sign Up Genius). After signing up, you can also visit our Walmart registry to easily purchase, but it is not required. (Gobble Gobble Walmart Wish List).

Food collections will be 11/2-11/20

Drop-Off Options:

1. By Mail:
   Attn: Gobble Gobble Give
   3825 Centennial Ln, Ellicott City, MD 21042

2. In-Person Drop-Off:
   Drop off Options

• Math Night (November 13)

• PTA Meeting (November 4th)

• School vestibule during regular school hours

• Send in the items with your child

For more info, https://www.clespta.org/events-list/ggg

We are so grateful for any donations to support this meaningful cause. However, we understand that this year is particularly difficult for many in our community. If your family is struggling, please reach out to guidance counselor Kevin Gillespie kevin_gillespie@hcpss.org

Yama Sushi Fundraiser

November 12, 2025, 11:00 AM 10:00 PM

Sushi 4725-G Dorsey Hall Drive Ellicott City, MD, 21042

Support a local restaurant and the CLES PTA by enjoying a meal at Yama Sushi. Part of your purchase goes directly to the PTA to fund our programs, like Dolphin Dash, Trunk or Treat, Winter Dance, Staff Appreciation events, Science Fair and so much more! Just mention CLES when you visit for lunch or dinner.

Math Night

November 13, 6:15 PM - 8:15 PM (2 separate sessions)

CLES Cafeteria

Math Night helps kids explore math at their own level through exciting games and activities!

Get ready for an evening full of hands-on games, puzzles, and math magic for the whole family. Whether you love counting, measuring, estimating, or problem-solving, there’s something for everyone—no calculators required!

NOTE: PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED to ensure you have a spot.

Please pre-register for one of two identical sessions: session 1 (6:15-7:10pm) or session 2 (7:15-8:10pm).

SIGN UP HERE

For more info, https://www.clespta.org/events-list/math-night

Gobble Gobble Give Market Night: MEAL PACKING EVENT

November 20, 2025
6:30-8:00 PM
CLES Cafeteria

ADVOCACY SECTION (Stay connected)

Howard County PTACHC (PTA Council of Howard County)

Support for Homewood and ARL: Thanksgiving meals. Deliver to Homewood by Nov. 20. Learn more here: Helping Homewood Families This Holiday Season

Legislative: ZRA-218: In regard to accessory dwelling units. This will affect residential zoning across the county, our budgets, and our schools. Learn more here: ZRA-218

APFO committee recommendations are still pending. Learn more here: APFO Report.

FARMS applications are still available for furloughed Federal workers.

HB1450 Revenue Options Task Force Call-to Action: Write to the council about reserving a minimum of 50% from PAYGO funds for schools. Supported by board members Ms. Mosley and Ms. McCoy and Councilwoman Jung. Learn more here: HB1450 Revenue Options Task Force. Council member information here: HoCo County Council Page.

More info: https://www.clespta.org/advocacy

Questions: contact our PTACHC chairs at ptachc@clespta.org

Howard County SECAC (Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee) Community Meeting

November 11, 2025, 6:30 pm

Patuxent Valley Middle School Cafeteria 9151 Vollmerhausen Road, Jessup, MD 20763

Guest speaker Guy Stephens’ presentation is titled Behavior is Biology: The Need for Trauma-Informed, Neuroscience-Aligned, Neurodiversity-Affirming, Relationship-Driven,and Collaborative Approaches. Register here.

More info: https://www.clespta.org/sped

Questions: contact our SECAC chair Shirley at SECAC@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.