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۔

December

• 6 - Spirit Day - Exercise your right to be different! Wear athletic wear!
• 10 - CCES Math Night from 6:00-7:30pm
• 11 - PTA Restaurant Night, Shake Shack, Columbia Mall
• 11 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 13 - Spirit Day - Sweater Day! Wear your ugliest/most interesting/favorite sweater!
• 19 - Winter Concert at Atholton HS, 6:30 p.m.
• 20 - Spirit Day - Pajama Day!
• 23 - Schools Closed for Winter Break December 23 through January 1

January

• 2 - School Reopens from Winter Break
• 3 - Spirit Day - Hats off to a New Year, wear your favorite hat
• 7 - Time to be Green Tuesday, wear green
• 8 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 18 - PTA Ice Skating, 10:00 a.m.
• 20 - Schools and Offices Closed, MLK Jr. Day
• 22 - WLMS Parent Orientation (Snow date Jan. 27)
• 23 - End of 2nd Marking Period
• 23 - 3 Hr. Early Dismissal, 12:55 p.m.
• 27 - Spirit Day - Great Kindness Challenge, Color Day
• 28 - Spirit Day - Mix and Match
• 28 - HCMS Parent Orientation (Snow date Jan. 30)
• 29 - Schools Closed for Students - Professional Work Day
• 30 - Spirit Day - Workout Day (to work out our problems) - wear workout clothes
• 31 - Spirit Day - Positive Word Day - wear a shirt with a positive message

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

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Dear Families,

Thank you to our parents and families who attended conferences last week. We truly appreciate your partnership!

In addition, as we are fully moving into cold weather season, we wanted to remind you that students will still be going outside for recess. Please make sure you send your child to school with warm clothes. All clothing needs to be labeled with your child's name to prevent it from being lost.

Below you will find HCPSS criteria we consider when having outdoor activities:

• Temperature and humidity
• Wind chill
• Heat index and air quality
• Age of students
• Length of time outdoors
• Adequacy of the children’s clothing
• Condition of the playground
• Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)
• Thunder and lightning

Generally, it is assumed that students will be outside for recess, physical education, or any other outdoor activity when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index reading is less than 95. We appreciate your help to ensure all our students stay healthy and safe!

Thank you!

Mrs. Leader, Principal

Mrs. Gittleson, Assistant Principal

We are hosting a parent and child Math Night on Tuesday, December 10 from 6:00-730pm. Come and enjoy a night full of math games that you and your child can engage in together to build their confidence and love for math. These games can also be easily replicated at home! There will be math supplies to take home and prizes to raffle off. Please see the flyer below and spread word!

Please use this link to RSVP.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScp9HYb8U_PETWcaTDiUmTwHrj96c3_5zws5JFIW_1az1vToA/viewform?usp=sf_link

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!

Exciting news! The Hour of Code is returning to CCES for its 10th year! While the official Hour of Code kicks off on Monday, December 9th, I’ve been preparing by introducing our students to a variety of coding activities throughout the 2nd quarter.

During technology classes from December 9th-13th, all students in grades K-5 will participate in engaging coding stations. These stations will include online tutorials and games, coding robots, and unplugged programming activities. Through these experiences, students will develop foundational computer programming skills, problem-solving strategies, algorithmic thinking, pattern recognition, and persistence.

Stay tuned for announcements on Canvas with more details about the Hour of Code and how students can explore coding activities at home!

Mrs. Gelinas

Technology Teacher

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. All entries must have a completed YAC Cover Sheet sent as a PDF. Submissions may be emailed to stephanie_pazornick@hcpss.org by December 20, 2024. Contact Stephanie Pazornick, CCES Reading Specialist, 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.

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.

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.

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, Talent Show, 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/

FREE 8-week program for parents and caregivers to support your child’s mental wellness, resiliency, and success in school!

• Learn new tools each week.
• Meet with parents to share ideas and support each other.
• For parents of children ages 5 to 18.
• In English, Spanish, and Amharic.

Classes in English, Spanish, and Amharic will be offered on select evenings starting the first week of February 2025. Click on the link below to register and choose your preferred meeting dates. We will send you an email or text to confirm your registration.

• Classes will meet 1 night a week for 8 weeks.
• Classes will meet online via Zoom, with a video presentation followed by a group discussion led by a PEP facilitator.
• Each participant who attends at least 5 sessions and the evaluation session (week 8) will receive a $50 gift card (limit one per family/household).
• Classes are limited to 25 participants each.

Click on this link to learn more and register: https://pep-frp.org/.