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

Welcoming students and families back to school is one of our greatest joys. It was delightful to see so many smiling faces as we kicked off the second week of school. Both students and families navigated arrival and dismissal procedures smoothly, setting a positive tone for the year ahead!

In these initial days and weeks, our teachers and staff are focused on getting to know one another, reviewing procedures and expectations, and fostering a strong sense of community and belonging. Students will be engaged in activities that promote collaboration, teamwork, mutual respect, and problem-solving, all while learning the expectations that contribute to a productive and respectful learning environment.

Mrs. Drumgoole and I have begun to conduct Town Halls with several grades to review our behavioral expectations and will continue with the remaining teams next week. We highlighted how our community and school values—Respectful, Always Safe, and Responsible—should be evident throughout the school day and in various areas of the building. We appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations with our students.

We value the trust you have placed in us and are eager to build a strong, collaborative relationship with our families. To further enhance our partnership, we are excited to invite you to our PTA Dolphin Dash and Movie Night on Friday, September 19th from 5:30 p.m. - 9:15 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Warmly,

Mrs. Anoff, Principal

Mrs. Drumgoole, Assistant Principal

September

• 9 - First PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m. (Open to Everyone)
• 10- Back to School Night G/T Orientation/Information Session 6:15-7:15 p.m.
• 17- Professional Work & Wellness Day, schools close 3 hours early (12:15 p.m.)
• 19 - PTA Dolphin Dash & Movie Night 5:30 p.m.
• 23-Rosh Hashanah, schools & offices closed

October

• 2 -Yom Kippur, schools & offices closed
• 7- PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
• 17 - Professional Work Day, schools closed for students
• 20- Diwali, schools & offices closed
• 29 - PTA Trunk or Treat Family Heritage Event
• 31 - Professional Work Day, schools close 3 hours early (12:15 p.m.)

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

Register here: Registration Link

Questions? Contact a music director:

• Band: Brandon Henley — brandon_henley@hcpss.org
• Orchestra: Sarah Lahan — sarah_lahan@hcpss.org
• 4th-Grade Chorus: Amelia Thomas — amelia_thomas@hcpss.org
• 5th-Grade Chorus: Seth Long — seth_long@hcpss.org

In accordance with Maryland’s Ready to Read Act (2019), COMAR (2021) and the direction from the Howard County Board of Education, all Howard County Public School System students in kindergarten to grade 5 will participate in the 2025 - 2026 administration of the Amplify mClass with DIBELS 8th Edition universal screener to identify potential reading difficulties during the following windows.

• Beginning of the year (BOY) - September 8, 2025 - September 22, 2025
• Middle of the year (MOY) - January 12, 2026 - January 30, 2026
• End of the year (EOY) - May 18, 2026 - June 2, 2026

Amplify mClass DIBELS 8th Edition has identified students for whom mClass is not an appropriate assessment. Students for whom this is true include those with limited verbal language skills, with fluency-based speech disorders or oral apraxia, and/or who are blind and/or deaf.

Please see below for screening areas measured in each grade. Students will complete the screener in four to twelve minutes and will be screened three times this year during the windows indicated above in the chart.

How will the results be used?

Performance is an indicator of overall reading status and is not intended to be an in-depth or comprehensive measure of reading. Just like using a thermometer to take a temperature, which provides a quick indicator of general health, these quick assessments provide information about reading health on particular early reading skills.

A student’s scores on the screener give school staff information about whether or not a student is on track for grade-level reading success. School staff can quickly identify students who may require extra help. Parents and guardians will receive a home report with their child’s scores.

Some information on this parent notification is taken directly from the Ready to Read Act and COMAR, while other content was summarized to reflect HCPSS procedures.

https://dibels.amplify.com/

COMAR 13A.03.08 - Students at Risk for Reading Difficulties

Ready to Read Act Senate Bill 734

This event is for parents of students in grades Kindergarten through 5th who would like to learn more about what opportunities the Howard County Elementary Gifted/Talented program provides to students at each of the grade levels.

At the presentation, Primary Talent Development Lessons, which are taught to all students in Kindergarten, First, and Second grade, will be discussed.

The Howard County Public Schools Elementary Gifted/Talented program provides opportunities for accelerated learners in Language Arts, content, and Mathematics. Our G/T programs are multi-faceted and are offered to students spanning several grades. Instructional Seminars are offered to all interested students in grades 3-5. The G/T Mathematics program is taught for qualifying students in fourth and fifth grade, while Curriculum Extension Units are provided to students in grades 3 – 5.

Please join us for a brief overview of the program and how these components work on September 10th at 6:15pm. We hope to see you there!

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

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe, engaging, and supportive school environment that fosters the social and emotional safety, dignity, and well-being of all students. HCPSS acknowledges the need for employees

1. to use an array of research-based positive behavior interventions, strategies, and a tiered system of supports to address student behaviors and keep students safe and free of harm

2. to minimize the practice of exclusion from the classroom environment

3. to minimize the use of physical restraint (which may only be used when necessary to protect a student or other person from imminent, serious, physical harm and only after other less intrusive, nonphysical interventions have failed or been determined inappropriate).

.

It is the expectation of the Board that HCPSS employees will be knowledgeable of and implement proactive positive behavior interventions in an effort to reduce the need for exclusion or physical restraint.

Additional information can be found at HCPSS Policy 9400 - Student Behavior Intervention. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

The online Student-Parent Handbook and the online/PDF Student Code of Conduct are updated for the 2025-2026 school year and available online.

All students who ride Zum buses (6 digit number) will use an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) card. This card allows families to track their child’s ride to and from school.

• Returning students in grades 1–5 who already have an RFID card from last year should bring and use the same card starting on the first day of school. Please secure the card to your child’s backpack.

• Kindergarten students and new students will receive their RFID cards within the first few weeks of school.

Download the Zum App

Download the Zum - Student Transportation App in the Google Play Store or Apple Store.

Safety at our bus stops is essential. For younger children (elementary and middle school students), HCPSS recommends that parents/guardians or another trusted adult wait at the bus stop with the students to supervise their behavior and to help with any problems that may arise, such as a delayed bus or injury while waiting. Both adults and students should stand at a safe distance from the roadway.

Please see the info here about parent/guardian expectations that support bus stop safety. Thank you!

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 CLES for the duration of the school year.

Please assist us by completing your Family File ASAP.

• Parents/guardians must verify and/or update emergency information for each child every school year. This is completed online in Family File, which has several new updates including how and where to access. Full details on updating your Family File are available online.

One exciting new feature is that families now can submit a change of address via Family File, rather than completing a separate form and sending it to their school. Full directions and information for families on this new process can be found online.

For the 2025-2026 school year, HCPSS will be using LINQ Connect for all things food and nutrition. LINQ Connect is a secure, online portal that allows families to make online payments to their child’s meal account, monitor their child’s account, schedule automatic recurring payments, set up low balance alerts, submit a Free and Reduced Meals program application, and more.

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.

This summer, the Board of Education agreed to continue with the policy that implements strict limitations on the personal use of devices by students during the student day. Per the policy, students may be in possession of personal devices, but they must be “away and silenced,” meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set to make no noise. Additionally, devices may not be a distraction. Smart watches will be permitted to be worn to check time but may not be a distraction. More information about the policy may be found on the HCPSS website.

New Date: Friday, Sept. 27, 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Location: Oakland Mills High School

This districtwide event is open to all HCPSS families and will feature:

• A session with 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 provided

For additional information, please visit the Family Academy Kickoff HCPSS News Post.

Flier: English | Spanish | Chinese | Korean

Any medications required during school hours including prescription, “over-the-counter” (OTC) and homeopathic/herbal medications require a medication order signed by an approved health care provider and are subject to the HCPSS medication policy and procedure.

Medication form

• Have a student with allergies? Learn more about ordering an epipen and our allergic reaction protocols.

School health room staff administer medications, store medications in the school’s health room and keep records of when medications are taken by the student.

Approved Non-Medications:

The items below are not considered medications. Students may bring the items to school without a medical prescription. Health Services requests that a parent/guardian note accompany the item to serve as permission to bring to school.

• Sunscreen
• Chapstick
• Hand lotion
• Non-medicated cough drops
• Saline contact solution

Sunscreen must be supplied by an individual student and is not to be shared with other students due to potential allergens and skin reactions.

Please contact the health room at 410 313-1710 if you have any questions.

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.

President - Karen Franchetti: president@clespta.org

1st VP - Karen Patel: 1stvp@clespta.org

2nd VP - Tanya Smith: 2ndvp@clespta.org

Treasurer - Mike Reed: treasurer@clespta.org

Secretary - Victoria Ahn: secretary@clespta.org

First PTA Meeting (open to everyone)

Tuesday 9/9 at 7pm at CLES.

Come learn more about the PTA!! Meet outside on the blacktop. Kids are welcome to come and play on the playground. (Backup plan to meet in cafeteria if the weather isn’t great).

Dolphin Dash AND Movie Night

Friday 9/19 at 5:30pm at CLES (outside on the field)

Dolphin Dash is a free family event with grade-level fun runs. Free ice cream, popsicles, and glow sticks with DJ music until dark. Like last year, we’re combining the Dolphin Dash with Movie Night. Stay after the race for a fun and free family movie on the blacktop.ee more info on our website: https://www.clespta.org/events-list/dolphin-dash

The Importance of Being a PTA Member

Joining the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to support our school community. PTA members help strengthen the connection between home and school, ensuring that families have a voice in decisions that impact students. Membership directly supports programs, events, and resources that enrich the learning experience for every child. Whether you attend meetings, volunteer, or simply join to show support, your membership makes a difference—it demonstrates a shared commitment to student success and a thriving school community. We are hoping to have over 80% of our school community in our PTA this year, so please join today!

As a friendly reminder.... Membership must be renewed every school year!

Help Needed:

The PTA has many leadership roles open - the most critical one is our communications director. We need this filled asap to help facilitate information to all of you! Reach out if interested in learning more about this role or any others: Questions@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.