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

Dear Centennial Lane Elementary School Families,

As we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Month this April, we want to take a moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our incredible parent and family volunteers.

Your time, energy, and dedication make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and staff each and every day. Whether you have chaperoned field trips, supported students through reading and individual work, helped organize and run PTA events, cleaned out our Lost & Found, assisted with class events, or supported us in countless other ways, please know how deeply appreciated you are!

Centennial Lane Elementary simply could not be as successful without the strong partnerships we share with our families. Your involvement strengthens our school community, enriches student experiences, and helps create the positive, supportive environment we are so proud of.

Thank you for all that you do. You are truly valued, and we are so grateful for your continued support and partnership.

With appreciation and Dolphin Pride,

Debra A. Anoff, Principal

Siobhan Drumgoole, Assistant Principal

For a complete list of dates and events visit cles.hcpss.org/calendar

April

11- CANCELLED PTA International Festival
14-End of 3rd Quarter
15-3hr Early Dismissal-CLES dismisses at 12:10 pm UPDATED
21-CLES Miller Library Night-6pm
23-Take Your Child to Work Today!
23-PTA Science Fair Registrations due
24- -Report Cards Issued online @4pm
25- PTA Earth Day Garden Cleanup
28 & 29- Spring Portraits & Class Pictures-Schedule will be shared closer to picture day.
30- PTA Science Fair

May

5- PTA Meeting
6-Walk & Wheel Wednesday
6-Band and Orchestra Concert for Students
6-Spring Evening Band Concert 6:30 PM @CHS
7-Spring Evening Orchestra Concert 6:30 PM @ CHS
13-Chorus Concert for Students
14-CLES Field Day
15-Spring Choral Concert 6:30 PM @CHS
16-CLES PTA Spring Fair & Silent Auction
25-Memorial Day-Schools & Offices Closed
27-Eid al-Adha-Schools & Offices Closed

June

2-CLES Spring Showcase Concert 6:30 PM @ CHS - more info coming soon
3-CLES 5th gr. Music Department Pancake Breakfast- more info coming soon
3-PTA Walk & Wheel Wednesday
5-5th Gr. Simulated Congressional Hearing
8-UPDATED-Full Day of School
15-5th Gr. Promotion Ceremony-9:15 am more info coming soon
16-3 hr Early Dismissal-CLES Dismisses @ 12:15 pm
17- 3 hr Early Dismissal-CLES Dismisses @ 12:15 pm
18-Last Day of School 3 hr Early Dismissal-CLES Dismisses @ 12:15 pm
19-Juneteenth School Offices Closed
23-Primary Election Day-School Offices Closed

Newsletter Translation

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۔

HCPSS Calendars

There will be no printed 2025-2026 calendars. Staff, students, and families may add our online calendar to their own mobile/online calendar by

Going to https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/
Scrolling down to Subscribing to a Calendar
Right-clicking on the calendar you wish to subscribe to
Selecting Copy Link Location/Address/Shortcut
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

Calendario en español

西班牙语日历

스페인어로 된 달력

HCPSS Calendar

Congratulations to our students whose work was selected to represent CLES at the Mall Show! Thank you to Mr. Travers and Mr. Hopkins for their amazing support of our students!!! The art work our students produce is AMAZING!!! Stop by the Mall during the next month and check out our display!!!

Lifetouch will once again be visiting to take individual Spring Portraits and Class Pictures on April 28th and 29th.

Please see the schedule below for the day your student’s individual and class pictures will be taken. Order forms will be sent home soon. You can also place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTJMMF7K. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping.

Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only on mylifetouch.com.

Picture orders not only create wonderful memories, but a portion of each package purchased also goes directly back to support CLES!

You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTJMMF7K. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!
Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Tuesday, April 28. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only on mylifetouch.com.

Upcoming MCAP Testing Schedule at CES for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Students:

Centennial Lane students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will take the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) in both ELA and Math. The MCAP provides information to educators, parents, and the public on student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards. For more information, visit https://www.hcpss.org/academics/testing/mcap/.

The MCAP assessment window is Monday, April 6th - Friday, May 29th. Specific testing dates are listed below for each grade level. Please make every effort to have your child attend school on testing days and to refrain from scheduling any appointments during these times to minimize missing instruction due to make-up testing. There is no need to study for the MCAP. To prepare, have your child get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time. Thanks so much. We appreciate your partnership.

MCAP ELA

3rd Grade: April 21, 22, 24, 27

4th Grade: April 9, 10, 13, 14

5th Grade: April 13, 14, 16, 17

MCAP Math

3rd Grade: May 5, 6, 7, 8

4th Grade: April 27, 28, 30, May 1

5th Grade: April 28, 29, 30, May 4

Interested in accessing your child's MAP Report? HCPSS' Help Page will walk you through the steps. Any questions, please contact your child's classroom teacher or our Assistant Principal, Siobhan Drumgoole.

Join us for another CLES Student Night at the Miller Branch Library! Enjoy an evening of fun activities, stories, and special guest appearances.

When: Tuesday, April 21 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: Miller Branch Library
Who: All CLES students and families

Help CLES while doing your Spring Cleaning!

Drop your items in our yellow donation bins! Our donation box collects clothing, shoes, and textiles, and Centennial Lane earns money based on the total weight collected each month.

Please note: All donations must be bagged before being placed in the bin.

HC Drug Free is offering parenting classes for Free! Classes are virtual (on Zoom) and open to parents, guardians and grandparents residing in HoCo or with school-age children/grandchildren residing in HoCo. The classes are evidence-based, interactive prevention programs that provides families with the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will engage in other dangerous behaviors. Classes are appropriate for K-12 families.

Class dates: April 14, 15, 21, 22 (and April 28 will be optional) from Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Visit HC DrugFree’s website for more information and to register at https://tinyurl.com/GGCSpring2026Links to an external site.

A drive-thru medication disposal will take place on Saturday, April 25 in the Wilde Lake Village Center Parking Lot near the CA 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). HC Drug Free is in need of 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/Links to an external site..

The HCPSS Pre-K program is provided, per Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) regulations, to any child who meets first priority criteria (income eligible, homelessness, and foster care). This eligibility is based on information submitted on the HCPSS Pre-K Early Admission application and the supporting documentation that is provided.

The Pre-K application will be available online for families beginning Monday, March 9, at 9:00 am. The online application is the preferred method of submission. However, families may request a downloadable application by emailing hcpss_pk@hcpss.org.

For more information on Pre-K Eligibility and Requirements, please visit the HCPSS website Pre-K Registration page here.

Brainfuse HelpNow is now available 24/7 for all library users, expanding access beyond the previous 2 p.m.–midnight live tutoring hours. This means students and caregivers can connect with live online tutoring and academic support anytime that fits their schedule. Brainfuse HelpNow is available on the HCLS website, and video and written instructions on how to use the resource are available here. First-time users will need to create a username and password.

As a reminder, for the safety and security of our students and staff, all visitors must sign in at the Sign-In computer located in the front lobby using a government-issued photo ID. Please be sure to bring your ID with you whenever you visit. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and secure learning environment for everyone.

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 Executive Board

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

PTA Questions: Questions@clespta.org

PTA website: www.clespta.org

PTA EVENTS SECTION

PTA BMMS/CLES International Fest

Event Postponed until SY26-27

CLES PTA and BMMS PTA leadership have made the decision to cancel this year’s event due to the high number of vacant positions on the planning committee for this event. Please contact PTA leadership if you are interested in joining the planning committee for SY26-27, where we plan to host a combined CLES-BMMS International Festival in early 2027.

Science Fair Plus

RSVP required for everyone by 4/23!!! This includes children who will participate in the science fair AND/OR those who want to come for the STEM activities!

Thursday 4/30 6:15 - 8:00 pm

OPEN TO ALL - Science Fair project participants as well as any other CLES students interested in Science!!

This year’s Science Fair will be held on Thursday evening, April 30th at CLES from 6:15-8:00 p.m. In addition to student science project displays, there will also be a fun and interactive exhibit hall where kids can participate in hands-on STEM activities hosted by local community organizations (think: robotics, STEM learning, racecar track, environmental science, and more!).

START THINKING ABOUT YOUR PROJECTS!!! All participating students must register by the deadline of April 23rd. Students can participate individually, or in pairs or small groups. Full details, including the Science Fair Handbook, are found here: www.clespta.org/events-list/pta-science-fair

2026 Spring Fair

The 2026 CLES Spring Fair will be Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at CLES

Sponsorships:

We are actively seeking businesses, community organizations, families, groups, and individuals to support our biggest fundraiser of the year. If you are interested, or know a business interested in sponsoring the Spring Fair please fill out this form.

Item or Service Donations for Silent Auction: If sponsorship isn't for you, but you have a service or item to donate– like a piano lesson, tickets to a sporting event, or other special experience– please consider it for our silent auctions.Please contact us to arrange drop-off: silent.auction@clespta.org

Volunteer Positions on Planning Committee:

We still need to fill many volunteer positions on our planning committee in order to hold a successful Spring Fair, including:

Ticket Sales - Organizes ticket and wristband sales, pre-sales, and cash handling
Volunteer Coordinator - Organizes our army of day-of volunteers
Silent Auction on-site Lead - Organizes set up and coordinates day-of
We also need volunteers to support food, prizes, entertainment and more!
Please email spring.fair@clespta.org if you can help out!

Day-of-Fair Volunteer Shifts: Sign-up for a volunteer shift (adults & high school students are welcome to sign up for volunteer shirts at the fair - community service hours available!)

Questions? Email Spring Fair Co-Chairs Katy Long and Rica Liu: spring.fair@clespta.org

Spring Fair website: clespta.org/spring-fair

Little Dolphins Group for Incoming Kindergarten Families

We invite you to join the CLES Little Dolphins to help with the transition to CLES!

We help incoming kindergarten students and their families get to know one another. During the spring and summer of 2026, the CLES Little Dolphins group will host play dates, info sessions, and family activities.

HOW TO JOIN: Visit our website and fill out the survey: www.clespta.org/little-dolphins We will email you with little dolphin event dates and other important info. Direct link to survey.

Questions: little.dolphins@clespta.org

Crowd Managers Needed for Large PTA Events!

The CLES PTA needs trained Crowd Managers to support upcoming large PTA events (all you have to do is be present at the event). Please consider supporting our CLES PTA by becoming trained - especially if you already plan to attend an upcoming event (Science Fair April 30, Spring Fair May 16, etc.).

Training is FREE for HoCo residents if you get trained by HoCo Fire & Safety -- click here for upcoming training dates/times (2-hour class): https://www.howardcountymd.gov/.../crowd-manager-safety

Please email social@clespta.org if you are already trained, or willing to get trained, and can help out the PTA!

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ADVOCACY SECTION (Stay connected)

Howard County PTACHC (PTA Council of Howard County)

Budget:

Superintendent Barnes presented his budget request at the 1/8/2025 BoE meeting. Additional dates and public hearings are listed on our PTA advocacy page.

Effective Advocacy for Budget/School Funding:

Superintendent Barnes attended the 1/5/2026 PTACHC meeting. When asked how we can most effectively advocate for school funding, he recommended asking for dollars that we can use toward interventions and support in math and reading.

Write to council members and the executive. Follow up with phone calls.
Attend public hearings or write in testimony at BudgetTestimony@howardcountymd.gov.
Important dates can be found on our PTA advocacy page.
Email your state senators and delegates.

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

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

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Howard County SECAC (Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee)

SECAC is a parent-driven advisory council advocating for special education issues in HCPSS. It collaborates with community groups to enhance special education services and outcomes. All community members are welcome to attend the SECAC monthly meetings. SECAC also regularly appears before the Howard County Board of Education to ensure the voices of students with disabilities, their families, and educators are heard at the decision-making table.

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

Questions: contact our SECAC chair Shirley at SECAC@clespta.org

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PTA Committee Leads Needed

Communications (ongoing - newsletters, etc.)
Treasurer (needed ASAP)
Community Outreach (flexible commitment)
International Festival (for NEXT YEAR!)
Fundraising Chair (ongoing)
And more…just ask!

Without you, these events can’t happen. Reach out to learn more about these roles or any others: Questions@clespta.org

The PTA Website is linked HERE.

Join the CLES PTA

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.

HCPSS Community Programs

Centennial Lane Elementary: