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

cles.hcpss.org

What a fantastic start to the school year! We are so impressed with how quickly our students have settled in and embraced the school routines—it’s a testament to their resilience and readiness to learn.

It has been a joy to see so many friendly faces in the morning and afternoon. We would also like to warmly welcome our new families to the Centennial Lane community. We’re excited for all that this school year has in store and look forward to growing and learning together.

This year, we continue our commitment to fostering a school environment that is safe, warm, welcoming, and productive for all. Over the course of the next few weeks, Ms. Drumgoole and I will be meeting with all students to review our roles as administrators, and go over Centennial Lane Elementary’s expectations and policies in a kid-friendly way. We are truly excited to have face time with every student and to build strong, supportive connections from the very beginning.

As always, please remember that we are a team. We are here to support you as you navigate your child’s school experience and partner with us to ensure their success. Communication is key, and we encourage you to stay connected through our school newsletter, Dolphin Detail, which is sent out every other Friday. Be sure to read each issue carefully to stay informed about important updates, events, and happenings throughout the school.

We’re looking forward to a great year ahead!

Warmly,

Mrs. Anoff, Principal

Mrs. Drumgoole, Assistant Principal

September

• 1 - Labor Day, schools & offices closed
• 3 - Music Back-to-School Night
• 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
• 17 - Professional Work Day, schools closed for students
• 20- Diwali, schools & offices closed
• 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

As opportunities become available to volunteer, it is required that all volunteers complete a multi-step training prior to entering the school building. Certifications must be renewed each school year. Once the certificates of completion have been filed at school, they are valid for the remainder of the current school year.

• Child Abuse Training
• Review PowerPoint Slides
• Print and sign your certificate of completion

• Confidentiality Training Course
  • Review PowerPoint Slides
  • Print and sign your certificate of completion

Please join us for CLES Music Information Night:

Orchestra will meet in the Orchestra Room at 6:00 p.m.

Band will meet in the Cafeteria at 6:30 p.m.

Chorus and Music Booster information will be shared in both sessions.

Please visit our CLES Band website at www.clesbands.org

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!

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).

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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.

Please find our K-5 grade level supply list here for the 2025-2026 school year! Families may recycle and reuse your previous year's supplies when possible.

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.

Parents, Guardians, and Families,

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Preventing bullying is an important part of this goal. HCPSS Policy 9460 states that bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation are prohibited in HCPSS. Our administration and staff have been trained and made aware of this policy as well as preventative and responsive measures.

We know how important your role is in not only supporting your children, but also reporting possible incidents as you become aware of them. The Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation (BCHI Reporting Form should be used to report all alleged incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation that occur at school or have a connection back to the school setting that create a risk of harm to other students while they are at school, or interfere with the educational environment. An online version is available and can easily and confidentially be used by students, staff, and family members. Hard copies of this form are available in the main office, staff workroom, school counseling office, media center, and health services office. If you believe your child has been bullied, please complete and submit this form as soon as possible and/or assist your child in doing so.

Once the form is submitted, school administrators will ensure the parent/guardian of both the alleged target and alleged offender are aware of the report and will begin an investigation within two school days of receiving the report. Parents/guardians can expect a school administrator to reach out to them during the investigation. Once the investigation is completed, parents/guardians will be provided written notice of the outcome of the investigation within fifteen days of receiving the complaint, excluding extenuating circumstances.

There are times when incidents of peer conflict or code of conduct offenses may occur that may not be bullying, but may need follow up action. If you become aware of something that falls under conflict and/or a code of conduct offense, please notify a school administrator via email or phone call so that they can become aware and follow up as needed.

Lastly, I want to take a moment to specifically lift up cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying using electronic media like computers, cell phones, and game systems. Our digital interconnectedness makes bullying different and more damaging than it’s ever been before. It allows hatred and publicly humiliating gossip or photos to be instantly far-reaching and inescapable as electronic media is everywhere. It can NOT simply be ignored. In October 2013, the State of Maryland enacted Grace’s Law, making misuse of interactive computer services a criminal offense. Its purpose is to prohibit anyone from using electronic media (computers, tablets, phones, etc.) to maliciously engage in conduct that inflicts serious emotional distress on a minor and/or places that minor in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury. A person who is found guilty of violating this law is subject to imprisonment and/or fines.

While all of this information will be reviewed with students at school, we are asking you to do the same at home. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring all of our students feel a sense of safety and belonging in their school communities! More information can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

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 410 313-1575 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.

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

Join the PTA:

You must re-register for the school year 2025-2026 if you were a PTA last school year. And for those of you who are new to CLES, there is no obligation to volunteer when you join - it helps us better communicate with you all and proceeds help fund our amazing events. Another perk - you get a vote at our meetings when making important decisions about events and how to spend our budget. Of course, we would also love you as a volunteer - we have everything from volunteering for a half hour at an event all the way up to being in a lead position. Learn more about us on our webpage:

www.clespta.org

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.

Please visit the HCPSS website Community News and Programs site for upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.