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

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۔

May

• 2 - Talent Show (All Grades), 6:30 p.m.
• 5 - Staff Appreciation Week begins
• 6 - Time to be Green Tuesday
• 7 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early, 12:55 p.m. - Professional Work and Wellness Day
• 14 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 15 - Crazy Hair Day
• 16 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early, 12:55 p.m. - Professional Learning Day
• 16 - PTA Spring Carnival, 5:00 p.m.
• 19 - Simulated Congressional Hearing (5th Grade event)
• 23 - Wacky Tacky Day, Be YOUnique
• 26 - Schools and Offices Closed - Memorial Day
• 27 - Wilde Lake Middle Parent Sneak Peek, 6:30p.m. (Parents Only)
• 29 - 5th Grade Middle School Visits
• 30 - Field Day

June

• 2 - Pride Week: wear rainbow colors
• 2 - Field Day rain date
• 3 - Time to be green Tuesday, wear green
• 5 - Spring Concert at Atholton HS, 6:30 p.m.
• 6 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early, Professional Work Day, 12:55 p.m.
• 16 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early, Professional Learning Day, 12:55 p.m.
• 16 - Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony at Atholton HS, 2:00 p.m.
• 17 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early, Professional Work Day, 12:55 p.m.
• 18 - Last Day of School, Schools Close 3 Hours Early, Professional Work Day, 12:55 p.m.
• 18 - Summer Fun Day - wear sunglasses, leis, Hawaiian shirts, or your favorite shirt from vacation

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

스페인어로 된 달력

Dear Families,

Teachers will begin working on placing students in groupings for classes for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year in May. As part of our process, we would like to give you the opportunity to share some information that you would like for us to consider as we begin to make class groupings for the next school year. This consideration form is for you, as parents/guardians, to relay specific information about your child that you feel would be beneficial as our teachers meet to determine next year's placements. Class placement changes after class lists are finalized are extremely difficult and often cannot be accommodated. Other than newly enrolled students, class lists will be finalized in June 2025.

The form closes on May 16, 2025 for current CCES students. This is your opportunity to voice what you would like us to consider in your child's placement for the next school year. The time, thought, and commitment put into the completion of this form is appreciated, valued, and highly regarded.

When placing students, the staff and administration utilize a wide range of criteria, which are supportive of the Howard County philosophy of heterogeneous grouping. Some of these criteria include, but are not limited to:

• students' social/emotional needs
• racial and ethnic diversity
• reading and math strengths and needs
• special education requirements; IEP goals; 504 plans
• information from previous teachers and school counselor

There are certain requests that we cannot consider as part of this consideration form: therefore we ask that you not use this form to propose the following:

• specific teacher requests
• placement based on siblings’ experiences
• grouping based on friends
• grouping based on hearsay about teachers or other children

Your input on this form will be used in our planning for your child rather than a letter requesting a specific teacher. Your response is OPTIONAL but is a very valuable source of information to the school staff and to the next teacher. You do not need to complete all of the sections. Please complete a form for each of your children. Thank you!

Thank you,

Mrs. Leader, Principal

Mrs. Gittleson, Assistant Principal

Do you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025? Or, do you know a student who lives in our neighborhood that will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025? If so, then it is time to start thinking about Kindergarten! Kindergarten registration is an online process. Please see this website for the information you'll need to gather ahead of time and starting March 3, this is where you'll go to register. Feel free to contact our office with any questions at 410-313-6866.

In Logic and Reasoning, you will be exploring the mathematical logic embedded in riddles, puzzles, games and more! We will challenge ourselves to solve problems allowing our brains to grow. We will meet on Fridays during your recess time. Let's have fun! Please fill out the Google Form. Thank you!

~Mrs. Register

https://forms.gle/ucYi4AStDmFf6AQg8

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.

Please do not send medication (over-the-counter or prescription) to school with your child. An adult must bring it in with the necessary form signed by a healthcare provider.

Cough drops without medication in them may be self-carried by students with written parent permission and specific instructions. The instructions should include the name of the product, reason for administration, and amount and frequency of administration; no more than 3 cough drops per day (every two hours) for no longer than 5 school days. Please instruct your student not to share them with others.

Come and see the fantastic showcase of student talent tonight, May 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. in the CCES cafeteria. We hope you can join us to see all of the amazing acts! Singers, dancers, comedians, piano and more!!

We need volunteers and practical donations to help next week run smoothly. See all the details here: See all the ways you can help here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E4AABA72FA5FC1-56421245-cces#/

Here is the list of of fun activities that PTA is running for teachers and staff next week:

"Buy your staff member a flower day" (Monday 5/9 - all flowers 25c - on sale front of the school building before school)

Nacho bar for lunch (Tuesday 5/6)

Chick-Fil-A breakfast (Wednesday 5/7)

A coffee truck for staff (Thursday 5/8)

Raffles and other surprises! (Friday 5/9 and all week long)

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E4AABA72FA5FC1-56421245-cces#/

It's time to preorder your child's year book!! Simply go to: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob?utm_source=Flyer&utm_medium=Electronic&utm_campaign=YB25USYBPY and enter our Yearbook ID code: 15206525

Spring Carnival is coming!!! Don't miss this family favorite!

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/

Teen Advisory Council - Open to Howard County students in grades 8-12. Earn Community Service Hours and make meaningful contributions to the community. Next meeting: Monday May 19, 2025, from 5:30-7:00pm on Zoom. For more information, visit: https://hcdrugfree.org/teen-advisory-council/

Howard County Parents of rising 3rd–6th graders,

Do you want your kid to build a robot and present how it works?

STEMVillage Summer Camp teaches 3rd–6th graders real STEM skills and how to present their ideas clearly and confidently.

Session 1 (July 7–11): Simple machines, bottle rockets, and STEM pitches
Session 2 (July 28–August 1): Egg drops, bridge-building, and high-energy teamwork challenges

They’ll come home smarter, more confident, and better at solving problems — in tech and life.

Free aftercare if you refer a friend. Space is limited!
Register here → tinyurl.com/stemvillage25