Join us for the December PTA meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7pm in the Media Center or on Zoom. During the meeting, we will:
- Recap fall events and iniatives
- Discuss upcoming events for 2026
Can’t attend in person? Join us on Zoom.
Holiday Shop – Dec. 2 – 4, 4:15 – 7pm in the Music Room
Our PTA Holiday Shop is coming up the week following Thanksgiving! This is a wonderful opportunity for kids (CCES students & their siblings) to shop for the holiday that’s special to their family and choose gifts for their loved ones – for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or New Year – or just for fun!
We need plenty of volunteers to help run the shop! Sign up here to help: https://www.signupgenius.com/…/30E0D4AAEAD29ABFE3…
The Shop will run over 3 consecutive afternoons after school – Tuesday December 2nd to Thursday December 4th. Gifts will range in price from 50 cents to $20, with the vast majority of gifts costing less than $5 each.
Don’t forget we are collecting donations of new or like-new small gift items to supplement our inventory for this year’s holiday shop. Send in new or like-new items to the front office at school marked “holiday shop” before Thanksgiving. If you are coming in-person to conferences on Monday 11/25, what a perfect opportunity to drop off items then!
Holiday Shop is fun for our kids and a fundraiser for our PTA – all profits go straight back into enrichments, events and activities for our wonderful CCES students!
PTA Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5 – Q+A with Representative Mallo on the Boundary Review Process
Our next PTA membership meeting is this coming Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7pm in the Media Center and on Zoom. During the meeting we will have the opportunity for community Q+A with our HCPSS Board of Education District 4 Representative Jen Mallo on the ongoing boundary review process. Representative Mallo will provide a short briefing on where we stand with the review process, and then participate in 20 minutes of Q+A with families. We are asking that families please submit questions ahead of time via this google form. We will wrap up our conversation with Ms. Mallo by 7:40 and then continue with our PTA meeting agenda.
Read-A-Thon – Oct. 21 – Dec. 1
Get ready to fall in love with READING! Our annual Read-A-Thon kicks off next week on Oct. 21. This annual initiative helps our students find joy in reading while also raising money for our school. Our primary goal is to get kids reading – on their own, with their family, with a sibling or even with a pet! All types of reading count- read to your student, have them read to you, or read together as a family. This step-by-step guide includes details on how to register your student, track minutes, and collect donations. Be sure to track your student’s minutes read. The classes with the most minutes read will win a popcorn party!
PTA Meeting – Oct. 8th at 7pm in the Media Center
We hope to see you at the CCES PTA meeting this Wednesday, Oct 8 at 7pm in the Media Center.
Can’t make it in person? Join us online: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9053600768
From HCPSS: Boundary Review Process Continues with Upcoming Work Sessions and Public Hearings
The PTA is sharing the following information from HCPSS as it relates to the current boundary review process, which directly impacts our CCES community. Please direct questions to the email addresses and phone numbers listed below.
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On October 9, the Howard County Board of Education will begin a series of public hearings and work sessions as a next step in the boundary review process for the 2026-2027 school year to consider redistricting selected schools, including Bryant Woods, Running Brook, Swansfield, Longfellow, Clemens Crossing and Centennial Lane elementary schools. Wilde Lake, Harper’s Choice and Burleigh Manor middle schools, as well as Centennial and Wilde Lake high schools also are included to allow adjustments to feeds.
As part of their considerations, the Board will evaluate several factors, including but not limited to current and projected crowding in schools, the use of portable classrooms, the socioeconomic makeup of school communities, relevant planned capital projects, and future opportunities to relieve crowding.
The Board was presented with three potential scenarios on July 17, 2025, and HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes presented a fourth possibility on September 25, 2025, that limited considerations to relieve crowding in West Columbia schools.
The Boundary Review process is guided by Policy 6010 School Attendance Areas to consider redistricting selected schools that are outside the capacity utilization range of 90-110%.
Next Steps and Opportunities for Feedback
Community members wishing to testify at public hearings may pre-register by telephone (410-313-7194 or 410-313-1584) or online three weeks prior to a hearing through 4:30 p.m. of the last working day prior to the public hearing.
Public hearings are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 9 during the 4 p.m. session of the Board of Education meeting and Thursday, Nov. 6 during the 7 p.m. session. Anyone signed up to testify at a public hearing may do so virtually or in person.
Written testimony may be submitted to the Board via email to redistricting@hcpss.org or via USPS mail to Howard County Board of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Official testimony will be accepted until 48 hours prior to the meeting at which the Board is scheduled to take action. A final decision on any changes in school boundaries for the 2026-2027 school year is scheduled to be made by the Board on Nov. 20, 2025.
More information about the boundary review process for the 2026-2027 school year may be found online.
Trunk or Treat – Oct. 24th 5-7pm
Spooky season is almost here and it is time to get ready for our annual Trunk-or-Treat event at CCES! This is a community favorite and a special tradition for our CCES community.
We need LOTS of family participation to help make this event great. Sign up today. Ways to participate include:
- Volunteer – We are looking for parent volunteers to help sell raffle tickets, serve as candy runners, and direct traffic before/during/after to make sure kids stay safe. Please consider giving an hour of your time to help make this a fun and safe event for all!
- Host a trunk – Sign up at the link below to host a trunk! Be creative and decorate a trunk as a candy station during the event. Those “trunking” can arrive at 4:30 to set up. Please note, no other vehicles will be permitted in the parking lot. Please consider carpooling, walking, or street parking.
- Donate candy – We’ll need plenty of candy to replenish our “trunkers” during the event. There will be a bin near the playground/blacktop. Drop off a bag of candy when you arrive.
There are only a limited number of spots in the parking lot, so sign up early for a trunk spot: bit.ly/CCEStrunkortreat2025
Schedule of Events:
4:30pm – Vehicles can begin set up of trunks in the parking lot. As you enter the parking lot, please fill in spots towards the back of the parking lot first! NOTE: No other cars will be permitted in the parking lot.
5:00pm – Play on the blacktop – Pose at the photo wall, play with friends, and purchase raffle tickets to win one of the amazing teacher-decorated pumpkins! Raffle tickets will be available for purchase ($1/each or 6 for $5). We will be keeping kids on the playground/blacktop and out of the parking lot area until after the costume parade, for safety and to allow parents the time to set up trunks. Please do NOT let your child in the parking lot until after the parade. We need to make sure all children stay safe during this fun event, especailly around the cars.
5:30pm – Costume Parade and Pumpkin Raffle winners announced! Then kids will reunite with their families at the end of the parade for TRUNK OR TREATING!
7:00pm – Event concludes. Please leave the parking lot area so cars can depart safely.
PTA Afterschool Activities for Fall 2025
We have an outstanding lineup of afterschool activities this fall! Check out our Afterschool Activities Page for information on these upcoming afterschool opportunities, including chess club, cooking class, volleyball, art class, and the school play.
If you are planning to sign your child up for one of these programs, we ask that you do so ASAP. Some of the programs currently have low enrollment and are in danger of cancellation.
No experience is required for any activity – just a willingness to try something new! Activities take place at the school and students are dismissed directly to the program from their class.
PTA Kickoff Meeting and Membership Drive
We hope to see you at our first CCES PTA meeting for the year this Wednesday, Sept 10 at 7pm in the Media Room. Come learn about what PTA is and ways to be involved this school year! We will review the draft budget and CES PTA bylaws, and share more about upcoming opportunities to support the PTA. You can review the agenda here.
Can’t make it in person? Join us online.
There is still time to become a PTA member for the 2025-26 school year. Join by Friday, Sept 12 to be entered to win a CCES swag bag.
Back to School Picnic – Sept. 5th 5-7pm
Welcome back, CCES families! The PTA is excited to kick things off with our annual back-to-school picnic. Join us on the blacktop on Friday, Sept. 5th from 5-7pm for a fun evening with the CCES community. Bring your own dinner, and blankets/chairs to sit on. The PTA will be selling popcorn and snowcones. We look forward to seeing everyone on the 5th!
