Glossary

American Education Week - A week in November where parents are typically invited into the school to see their children learn in the classroom setting. To avoid traffic congestion, the administration suggests the day that each grade will be observed. This is a nation wide designated day that was originally started to present Americans with a opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. For more information about this week please click here.

Back to School Night - An evening in September where parents come to school without their children. The evening begins in the school cafeteria where the parents can meet the related arts teachers (Music, Art, PE, Technology). The principal and vice principal introduce themselves either in the cafeteria or via a video in the classrooms. Then the parents go to their students classrooms to meet the teacher and hear about the curriculum plans for the upcoming school year. There will often be two back to school nights with certain grades designated for each night. Please plan to attend the night that corresponds to your child's grade level.

Band Week - see Instrument Week

Battle of the Books - A competition lead by the Howard County Public Library and the Howard County Public school system where 5th graders at CLES form teams of 5 students. For more information see fifth grade specific programming.

Black Top - The area of the outside playground that include the surfaced area right outside the back door near the trailers. It consists of the area where the basketball courts are located.

Canvas - An online tool of the Howard County Public School system that connects parents, teachers and students with live, dynamic instructional materials, content resources and announcements. Parents will have access to tools like calendars, announcements, instructional resources and assignment scores. Parents and students have their own Canvas accounts. The Canvas account can be accessed here. To learn how to use the functions of canvas (including changing your notification options and settings) please access the tutorials here.

Cultural Arts - The PTA sponsors cultural arts events that take place during your child's school day. Certain grades are invited to attend a school assembly in the cafeteria during the school day. The assembly could be highlighting science (science center visit, reptile show, planetarium), arts (music presentation, African drummers), or fun (Dr. Recess, magic show, author visit). There are also cultural arts events sponsored by the PTA that take place in the evenings and are open to families. These events are often a cultural music or dance performances.

Curriculum Corner - Announcements published by the principal outlining school academic highlights.

CEU (Curriculum Extension Units) - Additional units offered in school for further enrichment. These units may be math, science, social studies or language arts. Children are pulled from their normal class schedule to attend the CEU class often lead by one of the GT teachers. Classes often last 1 semester.

Dolphin Detail - Weekly newsletter written by the principal outlining upcoming events and announcements. The PTA also writes a section outlining upcoming PTA and community events.

Dr Seuss' Birthday - Dr Seuss is a famous American author who wrote many children's books including the classics The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. His birthday is on March 2nd and many classes will celebrate this day in school with a potential project or collecting books by this famous author for the day.

Fair Friday - The Spring Fair takes place in June and is the biggest PTA fundraiser of the year. To promote this event the Fridays in May leading up to the spring fair are designated Fair Fridays. Students and teachers are encouraged to wear red clothing on those days. Parent Volunteers come during lunch and raffle off prizes to students wearing red.

Field Day - In May, children participate in a school-wide Field Day, sponsored by the PE department, that consists of mostly outdoor games centered around a county-wide theme. Parent volunteers run the games planned by the school's physical education department.

Field Trip - Each grade participates in approximately two field trips during the school year. The school organizes an educational trips away from the building for the grade. Permission slips are sent home that require parent signature and payment. The school often seeks parent volunteers to chaperone the field trip. Field trip payment can be done through a personal check or through the Online Student Payment (OSP) website by clicking here.

Flyer - A sheet of paper that describes an event taking place at CLES or an opportunity to volunteer at school. One way the school and/or PTA communicates with parents at home.

Fun Day - In late May/June each grade will designate a fun day that is a half day of fun events. For most grades, parent volunteers run games and activities for the students of that grade.

Fifth Grade Graduation - In June the school will hold a graduation ceremony in the evening for the fifth graders. For more information see fifth grade specific programming.

Girls on the Run - A club at school that is run by parent volunteers. The club uses running as a base activity. The club meets once or twice a week after school in small teams and teaches life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and games. The school-based program is 7 or 8 weeks long and culminates with a local 5K including girls from all schools participating in the race. For more information about this nationwide program click here.

HERO boys - A club at school that is run by parent volunteers. The club uses running as a base activity and inspires boys to discover the character and courage that resides inside each one of them. They encourage boys to be brave, stand for that which is right, and use their talents and strengths to lead and set the positive example amongst their peers. The school-based program is 7 or 8 weeks long and culminates with a local 5K including boys from all schools participating in the program. For more information about this nationwide program click here.

Harvest of Heritages Day - An inclusive fall celebration that highlights students' cultures and communities. Students come to school dressed: 1) As they would for any holiday their family celebrates, this includes any holiday across the calendar year; 2) In a traditional style of dress that is meaningful to the family culture; 3) To represent an activity they participate in as an individual or family; 4) To represent a favorite sports team; 5) To represent an individual that has been influential to the individual or family; 5) Any school appropriate manner (grade level color, CLES spirit wear, typical school attire). There are a number of themed classroom activities.

Interns - Occasionally teachers at CLES will accept student interns to help in the classroom. These people are participating in a local university teaching program. They are in the classroom and teach under the guidance of the main classroom teacher. Parents are notified that there will be a teacher intern in their child's class via a flyer in the take home folder. Pictures of the teacher interns in the school can be seen on the hallway bulletin board outside of the principal's office.

Instrument Week - Optional music instruction in orchestra (3rd - 5th grade) and band (4th - 5th grade) takes place at CLES. There is a rotating schedule of small group instruction in band and orchestra. The schedule rotates to avoid music students missing the same class every week. A rotation schedule is published at the beginning of the year. This schedule rotates on a 4 week basis. The weeks are designated A, B, C, and D weeks.

It's Academic - A club at school that is run by parent volunteers. This club meets after school once a week at Centennial High School (classically on Tuesday). Interested CLES students attend the meeting where they are asked academic questions and push a buzzer to answer. There are opportunities for club members to participate in weekend competitions throughout Maryland. There are also options to attend nationwide competitions if eligible.

Jazz Band - The band teacher at school organizes a jazz band for interested 5th graders. For more information see fifth grade specific programming.

Jump Rope for Heart - In February, the physical education department holds a jump rope for heart fundraiser to benefit the American Heart Association. Children are encouraged to ask their neighbors and family to donate money on their behalf for this cause. There are prizes the children can earn for the money they raise. For more information about jump rope for hear, click here.

Kindergarten End of Year program - In May there is a ceremony held in the CLES cafeteria where the Kindergartners celebrate a successful first year at CLES. For more information see kindergarten specific programming.

Lunch - Lunch occurs at CLES for 30 minutes for each grade at the same time each day. CLES offers school lunch and a snack at lunchtime for purchase. Parents may set up an online account for students to pay for these food items. More information about school lunch menus and payment plan can be found here.

Little Dolphins - A playgroup made up of preschool and younger children who will eventually become CLES students. Throughout the year and especially during the summer there are organized play dates to allow incoming CLES students and parents to meet each other.

Memberhub - Memberhub is an online software system that the CLES PTA uses to communicate with PTA members, track membership, and collect payments.

Music Boosters - CLES has a parent run music boosters that support the band, orchestra, and chorus programs at school. There is a president and secretary of the boosters who are CLES parent volunteers. They help organize concerts (winter and spring), the band field trips for fifth grade (Inner Harbor field trip, Frederick Keys Game), practice fund raising projects, and the CLES summer band camp. For more information about CLES band click here. For more information about CLES Orchestra visit here.

One Hundredth Day of School (100th day of school) - Each day that the children attend school is counted and on the 100th day of school the lower elementary grades will often celebrate this day. It may be an exclusive in school celebration with a project or the students my be asked to dress up (wear a costume) depicting what they may look like when they are 100 years old.

Orchestra Week - see Instrument Week

OSP- (Online Student Payment) - HCPSS encourages parents to pay for field trips and other student expenses via the Online Student Payment system. It allows credit card payments for school expenses. Of note there is a surcharge for using this system of payment. For more information about the Online Student Payment system click here.

Parent Teacher Conference - A 15 minute meeting that parents have with the classroom teacher or math teacher without their student present. These conference are used to discuss individual student's progress. These meetings are held the week of Thanksgiving and again in February. Parents sign up for a conference using their Synergy accounts.

PTA - (Parent Teachers Association) - A group lead by parents of the school who organize events and activities for the school community. Every parent is eligible to be a member of the PTA by submitting a form and paying dues. There is no further obligation to volunteer. However there are many opportunities to be more involved in the school if you choose to do so.

PTA Meeting - Monthly meetings lead by the PTA president held in the evening at the school media center or virtually using google meet. Every parent in the community is welcome to attend and find out more about the events of the school and possibly volunteer and become more involved.

Reflections - A national PTA program that promotes creative art. Each year there is a theme that the children focus their art project around. A parent volunteer coordinates this PTA effort. Children submit original artwork by bringing the work of art into school and placing it in a labeled bin the the school lobby. The deadline of submission is typically in November. The artwork can be in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. There is an award ceremony in January/February. Winners are chosen and may move onto county wide and national judging. For more information on this nationwide PTA program click here.

Related Arts - Classes in school that consist of Physical Education, Music, Art, Media and Technology.

Restaurant Night - The PTA arranges a fund raiser with a local restaurant. Food purchased during a pre-designated day during an interval of time designated by the restaurant will raise funds for the school. Details of these days are outlined in a flyer sent home in the Take Home Folder. These dates and restaurants are announced in the email school newsletter. Often times the flyer is required to present to the restaurant in order to generate funds for the school.

Safeties - Fifth graders at CLES have the option of becoming Safeties. These student volunteers are given a fluorescent yellow belt and sash to wear at the beginning of school and at dismissal. They help ensure that children are walking in the hallways and that younger children are getting to class/dismissal.

School Supplies - Each grade designates supplies that students will need throughout the year. Prior to the school year parents are expected to purchase these supplies for their student. The supplies are dropped off at the Kindergarden Orientation (for kindergartners), New student orientation (for 1st - 5th new students) or open house (returning students). A list of these supplies can be found here.

Scouts - There are nationwide organizations entitled Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Scouts organize into dens (boy) and troops (girl) made up of children at CLES. Parent volunteers run these after school and evening scout events. Children join the scouts group for their grade and are a member for the year. The Maryland Chapter of the scouts can be found here: Girlscouts & Boyscouts.

Screen Free Week Challenge - There is a week in May designated as the screen free week. Children are encouraged to avoid recreational time on screens (TV, tablets, phones, video games). Parents confirm their participation in the event by signing a letter that is sent home in their children's take home folder. Then there is an evening event in June where the children are treated to an ice cream party in the school cafeteria and they receive a certificate for their participation in this challenge.

Sign Up Genius - An online free website that CLES teachers, room parents, and the PTA uses to publicize school volunteer opportunities throughout the year. The school or PTA will contact parents via email or a flyer if there is an available sign up online. Parents can follow the URL link to the sign up and volunteer directly through the site. One can also sign up for a free account on this website and it will keep track of your volunteer opportunities. However this is not required. Once you have signed up and entered an email address with your sign up, the website will send reminder emails about your volunteer duties. https://www.signupgenius.com/

Simulated Congressional Hearing (SCH) - An in-school activity that takes place in the spring of fifth grade. Students are assigned groups of 4 or 5 students in their class to research a topic based on the Constitution of the United States, laws of the Federal Government, and laws of the local Maryland Government. They also use historical evidence to support their topic. A oral presentation is written to support their arguments. There is a day in school in May where the 5th grade teams dress in more formal clothes and present their research. Parent and teacher volunteers judge their presentation and ask follow up questions. Parents are encouraged to attend this event in school.

Spirit Days - Designated school days where students and teachers may choose to dress in a theme. These days are announced in the dolphin detail. Some examples include pajama day, sports themed day, tie dye day.

Spirit Wear - Shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, and sweatpants with the CLES logo or colors printed on the clothes. These items are sold by the PTA at the beginning of the school year as a fundraiser. Look in your child's take home folder in October/November for the order form.

Splash - Person dressed in a dolphin costume who serves as a mascot for our school. Splash attends many of the social functions that the PTA puts together and may also make appearances in school.

Synergy - An online tool that the Howard County Public School System uses to manage student data. Parents will have access to student attendance records and grades. In the Synergy Student Information System one can see student demographics, enrollment, registration, schedules , and attendance. Each parent has their own Synergy accounts. The Synergy account can be accessed here. To learn how to use the functions of synergy please access the tutorials here.

Take Home Folder - A white folder with a dolphin on the front given to your student at the beginning of the school year. (Some grades/teachers may use other folders supplied at the beginning of the year.) Completed graded work and flyers from the school are presented to parents via the Take Home Folder on a daily basis. Parents may communicate with the teacher and school with notes sent into school in the Take Home Folder.

Take Your Child to Work Day - A nationwide effort that allows parents to take their child to work for the day to learn more about employment life. Some workplaces conduct a program for children of employees on this day. If you choose to take your child to work this day - it is considered an excused absence from school. When your child returns to school the next day, send in a note explaining they missed school for this experience. To learn more about the purpose of this nationwide effort, click here.

Valentines Day - A holiday celebrated in the United States where children make or purchase a card for their friends. In school children will decorate a bag or box in school. At home they are expected to make cards for every child in their class. On Valentines Day (Feb 14) there is a school party where the children distribute the cards to their classmates in the bag or box they made in school. Many of these cards also include candy or a small prize.

Young Author's Contest - The State of Maryland International Reading Council, Young Authors Committee sponsors an annual writing contest for students in Grades 2 through 12 at the local and state levels. The committee compiles and publishes winning entries from the state level in an anthology for student winners and conducts a celebration for the state winning authors at the annual conference. For more information about this program, click here.