“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live
by them.”
~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of the United States
Mission
Clearspring Elementary School is dedicated to working with parents and the
community to promote the overall growth and development of the students so they
become responsible, respectful, and productive members of society.
Message from the principal:
Thank you to all of the grandparents who visited the school on November 25th! We
had over 100 visitors! It was a great success! So many visitors expressed their gratitude
to us opening our doors to grandparents! It’s a wonderful tradition here at Clearspring!
December 22nd and 23rd are busy days here at school! On the 22nd, students will be participating in a
“deck the halls” activity and a comfy, cozy reading day in class. DHS marching band will be here on the
23rd in the morning to sing holiday songs with us. In the afternoon, we will be conducting a school-wide sing
along prior to heading off for the winter break. Parents are welcome to join us for the fun. Also, it’s ugly
sweater day and PBIS “Jack Pawt” day!
Attention 4th and 5th grade parents: Last year, we started taking the PARCC assessments. PARCC reports
will be mailed home next week. Please use the pamphlet included to understand the assessment results. The
goal is for students to score a 4 or 5 on these assessments. Our school improvement plan is wrapped around
improving our math and reading scores through small group instruction. If you have questions about the results,
please let us know!
We are very excited to announce that our school was selected for TWO awesome opportunities! First, our
2nd through 5th grades were selected for Google Expeditions! A team from Google and our technology
department will be here on December 10th to share some amazing things that can be done through Google!
Stay tuned!!! Second, our school was selected to participate in an MCPS math pilot. Some of our teachers
will have the opportunity to receive training from the math department. The training will be related to data
collection and how to use the data to inform instruction. This will allow our teachers to use their formative (day
to day student assignments) assessments and pinpoint students’ misconceptions around specific mathematical
skills. Teachers can then plan more effectively for their small group instruction. Both of these are phenomenal
opportunities for our students and staff!!!
For your convenience, our upcoming dates are posted here through the entire month of December. Keep
checking the website as Mrs. Baude updates the calendar often.
Have a wonderful winter break! Our next Update will be out in 2016!!!
Mrs. Gilbertson
Husky News
Counselor’s Corner
During the month of December I will be delivering a variety of different lessons throughout the school.
Kindergarteners and third graders will be learning about and reviewing the importance of personal space. I will
be explaining bullying and how to deal with mean behavior from others in first and second grade. We’ll be
reading the books, The Juice Box Bully and Simon’s Hook, to emphasize productive strategies to cope with both
conflict and bullying behaviors in school and life. My fourth grade lesson is a continuation of November’s
lesson about managing stress using healthy coping mechanisms. Students will learn about deep breathing,
progressive muscle relaxation, journaling, and several other strategies for dealing with stress. Lastly, fifth
graders will be learning about Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. They will take a online
assessment to determine their areas of strength and then analyze how their strengths may help them learn more
productively using certain strategies. They will also start looking at careers that align with their identified
strengths. If you would like to take a peek at this lesson and your child’s Multiple Intelligences profile, it will be
saved in his/her Google Drive after I have delivered the lesson in his/her classroom.
When visiting Clearspring, please feel free to take a look at the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions &
Supports) bulletin board in the front part of the cafeteria hallway. The pictures of our current Super Huskies
(students recognized for consistently going above and beyond the Clearspring Expectations) are posted, as well
as the second quarter rewards center items. Our next PBIS event will take place on January 15th - it’s a Power
Lunch! Students are currently saving up their paws to earn this reward, in which teachers will prepare and serve
students a warm lunch. Yum!
Take care!
Mrs. Gray
Husky Howl, November Edition
This is the first published edition of the brand new student newspaper. Thank you to Tim, Vishesh and
Shubham for spearheading this operation under the supervision of the Student Council. Lots of school news,
upcoming events and teacher spotlights are included with more to come as the year progresses.
Click on the link below:
https://docs.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/document/d/1nZlyz29uRDiQF7C-lvYE6ukyj8d1zXkds2G0CWuPa0/edit?usp=sharing
SGA Happenings in December
December 22
Teachers are going to “Deck the Doors” in a winter theme. While you are decorating take a break, turn out the
lights and get comfy and cozy with a favorite book. Students can bring a small pillow, blanket, and flashlight
with them to school and at certain times in the day, the lights will go off and students can huddle under their
blankets with their pillow and their favorite book and read by flashlight.
December 23
Everyone is invited to wear their craziest/ugliest/or best winter sweater/ T-shirt on Wednesday, 12-23. Show
off your spirit and dazzle the Damascus High School Marching Band and all our visitors who will be joining us
for a whole school assembly in the gym in that morning. Continue to dazzle while the staff participates in the
Winter Songfest!
and . . .
Jack Paw’t Day will be going on all day Wednesday the 23rd. Students will have the opportunity to earn lots of
special paws to use for an end of quarter event or to purchase items 11-16 on the Paw Cart. When the music
comes on students will demonstrate their listening skills by stopping their tracks, be silent and collect all those
great paws!
and . . .
We are collecting new and unwrapped toys for “Toys for Tots”. There is a large box located in the front lobby
for donations.
Worth Repeating:
Our school focus is on small group instruction to increase student achievement in reading and math
benchmarks set by MCPS. Research shows that students retain most of what is taught during guided group
instruction. Our teachers have been working diligently to ensure that students are receiving that individualized
support on a daily basis. Teachers also meet monthly with administration, the reading specialist and staff
development teacher to review the student data and develop interventions to support student success.
The principal newsletter will be posted on our website the first Friday of every month. Please check our
calendar as well so that you can stay up to date on events occurring in school.
Communicate, communicate! Please let us know if you have concerns. Always start with the teacher. We
are all here to support your children! We can’t do it if we don’t hear from you.
Upcoming Dates
Gr. 4 HGC trip to Olney Theatre for “Guys & Dolls”
Winter Instrumental Concert- 7:00 p.m.
School-wide sing along w/ DHS band at 10:45 a.m.
School-wide sing along w/ staff at 2:15 p.m.
Dec. 24-Jan. 3 Winter Break
Jan. 4
Classes resume
Jan. 5
SGA meeting (3:40 - 4:40 p.m.)
Jan. 6
PTA meeting (7:00 p.m.)
Dec. 10
Dec. 16
Dec. 23
Attachments:
Help with Reading