Dear Clarksville Middle Families and Community,
This week we have been continuing our focus on the importance of Being Present and I have been encouraged to see students walking with purpose in the hallway and ensuring they have a pass if they need one for being late. In classrooms I have seen students ready with materials out for instruction before teachers have asked. Let’s continue to reinforce this with our young people and encourage them to value Being Present. Congratulations to Ms. Kaplan’s period 4 class who won the prize this week after being one of 23 classes nominated by their teachers. Who will win this Monday?
MCAP score reports were sent home with your child today and there is information below to help you to access the same reports in HCPSS Connect. The reports are from the 2025-2026 school year and share results from the English Language Arts and Math Assessments.
Our goal for all students is to show growth over their three years at Clarksville with a secondary goal of achieving a 750 on each assessment. This is the mark that measures student "College and Career Readiness".
Please look over those results with your student, celebrate the successes and encourage students to focus on feedback shared by their teachers on their current performance in class. MCAP scores are one indicator of student achievement and are best reviewed in context with the performance that their teachers are currently seeing in classes. Over the next weeks students will be reviewing their current grades in their SEL lessons and contextualizing all this information to help them set goals and take ownership of their learning in school. This is one way that we are Expecting Excellence from Everyone at Clarksville Middle. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Another way that we Expect Excellence from Everyone is through the multitude of clubs and activities we have at school. Your student has received many messages about clubs and activities and we know that students who are involved in extracurricular activities both at school and in the community are students who exhibit signs of wellness and engagement in all areas of their lives. See our website for a new page that collates information about activities at Clarksville and the emails of club and organization sponsors so that you can get in touch if you have any questions. Thank you to our CMS PTA and their new extracurricular activities committee for helping us to develop our activities and our communication.
Finally, as a part of my personal journey through Hispanic Heritage Month this year I have been reading poetry by Hispanic authors. I offer this stanza to us both for our celebrations this month and for it’s connection to our theme this year:
“There are so many people who’ve come before us,
arrows and wagon wheels, obsidian tools, buffalo.
Look out at the meadow, you can almost see them,
generations dissolved in the bluegrass and hay.
I want to try and be terrific. Even for an hour.”
― Ada Limón, Bright Dead Things
Let’s be terrific and Expect Excellence from Everyone, including ourselves.
Check out the information below for items we’ve been sending out this week, and a number of new items. Let us know if you have any questions or if there is something you’d like to see in the newsletter. All of this information is also posted on our website at http://cms.hcpss.org/ .
There is nothing too big or too small for us to work on together, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Regards,
Richard Smart, Principal (richard_smart@hcpss.org)
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Check out our stories on Instagram at @CMS_Comets
Upcoming Dates:
9/28-10/2: ELA MAP Testing
9/30: 3 Hour Early Dismissal (11:35am dismissal time)
9/29: Last Day to Withdraw from High School Credited Courses
10/2: Grade 6 Mash Up
10/13: Picture Day
10/9: PTA Fall After School Recess and Social
Action Items:
Picture Day is Coming:
Picture Day is coming on Tuesday, October 13!
You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVT8TH2BB. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!
Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online on mylifetouch.com
Update Your Student/Family Emergency Information Today!
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.
CometFest 2026: A Clarksville Community Event
Clarksville Middle School is hosting our CometFest 2026 on Thursday, October 15 from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the school cafeteria. We are looking for parent and student volunteers to celebrate their cultures through performances, hosting a table, holding a demonstration, or assisting throughout the night. Please visit the link here (https://forms.gle/wfBhsUAc8bgvMAcT8) and fill out our participation sign-up. We will provide more details and information in the coming weeks. If you have any questions about this event, please email Mrs. Gilligan at amber_gilligan@hcpss.org. We look forward to celebrating this night with you!
New Information Items:
THE CARSON SCHOLARS FUND 2027 SCHOLARSHIP
The Carson Scholars Program recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence and outstanding community service. Carson Scholars receive a $1,000 scholarship, medal and certificate, recognition at a regional awards banquet, a trophy
CMS CAN NOMINATE ONE STUDENT
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for Clarksville Middle School’s 2027 nomination, students must:
- Have a minimum 3.75 GPA in the combined academic subjects of English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Language, based on the Quarter 1 report card.
- Demonstrate outstanding community service beyond school requirements.
- NOT be a previous Carson Scholar recipient.
Applicants will be considered based on their teacher recommendation, community service, and essay.
Essay Grades 6–8 Choose ONE | 450- 500 Words
OPTION 1: INNOVATION & INSPIRATION
The Carson Scholars Fund’s theme this year is “Innovation and Inspiration.” Please tell us about each of the following:
- A time when you were innovative and what inspired you to take action.
- What actions you regularly take to inspire others and make a difference, and why they are important to you.
OPTION 2: HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED
Dr. and Mrs. Carson created the Carson Scholars Fund to celebrate academic superstars and provide a financial incentive to help them on their educational journeys. The Fund is now celebrating its 30th anniversary of awarding scholarships.
Question: If you could create a program to help students, what would it be and why?
SUBMIT BY NOVEMBER 13, 2026
Submit your essay and list of Community Service activities to Julie Prince in Student Service (julie_prince@hcpss.org) or share it with her through Google Docs by November 13, 2026 by 8:00pm to be considered for the CMS nomination.
GOOD LUCK, FUTURE CARSON SCHOLARS!
Scholarship Toolkit - Student/Family
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) Home Reports
A paper copy of Individual Student Reports for last spring's Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments was distributed to students today to bring home for you to review.
Accessing Scores Online:
You can also view your child's digital score report and testing history at any time through HCPSS Connect:
- Log in to HCPSS Connect
- Select Standardized Test Scores from the left-side navigation menu.
These reports provide insight into your child's progress toward Maryland College and Career Ready Standards. If you have questions about interpreting your child’s score report or how these results inform classroom instruction, please reach out to your child's teacher or school counselor.
Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Saturday Math Academy
The Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Saturday Math Academy is returning for the Fall 2026 session. Certified teachers will provide engaging math instruction and enrichment for HCPSS students in grades 3–12 of all ability levels.
📅 Saturdays, October 10 – November 21
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
📍 Lake Elkhorn Middle School
💲 $80 or $40 for FARMS-eligible families
Registration opens Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 a.m. and will remain open until capacity is reached.
Families can register through HCPSS Connect.
UnPuggEd Project 10/5-10/9
PTA Council of Howard County (PTACHC) is excited to share the opportunity to participate in The UnPluggEd Project, which is a national initiative concentrated over the week of October 5-9. The goal is to take an intentional step back from screens to explore new and creative ways to reflect, focus, connect with others, and spend free time.
The sponsoring organizations have created a Playbook (attached) with many ideas and materials for teachers, administrators, and parents. Also attached, you will find a PTACHC-adapted version of take-home Bingo for students. We hope you will consider circulating this opportunity to your community.
CMS Clubs and Activities:
See our website for a new page that collates information about activities at Clarksville and the emails of club and organization sponsors so that you can get in touch if you have any questions.
It includes a list of currently approved after-school clubs and activities, along with their sponsoring teachers.
Meeting days and locations vary by activity. Sponsoring teachers are currently finalizing their schedules and will share specific signup details and meeting details directly with students via Canvas.
Repeat Information Items:
Attendance Matters:
Research is clear that showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic and social success, starting from kindergarten and continuing through high school. Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school, or even facing social challenges.
- Missing 10% (or about 18 days of a school year) can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
- By the 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that can indicate if a student is at risk for dropping out of high school.
- In the 9th grade, regular and high attendance predicts graduation rates better than 8th grade test scores.
Student attendance is a major point of focus for the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, MSDE lowered the chronic absenteeism rate from 20% to 10%, meaning that at 10%, a student should receive support and interventions to improve their absenteeism.
Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) believes that attendance is key to student success. Maryland's attendance rate represents the average daily attendance rate of students in grades 1-12, including special education students. The state's proficient standard for attendance rate is 94%, and the advanced standard is 96%."
In support of achieving Exemplary Attendance for all students, we are sharing with you a comprehensive approach to attendance supports and interventions.
- If a student has missed 5% of their monthly attendance days (as few as 1-2 days a month), parents/guardians will receive a Care and Concern Phone Call and letter from their school. This step will allow staff members to coordinate with families to determine how the student can be supported for better attendance.
- If a student has missed 10% of their monthly attendance days (this is defined as chronic absenteeism by MSDE), parents/guardians will receive a 10% Chronic Absenteeism Attendance Letter. Parents/guardians and students may be scheduled for an attendance conference. Other interventions and supports may also be used in an effort to assist the student.
- If a student has missed 15% of their monthly attendance days, in addition to the interventions and supports at 5% and 10%, these students may require an attendance support plan. Students may also be referred to the Central Attendance Team.
- If a student has missed 20% of their monthly attendance days, parents/guardians will receive a 20% Emergency Chronic Absenteeism Letter or Habitual Truancy Letter. Students may be referred to Project Attend and/or the State’s Attorney’s Office for habitual truancy.
With the collaborative effort of HCPSS parents/guardians, staff, and students, we are confident that all students can have successful attendance. This will improve student success in school and future life.
PTA Fall After School Recess & Social
October 9 | 2:35–4:00 PM
How about recess that isn’t part of lunch? Let your student stay after school to play in the beautiful fall weather. Pizza, snacks, and water will energize students during this fun time. Pickup is at 4 pm. $7 tickets are on sale now for the Fall After School Recess & Social event sponsored by the PTA. Have your student stay after dismissal until 4 pm on Friday, October 9th to hang out with friends and play in the beautiful fall weather. Snacks are provided. Please visit https://cmsptacomets.givebacks.com/shop to purchase tickets.
Calling all artists - students AND parents! The PTA Reflections Program is a national art contest for students K-12. CMS student may submit an original piece of work in any of five categories including: visual arts, photography, dance choreography, music composition, and film production. Entries are due November 1st! Please visit https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections for more information. The CMS PTA is also in need of judges! Any parent with a passion and talent for the arts may judge in any of these categories. Judging is remote and may require up to four hours of time in mid-November. Please email atwagner@gmail.com if you'd like to help.
Mash Up for Grade 6:
We are excited to have our 6th graders participate in a "Mash-Up" on October 2. The purpose of this event is to allow incoming 6th grade students from different elementary schools an opportunity to participate in a variety of team building activities. The ultimate goal is to create a learning environment where students get to know each other in a safe, engaging and nurturing community. It is our hope that through these activities students will find common ground, friendships or even discover something about themselves in the process.
Any teacher that teaches 6th grade will be present during this day to lead groups, supervise students, and facilitate learning and teamwork with the 6th graders. But, we can't do this alone! In order to make this day a success we need parent/guardian volunteers to help with set up & pick up and running activities for students. Your presence on this day will truly make a difference as it will allow us to make student groups smaller, and give you an opportunity to connect with the teachers, students, and other parents/guardians in our community.
Thank you for your consideration and we hope to see you at the Mash-Up!
Career Cafe Information!
CMS is excited to continue hosting monthly Career Cafes during grade level lunch shifts to expose our 6th-8th graders to a variety of careers!
We are looking for enthusiastic parents/guardians and community members to share their career experiences. Our students benefit from learning about the responsibilities, rewards/challenges, required skills, and pathways to access your career. Please fill out this volunteer form if you are interested in being a guest career speaker.
Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15-October 15, giving the United States an opportunity to recognize and celebrate members of our communities and their ancestors who hail from Mexico, parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Spain. Rather than starting at the beginning of September, Hispanic Heritage Month takes place over 30 days starting on the 15th -- a nod to the anniversaries of national independence for a number of Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all recognize September 15 as the date of their independence, while Mexico's independence is celebrated September 16 and Chile celebrates its independence September 18. See flyer for National Hispanic Heritage Month facts.
Kick off LGBTQIA+ History Month with Lesléa Newman:
Families and Community are invited to join HCPSS in partnership with the LGBTQIA+ Commission of Howard County and CARY to bring you this hybrid FAMILY Read the Rainbow and LGBTeaQi&A on Thursday, October 1, 2026 @ 6:00 pm. The first 50 families with children in grades 5 and under who register and attend the program will receive a free copy of the book, Rainbow Cookies by Lesléa Newman. FAMILY Read the Rainbow is a 30-45 minute virtual program in which participants get to meet an LGBTQIA+ inclusive author to hear them read their book aloud, and have a discussion with the author and our LGBTeaQi&A is an activity to bring together families and community who are looking to connect and learn together. This special combination program will provide attendees with the opportunity and option to join us in person at the Miller Branch Library. Registration is required as space is limited. Thursday, October 1, 2026 @ 6:00PM; HYBRID - in person at Miller Branch Library or virtual (select when registering). Registration is required.
High School Credited Course Withdrawal Notification:
Last day to withdraw: September 29, 2026
The last day to withdraw from High School credited courses is Tuesday, September 29th. If a student is withdrawn after this date, then they will be issued a "W" as their final grade for the course. The W will be carried onto their high school transcript. Affected courses include the following:
- ELD - English Language Development 1 & 2
- Mathematics - Algebra I, Algebra I G/T, Geometry G/T, Algebra I/Geometry G/T, Geometry/Algebra II G/T, Algebra II G/T, and Statistics - AP
- Computer Science, Engineering, and Technology Education - Exploring Computer Science & Foundations of Technology
- World Language - Spanish I & II, and French I & II
For more information, click here for the full letter regarding high school credited courses taken in middle school.
Free and Reduced Meals Information:
Many HCPSS families may be eligible to receive benefits through the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program
Qualifying families can take advantage of a wide range of additional resources and discounts, including free college applications, free or reduced JumpStart dual enrollment tuition, discounted internet through the Comcast Internet Essentials program, and more.
Families must submit a new application every school year. During the first 30 school days, students with FARMs eligibility from the prior school year will continue to receive benefits. Any student whose family has not filled out an application by the 30th school day will have their status changed to full pay until a new application is received.
Parents/guardians are highly encouraged to fill out the applications as soon as possible. It is very important that applications are filled out accurately and completely.
- Apply online
- Apply by mail: Paper applications will be available at all school front offices. Applications can be returned to the school or mailed to HCPSS Food & Nutrition Services, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042
Additionally, I want you to know that there are school staff available to support you and your child.We have numerous supports in place, and I encourage you and your child to take advantage of them whenever they are needed.
Here are a number of administrators and support staff available at our school who can provide supports along with your child’s teachers:
Richard Smart, Principal: richard_smart@hcpss.org
Kristy Ritchie, Assistant Principal: Kristy_Ritchie@hcpss.org
Julie Prince, School Counselor: Julie_Prince@hcpss.org
Kat Hajduk, School Counselor: Kat_Hajduk@hcpss.org
Katie Houston, Student Services Secretary: Katie_Houston@hcpss.org
Answers to frequently asked questions on HCPSS meals and additional meals/nutrition assistance programs can be found on the HCPSS Help site. If you have questions regarding the program, please visit www.hcpss.org/FARMs or contact Food and Nutrition Services at 410-313-6743 or foodsvc@hcpss.org.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please visit the Community News and Programs page on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.