

Cardinal Connections Newsletter

NOVEMBER 21, 2024
A HOME RUN FOR THE FUTURE UPDATE
We have some exciting updates regarding the Home Run for the Future capital campaign!
- WE HAVE SURPASSED THE $800,000 MARK (check out our progress tracker below)!
- DOUBLE PLAY OPPORTUNITY- Now through December 6, you can make your donation COUNT TWICE! Thanks to the generous support of the Truman Lake Community Foundation (TLCF) and the Patterson Family Foundation, every dollar given to the "Home Run for the Future" capital campaign will be matched, up to a combined total of $25,000. Don't miss out on this opportunity! Learn more here.
- ALUMNI CLASS CHALLENGE- The CHS Class of 1994 is the second class to successfully complete the Alumni Class Challenge! We encourage CHS alumni to rally your classmates to donate an amount equal to or greater than your graduation year. Every participating class will get a celebratory photo with a “big check,” and be featured on social media.
As you will remember, the Home Run for the Future capital campaign began with an incredible $750,000 donation from the late George Lilleston, a CHS Class of 1958 graduate. This donation was earmarked specifically for the construction of a softball/baseball complex at Clinton High School. This generous donation gets us almost halfway to our goal of $2 million. All donations are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE, and can be made now through January 15, 2025. **Naming right opportunities are available for donations of $100,000+. Donations of $25,000 also have the ability to pledge their gift over a 5 year span.
If you have any questions, please reach out to foundation@clintoncardinals.org
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
On Monday, November 11, in honor of Veterans Day, Clinton High School students came together to honor and thank veterans for their dedication and service to our country.
A student-led assembly was held at Clinton High School. JROTC students, the CHS band and CHS/CMS choir did a phenomenal job of honoring those who made the noble decision to serve, defend and protect our country. The district was honored to have several veterans, as well as guest speaker, Ryan Clark, in attendance for the ceremony.
Prior to the yearly ceremony, veterans enjoyed a breakfast prepared and served by FCCLA students.
See more pictures here.
NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY
Congratulations to the 72 Clinton Middle School 7th and 8th graders who met the requirements to be a member of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).
To be a member of this prestigious organization, students must maintain a GPA of 3.5, demonstrate leadership skills at school and in the community, be a good citizen and role model to peers, as well as complete 8 hours of community service.
Congratulations are also in order for this year's NJHS officers:
Jocelyn Himes (president)
Kesslyn Williamson (vice president)
Kasyn Shockley (secretary)
Danika DeVasher (treasurer)
Bristol Turk (historian)
Jakyra Spratt (historian)
Clinton Middle School NJHS sponsor is Mandi Taylor.
See a list of NJHS members here.
PRECISION IN PROGRESS
Machine Tool Technology students in Mr. Berg's class have been getting hands-on experience with the manual lathe as they finished up their hammer projects and ink pens.
The Machine Tool Technology program introduces students to automated manufacturing, the branch of technology that uses stationary power-driven machines to shape or form parts made of metal and other materials.
See more pictures here.
HONORING HEROES
Students at Henry Elementary took time on Veteran's Day to learn what a veteran is, what they have done for us, and why it is important to honor them.
First grade students in Ms. Nepple's class made cards to pass out to local nursing homes, hospitals, and people they know who are veterans.
Kindergarteners in Mrs. Himes' class created a poppy and poem craft. These were shared with local veterans including Henry Elementary's very own veteran, Nurse Jenn!
BLASTING INTO HISTORY
Earlier this month, Clinton Middle School students in Ms. Raymond's Discovery class enjoyed a visit from her mother, Wilma Kinder.
Ms. Kinder spoke to students about her brother's connection with the first orbit flight in outer space, the Sigma 7 Mercury. Her brother, Thomas Willoughby, was a pilot for the United States Navy and was tasked with retrieving Walter Schirra after he successfully orbited the earth for the first time in 1962. Ms. Kinder shared personal photos and newspaper clippings from this event with students.
See more pictures here.
ROARING INTO LEARNING
Ms. April and Ms. Jamella's CECC students are exploring the world of dinosaurs while making their own dinosaur books. This fun project helps students practice following directions, writing letters and words, drawing detailed pictures, and discovering what goes into and on books. It's a "dino-mite" way to build essential skills!
See more pictures here.
HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES
Congratulations to the CHS band students below who made a District Ensemble. Thirty-five schools participated with 448 competitors.
- Molly Houk - 2nd Chair Tenor Sax District Band/2nd Chair Tenor Sax District Jazz Band
- Alex Markham - 4th Chair Horn District Band
- Savannah Lee - 6th Chair Flute District Band
- Abrielle Jones - 23rd Chair Clarinet District Band
- Alli Vandenberg - 1st Chair Hon. Mention Band
- Gideon Tucker - 12th Chair 2nd Violin District Orchestra
- Bryce Bade - 3rd Chair Hon. Mention Band
- Alex Crawford - 2nd Chair Euphonium Honor Band Alternate 2/Hon. Mention Band 2
- Olivia Eastridge - 2nd Chair Trombone Honor Band Alternate 2/ Hon. Mention Band 2
- Ella Dailey - 2nd Chair Horn Honor Band Alternate/2nd Chair Horn Hon. Mention Band
Molly, Alex M, Savannah, Abrielle, Gideon, Alex C, Olivia, and Ella can now audition for state!
Congratulations also to the following CMS students who were selected for the District Junior High Honor Bands! Many students were nominated out of the 7th and 8th grade bands and the nine below were selected by the district chair to participate. They will perform in a concert on December 14th in Sedalia.
- 8th Grade: Andrew Harp, Ethan Lutjen, Brandon Long, Raina Hendershot, and Alexis Scott
- 7th Grade: Anniston Keithley, Willow Bohannan, Mason Wehmeyer, and Bella Howry
Students are taught by Pat Miles and Katie Klinksick.
NO SCHOOL
Clinton Schools will not be in session November 25-29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
BRIGHTEN A STAFF MEMBER'S DAY
This week, during A WEEK OF GRATITUDE, we would like to provide you a very easy way to make a staff member's day.
We have created a simple and fun way for you to reach out to a CSD staff member using a digital postcard.
Simply click this link, choose a design, include your own personal message and click submit! We'll do the rest!
TRIVIA NIGHT
WINTER BREAK
School staff will have a work day and professional development on January 6 and 7. Students will return on January 8.
We wish all of our Cardinals a wonderful holiday season!
HELPFUL BUS APP
FirstView is a bus tracking and communications app, offered in partnership with First Student, the district's transportation provider. The FirstView app offers parents live bus tracking with custom alerts and notifications.
To get started using FirstView, please use this link. If you should have questions, please contact Transportation at 660-885-2644.
ATHLETIC CALENDAR
Want to catch our Cardinals in action this year?
You can view a full athletic calendar on our website at this link.
MEAL BALANCES
To accommodate students who purchase school meals, payment options include an online payment system (found here) that will take credit and debit cards, or cash and check payments may be made at all school buildings. We ask that lunch accounts do not incur a negative balance.
If you have not already completed a Free and Reduced Meal application for the 2024-2025 school year, we encourage you to do so. This application can be found here on our website, or you may request one from your child’s school office.
Please be aware that even if your child qualifies for free/reduced meals, there are still circumstances where they will be charged full-price for food/drink items.
- A la carte items (CMS/CHS)
- Choosing extra entrees as they go through the lunch line (CHS)
- Getting a second chance breakfast after having a regular breakfast earlier in the morning (CHS)
- Extra milk with lunch/breakfast (all schools)
- Snack milk (Henry Elementary)
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM
The Cardinal Compliment program is back!
This program is a way for you to salute any Clinton School District employee who goes above and beyond what is expected. Whether you're a parent impressed with that special touch your child's teacher added to a moment, a coworker who thinks their colleague doesn't hear often enough about the great job they are doing, or a community member who witnesses a staff member’s commitment to kids - you can send a Cardinal Compliment!
Supervisors, including the superintendent, will see your submission. The employee will receive a certificate of gratitude and a token of appreciation that lets everyone know he or she was given a Cardinal Compliment.
Every month, Cardinal Compliment recipients will be listed on the district website and posted on the district Facebook page to let others know the names of the district's difference makers!
SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
The 2024-2025 school year calendar can be found below.
You can find a printable version on our website.