It's true what they say... time flies when you are having fun! And that is most definitely the case here at Clayton Elementary. This month was full of successes, relationship building, laughter, joy, learning, routines and overall excitement!

The month of October is always an exciting one as students are fully into their routines, curriculums, small groups and their "normal" schedule. This is the month that we use the data and observations from September to drive our instruction and decisions. The i-Ready test that students took in late September (math only) helps us to meet students where they are at and utilize instructional strategies to move them forward. Our kindergarten students are settled into a routine and have taken classroom assessments that also allow the teachers to move them forward. Our kindergarten students will take the math i-Ready test in November.

There is new legislation that has required us to change some assessment practices within literacy and how we report assessment outcomes to families. Typically, at the fall P/T conferences, we would share a reading level with you and fall reading i-Ready data. We do not have that this year and we will be communicating other assessment results throughout the year. Teachers will definitely share academic and behavioral progress with you at conferences, it will just be a little different as we learn a new resource.

We continue to ask that you partner and work alongside us this year. Ask your child what they are reading, have him/her read to you, ask questions about work that may come home, talk with them about what/who they played with outside or maybe even ask them what the hardest part of their day was. One of the greatest parts of Clayton is our amazing home/school connections.

We look forward to a great second and final month of the first quarter that wraps up on November 1st. Thank you for being our partner in your child's education.

Mrs. Kiplin

Principal

Our Cub Club partnerships started this month! Check out Ms. Heinz and Ms. Hall's classes together! Ask your child who their Cub Club Buddy is! :)

Fall parent-teacher conferences will be held in person October 17th and 23rd from 4-8pm and virtually on October 25th from 1-4pm. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 AM on Friday, October 25th.

These scheduled conferences provide you with an opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and discuss your child’s performance academically and socially. Conferences are a time when parents/guardians and teachers can meet to discuss strengths of the child as well as areas that your child is working to improve in. Teachers of students in grades 1-4 will also share i-Ready goals for the winter in reading with 4th grade sharing reading and math goals.

Each child will be given ONE conference with their classroom teacher. Special education and support staff will attend student conferences as available.

To sign-up for your scheduled conference time please click the button below for further directions and steps or visit www.myconferencetime.com/clayton

Conference time is one of the many times that our staff at Clayton put in extra time to help connect with our amazing families. Please consider contributing to our conference meals via the SignUpGenius link below to support our hardworking staff on these long evenings. We are looking for donations of beverages, chips, desserts and more! Thank you in advance for your help & support!

We have an agreement with Kobussen that families will inform Kobussen of any changes in routes or additions to routes. An example of this would be if your child is going to ride the bus on a route with a friend and this is a different route than they typically would be on. This is due to space on the buses and to ensure all parties are aware. Once you have called Kobussen (these do need to go through their main office), please let us know and we will then get bus slips to appropriate students. Kobussen can be reached at: (920) 722-8572 If you have any questions about this process, please call the Clayton Office.

All students are invited to bring one school snack each day. This snack is a home-provided snack that families can pack outside of a child's school lunch. A few things to note:

• Check with your child's teacher for peanut allergies to ensure that your child's classroom is not a Peanut Aware classroom.
• The time of snack is determined by the child's classroom teacher.
• Snacks should be packed outside of a child's cold/home lunch.
• If a child forgets a snack every now and then, we do have limited snacks we can provide on an "as needed" basis.
• If your family needs support with providing your child a snack from home, please reach out to Mrs. Jelinski, school counselor.

School fee/fine reminders will be sent this next week to families via USPS. Please be on the lookout for these and take care of them as soon as possible.

**You will also see technology fines/fees are on these notices. Please reach out if you have questions about those.

Dear Clayton Cougar Parents,

In the first month of our physical education class, students have been actively engaged in a variety of activities designed to promote teamwork, fitness, ball skills and overall well-being. We kicked off the semester with fun icebreaker games to foster a sense of community, followed by introductory lessons in fundamental movement skills. With our older grades, we’ve also incorporated fitness challenges to encourage personal goal setting and tracking progress. Additionally, with all grades, we touched base on the components of fitness and the overall importance of all components. Recently, we have started to practice underhand/overhand throwing and catching, focusing on both individual skills and cooperative play. Overall, the month has been filled with enthusiasm and a strong commitment to try and get better each and every day. I look forward to building on this foundation in the coming weeks!

Feel free to reach out if you're interested in enrolling your child in any out-of-school motor development/sporting program—I’d be happy to try and guide you in the right direction!

Mr. Buchberger

This time of year often brings birthday parties and special events. To help keep school a safe place for all students and to also allow our teachers to focus on teaching, birthday invites are not to be handed out at school unless all students in the class are invited. We encourage families to use the USPS to mail out birthday invitations with assistance of our school directory below.

*Please note that the school directory is organized by grade level.

The 2024 Helping Hands Art and Craft Fair will be held on Saturday, November 2 in its traditional location at the Ron Einerson Fieldhouse at Neenah Middle School (former Neenah High School at 1275 Tullar Road) from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The event features over 125 vendors of handmade items as well as food, a raffle and a used book sale. Music will be provided by the high school Touch of Class orchestra. Admission is $2 per person. All funds go directly to NJSD families in need as well as a yearly scholarship.

Our NJSD website has information on happenings throughout the district and the community!

• Head to www.https://www.neenah.k12.wi.us
• Click the "Community" tab
• Choose "Community Events" on the left-hand side for a list and flyers of many events happening throughout the year
• Check back often for updates!

We are excited to continue a tradition at Clayton! On Thursday, October 31st, we will have an All-School Fall Celebration! Students may choose to wear costumes to school on that day, dress as their favorite book/movie character or wear something that reminds them of fall.

A few reminders on costumes and dress up days:

• Student faces must be visible (no masks that cover full faces).
• Weapons are NOT allowed.
• Costumes that are "doom and gloom", bloody or "gory" will not be allowed.
• Please use minimal face paint to ensure students can still focus during their day.
• Ensure that the book/movie character/costume is school appropriate.

Classroom teachers may reach out with information on how they are making the Fall Celebration special for students. Be on the lookout for staff communications. :)

Growth is the centerpiece of the Neenah Joint School District’s Plan for Success for the 2024-2025 school year is a continuation of the work we did last school year.

Growth will be publicly measured by the District report card issued by the state in November and in other ways at each of the schools. Four anchors to achieve growth were identified: Engagement, Collaboration, Responsibility and Well-Being. District staff and students will focus on these anchors throughout the school year

Please continue to use the "Request for Student Absence" form for planned future absences that are for two or more consecutive school days. This form is also on our website or request a hard copy from the Clayton office/your child's teacher.

As a reminder, by law, students are allowed 10 excused absences per school year. Absences that are not communicated within 24 hours will be considered unexcused absences.

• Thursday, October 10, 1:00-3:00- Neenah-Menasha & Clayton Fire Fire Safety Demonstrations
• Wednesday, October 16, 1:00- Clayton Secure Safety Drill
• Thursday, October 17, 4:00-8:00pm- P/T Conferences
  
• Friday, October 18, Cub Club Activities
• Tuesday, October 22, 8:30-1:00 - 4th Grade to Heritage Hill
• Wednesday, October 23, 4:00-8:00pm- P/T Conferences
  
• Friday, October 25, 11:30am Dismissal!
  
• Friday, October 25, 1:00-4:00pm- P/T Conferences
• Wednesday, October 30- Clayton Picture Retake Day
• Thursday, October 31- Clayton Fall Celebration (during the day)
• Friday, November 1- 11:30am Dismissal!
• Monday, November 5- No School! (Teachers in professional learning!)
  
• Wednesday, November 27th- Friday, November 29th- NO SCHOOL- Thanksgiving Break!
  

Below is the current version of important dates for next school year for Clayton. Please check our Clayton website periodically for updates to this as they come.