As we move into the second month of the school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the great start we’ve had! Students are settling into their routines, and the energy in our hallways is vibrant. Fall sports are in full swing, showcasing our athletes’ hard work and dedication, while most clubs are hosting their first meetings this month. Last week, we sent out digital club sign-ups, making it easier for students to get involved in the activities that interest them.

We are also excited to announce that we will be hosting our annual Fall Carnival on Friday, October 18th. It promises to be a fun-filled evening for students and families alike, and we hope to see you there!

As we approach the end of the quarter on October 18th, I want to remind everyone to stay on top of their assignments and reach out for any support needed. Additionally, we will be hosting parent-teacher conferences on Tuesday, October 22nd. This is a great opportunity to connect with teachers and discuss your child’s progress.

Looking ahead, we have a busy and engaging few months planned, filled with events, activities, and opportunities for our students to shine. I encourage everyone to participate in these exciting offerings and support our students in their endeavors. Let’s make this school year memorable together!

Justin Sullivan

Principal,

Grades 6-8

sullivanj@cleverbluejays.org

417-743-4820

We’re excited to kick off Homecoming Spirit Week! Students and teachers are encouraged to participate and show their school spirit each day with fun themes. Let’s make this a memorable week as we celebrate our school community!

We are excited to introduce our new "Leader Slips" initiative, designed to recognize and celebrate students who demonstrate exceptional qualities of respect, responsibility, and leadership within our school community.

Teachers will be awarding Leader Slips to students who exemplify these values in their daily actions. These slips serve as a tangible acknowledgment of their positive contributions and leadership roles within the building.

Students who earn a Leader Slip will also receive a special treat and be entered into our monthly drawings for additional prizes. Additionally, we will be highlighting one outstanding Leader of the Month from each grade level. These selected students will be honored with a special lunch with the principal off-campus, providing a unique opportunity to celebrate their achievements in a more personal setting.

We encourage students to continue striving for excellence in their behavior and interactions, and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments. Keep an eye out for these slips and the positive impact they will have on our school environment!

We celebrated fall sports season with an exciting pep assembly that showcased our incredible football team, talented girls' volleyball squad, and dedicated cross country runners! The energy was electric as our school band played spirited tunes, rallying everyone together in support of our athletes. Students participated in fun activity challenges, fostering school spirit and camaraderie. A big thank you to everyone who attended and cheered on our teams! Let’s continue to show our support as they compete this season! Go, Bluejays!!

We are so excited for this year's Fall Festival! Planning is in full force and we are planning some exciting things for families! As our single largest fundraiser for our Leader In Me student Action Teams we hope you will join us for an evening of Food, Fun, Family, and maybe even a new little friend with some fins (IYKYK). The Book Fair will be Open, as well as Jay Threads.

If you would like to participate in the fun by hosting a game, or are able to donate some prizes, click HERE for more information. We can't wait to spend the evening with you and your family!

The Clever R-V School District is proud to be celebrating Red Ribbon Week again this year during the week of October 29th-November 1st. Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign that takes place every October to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use. At Clever Middle School, we use this week as an opportunity to promote healthy choices and drug-free living among our students.

Throughout the week, we'll be providing several opportunities for our students to get involved. We will host our "Life is a Movie, Film Drug Free" spirit week in keeping with the 2024 National Red Ribbon theme. Participating students will have the opportunity to earn prizes throughout the week. Additionally, Mrs. Casey and Officer Luttrull will be presenting drug and alcohol prevention education in all of our 6th-8th grade Science classrooms. Our goal is to empower our students to make informed decisions and lead fulfilling, substance-free lives.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Casey. You can also learn more about Red Ribbon Week at https://www.redribbon.org/.

We are excited to celebrate the incredible achievement of our 7th grade girls volleyball team and Coach Mr. Belling! They recently secured 1st place at the Clever Volleyball Invitational, showcasing their hard work, dedication, and teamwork.

This outstanding performance is a testament to their commitment to the sport and each other. We couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishment and the way they represented our school.

Congratulations, girls! We look forward to seeing what the rest of the season has in store for you! Go, team!

Every two weeks, we are excited to highlight the incredible activities and achievements of our students and athletes. From academic accomplishments to athletic excellence, we recognize the hard work and dedication of our school community. This initiative is also part of our commitment to the OKJ Recognition Program, which honors those who embody our school values. Join us in celebrating the diverse talents and efforts of our students as they shine both in the classroom and on the field!

Our Opportunities Class recently engaged in an exciting and challenging activity centered around teamwork and problem-solving! Students collaborated to crack the codes of our breakout boxes, working together to solve puzzles and think critically. This hands-on experience not only fostered collaboration but also allowed students to apply their skills in a fun and engaging way. We’re proud of their teamwork and creativity as they unlocked the mysteries and achieved success together!

Part of our mission at CMS is to keep students and parents up to date with important information. This year we will be using various platforms to help achieve this mission.

• Email - It is important that you have an updated email on file with the school office. Most often communication will be done using email.

• Facebook - Like the Clever Schools 6-8 page

• Rooms - Rooms is a new communicaiton application the district will be using. Information will be sent out via text messages and emails leading up to the start of school.

• Canvas - Students will use Canvas on a daily basis for completing assignments; parents have the opportunity to create an observer account that is linked to their child's account.

• Lumen Touch Parent Portal - We encourage you to create an account to access and view student information at any time.

Why Attendance Matters?

Consistent attendance is vital for your child’s academic success and overall development. Each school day is packed with learning experiences, from engaging lessons to collaborative group work, which are difficult to replicate outside the classroom. Regular attendance ensures that your child does not miss out on these valuable opportunities to learn and grow.

The Impact of Absences

Even a few absences can add up and affect your child’s progress. When students are frequently absent, they may struggle to keep up with their peers, miss important instructions, and feel disconnected from their classmates. This can lead to lower grades, decreased confidence, and added stress.

How You Can Help?

We understand that absences are sometimes unavoidable due to illness or emergencies. However, we encourage you to ensure that your child attends school every day they are able. Here are a few ways you can help:

Set a Routine: Establish a consistent bedtime and morning routine to help your child start the day on the right foot.

Communicate: Keep in touch with your child’s teachers if there are any concerns that might affect attendance.

Prioritize School: Schedule appointments and family vacations outside of school hours whenever possible. We encourage you to use Mondays when all possible.

Support Available:

If your child is facing any challenges that make regular attendance difficult, please reach out to us. We are here to support your family and ensure that your child has every opportunity to succeed.

Quarterly grades will be calculated using the following measures:

• Formative Assessments - 25% (Daily Assignments, Classroom Quick Checks)

• Summative Assessments - 75% (Tests, Projects)

Students will be assessed using the following grading scale.

Letter Grade Overall Percentages

A 100%-90%

B 89%-80%

C 79%-70%

D 69%-60%

F 59% or below

All Formative and Summative activities not turned in on time will be recorded as an Incomplete ("I") in the grade book. This will be calculated as a zero in the student's overall grade.

Formative: Due no later than the beginning of class on the following Tuesday from the original due date. Assessments will not be accepted after this deadline. The original due date will be determined by the date listed in LUMEN.

Summative: Retake/redo assessments are due no later than the end of the school day 14 calendar days (2 weeks) from the original due date. The original due date will be determined by the date listed in LUMEN.

*If the final due date is a day that school is not in session (inclement weather, breaks, etc.), it will extend to the next day school is in session.

In the world of work, we are given the opportunity to retake assessments and redo work that we did not master the first time. This usually happens following additional coaching, instruction and practice. The same will be true for students with the following guidelines:

• At the teacher’s discretion a legitimate effort must be made on the first attempt in order to be eligible for a retake/redo.

• Students must complete a CMS Retake Contract

• The student must receive additional instruction and/or complete additional practice to demonstrate progress toward mastery before completing the retake/redo.

Students will have the opportunity to earn maximum credit on redo formative & summative assessments.

If a student chooses not to make a first attempt or refuses to complete the additional work required prior to the retake/redo, the teacher does not have to allow the student the opportunity to retake/redo.

Grade checks will take place approximately every two weeks on Wednesday mornings.

A CMS student (involved in any activity) who receives two or more failing grades on any 2-week grade check will become academically ineligible until the following 2-week eligibility check. If the student is failing less than two classes when the next 2-week grade check is completed, he/she will regain eligibility on the day grades are posted. If, however, the student is still failing two or more classes, he/she will remain ineligible until the next 2-week grade period.

GRADE CHECK DATES:

1st Quarter: 9/4, 9/18, 10/2, 10/18 (end of quarter)

2nd Quarter: 11/6, 11/20, 12/11, 12/20 (end of quarter)

3rd Quarter: 1/22, 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/14 (end of quarter)

4th Quarter: 4/9, 4/23, 5/7, 5/16 (end of quarter, could be moved pending snow days)

Clever Schools is implementing a Technology User Fee for grades K-8.

The Technology User Fee will be $25 for each student, we will be pushing out invoices for this through MySchoolBucks, https://login.myschoolbucks.com/, which is used to pay your lunch balances. Please watch your email for the invoices to come out.

This fee can be paid over the next 7 months if needed, you will be able to make partial payments until December 31, 2024.

Rooms: Clever Middle School 6-8

Website: www.cleverbluejays.org
Location: 103 S Public Ave, Clever, MO, USA
Phone: 417-743-4820
Facebook: facebook.com/Clever6-8