Cardinal Connections Newsletter

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The Education Foundation for Clinton Students, Inc. presented the district with a very generous donation from the late George R. Lilleston, a 1958 Clinton High School graduate and longstanding Clinton attorney. This lead donation of $750,000, designated specifically for the construction of a softball and baseball complex at Clinton High School, covers nearly half of the project's estimated cost. This generous donation marks the first pitch of a capital campaign—a fundraising partnership between the Clinton School District and the Education Foundation for Clinton Students, Inc. (a 501 c3 organization). This significant contribution provides the District and Foundation with a strong starting point to move forward with a project that will benefit student-athletes and the entire community for years to come.

The proposed baseball and softball complex will be strategically located just east of Clinton High School on land already owned by the district. The Clinton School District and the Education Foundation are committed to raising the remaining funds for Phase 1 from October 2024 to January 15, 2025, with the field ready for the Spring 2026 baseball season. The estimated cost for Phase 1 is $1.5 to $2 million, with nearly half already secured through our generous lead donation.

Phase 1 includes a combination baseball/softball field. The new facility will include lighting, concession stand, restrooms, etc. Phase 2 will add a second field, allowing both baseball and softball additional opportunities for practices and games.

All contributions made towards this project are tax-deductible. By donating now, you can help bring this vision to life while also taking advantage of year-end tax deductions. Donors can also contribute in 2024 and 2025 to maximize potential tax benefits over two years. If you are interested in contributing, please contact the Education Foundation at foundation@clintoncardinals.org or 660-890-3050. An online donation portal will be available November 1st.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to be a part of something transformative for the Clinton School District. A long-held dream is on the verge of becoming a reality and with your support, it will leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

LEARN MORE HERE

This past weekend, Clinton High School junior, Malachi Wilson took the trip of a lifetime to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Malachi was nominated for this event by Mrs. Jessica Shaffer, CHS rootEd Advisor, through the STARS Fly-In Program. Once nominated, Malachi had to go through a highly competitive application process in order to be accepted. This program provides an all-expenses paid trip for rural students throughout the country, allowing students to experience and explore campus life in the Boston area, meet admissions and financial aid experts, as well as current MIT students.

"Throughout the duration of the program I gained more knowledge and insight about the college admissions process and also got to speak with admissions officers who were very helpful and answered my questions," says Malachi. "I also collaborated with the other 20 students through workshops, scavenger hunts, and exploring Boston. I very much enjoyed this atmosphere and am glad I got to experience this program."

See more pictures here.

Congratulations to this year's Homecoming Royalty!

Left to right: Cameron Mertz (2023 king), Mason Shumate (2024 prince), Benjamin Willings (2024 wee king), Will Golder (2024 king), Sabrina Meloy (2024 queen), Allison Vandenburg (2024 princess), Allie Goucher (2023 queen), and Ryn Taylor (2024 wee queen)

Clinton Intermediate School students are enjoying welcoming their families into their school for "House Evenings".

So far, Nukumori (the House of Kindness) and Altruismo (the House of Givers) have enjoyed nights of fun with their families. Students enjoyed crafts, snacks, sharing with their families about CIS happenings, and spreading kindness to others.

See more pictures here.

Clinton High School and Clinton Middle School FCCLA students have had a very busy and successful first quarter.

The Clinton School District was well-represented at the FCCLA Region 12 UCM meeting with 43 students in attendance. Students also received the “most-spirited” award.

Twenty-one members traveled to Osage Beach to attend the Fall Leadership Conference. FCCLA officers, Isabel Gastaudo and Aubrey Springer, competed in the Show-Me Skills Level 3 Banner Challenge and received a 2nd place plaque. The team was tasked with constructing a frame to scale and designing a banner reflecting criteria of the conference.

Students are taught by Liane Hager, Melissa Peery, and Penny Williams.

See more pictures here.

Firefighters from the Clinton Fire Department recently tried their hand at being chefs!

Firemen stopped by Clinton Intermediate School and made pancakes for fourth grade students who had met their reading goal. Each student had to read at least 3 fiction and 3 non-fiction books, score 85% or higher on the comprehension test, and earn 9 points to meet the goal. Thirty-six fourth graders earned this reward!

We are also happy to report that during the pancake-making, no fires had to be put out!

See more pictures here.

You’re looking at the Cameron Marchfest Class 4 Field 1ST PLACE CHAMPIONS!! This amazing group of Cardinals also took 3rd place in Indoor Drumline!

Congratulations to this fantastic group of band students who have worked SO hard this season! Students are taught by Pat Miles and Katie Klinksick

Clinton Schools will not be in session on Friday, November 1st for staff professional development.

Parents and guardians, you are invited to join us for A Cardinal Thanksgiving!

Your child’s school will be serving a Thanksgiving meal (Thanksgiving snack for CECC) on the dates and times listed here and you are invited to join your child(ren). Adult lunches for the Thanksgiving meal are $4.00 ($1.10 for the snack at CECC).

To help kitchen staff prepare, YOU MUST RSVP BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8th. Please see details at the link above regarding RSVP procedures. THIS YEAR, THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE NOVEMBER 8TH DEADLINE.

Please be aware that to ensure the safety of our students and staff, all guests are required to bring a photo ID to present when signing-in at the school.

We are very excited to welcome you into our school for a special time with your child. If you have additional questions, please call your child’s school.

The Angel Tree program is for families who are experiencing financial hardship and are in need of assistance for Christmas. This year, there is no online registration, forms must be requested and picked up at any Clinton school building office. Forms must be returned to the school office by November 8th.

Angel Tree is also overseeing a coat distribution. If your child will be in need of a coat this winter, please call 660-885-8229 (between the hours of 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday) to schedule an appointment to receive a coat.

All questions regarding either program, must be directed to the Angel Tree program. They can be reached at angeltreehcmo@gmail.com or 660-885-8229.

Come out and play basketball!

The CHS girls basketball season starts on Monday, November 4th from 3:15-5:15 in the CHS gym. All communication for girls basketball will occur through the SportsYou app. For more information, please see the details below to download and join!

Are you an alumni of Clinton High School's baseball or softball programs?

If so, please consider completing the short form at the link below.

FORM

Taher, the district's food service provider, is interested in hearing from YOU!

Please take a few minutes to take this quick survey to provide feedback on the Clinton School District's food service department.

SURVEY-https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KJ9VWB2

Clinton High School Student Council will be hosting a blood drive at CHS on Thursday, October 31st.

See the flier below for more information.

Don't miss out on your chance to register as a vendor for the annual Cardinal Holiday Mart!

This annual event will be held on November 16th from 9:00-2:00. Mark you calendar for this amazing day of shopping!

To register as a vendor, please email, abracher@clintoncardinals.org. The price of a booth is $30.

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.

Want to catch our Cardinals in action this year?

You can view a full athletic calendar on our website at this link.

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)

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!

NOMINATE HERE

The 2024-2025 school year calendar can be found below.

You can find a printable version on our website.