Back to School Newsletter 2024

As a school of choice, our mission at Clark-Shaw Magnet School is to develop students into globally aware and productive citizens who excel academically and are responsible, courteous, life-long learners. This will be accomplished by providing a challenging curriculum in a safe and nurturing environment.

Parents,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. We are working each day to provide our students with challenging, hands-on math and science activities that foster lifelong learning. This year’s theme is "Empowering Minds, Sparking Futures," and I am confident that together we will succeed. The goal is to create an environment that focuses on the success of every student. The faculty is working to develop personalized learning strategies in a strong, inclusive school culture that celebrates the unique gifts found in each student.

I am excited to announce the launch of our inaugural 9th grade Career and Technical Education (CTE) class. This program is a significant milestone for our school, offering students the opportunity to explore various career pathways and gain valuable hands-on experience. Your support is critical in making the program successful.

Again, welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. This will be our best year.

Mrs. Taylor-Jackson

Principal

Empowering Minds. Sparking Futures.

We have a new bell schedule for the 2024-2025 school year!

We will continue with our rotating schedule, but 7th period will be locked. This means students will end every day with the same class.

We are thrilled to announce a landmark moment in our school's history: the introduction of our inaugural 9th grade class at Clark-Shaw Magnet School for the upcoming academic year!

This year marks a significant expansion of our middle school program as we welcome our first cohort of 9th graders. Our goal is to provide a seamless and enriching educational experience that bridges the gap between middle and high school, ensuring that our students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

9th grade students enjoyed wings and burgers from the MySix Cooking Food truck on the first Friday of the school year!

Mrs. Mattern’s 9th grade Honors English students are assessing their own multiple intelligences and setting career goals.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we welcome new students and drivers to campus and help them get familiar with our carpool procedures. Our main goal each morning and afternoon is the safety of our students and staff as we try to be as efficient as possible. Please read the important instructions at the following link: [click here]

Clark-Shaw is the magnet school bus "hub" for MCPSS middle schools. Bus transportation is provided from students' zoned schools to Clark-Shaw every morning according to the schedule found on the MCPSS website: [link]. The schedule also shows the times the buses will return in the afternoon to zoned schools. Parents, if you have not read the letter from the magnet school transportation office, please find it here [link].

Science Fair is an integral part of Clark-Shaw's hands-on, inquiry-based STEM focus. Students in all grades will conduct an individual science fair project during 1st and 2nd quarters. Detailed information about projects will be discussed at informational meetings on August 12 (6th grade) and August 15 (7th/8th grade) at 5:30 pm in the gym. All parents are invited, and parents of new students are especially encouraged to attend. Please join us to learn how you can best support your student's science fair journey!

Check out the Clark-Shaw website for information on science fair due dates: [click here]

Show some Eagle spirit and help us capture every memorable moment of the year! Send us your pictures so we can include them on social media, newsletter, website, or the yearbook. You can share back to school photos, and any other school-related pictures, at the yearbook eShare website at https://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/home?code=21021.

Email Mrs. Howell (ahowell3@mcpss.com) if you have any questions.

Ms. Winfield's 6th grade social studies students collaborated by working as a team to stack cups using only yarn and a rubber band without touching the cups.

Sixth grade mathematicians at work showing their foundations, which they will build upon this year.

Mrs. Ashley Friend, one of our custodians, is also an artist. She used her talents to brighten up the main building hallway! Some 6th graders posed in front of the beautiful wing mural near the front office.

Mrs. Burch's 7th grade science students got to know their team members by finding things in common. They then wrote those things down on index cards and used the cards to build towers.

Mrs. Brewer's 7th grade ELA students worked in groups on procedures and the class syllabus.

Students in Mrs. Cazalas' 7th grade math classes conducted themselves silly while learning the true meaning of being a Clark Shaw Student from the Handbook and began showing off their math knowledge with Integer Battle!

Mrs. Collier’s 8th grade enrichment class illustrated the use of numbers and math in the real world.

Parents, if you have not paid your student's $40 registration fees, please send payment to your child's homeroom teacher. Cash, money orders, or checks payable to Clark-Shaw are accepted. In addition, some elective classes collect fees. Payments for those should be given to the elective class teacher.

My name is Jolene Walker, and I am the nurse at Clark-Shaw. I am very excited to share another year with everyone. I have been a nurse for almost 15 years and absolutely love school nursing.

I wanted to update parents on a couple of things to start off the school year. If your student requires medication at school, there must be a PPA (parent physician authorization) form filled out by the physician. Once this form has been done, then the parent or legal guardian may bring the medication to the nurse. This includes both prescription and over the counter medication. Please do not send medication to school with your student. Also, if your student requires any modifications to their diet while here, please have the physician fill out a diet prescription form so that I can get this to the cafeteria to accommodate them. Additionally, if your student has a chronic ailment and you need a form on file for their attendance, please remember that this form is only good for 1 semester. It will need to updated after Christmas break for the 2nd semester. These forms can be found on our school website, or I can send them home with your student.

If your student has any medical problems or concerns that you need to make me aware of, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I can be contacted at the school at 251-221-2106 or via email at jhwalker@mcpss.com. I look forward to another amazing school year!!

Jolene Walker, RN

Welcome to Clark-Shaw Magnet 6th graders and welcome back to Clark-Shaw Magnet 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. We would like to take this time to let you all know that we are excited to have you here with us, and we look forward to having a fantastic school year. As your counselors, we will be communicating with you about things such as bullying, life/career skills, drug education, safety precautions, learning skills for testing, and other subjects. We are happy to have you all here with us, and we look forward to a fantastic 2024-25 school year.

Sincerely,

Tamara D. Woods, 6th & 7th grade Counselor

Ron Sayles, 8th & 9th grade Counselor

Did you know that there are no federal holidays in August? Instead, August highlights daily, weekly, and monthly celebrations and observances such as the following:

August 1: U.S. Air Force Day & Respect for Parents Day

August 4: National Friendship Day

August 9: Book Lovers Day

August 10: National Spoil Your Dog Day

August 12: International Youth Day

August 13: International Left-Handers Day

August 16: National Tell A Joke Day

August 18: National Fajita Day

August 23: National Cuban Sandwich Day

August 25: National Women’s Equality Day

August 29: Individual Rights’ Day

August 30: National Beach Day!

We invite you to celebrate the achievements of women in history this month. We also encourage you to learn about new faiths, different heritage or awareness months, as well as other national or international days. Feliz día!

(Source: The Spruce)

Coming up next month: Hispanic Heritage Month

With our football and volleyball seasons about to begin, please remember that tickets can be purchased through Go Fan at the following link: [click here]. Go Fan tickets will be turned on the day before the game. Tickets will also be sold for cash at the door or gates this year. Come out and support our student athletes!

Go Eagles!!

Mandatory flag football parent meeting on August 21 at 5 pm.

Archery tryouts will be held August 13 for 9th graders and August 14 for 6th graders. There is a $10.00 tryout fee. Please complete the Google Form for the coaches.

Click HERE to access the Google Form.

August 12- 6th Grade Parent Meeting (Science Fair) @ 5:30 PM; Beginning Band Parent Meeting immediately following

August 13- 7th/8th Grade Band Parent Meeting via Zoom (link sent via Remind from Mrs. Reynolds)

August 15- Football parent meeting @ 4:30 PM; 7th/8th Grade Science Fair Parent Meeting @ 6 PM

August 19- Makeup yearbook photos

September 2- Labor Day (NO SCHOOL)

September 9- Open House @ 6 PM/ Title 1 Parent Meeting before @ 5PM

September 16- Teacher Professional Development Day (NO SCHOOL)

September 30- Virtual Day (details TBA)

October 3- Homecoming Football Game @ 4 PM

October 11- Last Day of 1st Quarter

October 14- Teacher Work Day (NO SCHOOL)

October 15- 1st Day of 2nd Quarter

To access the PTA store (spirit items, memberships, etc.): https://clark-shaw-magnet-school-pta.square.site/s/shop

Follow them on Facebook: Clark Shaw PTA

Have a question? Email them at clarkshawpta1@gmail.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarkshawmagnet

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarkshawmagnet_eagles @clarkshawmagnet_eagles

Website: https://clarkshawmagnet.com