March 14-18, 2022, is Education Support Professionals Week, a tradition started in 1975 by Public School Employees to recognize the contributions of Education Support Professionals in the public school system.
Our education support professionals work to maintain school buildings and grounds, provide administrative support, prepare and serve meals, provide safe transportation, keep school facilities clean and safe, assist in the classrooms, provide information technology and media services, and more.
The work done by support staff is critical to the educational system and the success of educating students. We encourage you to take a moment to thank our district support staff for their outstanding work in education.
During my visit to Grantham I saw students having breakfast, singing, and getting ready to swim. Thank you parents for truly wonderful children. and thank you educators who do their best each day. We think Clarkston students and schools are the best!
Yesterday was Read Across America Day in the Clarkston School District. We appreciate all our educators who connected schools to read to students in many classrooms. I was able to read to four groups of students at Highland. Our students were attentive and respectful. Thank you families for awesome students to love to read!
A big thank you goes out to all the community members, educators, hospital staff, WWCC leaders, business owners, and students who supported the effort to bring a world class leader to our community the week. Also, thank you Lee Cockerell! You are always welcome back to our magical LC Valley. We estimate that over 800 people were involved (either in-person or virtually through Zoom) in the three day leadership conference.
One highlight was after the student meeting when students crowded the stage after the presentation to visit individually with Mr. Cockerell. He shook everyone's hand, asked each person some questions about their aspirations, and then sent them on their way with a smile and a kind but firm, "you can do it!"
Favorite Lee Cockerell quote: "Remember, be a leader like a mother; administer empathy and discipline with clear expectations."
Thank you Clarkston!
The Clarkston School District is hosting a review for online curriculums that will be recommended to our board for use in our Clarkston Home Alliance and alternative learning programs. This review will be held on Tuesday, March 8 at 6:00 pm in the Educator Support Center Board Room located at 1294 Chestnut St. It is open to anyone interested in reviewing the digital curriculum and giving feedback. This is not a core curriculum that will be used in traditional school classes.
February 24, 2022 -- All schools will open on time today and buses will be running snow routes.
It’s finally here! After many months of waiting, the Anatomage table for our high school science classes is here. Thanks again for our community passing the capital projects Levy in 2019.
The Anatomage Table is the most technologically advanced 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection tool for anatomy and physiology education and is being adopted by many of the world’s leading medical schools and institutions. It has been featured in the TEDTalks Conference, PBS, Fuji TV, and numerous other journals for its innovative approach to digital anatomy presentation.
Snow Day Make-Up --
Last night, the Clarkston School District Board of Directors adopted the attached 2021-2022 amended district calendar showing April 22 as an early release day to make up the January 6 snow day.
Dear Clarkston Community,
On behalf of all of the educators and board members of the Clarkston School District, we want to say thank you for supporting our schools on February 8, 2022 with the passage of the levy! We are committed to doing our best to serve you and our students. Clarkston is the best!
--Thaynan Knowlton, Superintendent
In Mrs. Denton’s accounting class students learn basic accounting procedures and practices. She also helps students pass Microsoft certifications. Some of our students are overachievers and max out all the tests. Our HS is awesome!
It’s the 100th day of school! The day 100 is a big celebration in our elementary schools. We count to 100, we color 100 things, we glue 100 things, we love the number 100.
Buses On Snow Routes --
All schools in the Clarkston School District plan to open on time today, Thursday, February 3, 2022. Buses will be running snow routes.
Today I rode the bus with some kindergarteners. (Most of them can't be seen in the picture because they are so little!) We are truly thankful for our bus drivers. They essentially serve a classroom of students, sometimes in the dark, in wintery conditions, and always while driving.
Although we never have enough drivers (or substitute drivers) to consistently cover all the routes everyday, throughout the year, we are always grateful for what they do. If you, or anyone you know would like to drive bus, please call us. We need you too!
Bus Route 20 Cancelled for Monday, January 31, 2022 --
Families, due to a shortage in staffing, bus Route 20 is cancelled for Monday, January 31, 2022. A list of bus routes can be found on the district's transportation page at: https://clarkstonwa.sites.thrillshare.com/page/bus-routes.
This is Golden Throne week at Clarkston High School! We have some spirited students who participated in a really fun week of preparation for the big game. One of the events was an "anything but a backpack" day where students had to carry their books and gear in whatever they could find--as long as it was not a backpack.
Kindergartners study the effects of mold on a pumpkin. Their conversation around this topic was both age appropriate, scientific, and entertaining. Our educators are always prepared for the unexpected and are great examples of patience. Thanks Clarkston educators!
First graders can read and write! Young children at school learn to read and write, often using their craft skills. Here are some pictures of some of our students at Grantham Elementary. Great job!
IMPORTANT BUS ROUTE INFORMATION
This is a very important announcement from the Clarkston School District only for families who have students on bus Routes 10, 13, or 20.
We learned this afternoon that students on Routes 10 and 13 were potentially exposed last week to COVID-19 and are considered close contacts. These students cannot attend school tomorrow and need to quarantine. If your student is not showing symptoms, they can return to school on January 18.
Due to the shortage of bus drivers, Route 20 will not have busing services next week, so families will need to make other arrangements for transportation. All other bus routes will continue as regularly scheduled. We understand the inconvenience. Please check back daily for any updates.
School is Canceled for Thursday, January 6 -
Due to the inclement weather and unfavorable road conditions, the Clarkston School District is canceling school today, Thursday, January 6, 2022.
While staff and students were away from Grantham over the break, construction workers continued with the installation of new heating units and ductwork in each classroom. The project is set to be done in a couple more months. This work is being funded with federal dollars. We should have warmer classrooms and halls in the winter and a cooler building in the summer.
