Chalk The Walk Week

It's Chalk The Walk Week!

Join the Clinton PTA this week and Chalk The Walk! Families are encouraged to write/draw inspirational messages on their sidewalks. Then take a walk together and look for inspirational messages written by your Clinton Community neighbors! Post your photos in our Clinton Elementary School Families Facebook group!

Clinton Merch Pop-Up Shop

Want to join in on the Clinton Pride? Spirit Day’s around the corner (September 11th), so let’s gear up to kick off the school year! Visit our Pop Up Shop, hosted at Clinton School Front Lawn, from 1:30p-2:30p September 8-11th.

Don’t miss out, supplies are limited! Items include yard signs ($10,) Star T-shirts ($10) and magnets ($5). Payment will be accepted via Venmo to @ClintonPTA

Balanced Kids Workshop

In our first Community Event offering of the year, the Clinton PTA is bringing "Back To School Workshop" to you, from Balanced Kids!

Balanced Kids is an organization who helps families stress less about parenting challenges so that they can find their balance and spend more time connected.

This PTA-sponsored webinar will help parents and caregivers:

Set a manageable routine that works for you and your family.
Develop tools on how to get your kids on board.
Plan for and address possible challenges before you lose your minds.

And so much more!

Join us Monday, August 31 at 8 pm via Zoom

This event is offered free to the Clinton community, but registration is required.

► Register for the Balanced Kids workshop

Tip: To click the link and on the calendar page, select August 31 to complete your registration.

New PTA Executive Board Role

The Clinton PTA Executive Board is seeking candidates for an exciting and important new role: VP of Equity and Inclusion & ELL.

This position will play a key role in helping the PTA create a community that nurtures all of our kids and their families.

With the full support of the PTA and Clinton leadership, VP of EIE is responsible for helping to ensure that all aspects of PTA-sponsored events, fundraising and communication are aligned to Board values and norms for creating inclusive and equitable opportunities for all families. When appropriate, advocate for diverse and equitable school events and equitable curricular resources to school administration and faculty.

► Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of this position

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Friday, July 31

If you would like to apply, please write a letter expressing your interest to ptapresident@clintonelementary.org. You can include the grade level of your child and any information (professional, personal interest, etc) that may be helpful for the Board to know.

School Supplies

It's easy to get ahead of the rush (and catch the sales!) with our school supply lists by grade. The lists were developed by Clinton teachers and cover the basics needed in each grade. You might receive a list from your child's teacher in the fall with some additional items. (And don't forget about our Amazon Smile link! An easy way to shop and support the Clinton PTA.)

If you pre-ordered in June, kits will ship directly to homes this year. Keep an eye out for your order to arrive just before school starts.

► 2020-2021 School Supply Lists

SUMMER MEALS

Kids eat free! Please help spread the word about Maplewood's Summer Food Service Program! Children 18 & under are eligible.

Breakfast and Lunch Grab 'n Go
When: Monday-Friday, 6/29-8/21, 9am-11am
Where: Maplecrest Park between Essex Rd & Boyden Pkwy

Can you help SOMA Shares?

Seth Boyden Elementary has been one of the district lunch distribution points throughout this entire period of distance learning. The Seth Boyden PTA saw a need and an opportunity to supplement the district program and they have done AMAZING work. Their SOMA Shares initiative has partnered with local businesses and community organizations, the Parenting Center and the Achieve Foundation, our SOMSD PTAs and HSAs, and Cougar Cares to provide books, school and art supplies, toiletries, extra groceries and fresh produce for SOMSD families at both lunch locations. The Clinton PTA is proud to support SOMA Shares with a $500 donation, plus fresh produce harvested from our Clinton Community Garden.

Lunch, along with SOMA Shares' extras, is available every school day at Seth Boyden Elementary and Columbia High School through June 26th, with plans to continue the SOMA Shares program over the summer at Maplecrest Park. It's an incredible program and it could use your help to keep supporting local families:

▪ Can you shop for extra groceries, toiletries, or cleaning supplies when buying for your own family?
▪ Can you donate school supplies with this Amazon Wish List?
▪ Can you shop locally with Words or A Paper Hat? Simply make a note that it's for the Seth Boyden PTA and they will pick up at the store.
▪ Do you have contacts at companies or organizations that might want to donate?
▪ Do you have books in good condition to donate?
▪ Look out for a signup genius to volunteer to help over the summer. This will require a community effort!
▪ Please help spread the word!

All donations must be brought to one of several local drop-off locations. Please DO NOT drop off or have items delivered to any school. Email sbnews@sethboyden.com for the best drop-off location for you.

Donations of any size are welcome, because distribution happens every weekday. Any support you can give is truly appreciated!

Summer Food Support

South Orange & Maplewood School District in partnership with the Township of Maplewood, South Orange Village, the Parenting Center and its partners are providing various options for food support over the summer months. Please see the links below for more information.

► Summer Food Support Programs & Information

► Programa e Información de Apoyo Alimenticio de Verano

► Pwogram Sipò ak Enfòmasyon Pou Manje Pandan Ete

Kindergarten 2020-2021

Hello, new Clinton families!
We know the transition to a new school is a big one. That's truer than ever this year because we don't yet know what the 2020-2021 school year will look like. But we do know we're happy you're joining our amazing Clinton community and we hope to provide all the information you need for a smooth start next September.

A great place to start is right here on our Clinton PTA website. It's simply bursting with info about Clinton School and all the programs and events made possible by the Clinton PTA. Head on over to "Welcome to Kindergarten," where you'll find more info about ordering school supply kits (orders are due June 21st!), getting connected via email and social media, our Summer Reading Book Fair, and so much more. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please email us at clintonpta@clintonelementary.org. We're happy to help! Welcome to our Clinton family! #clintonstrong

► Welcome to Kindergarten at Clinton School

Summer Book Fair | through 9/4

Get ready for summer reading with our SUMMER BOOK FAIR!

Here’s how it works:

Shop ALL SUMMER LONG using our Clinton School Book Fair link at Scholastic
All orders placed via the link by September 4^th earn Scholastic Rewards that will support Clinton’s school and classroom libraries
Orders are delivered right to your doorstep and you can take advantage of FREE shipping on book-only purchases over $25
Need some ideas? Check out these summer reading book recommendations from Jennifer Latimer, our amazing Clinton librarian!

► Mrs Latimer's Book Recs
► Shop Clinton School's Summer Book Fair

Questions? Please email the Book Fair Team.