5th Grade Congratulations | due by 5/22

Don't miss your chance to share your love, pride and well wishes to the 5th Graders in this year’s Clinton Yearbook! Family and friends who would like to send a message to a graduating 5th Grader can do so by clicking on the link below. Messages are $5 each. Please limit your sentiments to 30 words.

► Order a 5th Grade Congratulations Message

Deadline: Friday 5/22
Questions? Please email Katy Walmsley.

PTA Executive Board 2020-2021

We don't know a lot about when school will start again or how it will look when it does. But we do know that to keep our Clinton community strong, we need lots of volunteers!

We are currently filling roles for the 2020-2021 PTA Executive Board. Open positions are below with a link to job descriptions. If you are interested, have questions, or would like to nominate yourself or someone else, please reach out to the Nominating Committee at clintonnominatingcommittee@gmail.com.

Open positions range in terms of workload and time commitment. All positions provide you an opportunity to be involved in decision-making for the PTA, receive the freshest updates from the district and have the chance to get to know some of the staff and administrators who work so hard with our kids every day. And kids love it when their parents volunteer at their school!

OPEN POSITIONS
▪ First Vice President
▪ Treasurer
▪ Co-Vice President of Fundraising
▪ Co-Vice President of Communications
▪ Vice President of Cultural Arts
▪ Members-at-Large

► Learn more about the responsibilities of each board position

Clinton Book Fair @ Words

One of the best things about our Clinton Book Fair is the amazing number of books that our generous families donate every year to our school and classroom libraries, making it a perfect partner to Teacher Appreciation Week each May. We might not be able to have our usual book fair this spring, but we still have an opportunity to help our teachers grow our kids' love of reading by supporting Clinton libraries. We are delighted to announce our virtual book fair with a beloved local icon:

Clinton Book Fair @ Words Bookstore!

As easy as A-B-C and 1-2-3!
Here's how it works:

1. Visit the Words Bookstore website to purchase an online gift code.

2. Fill in the amount you'd like to donate toward classroom libraries and/or the school library. For Recipient's Email, please use "ClintonBookFair@gmail.com."

3. In the Message area, tell us how you would like your donation distributed. For example, "$50 to 5th Grade" or "$20 to Kindergarten and $10 to Mrs Latimer." Please include your name (or your child's name) and your contact info in this space. (Odd quirk of the Words system ... we won't know who it's from unless you add your name here.) Add to cart, check out and you're done!

The Book Fair team will get an email for each purchase and keep track of it all; then librarian-extraordinaire Jennifer Latimer takes over! Once she knows how much was donated toward 2nd Grade, for example, she'll select and purchase books for those classrooms (in other words, each 2nd Grade teacher will get the same collection to add to their in-class library). She's already got her eye on a number of fresh, compelling titles that she would love to see added to classroom libraries.

If you'd like to make a donation in honor of a specific teacher, that's totally fine! But we do need to keep things simple for this alternative-version of a book fair, so donations will ultimately be gathered and used at the grade (or school library) level.

This is a brand-new venture for us and, even without our traditional book fair, we're thrilled to be able to show our gratitude during Teacher Appreciation Week for our incredible Clinton teachers and help get fresh books into the hands of our Clinton students when they return to school. Even better? Partnering with Words Bookstore to support an amazing local business during this unprecedented time of social distancing and economic disruption. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Book Fair team. They're happy to help!

► Words Bookstore Online Gift Codes

CLINSPIRATION 2020

It's Feel Good Friday! Let's celebrate our accomplishments (and let go of the low points) with the very reason we're taking on all the challenges distance learning can bring ... our incredible Clinton kids and their words of CLINSPIRATION!

Even though we are apart, we're all in this together. Stay safe and know that you are not alone ... we are one big Clinton FAMILY! #clinspiration #clintonstrong

Hugest of thanks to Jamie Meier for spearheading this concept and for all the hours she spent compiling clips, to Chris Jamros for his serious next-level production skills (That opening ... WOW!), to Kelly Mortimer for the behind-the-scenes organization and communication, and to Kali Williams for the uplifting "Clinspiration" name. But, most of all, THANK YOU to our amazing Clinton kids for sharing their good wishes, talents and inspiring words of wisdom and to our Clinton teachers, administrators, staff and families for creating a learning environment and community that inspires so much positivity, love and connection!

Yearbook Request

WANTED: YOUR PHOTOS
Let's be honest ... collecting photos is a challenge every year. But this year?! Without the school show and being able to dispatch volunteer photographers to help fill the holes, the need is dire. If you have any photos of school events, field trips, class parties, etc., please take some time to submit them via our Yearbook Dropbox. Thank you!

► More info and links on our Yearbook page

Teacher Appreciation Week | 5/4-5/8

Teacher Appreciation Week begins Monday, May 4th!

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we would love to have families share their gratitude for the amazing teachers and staff at Clinton. We keep hearing just how much the teachers and staff miss seeing their students every day, so it really raises their spirits to hear from our kids!

We've made it simple to send a note or upload a picture with a quick-and-easy message form. No searching for email addresses; no wondering how to spell that Specials teacher's last name. We've got you covered!

► Send a Teacher Appreciation Week Message

Here are a few ideas to help you honor all that our school does for the students:
▪ Have your student type an e-mail of appreciation for their teacher or someone special that helps them at school.
▪ Send a photo of your student learning, or – better yet – using the skills their teacher taught them in a new creative way.
▪ Send an e-mail from YOU. Mention all of the things you’ve noticed them doing to help your child succeed.
▪ Send alumni pictures to remind teachers and staff of former students.
▪ NEW EVENT! Make a donation toward building school and classroom libraries in honor of any Clinton teacher or staff member through the Clinton Book Fair @ Words Bookstore.

► More about Clinton's new online partnership with Words Bookstore

We understand that time is precious, so please do whatever works for your family. Remember ... a simple “Thank You” truly says it all. ❤

Questions? Please reach out to Kristy Lynch.

Heart to Heart

Our Clinton School teachers and staff are simply amazing! Thank you for all you do to keep our kids learning and growing! And for reminding us that even though we are apart, we are still connected. ❤️ #clintonstrong

Spring Seeds

A note from Kate Monagle, our Clinton Garden Coordinator:

Hope comes in many forms. Today by mail! Our Slow Food seeds have arrived. Plant a seed and plant hope! Please reach out if you would like seeds and a bed at Clinton. We have 28 beds (and one for worms!). 🐌🐛 I have these, plus many more. More to follow including instructions, pick up details and seedlings. Please keep in mind that, for the foreseeable future, you will need to bring water from home. 🌿

Interested? Please email Kate Monagle.

The Clinton News | Winter 2020

Hot off the presses ... it's the Winter 2020 edition of The Clinton News!

From story development to interviewing and writing articles to editing and laying out copy, a team of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders creates and publishes The Clinton News three times a year as the final product of their Beyond the Bell enrichment class. Enjoy!

► Click here to read the Winter 2020 edition!

What's your Clinspiration?!

Even though we're socially distant, we're still together in spirit. Help us create a cheerful, inspirational video for our Clinton community ... full of messages from our kids! We're asking for one 10-15 second video clip of your child sharing a positive message of hope to our community. No time to make a video? Pictures of your kids showing their Clinton pride are fantastic, too!

SUBMIT HERE: clinspiration@clintonelementary.org by Friday 4/10

Message Ideas:
"Hello to all my friends and teachers!"
"We love Clinton School!"
"I miss you all and hope everyone is staying safe!"
"Remember to spread kindness, not germs."
"We will get through this!"
"You are brave and strong. You can do it!"
► Get inspired by the Meier kids' video or make up your own positive message!

Remember:

Video clips should be up to 15 seconds in length (Multiple kids? Feel free to go a bit longer)
Record in a well lit space and be sure kids are speaking clearly and loudly
Wear Clinton gear or a red t-shirt, if you have one
By submitting, you're giving us permission to share online and social channels

SUBMIT HERE: clinspiration@clintonelementary.org by Friday 4/10

Questions? Please email Jamie Meier.