Clark-Shaw Magnet School

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.

Hello Eagle Family! November ushers in much welcomed cooler weather and this year some awesome news. Clark-Shaw Magnet School of Math, Science and Technology was recognized as one of the Best K-8 Schools in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report. This is a testament of the hard work and dedication shared by the faculty, staff, and students of this school. When we all believe and work towards the same goal, positive results can be achieved. I urge every member of the Eagle family to continue striving for excellence.

November is a short month due to Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Break. Students have three weeks before the break and only two days remaining after the break. Please check with your student to ensure all assignments are completed and submitted on time. Remember all students must maintain 70% in each class to remain in the magnet program. Parents can create Schoology accounts by reviewing the instructions on the Clark-Shaw website.

Thank you parents for your continued support. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the office.

“What we learn with pleasure we never forget.”– Alfred Mercier

U.S. News and World Report, a national publication which annually ranks colleges, universities, high schools, and graduate programs, released its first ever ranking of K-8 public schools across the nation. In its 2022 Best K-8 Schools ranking, it included data from over 80,000 elementary and middle schools across the U.S. and drew heavily from math and reading proficiency and academic performance from the 2018-2019 school year.

We are proud to say that Clark-Shaw Magnet School was ranked the 4th best middle school in the state of Alabama, the 3rd best magnet school in Alabama, and the #1 middle school in Mobile County! (To view the rankings, click here.) Students, let's continue this tradition of academic excellence!

Do you know of any students who would thrive at Clark-Shaw? Help us spread the word about the wonderful things happening at our school and encourage prospective students to check us out! The application window is now open and accepting MCPSS Magnet School applications for the 2022-23 school year. Visit https://www.mcpss.com/magnetapplications to learn more and apply! The application period closes November 15 at 3 p.m. Parents and potential students can request a tour of our school by calling 251-221-2106.

Ready to visit Clark-Shaw Magnet School and see what it's like to be an Eagle? Clark-Shaw will be hosting several Open House dates in the coming weeks. Click on this link to schedule a tour on one of these dates. We look forward to meeting you!

Wednesday, November 3 8:00 - 10:00 am

Thursday, November 4 8:00 - 10:00 am

Tuesday, November 9 4:00 - 6:00 pm

The results of our school-wide election are in! Here are the newly elected Student Council officers for 2021-2022.

STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS:

President: Brayden Turner

Vice-President: Presleigh Stokley

Treasurer: Sophia Irby

Secretary: Bethanie Critchfield

Every homeroom elected a student to represent them in Student Council meetings and activities for the 2021-2022 school year. Congratulations to these students:

STUDENT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES:

Torian Palmer-Johnson, Hector Guzman Urquioia, Grant Langham, Khiyah Winston, Makayla Gates, Brooke May, Nathan Lord, Violet Borchert, Ashlyn Williams, Garrett Langham, Edwin Perry, Braelyn Andrews, Jardyn Garner, Kar’moniy Gibbs, Kamden Raiford, Isabella Dunnavant, Abigail Faggard, Presleigh Stokley, Bethanie Crutchfield, Saylor Byrd, Mantahsen Fahima, Dione Lacy, Makailee Wilkerson Hayes, Brayden Turner, Potter Boutwell, Caydon Pitt, Sophia Irby, Joanna Junaid, Madeline Borchert, Brielle Turner, and Sara Ussery. Student Council is advised by Mrs. Heather Mattern.

Student Council held their first meeting of the 2021-2022 school year on Oct. 12. They are planning a Thanksgiving food drive to fill Thanksgiving Baskets for struggling families. Collection will last until Tuesday, November 16th. We are asking for specific items by grade level to create well-rounded meals. Please bring in the following items to your homeroom teacher: (All items should be non-perishable.)

8th grade- Stuffing or Mashed Potatoes or Au Gratin Potatoes

7th grade- Green Beans or English Peas

6th Grade -Cranberries or Yams

Money donations are also welcome! There will be a Donut Party for the Homeroom who brings the most items for each grade level. Currently, the following homerooms are in the lead:

6th grade - Mrs. Bragg (75 items)

7th grade - Mrs. Neese (34 items)

8th grade - Mrs. Holladay (58 items)

Great job, Eagles! Keep up the good work!

Congratulations to the following students for becoming Lady Eagles: Brenesha Battles, Amayah Bracy, Boston Cheeseboro, Keaziah Frazier, Kiera Quiovers, Aaliyah Robinson,

Kayla Rodriguez-Rivero, Kristen Scott, Annmarie Seals, Ariel Stallworth, Kierra Stallworth, Aubri Thomas, Arlandria Torrie, Kennedy Washam, Andinique Washington, and alternates Jasmine Watkins and Jaslyn McCann. They are sponsored by Ms. Angela Hansen and Coach Daryl Brooks, and team managers are Jamiyah Pettway and Jordyn Garner. The Lady Eagles handily defeated Causey Middle School and Phillips Prep in their first two games. Come out and cheer for the Lady Eagles!

Congratulations to these students for earning spots on the Clark-Shaw boys basketball team: K.J. Brady, Jamie Collins, Dreighton Davis, Dyllan Dunigan, Malik Jackson, Myles Johnson, Levet Jones, Theodore Law, Quamar Parker, Bralyn Taylor, Jeremiah Thomas, Naheem Thomas, Leartis Williams, Hakeem Winston, and Todrick Withers. The boys team is coached by Mr. Douglas July, Jr. and assisted by Mr. Joseph Sikes. Their team manager is Bryce Graham. The team defeated Causey Middle School in their season opener and Phillips Prep on Thursday. Keep it up Eagles!

Our cheerleading squad has had a busy year already, cheering for football and volleyball games and now basketball games. Cheerleaders are Saylor Byrd, Ella Ferguson, Addison Jones, Lauren Kidd, Caidyn King, Alona Lafitte, Emily Lindsey, Ileya McCovery, Demi Stephen, Jaliyah Taliaferro, Kenadie Thomas, Brielle Turner, Olivia Watson, London Wells, and Makailee Wilkerson-Hayes. They are sponsored by Coach Taldon. Great job students!

Meet the members of the 2021-2022 Clark-Shaw Dance Team! They are advised by Mrs. Denise Burch and Mrs. Ashley Hester.

Chloe McCutcheon (Captain), Ava Grace Gibson (Co-Captain), Allie Armbrecht, Chyler McCutcheon, Leigha Newton, Addyson Parker, Mei-Ling Rollman, Avery Smith, Presleigh Stokley, Taylor Wells, Ashlyn Williams, Morgan Zaborny

Congratulations on your first performance at Thursday's home basketball game! We look forward to seeing more of you.

Congratulations to our Archery Team for a great showing at the Causey Monster Shoot in October. Our top archers were Paden Roberts (274), Senad Shabaneh (256), Charlotte Milling (254), Caroline King (251), and Carter Dunbar (251). Paden, who shot 12 perfect 10's, finished the tournament in the top 5 of all middle school boys.

November will be a busy month for the archery team, with 3 tournaments planned:

Nov. 4-6 (North Mobile Christian)

Nov. 11-13 (MGM tournament at Semmes Middle School)

Nov. 18-20 (Denton Magnet School)

All tournaments have a $2 spectator fee for adults, while children are free. To learn more, contact Mr. Jonathan Braswell at jbraswell@mcpss.com.

We appreciate our Partners in Education! In August, the Winn Dixie at 740 N. Schillinger Road (at the corner of Ziegler Blvd.) sponsored a "round-up" fundraiser for our school. Customers were encouraged to round up their grocery total to the next whole dollar, with proceeds going to Clark-Shaw. Ms. Maranda Everett (shown here with Mrs. Taylor-Jackson, principal, and Mrs. Tamara Dailey-Woods, counselor) recently presented our school with 2 gift cards. Thank you Ms. Everett, Winn-Dixie, and to all those who supported this fund-raiser!

Get to Know..... Mr. Ron Sayles!

Mr. Ron Sayles has joined the faculty of Clark-Shaw this year and has already made a huge impact as 7th/8th grade counselor! In addition to filling in wherever he is needed, he has also started a Peer Helpers student organization and organized Red Ribbon Week. He is a native of Urbana, Illinois and has been teaching and counseling for 26 years. He retired from Jackson Public Schools in Jackson, Mississippi in 2019 and moved to the Gulf coast. Mr. Sayles is married with 2 sons (ages 21 and 26) and two daughters (ages 10 and 11). His educational philosophy is that all students can learn as long as education is relevant to their lives and the environment in which they grow up. His goals here at Clark-Shaw are to promote the social and emotional well-being of his middle school students and academically prepare them for high school and beyond.

Some FUN FACTS about Mr. Sayles: His favorite college team is Illinois, he loves to golf and go on vacations, and he used to be a DJ! He also likes to make others laugh or smile, which is evident every day. Thank you Mr. Sayles for the difference you are making!

We've started a new program at Clark-Shaw called Peer Helpers, which is based on the concept of students helping other students. Its purpose is to equip peer helpers with the skills and resources necessary to inspire and assist their fellow classmates. Peer helpers were chosen from the 7th and 8th grades and are expected to maintain high personal standards and be positive role models for their peers, as well as being committed to an alcohol-free, tobacco-free, and drug-free lifestyle.

Here are the 2021-2022 Peer Helpers: Victoria Howell, Rahaf Mustafa, Laura Kate Wiley, D'Anthony Washam, Brayden Turner, Angeleah Palmar, MacKenzie Conklan, DeShawn Spencer, Yadiel Santana, Toddrick Withers, Kennedie Rose Dailey, Aleahah German, Kar'Moniy Gibbs, and Eli Weatherford.

Red Ribbon Week was held October 25 - 29th. We celebrated by pledging (school-wide) to each live a safe and drug free life. The students enjoyed the dress-out days including red hat day, red shirt day, neon shirt day, and favorite team jersey day. Throughout the week, Peer Helpers shared important messages school-wide about the value of living drug-free.

Our 8th grade faculty were off to the see the wizard for Halloween 2021!

Cruella de Vil and the dalmations!

Report cards for 1st quarter were sent home on October 18, 2021. On the printed report cards, grades will appear as letter grades only, but for a numeric grade, you can check Schoology. Remember, Clark-Shaw is a school of choice, and magnet school policy states that any grade 69 and below is considered failing. To be eligible to return to Clark-Shaw at the end of the year, students must have a 70 yearly average in each course.

A score report from the spring state accountability assessment, called the ACAP, was also sent if your child took the ACAP last year at Clark-Shaw. This report will show their proficiency level in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. Proficiency levels are 1 through 4, and we strive for our students to be proficient with at least a level 3 or to excel with a level 4. A level 1 or 2 indicates non-proficiency and means it is an area where they need to make significant progress this year. Please contact your student's teacher(s) with questions about this assessment and what your child can do to improve their areas of weakness.

November 11th is Veterans Day, an opportunity to honor those who have served in the U.S. armed forces for the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Clark-Shaw has several veteran faculty members.

Ms. Crystal Reynolds, our band director for grades 6-8, served with the U.S. Marine Corps as an ammunitions technologist from 2001-2005. Sergeant Reynolds spent most of her enlistment at Camp Lejeune, NC, which is home of the Expeditionary Forces in Readiness for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Mrs. Angela Hansen, 6th grade science teacher, served six years with the U.S. Naval Reserves. Yeoman Hansen worked as an administrative assistant with the Navy during college and was stationed in London, England; Tallahassee, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia.

Mrs. Dena Van den Bosch, 7th grade civics teacher, was a military intelligence linguist/voice interceptor with the U.S. Army. Sergeant Van den Bosch was stationed with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) in Fort Drum, NY and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 -2004 for the Global War on Terrorism.

Thank you all for your service to our nation!

Mark your calendars for November 15-19! We’re excited to host a Fall Scholastic Book Fair. This event is an opportunity for students of all ages to build their home libraries and further their love of reading. As always, all purchases benefit our school.

After missing out on many beloved traditions, our fall Book Fair will be a familiar, welcome, and safe event for our students. Here’s what you need to know about the Fair, which will take place from November 15-19, 2021 in the Clark-Shaw Library:

*Our Book Fair offers a cash-free payment option called eWallet. It’s a convenient digital account that your child can use for shopping at our Fair. Grandparents, friends, and
others can contribute, too!

*Families can also shop online at our school’s Virtual Book Fair. All orders ship directly
to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also
benefit our school.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/clarkshawmagnetschool

Clark-Shaw Softball Tryouts

When: November 1 - 4

Time: 3:00 – 4:30

Where: Meet at the locker room

What to bring: Change of clothes (dress according to weather), glove, cleats or tennis shoes, bat and helmet

Try Out Fee: $10 dollars to cover insurance (Turn in to Coach Peabody)

All players need a current sports physical and all paperwork completed in Dragon Fly before tryouts begin. If you have any questions, email Coach Kelly Simmons at ksimmons@mcpss.com.

7th and 8th grade boys may try out for the baseball team on the following dates: November 8, 9, 10, and 12 from 3:00 – 4:30pm. Participants must have all requirements complete in Dragonfly. School code is CES5QT. There is a $10 tryout fee that must be paid before tryouts begin. Fees can be dropped off to Coach Mattern in room 214 during Homeroom. Players should bring their own water bottle and masks to tryouts each day. Students may try out in their PE uniform or appropriate baseball sportswear. For additional details, click here. If you have any questions, contact Coach Mattern by email: tmattern@mcpss.com.

November is typically a busy month for students to work on their Science Fair projects. Students, make sure you are making adequate progress so that you can successfully meet the upcoming deadlines and showcase your learning. Remember, once your Proposal Form is accepted by your science teacher, you MUST do that Project!

Tuesday, October 26 - Research Plan due

Wednesday, December 1 - Data Checkpoint due

**Grade 8 must submit student-created Data Table plus minimum of 10 pictures

Monday, December 13 - 8th grade Display Board, Composition Log Book, & Abstract due (each component counts as a 3rd Quarter MAJOR GRADE)

**Grade 8 Math Component due to math teacher (3rd Quarter math test grade)

Tuesday, December 14 - 7th grade Display Board, Composition Log Book, & Abstract due (each component counts as a 3rd Quarter MAJOR GRADE)

**Grade 7 Math Component due to math teacher (3rd Quarter math test grade)

Wednesday, December 15 - 6th grade Display Board, Grade-Level Log Book, & Abstract due (each component counts as a 3rd Quarter MAJOR GRADE)

**Grade 6 Math Component due to math teacher (3rd Quarter math test grade)

Come support our basketball teams! This year, spectators are not required to leave the gym between basketball games, so guests can buy one ticket for entry into the boys and girls games. Tickets are NOT sold at the door and children aged 6 and under are free.

Here are the new Go Fan links for our home basketball games. Games will be turned “on” the week of for parents and students to buy tickets. Parents and students will type http://gofan.co/app/event/ID Number in their browser to purchase tickets. Parents and students must present ticket verification upon entering the gym for games. For away games, student and parents will go to the GoFan website and search for the school we are playing.

Here are the ID Numbers for home games:

427834 Oct 28 vs. Phillips

427836 Nov 2 vs. Scarborough

427839 Nov 4 vs. Calloway

427857 Nov 15 vs. Pillians

427868 Dec 2 vs. Semmes

427880 Dec 9 vs. Causey

427889 Dec 16 vs. Burns

427896 Jan 10 vs. Hankins

427905 Jan 20 vs. Grand Bay

Attention all 8th graders and their parents/guardians! It's time to consider your choices for high school. Mobile County Public Schools allows students to apply to high schools outside of their zoned school through the signature academy program. The deadline for applying to a high school's signature academy is December 10. To apply for a signature academy, go to https://www.academiesofmobile.com/apply. More information about signature academies and how to apply can be found here.

The faculty and staff showed their appreciation to our administrators for this year's Boss's Day. They presented gifts and vases to Mr. Randall Reed, 6th grade assistant principal; Mrs. Timesha Taylor-Jackson, principal; and Mrs. Veronica Moore-Vinson, 7th/8th grade assistant principal. We appreciate all their daily efforts to help our school run smoothly!

The American Heart Association recently recognized our school as the top middle school in Mobile County for raising money and awareness during the 2020 - 2021 school year!

Last year, Coach Peabody organized numerous opportunities for students to donate during Heart Awareness Month in February. By donating on Wear Red Days, sending candy grams, and participating in Jump Rope for Heart, students at our school raised $877 for the American Heart Association. This marks the 3rd year in a row that we were the top middle school in Mobile County. Let's see what we can do in 2022!

Last month, our faculty hosted a baby shower for Mrs. Ashley Hester, 7th grade math teacher, who was expecting her first child. Just over a week later, Mrs. Hester gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Congratulations!

Eagles Wings is back and held their first meeting of the year on October 26! Eagle Wings is a student organization open to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students which meets after school. The group seeks to spread positivity and to uplift others by performing community service projects in our school and our communities. Eagle Wings has sponsored supply drives for the Penelope House and local children's homes such as St. Mary's, Wilmer Hall, and Alabama Baptist Children's Homes. Eagle Wings has also donated personal care items for foster children during transitions between homes and to our Clark-Shaw students after house fires.

Eagles Wings is always looking for students with big hearts and good work ethic. For more information, contact Mr. Brian Roberts at jroberts2@mcpss.com.

Parents and families of current 8th graders may purchase personal ads for their students for the 2021-2022 yearbook. The current cost is $30 for a 1/4 page ad, $50 for 1/2 page ad, and $100 for a full page ad, and the cost of the yearbook is $35. Prices will go up after the end of 2nd Quarter, so be sure to reserve your spot before December 17! Send payments (cash or check payable to Clark-Shaw) to Mrs. Van den Bosch, Room 209. Requests can also be sent to dvandenbosch@mcpss.com. Online sales for yearbooks only (no ads) can be done using a credit card at www.yearbookordercenter.com, using school code 21021.

Orders can now be placed for the 2021- 2022 yearbooks. The cost is $35. Payments can be made by cash or check (made payable to Clark-Shaw) and given to Mrs. Van den Bosch, Room 209. Please include the student's name and homeroom when turning in your payment. Orders can also be placed using a credit card at www.yearbookordercenter.com, using school code 21021.

MCPSS Superintendent Chresal Threadgill has changed the mask policy, effective November 1, 2021. Masks are now optional but strongly encouraged. However, there is one exception. Facemasks will continue to be required on all MCPSS buses, in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines for public transportation.

We will still implement safety practices such as social distancing as much as possible, the frequent cleaning of our facilities, and the use of sanitizers. Please note that students who wear masks are less likely to be quarantined, in accordance with the CDC and ADPH guidelines. Please remember to continue to send a non-glass water bottle filled with water to school each day with your student. If you have any questions regarding Covid or medical needs, please do not hesitate to reach out to the nurse, Mrs. Jolene Walker, RN at jhwalker@mcpss.com or by calling the school at 251-221-2106.

Student cellphones are not prohibited on campus, but it is essential to our learning environment that strict guidelines for their use are followed. Please make sure you understand the policy. Student cellphones should be powered off during the school day. Having the phone on vibrate, silent, airplane mode or any other setting besides being off is unacceptable. Since all students have been issued Chromebooks, the use of cellphones for classwork is unnecessary. Students should not have their cellphones out; rather, they should be out of sight, i.e. in bookbags or purses. Please note: If students are granted temporary permission to use their cellphones by a teacher or administrator, they should power them back off after the approved use. Accessing social media sites, text messaging, or photographing or videoing during the school day is strictly prohibited.

Last month, our 8th grade students dressed up as an assigned element from the Periodic Table and presented research in class. The rest of the school enjoyed seeing them in their costumes and guessing their elements!

Parents and guardians, make sure you have access to Schoology. Please follow the steps below and reset your password, even if you have already had access this year or last year. Use the email address that you used to register your child for school. If you are having difficulty or need additional assistance, please contact Mrs. Mouton at ammouton@mcpss.com.

Girls Track Try-outs for 7th and 8th grade will take place at the end of November. All paperwork and requirements must be completed in DragonFly by November 22. The specific events and try-out days are listed below:

Monday, November 29, 2021: 100m / 200m Dash/400m Run and Relays and 100m Hurdles

Tuesday, November 30 , 2021: Distance (800m/1600m run) and Shot Put

Wednesday, December 1, 2021: Jumps (Long and High Jump)

Students may come to all 3 days. You must be picked up at 4:30 pm each day. More information can be found by clicking here and by emailing Coach Peabody at llpeabody@mcpss.com.

About a decade ago, 8th grade science teacher Mrs. Tami May graduated from the University of South Alabama with a master's in education and the recipient of the Robert Noyce Scholarship. Now, 10 years later, the NOYCE scholarship is still supporting her and her students. This past week, her physical science classes received a "wish list" of equipment and materials delivered by faculty members from USA's College of Education. Pictured with Mrs. May are Dr. Katie Guffey and Dr. Susan Ferguson, NOYCE Project directors and professors in the College of Education, and Dr. Andre Green, Department Chair for Leadership and Teacher Education.

Sixth grade students from team 6B and 7th/8th grade STEM classes attended the University of South Alabama's Discover Engineering Day on October 28th. Students participated in hands on activities exploring civil, chemical, mechanical, and other types of engineering careers.

Thursday, November 11: NO SCHOOL (Veterans Day)

November 22 - 26: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

Menus for breakfast and lunch for the month of November can be found at this link. Please note that menus are subject to change due to deliveries & commodities.

Reteaching is an essential part of instruction that promotes student learning. After necessary reteaching has been provided, students are allowed one retest per subject on the first assessment where a student fails a major grade. The higher of the two grades will be recorded in the grade book. Reteaching and retesting should occur within a reasonable time frame.

Teachers are empowered to retest at their discretion beyond once per quarter when they feel circumstances warrant such an opportunity. Student accountability is an important component of reteaching and retesting procedures. Therefore, teachers and school leaders are encouraged to establish criteria that students must meet to earn the opportunity to retest a major grade.

If the class average on any major assessment is 65 or below, then reteaching and retesting must promptly occur with the entire class. The teacher will record the higher of the two grades in the grade book.

Don't miss out! Catch the latest announcements, Dad jokes, lunch menus, student interviews, birthday announcements, and other entertaining features from Mr. Sikes' broadcast team. Click the link here or the button below to watch our daily broadcasts via YouTube. You can also participate in their weekly poll question on the Clark-Shaw homepage.

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarkshaweagles @clarkshaweagles

Website: https://clarkshawmcpssal.schoolinsites.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH5jO4hJwMgEawGLisFn4Lw/featured

Your child's teachers and the entire staff here at Clark-Shaw are committed to your child's success. Please let us know how we can serve you!

Timesha Taylor-Jackson, Principal

tltaylor@mcpss.com

Website: https://clarkshawmcpssal.schoolinsites.com/
Location: 5960 Arlberg Street, Mobile, AL, USA
Phone: 251-221-2106
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarkshawmagnet
Twitter: @clarkshaweagles

Newsletter compiled by Dena Van den Bosch, dvandenbosch@mcpss.com