News for the Nest
Clayton Family Update for April 5, 2024
A Message from the Principal
Dear Families, last week we enjoyed one of best Clayton traditions, the Culture Celebration! Many families joined us for this very special event, full of dancing, singing, delicious food, our Parade of Nations, and best of all, sharing in community. Thank you to each of you for celebrating with us. If you weren't able to make it, please be sure to come on out next year! I sincerely appreciate our PTA committee for planning this event with such care. One of our core values is appreciation of diversity. Thank you for helping us live our values.
With the eclipse on Monday, please be sure to read about our plan below. We are excited to enjoy this unique learning opportunity together and are hoping for clear skies - fingers are crossed!
Finally, this week is Assistant Principal Appreciation Week. I am so thankful for our two incredible Assistant Principals, Becky Phillips and William Myers. They each lead with heart, dedication, and a service mindset. Thank you, Ms. Phillips and Mr. Myers, for your commitment to our students and community!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend with your child,
Karen McCollum
Upcoming Events
Monday, April 8
Solar Eclipse (important details below)
Tuesday, April 9
Reading STAAR for 3rd, 4th, 5th Grades *no lunch visitors please
Wednesday. April 10 STUDENT HOLIDAY (Eid-al-Fitr)
Thursday, April 11
Reading STAAR Make Up for any 3rd, 4th, 5h graders absent on 4/9
9:15 2nd Grade Field Trip to UT Science & Nature History Museum
Friday, April 12
8:15 Tour for incoming PK & Kinder families (info below)
12:00 pm - Class Placement Parent virtual info session w/ Ms. McCollum (link below)
Last day for Clayton/AISD feedback survey
Looking Forward
Apr 16- Science STAAR - 5th grade *no lunch visitors please
Apr 22-26- Spring Book Fair
Apr 25- Math STAAR - 3rd, 4th, 5th grades *no lunch visitors please
Apr 25- 6:00 pm 1st grade musical performance
Apr 27- Clayto’s Playland (PTA Carnival)
SPECIAL ECLIPSE INFO for Monday, April 8
FRIENDLY REMINDERS
- AISD has provided glasses for all students and staff members
- all classes will participate in the eclipse viewing
- students will learn safety expectations with their glasses before April 8
- caregivers and family members are invited to attend, but will need to bring their own eclipse glasses, check in at the front porch by 1:10, and stay outside the building
RUNDOWN OF THE DAY:
BEFORE THE ECLIPSE
No late item drop-offs will be delivered after 10:00a. Please plan accordingly to deliver forgotten items by 10:00a so that we have adequate time to deliver items. This includes lunch deliveries, water bottles, snacks, etc.
If you need to pick up your child early, please do so before 12:30. Please allow extra time, since many classes will be outside learning and it may take a few extra minutes to retrieve your child.
Lunch guests: guests will check out at the front office by 12:50p
12:45 - 1:10p - If you are visiting for the eclipse, get visitor sticker at the front porch and then proceed to the student's classroom area on the grounds
Viewing locations:
- PreK-small playground
- Kinder-baseball field
- 1st-portable drive and butterfly garden
- 2nd-exit half of front drive
- 3rd-entry half of front drive
- 4th-big playground and driveway by playground
- 5th- bus pickup
DURING THE ECLIPSE
The front office will be closed from 1:15-1:45, so that our entire staff may view the eclipse. If you need to check out your child from school, please plan to do so before 12:00 pm or after 1:45 pm.
1:15-1:45 - ALL CLASSES ARE OUTSIDE VIEWING THE ECLIPSE
AFTER THE ECLIPSE
Students dismissing early post-eclipse must be checked out through the front office. We still ask that students be picked up by the previously published 2:30p cutoff time as we shift to dismissal preparations.
Thank you for your support and understanding!
In order for everyone to get the best of this opportunity, our classroom teachers could use some help during the Solar Eclipse. Please bring your own eclipse glasses (the district only provided enough for students and staff).
In the event of inclement weather, students will watch the eclipse live via the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA broadcast.
UPDATES
Please complete the Family Feedback Survey for Clayton and AISD by April 12
Your feedback matters! Our leadership team reviews your feedback in this survey to help us understand what is working for your family at Clayton and what we can improve upon. Please help us understand our strengths and areas for improvement by completing the feedback survey. It closes April 12. Thank you!
General Registration Is Open NOW
All returning students must register for the upcoming school year. If you missed registering during Priority Registration, please register now during the period of General Registration. Registering early helps us with staffing and class placement. Returning students do not need to provide enrollment documents, i.e. Birth Certificate, immunization record, nor a previous report card. If your child is not returning, please email amy.turnage@austinisd.org
New AISD COVID-19 Protocol
Austin ISD has changed the district policy for staff and students to align with the updated CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance (link). AISD Health Services and Nursing will recommend (but not require) students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 to be out for 24 hours after the date of test positivity. Masking upon return to school will remain optional, but recommended for 5 days if symptomatic.
Families should inform our school if their child test positive for COVID-19 by emailing our nurse, Jenny Ribera, at Jenny.Ribera@austinisd.org
Virtual info session this Friday 4/12 at noon
New after-school club: CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION w/ Ms. Phillips
Does your child enjoy nature and a litter-free school setting and want to contribute to keeping Clayton beautiful? Sign up to help on any Friday after school. We'll energize with a quick snack, pick up litter, fill bird feeders, water the school plants and even feed the turtles in the pond.
Trash picker-uppers and a snack will be provided.
Once you sign up, Mrs. Phillips will contact parents and coordinate getting to the club from your teacher's classroom after school and pick up in the front of the school at 4 pm.
No lunch visitors please April 9, 16, 25
We have STAAR testing on these days and need to minimize visitors on these days. Thank you for your understanding.
April 9 - English Language Arts for grades 3, 4, 5
April 16 - Science STAAR for grade 5 only
April 25 - Math STAAR for grades 3, 4, 5
In the community - Circle C Clean Up Day 4/13 8-9 am
Tour opportunity for new 2024-25 families
Optional - provide input on classroom for 24-25 by April 16
This was emailed to all parents on April 2:
Dear Clayton families, your input is important as our staff works to create classes for the 24-25 school year. Below is an optional form for caregivers to complete, should you wish to provide input on the environment in which your child learns best. Our staff takes great care in creating classes, so your child will be thoughtfully placed, even if you choose not to complete the form. We have a fabulous group of teachers for next year, and we are confident your child will have a rich educational experience.
Staff, including teachers, counselors, and administrators, work collaboratively to form class groupings for next year. Our team balances the classes using academics, social/emotional needs, and teacher input. Every effort is made to meet the needs of your child.
Please DO:
- Describe the type of learning environment(s) your child thrives in
Please DO NOT:
- Request specific teachers. Input about specific teachers will not be considered.
- Ask the teacher for a meeting to discuss this input form. Teachers are directly involved in the process for making classes, so their input informs class placement.
A note about siblings: we can attempt to accommodate requests that your child be placed with the teacher that an older sibling had, though this is not guaranteed.
If you have, in years past, requested that your child be separated from another child, you will need to make that request again here. These requests do not roll over from year to year.
Suggestions are welcomed, but we cannot guarantee that the suggestions can be provided, due to the other scheduling considerations.
The form will close at the end of the day on April 16.
Thank you for supporting your child's education at Clayton and collaborating with us!
Sincerely,
Karen McCollum
Principal, Nan Clayton Elementary
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Send in your family celebration photos! Clayton Celebrates
In order to acknowledge and display the family cultural celebrations of our students and staff, we will display small 2-D artifacts from students and staff in the foyer on the installation "CLAYTON CELEBRATES." The artifacts will represent the holidays or celebrations that we participate in. These may be holidays or celebrations in the winter months, or throughout the spring.
Please send a small photo of 2D artifact, no larger than 4 inches by 4 inches, to be included in our display. Children may bring in artifacts at any time throughout the year. Thank you!
Follow us on our new Instagram page!
@claytonaisd
Trail of Resolution
The Trail of Resolution is a problem-solving path we will use at Clayton Elementary. The purpose of the Trail of Resolution is to address questions and concerns in an effective and efficient manner. If you have a question or concern, first contact the person who is directly involved in the situation. I believe a parent is uniquely able to share with a teacher how things in the classroom affect their child. This is why I ask that parents go to the teacher before our leadership team steps in to speak for the parent.
For example, if you have a question or concern about something in the classroom, first contact the teacher to seek clarification. Follow the trail if the concern persists.
Teacher → Assistant principal → Principal
RAVE = Recognizing All Valuable Employees
Has someone at Clayton gone above and beyond for your family? Austin ISD uses the RAVE platform to Recognize All Valuable Employees. To send someone a RAVE, use the link/button at the bottom of this newsletter. The employee and principal receive an email to celebrate their recognition. Thank you!