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Now that we are in the heart of the winter season, we want to remind you of the district’s procedures regarding snow days and two-hour delays. In Ohio, winter weather can be unpredictable, and we know how important it is to keep everyone informed so that students, families, and staff can plan accordingly.

Snow Days: How They Are Determined
When inclement weather strikes, we take several factors into account before making the decision to cancel school. These include the severity of the storm, road conditions, and the safety of our buses and drivers. Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our students and staff. If we determine that weather conditions are unsafe for travel, we will call a snow day.

Snow days are rare but necessary, and we aim to make these decisions as early as possible, usually the night before or early in the morning before school starts. We will notify you via the following channels:

• Thrillshare phone call notification system
• Thrillshare text alert notification system
• District website (stcschools.com)
• Local radio and TV stations

Once a snow day is declared, unless otherwise communicated, all school activities are canceled for the day, including extracurriculars, sports, and after-school programs.

Two-Hour Delays: What They Mean
On occasion, weather conditions may improve enough to allow for a safer commute, but roads or school buildings may still be too hazardous for regular school hours. In these cases, we may announce a two-hour delay. This means that school will start two hours later than usual, but dismissal times remain the same.

Please note the following changes during a two-hour delay:

• Morning bus pickups are delayed by two hours.
• Students should arrive two hours later than their usual time.
• Breakfast may not be served, but lunch will remain on schedule.

How You Can Stay Prepared:
While we will always make every effort to communicate weather-related changes in a timely manner, we recommend the following to help you stay prepared for potential snow days or delays:

1. Update your contact information – Make sure we have the correct phone number and email address to reach you.
2. Watch for alerts – Stay tuned to the district’s communication channels, including the website, social media, and your inbox.
3. Prepare for late starts – If you need childcare for a two-hour delay, please make arrangements in advance.
4. Know the policy – Refer to the district handbook for more details on snow day procedures and other emergency protocols.

Looking Ahead
Winter weather can sometimes bring unexpected challenges, but with your support, we can make sure that our students’ learning continues safely and effectively. While we always hope for a smooth winter, please rest assured that we are committed to making the best decisions for our community. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued partnership in ensuring our students' safety and success!

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin

Families of preschool children can now complete an interest form for the 2025-2026 school year. All interest forms must be received by Thursday, February 27 at 2 p.m. in the elementary school office. The preschool lottery will be held on Friday, February 28. Please call 740-699-2253 with any questions.

Kindergarten registration is completed online using FinalForms. Children must be 5 years old on or before August 1 to attend kindergarten. FinalForms can be accessed through our district website, stcschools.com. When completing FinalForms, please be sure to choose the correct school year, 25-26 by clicking on the calendar in the upper right hand corner. Kindergarten screening takes place in May at the elementary school.

Right to Read Week returns to our elementary school with the support of our Elementary PTA! The week of February 24-28 will be themed "A World of Smiles" and a family night will be held on February 27 at 3:30 p.m in celebration of Right to Read Week. Activities will be scheduled for each day throughout the week to share our love of reading with the community! Look for updates from the elementary school as we prepare for a week full of fun!

Upcoming Events

• February 1-28 - Preschool Interest Forms are due
• February 6 - Middle School Parent/Teacher Conferences 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.
• February 6 - High School Parent/Teacher Conferences 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.
• February 13 - Belmont County Spelling Bee - ??
• February 14 - Happy Valentine's Day!
• February 17 - President's Day - No School
• February 24-28 - Elementary School Right to Read Week
• February 25-27 - Junior ACT Test
• February 27 - Elementary School Title Night

St. C was well represented by these studetns at the OMEA District Solo & Ensemble Event. The following students participated: Kyle Hope - Class B Bari Sax Solo, Camden Judge - Class B Alto Sax Solo, Josie Miller - Class C Flute Solo, Kyle Hope - Class A Flute Solo, Samantha Jarrett - Class B Clarinet Solo, and Hannah Sattler - Class C Trumpet Solo. Every performance received the highest rating of Superior! Bravo!

Our 7th & 8th grade gifted students participated in the annual Patriot's Pen essay writing contest. Our top three winners were - 3rd: Ciara Bunner, 2nd: Savannah Norman, 1st: Ariana Klee - and those three essays moved on to compete among several other schools in VFW District 5. After receiving 3rd place at the local level, 7th grader Ciara Bunner's essay won 2nd place at VFW District 5! On January 4, Ciara was honored and awarded scholarship winnings from the Cambridge VFW. Our St. Clairsville City Mayor, Kathryn Thalman, was in attendance with Ciara and her family. Mayor Thalman inspired Ciara's essay titled, "My Voice in America's Democracy," as Ciara helped her on the campaign trail in 2019. Congratulations to Ciara Bunner, and thank you to our VFW Posts for sponsoring this contest!

The St. C Singers started their season off strong in Nitro! Lola Anderson was named Best Performer and Best Female Vocalist. The Singers won Best Costume and 1st Runner Up Class B with their "80's Rad Radio Show". Best of luck as they continue their show choir season!

Congratulations to Coach Darin Wilson as he was awarded the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Coach of the Year Award for Girls Track & Field this past weekend! Coach Wilson has been involved with the organization since 2009 and has been coaching with St. C since 2019. Way to go Coach!

The St. Clairsville Red Devil Cheerleaders received 2025 OHSCCA Best in the State High School Champions for the fourth time and fifth place Grand Champion out of 41 total teams. Also, congratulations to our junior high squad on earning first place in their division! It's great to be a Red Devil!

Congratulations to our Red Devil Varsity Boys Basketball team for winning the Buckeye 8 Championship!

Good luck to our Red Devil Boys Bowling Team as they travel to Boulevard Lanes in Dover on February 12th to compete in the OHSAA Sectional Tournament beginning at 2pm. Good luck to our Red Devil Girls Bowling Team at St. Clair Lanes on February 11th as they compete in the OHSAA Sectional Tournament beginning at 8am. Go Red Devils!