eNews Back to School Edition
A Message from the Superintendent
Dear Clayton Community,
Believe it or not, the first day of school is almost here! On Monday, Aug. 24, our students will once again be walking through our doors, and we could not be more excited to welcome them back.
This week, we have enjoyed getting to know our newest educators, and on Monday, we will welcome our returning teachers back as we prepare for the year ahead. There is always a special energy around Clayton at this time of year, and I am looking forward to all that we will learn and accomplish together.
It has also been a busy and productive summer across the District. We continue to make progress on our Prop O projects, including refining designs for Glenridge, Gay Field and the new Learning Lab at Clayton High School. We are also encouraged by our conversations with Washington University about using the former Fontbonne University campus as our Bridge Campus beginning in 2027. We have added key information to our website to help answer questions about the Bridge Campus and our other projects, and we will continue to share updates as plans move forward.
There is also plenty to celebrate as we look back on the past year. This week, I had the honor of joining our Teacher of the Year, Jeanne McQueen, at the regional banquet, where she was recognized as one of the top 10 educators in the region selected to advance in Missouri’s Teacher of the Year program. We are proud to have Jeanne in Clayton and proud of the outstanding work our teachers do every day to support student learning across our schools.
I am also proud to share that Clayton has been awarded the St. Louis Suburban Conference Commissioner’s Cup! CHS finished first among 31 schools, thanks to strong performances across a number of sports, including tennis, basketball and girls soccer. Our student-athletes continue to impress us with their focus, determination and commitment both on and off the field and court. Congratulations to all of our student-athletes and coaches who helped make this honor possible!
As we celebrate those accomplishments, we are also looking ahead to the work that will guide us this year. At last night’s Board of Education meeting, we reviewed our Continuous School Improvement Plan and the work ahead in our three goal areas:
A Place for Everyone
To Grow as Learners
In Head and Heart
While some of the objectives within those goals are evolving, they continue to guide the work we do across the District. This year, we are leaning even further into the idea that learning is something we all do, and we have updated our Profile to reinforce that growth does not stop when we leave the classroom.
We are excited to bring that idea to life for our broader community this fall with our first Learning Together Conference. We hope you will make plans to join us on Thursday, Nov. 5, at CHS for an evening of learning, conversation and connection for parents and community members. More details will be shared as plans are finalized, but I am excited about what this event can become.
There is much more happening across Clayton, and you will find several important updates below. For families preparing for Aug. 24, I encourage you to stay connected through your principal’s newsletters and to join us at the Back to School Bash next Thursday. You will also find key back-to-school information and reminders in this newsletter.
It will be great to have our students and staff back together for another year in Clayton. Let’s make it a great one!
Nisha
Nisha Patel, EdD
Superintendent
Clayton Community 5K Run/Walk
Save the date for the Clayton Community 5K, a new, family-friendly event planned for Sunday, Oct. 18 in Shaw Park. The race will benefit the Clayton Education Foundation and Clayton Community Foundation and is supported by local businesses, school clubs and community organizations. Whether you run, walk or cheer from the sidelines, we hope your family will be part of this exciting new Clayton tradition!
Save the Date: Clayton Education Foundation Homecoming BBQ
Saturday, Oct. 17 | 11 a.m. | Gay Field
Celebrate Homecoming with students, families, alumni and community members! Enjoy the excitement of the Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m., then head to Gay Field for the Clayton Education Foundation Homecoming BBQ and cheer on the Brentwood-Clayton Greyhounds as they take on Normandy High School at noon. It will be an afternoon filled with school spirit, connection and community celebration.
Registration for the CEF Homecoming BBQ will open in early September.
