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News for the Nest

October 3, 2025

News forthe NestOctober 3, 2025

A newsletter for Clayton families from school leadership and the PTA A newsletter for Clayton families from school leadership and the PTA

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Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

Saturday, Oct 4 πŸŽ‚Happy Birthday to Ms. Pandola, 1st Grade Teacher!πŸŽ‚

Sunday, Oct 5 πŸŽ‚Happy Birthday to Coach Cantu, PE Coach!πŸŽ‚

Monday, Oct 6 πŸŽ‚Happy Birthday to Mr. Jose, Lead Custodian!πŸŽ‚

  • 8:00 PreK fire truck visit

Tuesday, Oct 7

  • 5:30-7:30 PTA Presents: Family Fitness Night!πŸƒπŸ»β€β™‚οΈ (details below)
Wednesday, Oct 8
  • 9:00 Evacuation Drill

Thursday, Oct 9

  • 12:00 Virtual session w/ Principal McCollum (link) to learn about new proposed boundaries for Clayton (more info below)

Friday, Oct 10 βœ… NO SCHOOL βœ… πŸŽ‚ Happy Birthday to Ms. Jacobs, SCORES Teacher!πŸŽ‚

Saturday, Oct 12 πŸŽ‚ Happy Birthday to Ms. Gabby, ECSE TA!πŸŽ‚

Monday, Oct 13 βœ… NO SCHOOL βœ… Indigenous People's Day


COMING UP

Oct 20 - NO SCHOOL Parent/Teacher Conference Day, Diwali

Oct 15 - Booster Fundraiser Program begins

Oct 24 - πŸ™Œ Booster Fundraiser Fun Run πŸ™Œ

BIG NEWS! Our annual School Fundraiser; Clayton Fun Run kicks off soon! BIG NEWS! Our annual School Fundraiser; Clayton Fun Run kicks off soon!

We are raising money so we can continue to provide great experiences for your child at school. Our goal is to raise at least $65,000 for campus improvements, classroom support, and a part time intervention teacher and device manager and we need your help. Save the date and stay tuned for more details on how you can support our cause.


πŸ’» Register online at MyBooster.com – 10/01/2025

πŸŽ‰ Fundraiser Kickoff in school – 10/15/2025

πŸ‘Ÿ Event Day – 10/24/2025


Don’t forget, we have a special partnership with Chuck E Cheese! With your student’s first $35 donation, they earn a 30 Game Play Wristband!


Clayton's Fun Run is a joint school/PTA fundraising and we use Booster to help us.

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CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP YOUR STUDENT AND GET STARTED!!

Learn about new proposed boundary change for Clayton w/ Principal McCollum Learn about new proposed boundary change for Clayton w/ Principal McCollum

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Virtual session Thursday, Oct. 9 at 12:00

Link to session: meet.google.com/spv-pjkq-bzo

Austin ISD is proposing changes to school boundaries across the city, as part of a larger plan to save millions of dollars and reach our financial goals. I will present the changes that affect Clayton, as well as proposed changes to student transfer policies and other changes taking place at the district-level.

All information presented is already available to the AISD School Consolidation website and was shared with the community via email 10-3-25. https://www.austinisd.org/consolidate

We will have time for questions and answers.

I hope you join us!

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In Austin ISD, we are committed to building transformational relationships that lead to a sense of trust and belonging for all. We welcome the opportunity to hear the stories that make AISD feel like home! Please help us recognize our dedicated staff members by submitting a RAVE.


The Recognizing All Valuable Employees or RAVE Program was created to honor those who take the extra steps to provide equitable and exceptional experiences. If you had an exceptional experience interacting with an Austin ISD employee , please nominate that staff member by completing the form below.

Submit a RAVE

Science Fair Sessions Available! Science Fair Sessions Available!

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Book Fair Is Coming -- We Need Your Help! Book Fair Is Coming -- We Need Your Help!

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Our Fall book fair will be themed "The Wild Reader," and we would love for you to be part of the magic! The fair will be held during the week of October 27 - 31, please click the button below to sign up. The fair always creates excitement about books, completely funds our part-time library clerk, and provides the paperback books we use as Accelerated Reader (A.R.) rewards. Here's a quick overview of what to expect on different shifts:


Friday setup: We convert the library into a bookstore during this vital job; wear your sneakers!

After school, every day: The registers don't stop!

Monday, during the school day: previews; we're hopping all day long.

Tuesday, during the school day: mostly previews - it's pretty busy!

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday mornings: the early rush to buy is on.

Wednesday & Thursday during school afternoon: often quiet

Friday early morning: last chance to buy (piggy banks are emptied) :-)

Friday afternoon: No glamour, but so appreciated - time to restore the library


With appreciation from your Clayton Librarian,


~ Dana Sposeep

Sign Up to Volunteer HERE

Fall Session II Registration is Open Fall Session II Registration is Open

Our after school program partner, ATX Ballers, has opened registration for their 2nd Fall Session (Oct 28 - Dec 16). They meet on Tuesdays after school at Clayton.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

Literary Pumpkins! Literary Pumpkins!

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One of our treasured Fall traditions at Clayton is the "Literary Pumpkin" project. This is a family project in which you choose a book and then decorate a pumpkin to represent that story or one of its characters. Then, bring it to the library and we'll display for all to enjoy. Here are a few guidelines:


This is not a contest. We do a "lucky drawing" of 5 names, and those students/families receive a $20 gift card to redeem at our book fair.


We'll welcome pumpkins between September 29 and October 23.

(The drawing will be on October 28.)


Artificial pumpkins are preferred (real ones tend to rot!); if you use a real pumpkin, please don't puncture any holes.


Have fun creating yours and admiring them all!

Warmly,


~ Dana Sposeep

Clayton Librarian

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Literary Pumpkin Instructions - Print Me!.pdf
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Best Buddies inclusion program is here! Best Buddies inclusion program is here!

Seeking one more parent as a committee member Seeking one more parent as a committee member

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Clayton is bringing a wonderful program called Best Buddies Friendship Program to our campus! Best Buddies Friendship Program is an international initiative that builds friendships between students with and without intellectual or developmental disabilities. At the elementary level, we’ll create community through inclusive activities and social-emotional learning that promote acceptance and one-to-one connections.

We’re looking for two parent volunteers to join our advisory team and help plan at least four events (two in the fall, two in the spring), plus the Central Texas Friendship Walk at Westlake HS on April 18. Events can be during or after schoolβ€”anything from games and crafts to pizza parties and gardeningβ€”to encourage friendships.

Interested? Please email Teacher Ellie Herrmann at elizabeth.herrmann@austinisd.org. Be sure to include your child's name and grade level, please. Advisory team members will contact families to confirm participation. We look forward to a fantastic pilot year of Best Buddies at Clayton!

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Counseling Corner Counseling Corner

This week in counseling students will:


  • Introduce or review the Zones of Regulation.
  • Identify body cues related to how we are feeling.
  • Practice using empathy to identify how someone might be feeling in a given situation.

All About the Zones

Zones of Regulation is a research based curriculum that aims to make us aware of how our brain and body feel generally throughout the day and while we are experiencing certain emotions. Often, the physiological cues our bodies get can help build our awareness and understanding of the need to use skills to regulate before emotions get too big to handle. For example, noticing body sensations like my heart beating fast and my muscles feeling tense will strengthen my mind-body awareness and allow me to select calming strategies that work for me before I get so angry that I shout or push.

Zones of Regulation can help us learn when we need to regulate our emotions so we are able to most successfully learn, play, and make safe and thoughtful choices in times of stress. No emotions or β€œzones” are negative, some are just less effective in certain environments and situations. The idea is not to be so calm and collected that we never experience feelings, but rather to help our bodies return to a regulated homeostasis after a challenge.


You can help reinforce our learning at home by:

  • Using the language of zones at home to narrate how your brain and body are feeling. (i.e. β€œThis is really frustrating for me. I feel my heart beating faster and my muscles are starting to feel tight. I’m going to take a few deep breaths.)

  • Encourage your child to share his/her zone with you.

  • Validate what zone your child is in, and help them brainstorm expected ways to self-regulate.


Over the next few weeks, we will explore each zone in depth. Students have finished their unit about the zones, so feel free to ask your learner what they already know!

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All About School Counseling Programs
Click here to learn about counseling programming.
FAQ About Counseling Consent

News from PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION! News from PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION!

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WE NEED YOUR HELP!

You can help with set up, break down or during the event!

Step Up or Break Down Sign Up HERE!
Event Volunteer Sign Up HERE!

If you missed the physical waiver that was sent home, you can print and fill out another from the link below!

Click HERE for the 2025 Waiver
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Voly Volunteer Application!
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Do you want to help teach our community more about your amazing culture or a culture you are passionate about? Please sign up to set up a booth. Any and all country booths are welcome but there is a limited number of spots so first come first serve! Please follow the link in the comments below to sign up.
Click HERE for the Cultural Celebration Booth Sign Up!
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October 2025 Teacher Appreciation Sign Up Form HERE!
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This is about heart, creativity, and having FUN!

Deadline to submit is October 27, 2025

Questions? Email acpta1@nanclaytonpta.org

Let’s get creative!

Reflections Submission form!
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SPONSOR COMMITMENT FORM HERE
SPONSOR COLLATERAL SUBMISSION FORM HERE
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Complete the form below to indicate interest in volunteer opportunities you want to be in contact about further!

Click HERE to complete volunteer interest form!

Below is also a link to a list of volunteer opportunities at Clayton this year!

2025-2026 Clayton Volunteer Opportunities Directory!
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Email Erika Fletcher at staffappreciation@nanclaytonpta.org if you are interested!

Partnerships will include providing goodies, snacks, etc. to teachers and staff during our monthly appreciation events! All partnerships will be shared on social media outlets, printed for teachers to see, and in the News for the Nest!

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DOCs Sign Up Form!
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Click HERE to fill out our HEADBAND & BOW PRE-ORDER FORM!
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Click HERE to fill out our PTA Communications Google Form!
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PTA Website

PTA Facebook

PTA Instagram

Cardinal Corner: Clayton Elementary Parents Page Facebook Group

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Spirit Shop!
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Click HERE to Join! (select "Nan Clayton Elementary")
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NEW! Clayton Family Handbook
Clayton website
My School Central - webstore
Lunch Menus & School Cafe Accout
Absence Reporting - AISD online form
How to set up AISD Parent Portal (grades, attendance alerts, etc)
Nan Clayton Elementary & PTA
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