Cardinal Connections Newsletter

DISTRICT WEBSITE I DISTRICT FACEBOOK I DISTRICT INSTAGRAM I JOIN OUR TEAM

The Clinton School District is excited to share that Clinton High School and Clinton Middle School cross country athletes will soon have access to a new, state-of-the-art cross country course, designed by the project’s donor along with the help of the University of Missouri’s cross country coach and architect, Brett Halter.

The course is being developed as a privately funded facility on privately owned land, and the district will have use and access for training and events through a partnership with the project’s organizer, Chris Hite.

Mr. Hite is a Clinton High School alum and former cross country standout. A member of the Class of 1993, he ran all four years at CHS and earned All-State honors in 1992. He later founded Sugar Creek Capital and remains deeply committed to supporting his hometown and alma mater. “I want this course to be something the kids enjoy running on for years to come and appreciate all those that are helping to make it possible,” Hite said.

The course will be located just east of city limits next to the Clinton Regional Airport, and is expected to be ready for use by Fall 2026. Once complete, this new facility will provide the district with the ability to host larger meets and offer a premier training and competition venue for student-athletes.

“Having the ability to host a home invitational, with the possibility of hosting districts, on a custom-designed premier course is something most coaches only dream about,” says Jimmy Barnes, CHS and CMS Cross Country Coach. “For us, it's a reality. I can't wait to see how big the meet can grow over the years."

See more pictures here.

The talented musicians below had the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the West Central District Honor and Honorable Mention Bands earlier this month.

After auditioning in November alongside more than 450 students from 34 schools, they earned their spots in these prestigious ensembles. Their performance was outstanding, and we couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and musicianship.

Congratulations to Savannah and Isabella, members of the District Honor Band, and to Bryce, Alli, Abrielle, and Gavin, who were selected for the Honorable Mention Band!

Visit our website to see a complete list of names.

Welcome to BEYOND THE NEST, a spotlight on recent alumni and the journeys they’ve taken since graduating from Clinton High School.

We call it Beyond the Nest because, just like young birds leaving the nest, our graduates leave our halls PREPARED, CONFIDENT, and READY to soar into the world. From college, the workforce, trade school, military, and careers, this weekly series celebrates how our alumni are spreading their wings and making their mark. Join us as we share their stories, achievements, and the paths that began right here in our halls.

2020 CHS alum, Abbie Dameron graduated from Missouri State University in May 2024 with a B.S. in Interior Design and a minor in Marketing. During college she joined a sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and served as the Vice President of Facility Operations. Abbie was also hired as an Assistant Interior Designer at Decorating Den Interiors in Nixa, MO where she currently works full time as an Interior Designer. In the last five years, Abbie has found her love for travel! She has ventured across the UK and Europe for her senior trip, visited Florida several times to see friends/family, went on a girls trip to Waco, TX with her college roommates, journeyed to Belgium for a food and drink cruise, and enjoyed several other adventures along the way. "Travel is the best way to learn about other cultures, how the world works, and about yourself," says Abbie.

"My high school dual credit and AP classes were the most helpful in preparing me for college. If not for those classes, I would have graduated behind schedule. They also allowed me to get some of those pesky general education classes out of the way so I could focus on my major and minor courses. My English teacher, Mrs. Daniel, was very influential in my high school and college career. She was always encouraging, made her lessons interactive and engaging, and she was very patient, especially when it came to poetry.....because for the longest time I could not stand it (I even wrote a poem for one of her assignments about disliking it)! Her reaction to the poem was something along the lines of, 'Oh my gosh, Abbie. Really...??', while shaking her head and chuckling. In college, I learned to appreciate poetry through the books I read recreationally and the creative writing course I took for my last general education requirement. I absolutely loved that creative writing class and looked forward to every assignment, and it was all thanks to Mrs. Daniel and her AP Literature class. A few other very influential people were Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Wilkins, and Mrs. Hutcherson! I wouldn't be the same without them!"

We’re proud to see Abbie’s hard work, creativity, and love of learning taking her far beyond the nest, and we can’t wait to see where her journey leads next.

Thanks to the generosity of Bright Futures Clinton donors, classrooms across the district were recently restocked with much-needed school supplies for the second semester.

Your financial support of Bright Futures truly makes a difference, directly impacting learning and easing the burden on classrooms.

If you’d like to help us continue supporting students and teachers, consider making a tax-deductible donation to Bright Futures Clinton. Email alawson@clintoncardinals.org to learn more.

See more pictures here.

Throughout the district, teachers are celebrating students for their growth and hard work. Students in Mrs. Lovelace's 3rd grade classroom recently celebrated their impressive i-Ready results and the progress they’ve made this year.

i-Ready helps teachers tailor instruction to meet students’ academic needs, identify strengths and learning gaps, and track student growth over time.

Class Growth Highlights:

• 557 points in i-Ready Reading
• 364 points in i-Ready Math
• Every student who has tested has shown growth in at least one area

Way to go, 3rd graders! Your hard work is paying off!

While we might not have had school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 2nd grade students in Mrs. Briggs' class still honored Dr. King’s legacy.

Students learned about his life and message and created “I Have a Dream” crafts highlighting how they can make the world a better place.

See more pictures here.

Congratulations to Coach Jake Vencill, who was recognized by the Board of Education at Monday night’s meeting with the Cardinal Award. Introduced last year, the Cardinal Award celebrates individuals who exemplify the values of achievement, dedication, innovation, nurturing others, ambition, and leadership.

Jake Vencill is the CHS Head Football Coach and a dedicated leader who goes above and beyond for his student-athletes, both on and off the field. His commitment to building strong character, fostering teamwork, and creating a positive culture reflects the very best of Clinton Schools.

Congratulations, Coach Vencill, and thank you for making a lasting impact on our students and community!

With the recent chilly temperatures, it’s the perfect time to spotlight our 1st graders’ Arctic Animal unit!

Students have been learning all about arctic animals, their ecosystems, and how they survive in such cold environments. To wrap up the unit, they created arctic animal dioramas, showcasing what they’ve learned through creativity and hands-on learning.

See more pictures here.

Congrats to the employees below who were recently recognized for their outstanding dedication to Clinton Schools!

The academic calendar for next school year (2026-2027) has been updated to reflect a necessary adjustment. A printable version of this calendar can be found at the link below.

Important Dates:
• First day of school for students: August 26, 2026
• Last day of school for students: May 19, 2027

PRINTABLE VERSION AVAILABLE HERE

Can you believe that we are already starting to plan for next school year?

If you know of someone who would make a great addition to our team, we encourage you to share the job openings below with them!

26-27 JOB OPENINGS

• Classroom Teachers (K-2 and 3-5)
• Science Teacher (CHS)
• EMT Instructor (CTS)
• Speech Language Pathologist (CIS)
• Machine Tool Technology Instructor (CTS)
• Vocal Music Teacher (CMS/CHS)
• Volleyball Coaches (CMS)

You have until the end of this week (1/30) to purchase a Major Saver card from a Henry Elementary or Clinton Intermediate School student! For $15, you will receive 22 great money-saving offers for businesses right here in our community.

You can also go here, to purchase a card online (all cards purchased online will be mailed to the customer).

All proceeds from the sale of these cards directly support the Education Foundation for Clinton Students, Inc. The Education Foundation for Clinton Students, Inc. funds many projects in Clinton School District classrooms that fall slightly beyond funded activities and budget limitations.

These cards are a great way to support the school district, while also saving a little cash yourself.

The Band Boosters are hosting a Fried Chicken Dinner on Sunday, February 8th in the CHS cafeteria from 11:00-1:30 (or until gone). Come eat some delicious fried chicken and help support our 8th-11th grade band students who will be marching in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, TX next December.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased until February 2nd from any CHS band student.

Please email Pat Miles, pmiles@clintoncardinals.org, or Katie Klinksick, kklinksick@clintoncardinals.org, with any questions.

Clinton High School Student Council will be hosting a blood drive on Friday, February 27th.

Please use the link below to register (several Clinton High Schools are listed, make sure you choose the correct one).

REGISTER HERE

If school must be canceled due to inclement weather, the district will make every effort to notify parents by 5:30 am (these communication methods are outlined below). We encourage all families to develop contingency plans if school must be canceled or released early. It is especially important to have plans for younger children who are too young to stay home alone.

When school remains in session during winter weather, please plan for potential bus delays. The bus company may use snow routes if most roads are safe for travel but some rural roads are not. Parents are also encouraged to ensure their children dress appropriately for protection against prolonged exposure to cold weather. Download our bus tracking app here.

On days that inclement weather forces the district to close school buildings, our messaging to you will inform you if the day will be a "traditional inclement weather day" or an "AMI day". Please watch for this information in the communication we provide.

COMMUNICATION METHODS
SOCIAL MEDIA-The first notification you will receive about a school closure will come from our district's social media pages (Facebook and Instagram).
TEXT, EMAIL, AND PHONE-This will quickly be followed by a text message, email, and phone call. The successful delivery of this information is dependent upon accurate contact information obtained from school records. If your contact information changes, please let your child's school office know as soon as possible. Only those who have opted-in to receive text messages (text Y to 67587 from the cell number the district has on file for you) will receive the text message.
WEBSITE-This information will also be placed on our district webpage, www.clintoncardinals.org.
NEWS MEDIA-The cancellation info will be provided to KDKD and Kansas City news stations.
PLEASE BE AWARE-Private social media messages and comments will not be answered by the district when it relates to weather announcements. All decisions will be shared formally by the methods listed above.

LATE START INFO
Please be aware that if the district chooses to have a late start due to weather factors, all buildings will start 2 hours later than normal. Students riding the bus to school, would be picked up 2 hours later than normal as well. Breakfast will not be served.

The following would be the start times for each building for a late start.

• CHS/CTS-9:45 (doors open at 9:15)
• CMS-9:45 (doors open at 9:25)
• CIS-10:05 (doors open at 9:30)
• Henry Elementary-10:10 (doors open at 9:30)
• CECC-morning classes cancelled
  full day classes start at 10:00 (doors open at 9:55)
  1/2 day afternoon classes regular start time

If you have ever considered substitute teaching, we would love to have you join our team and help fill this very important role in our district **(substitute teachers pay has increased to $120/day).**

There are currently two paths to becoming a substitute teacher, 36 hours of college credit or 20 hours of online training.

You can learn more and apply to be a substitute teacher in the Clinton School District at the link below:

https://www.clintoncardinals.org/cms/One.aspx...

If you have questions, please call 660-885-2237.

Know a staff member who deserves some recognition?

Use the form below to give them a Cardinal Compliment.....it’s a quick, meaningful way to say “thank you” and recognize the difference they’re making.

Let’s start the year with gratitude!

Submit your compliment here.

FirstView is a bus tracking and communications app, offered in partnership with First Student, the district's transportation provider. The FirstView app offers parents live bus tracking with custom alerts and notifications.

To get started using FirstView, please use this link. If you should have questions, please contact Transportation at 660-885-2644.

Want to catch our Cardinals in action this year?

You can view a full athletic calendar on the MSHSAA website.

The 2025-2026 school year calendar can be found below.

You can also find a printable version on our website.