The Bulldog BARK!

Dear Parents,

The final quarter of the school year is upon us, and we are digging deep and working hard to prepare students for end of year assessments, starting with the B.E.S.T. Writing Assessment next week!The fourth quarter is our opportunity to make the final drive to maximize performance and showcase student growth so students may then enjoy special celebrations that punctuate the final stretch of the school year.

Here are a few helpful tips to support your child:

1. Encourage Rest and Sleep: Ensure your child is getting enough sleep, especially the night before test days, so they feel refreshed and focused.

2. Provide a Healthy Breakfast or Arrive at CHE Well in Time for Breakfast: A nutritious breakfast can help fuel their brain and improve concentration.

3. Practice Calm and Positivity: Help reduce any test anxiety by reminding them that the tests are simply a way to show what they’ve learned.

4. Monitor Grades and Assignments in Synergy, and Review Key Concepts: Take time to keep an eye on your child's grades and work samples. Review subjects or skills they feel less confident about in a low-pressure way.

5. Stay Organized & Maintain Consistent Routines: Help your child gather everything they need for each school day, and be sure to check the backpack and student planner every day to stay up to date on day-to-day information.

Thank you for your support in helping your child succeed!

Sincerely,

Adele Reed

Students in grades, 4, 5, and 6 will take their state writing assessments this week! Your child and his teacher have worked so hard to prepare for this demanding test!

• Students will have 120 minutes to read a variety of texts and respond to a given prompt using evidence from what they've read to construct a response. Their essays may be argumentative (persuasive) or expository (writing to inform).
• Students can earn up to 12 points, from 3 domains: Purpose/Structure, Development, and Language, with a maximum score of 4 points in each domain.
• Although students are provided with a planning sheet to organize their thinking, their writing is completed via a computer-based platform, so they must type their essay.
  
  

As you can see, the B.E.S.T. Writing assessment is challenging, but the students have been provided with the tools for success! Please support your child's efforts to show what they know on these rigorous assessments!

Kindergarten Registration for 2025-2026 OPENS on April 15th! If you, friends, or family have a child that will turn 5 on or before September 1 of this year, s/he is eligible for registration for kindergarten for the upcoming school year! Don't wait! We look forward to welcoming our newest Bulldogs to CHE!

• Two Kindergarten Tour dates will be shared soon, so that you and your child can become acclimated to our campus and program.
• Registration is completed online, at https://www.oneclay.net/o/ccds/page/kindergarten-registration.

We are so proud of our 3rd Quarter Principals Award Winners who consistently demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, outstanding behavior, and a positive attitude towards learning. This award honors those who go above and beyond in their efforts, show leadership, and serve as role models for their peers. It reflects the student's dedication to excellence, responsibility, and contributing positively to the school community. These amazing students recently enjoyed Pancakes with Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Wright to celebrate their selection for this high award!

An annual favorite at CHE is our spring Sixth Grade Greek Olympics! The event culminates a unit of study in World History, and also serves as a way for students to experience athletic competition with a fun twist! While we can't vouch for the historical accuracy of some of the events, the students had a blast and walked away with many award ribbons! Congratulations to all our athletes from City-State Fehrs and City-State Tichinel!

On Thursday, March 27, the regional elementary schools came together at Clay Hill Elementary school for a grueling challenge! Student teams from each school battled for the title of Regional B.O.B Champions, and Ms. Lowans and her three amazing scholars took home the WIN! We are so proud of the level of hard work and focus these students and their teacher put into the Sunshine State Young Readers this year, and we look forward to supporting them as they move on to the next level of competition on April 10!

Payment envelopes were sent home in last week's Tuesday folder. Give us a call if you cannot locate yours. Both class and individual pictures will be taken, on request.

Don't miss out on the many great memories from this year! Order forms for this year's Yearbook went home in last week's Tuesday folder, but they may also be purchased online through MySchoolBucks.

CHE is excited to partner with local businesses to help grow community engagement with our students and our many instructional and supplementary programs! Local business and community members are highly desired members of our School Advisory Council as well! Allow us to market your brand as you make an impact at Clay Hill Elementary! Give Mrs. Wright a call at 904-336-0775 or email at kathryn.wright@myoneclay.net to partner with us!

CHE Partners in Education Agreement

Our final mindset for the year is The Time is Now, which is so fitting at this part of the year, since it is about getting involved in life and making the most of each day. It encourages students to live in the present and take action toward their goals. The students have worked hard this year to attain goals set at the start of the year, and by emulating the attributes of the Time is Now mindset, there's NOTHING we can't achieve!

Click the image below to learn how you can foster this trait in your child.

Please be attentive to your child's calendared testing days. Attendance is critical on these days, as students perform better on assessments under typical routines rather than on makeup days. We are excited about student performance on summative state testing!

School librarians play a crucial role in fostering a love of reading, supporting student learning, and promoting information literacy. They curate diverse collections of books and resources, guide students in research and critical thinking, and create a welcoming space for academic and personal growth. Their contributions enhance students' educational experience by helping them develop essential skills for success in both school and life. We are so blessed to have Ms. Lowans and Mrs. Leasure serving our students and staff at CHE! Please join us in honoring their contributions to our school on Thursday, April 4!

Which grade level will show the most spirit on Friday, April 11th? Remember, Fair Day is now a school day, so we're making it extra special with the return of our schoolwide COLOR WAR! Don't forget to dress head to toe in your grade level's color!

The CCDS and district schools recently launched our upgraded websites, featuring streamlined systems for communicating with stakeholders! Take a moment to peruse the site and be sure to download the OneClay app at the App Store or Google Play store to receive real-time updates from across the Clay County School District!

Tuesday, Apr. 1:

• 4th Grade B.E.S.T. Writing Assessment
• March Monthly Mindset Awards: Live to Give (During Lunch)

Wednesday, Apr. 2:

• Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! We love our classroom assistants!
• Gr. 5 and 6 B.E.S.T. Writing Assessment
• Robotics Club, 3:00-4:30

Thursday, Apr. 3:

• Spring Picture Day! (Group and Individual Pictures)
  
  

Friday, Apr. 4:

• National School Librarian Day! We love you, Ms. Lowans and Mrs. Leasure!
• SSYRA Jr. Guest Author Visit: Ben Clanton (Gr. 1 and 2)

Saturday, Apr. 5:

• Math Field Day, 8:00-12:00 OHS

Monday, Apr. 7:

• Nat'l Assistant Principals Week Kickoff! (We love you, Mrs. Wright)
• Robotics Club, 3:00-4:30 pm
  
  

Wednesday, Apr. 9:

• Robotics Club, 3:00-4:30 pm

Friday, Apr. 11:

• Weather Make-Up Day (Formerly FAIR Day) Come to school!
• Color War at CHE: Which grade level will WIN?!?

Saturday, Apr. 12:

• Celebrity Showmanship at the Clay County Fair! Come see Mrs. Reed's SSwing-showing Skills!
  
  

Monday, Apr. 14:

• Robotics Club: 3:00-4:30
  
  

Tuesday, Apr. 15:

• Chime Choir Day Performance for K-2 Students, 9:00 am
• Night of the Arts at CHE, 5:30 pm
  
  

Wednesday, Apr. 16:

• Purple Up for Military Kids! Wear Purple
• Robotics Club, 3:00-4:30 pm

Thursday, Apr. 17:

• PK3 Egg Hunt, 10:00 AM
• PK4/VPK Egg Hunt, 10:30 AM
• Kindergarten Egg Hunt, 11:35 AM

Friday, Apr. 18:

• Good Friday, No School

Monday, Apr. 21:

• Robotics Club, 3:00-4:30

Tuesday, Apr. 22:

• Earth Day
• School Bus Driver/Monitor Appreciation Day!
• F.A.S.T. Testing: Grades 1 and 2, Reading (ELA)

Wednesday, Apr. 23:

• Admin Professionals Day! We love our clerical team!
• Coffee & Conversation with the Principals, 8:40 am
• Robotics Club, 3:00-4:30

Thursday, Apr. 24:

• F.A.S.T. Testing: Grades 1 and 2, Math

Friday, Apr. 25:

• Interim Reports available in Synergy
• CHE Night at Chuck E. Cheese! 3:00-8:00 pm

Monday, Apr. 28:

• Robotics Club, 3:00-4:30 pm

Tuesday, Apr. 29:

• F.A.S.T. Testing: Kindergarten Reading (ELA)

Wednesday, Apr. 30:

• Robotics Club, 3:00-4:30 pm

The CHE Parent Volunteers can assist before, during, or after school, and we know that our students are FAR more successful when we are blessed with strong engagement from our parents and caregivers!

CCDS Volunteer Registration is NOW available! Click the link below to access the CCDS Volunteer Information and Registration page!

• ALWAYS bring your ID with you to CHE. Your child will NOT be released to you (or anyone else), even if we know you, without a picture ID. Safety FIRST!
• Students will not be released at car-rider pickup unless the appropriate Car Tag is visible on the dashboard or windshield.
• Parent permission, in writing is required in order to change a student's transportation. Parents may email the teacher through ParentVue - well in advance, please - to notify him/her of a transportation change. Please call the school in addition to email to ensure that the message is received in case the teacher is unable to check her email before dismissal!

Our school office hours are 7:30 am to 3:30. Student instructional time is from 8:30 am, when the tardy bell rings, until 2:42 pm, when students are dismissed. Students are permitted on campus for breakfast in the cafeteria at 8:05 am.

Please be aware that supervision by staff is not provided before 8:05 am or after 3:00 pm. Onsite before- and after-school care is provided by the YMCA for students in grades K-6 from 6:30 am until 6:00 pm. Click HERE for information about the YMCA program.

The CCDS Family Handbook / Code of Conduct, which includes the district's dress code policy, has been updated for 2024-2025. Click HERE to view the updated document. Please note the following expectations that reflect either policy updates or expectations specific to CHE:

• Shorts, dresses or skirts should come to the middle thigh or longer. If leggings are worn with the above-mentioned clothing items, then the top layer of clothing (shorts, dress, skirt, etc.) MUST come to the middle thigh or longer.

• Jeans/pants that have frays/holes above the middle thigh must have something underneath them, such as leggings that cover the skin, so as not to expose skin or undergarments.

• Shirts must cover the shoulder and not expose undergarments in any manner or any part of the torso.

• Students may bring water ONLY - no other drinks - to class, in a CLEAR, plastic bottle with a secure cap or lid.

• Head coverings are not permitted inside buildings & classrooms.

• Cell phones and ALL other wireless devices must be silenced or powered off once students enter the campus.

Email: adele.reed@myoneclay.net

Website: https://www.oneclay.net/o/che
Location: 6345 County Road 218, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Phone: 904-336-0775
Facebook: facebook.com/cheengage