CCS What's Going Well - 6.11.25

Sophomore Boone McNaughton earned a perfect 36 on the ACT, placing him in the top 0.5% of test-takers nationwide! Beyond academics, Boone is also a passionate advocate for student voice, working to strengthen representation on the school board, in local government, and beyond. We’re proud of you, Boone, and excited to see what’s next!

For the second year in a row, Emerson Rinke has been honored in the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Her sci-fi short story, "To Scorch a Scar," earned a Gold Key Award at the regional level and went on to win a National Silver Medal. Congratulations!

This spring, our fourth graders at BLE completed a reading and writing unit on animal adaptations, during which each student published a hardcover book about an animal they researched. The work was incredible, and two students, Rowyn Pettinato (whose book was about bees) and Kellan Hartman (whose was about frogs), truly stood out! After sharing their books with the American Reading Company, the company reached out to purchase both titles for use in their national curriculum. Rowyn and Kellan were surprised during a special assembly with the entire BLE fourth grade.

The Clarkston Construction Tech team capped off the year with a silver medal at the SkillsUSA State Championships! Students put their talents to the test in framing, electrical, plumbing, masonry, and teamwork, earning high marks in this challenging competition. Beyond competing, they connected with industry professionals and explored future career pathways. Congratulations to these hardworking Wolves on a fantastic performance—we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Clarkston Area Youth Assistance (CAYA) honored 72 incredible students for their outstanding contributions to our community, their kindness, leadership, and commitment to supporting the well-being of themselves and those around them. These young leaders were nominated for going above and beyond—and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate their achievements. Congratulations to all of you!

Clarkston’s Team RUSH had an outstanding season! With 34 students and 25 mentors, they competed in 88 matches and won 64, scoring a total of 330 points. Along the way, they faced teams from 26 states and 9 countries, partnering with 104 unique teams and competing against 146. Their hard work earned them 2 Blue Banners, a Dean’s List Finalist, and top rankings: 4th out of 525 teams in Michigan and 60th out of 3,690 teams in the world. Congratulations to Team RUSH on another incredible year!

Congratulations to the 2025 Clarkston Foundation, LaFontaine Automotive Group Teacher of the Year, Emily Grammatico! Mrs. Grammatico teaches Spanish II and works in the Project-Based Learning (PBL) program at CJHS, supporting her 8th- and 9th-grade English Learners in the classroom. Her high-caliber level of expertise and her dedication is representative of so many of our educators. Thank you for all that you do!

Congratulations to the 67 teachers (not all pictured) who achieved their tenure and were recognized at the last Board Meeting. Thank you for your dedication to our schools!

CCS was well represented at this year’s Clarkston Community Awards! Congratulations to:

• Adult Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Matt Lumentta for launching the Special Olympics program for our Life Skills students.

• The Academic Service Learning program received the Community Collaboration Award.

• Issabella Chappell, a junior at Clarkston Junior High School, was named Youth of the Year.

The Clarkston Junior High School Concert Band has been invited to perform at the 2026 Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids—an incredible honor earned through a highly competitive audition process. Our talented students entering 9th grade next year are one of only two middle/junior high bands in the entire state selected to perform—an achievement considered the state championship of school band performance in Michigan!

In May, twelve members of the CHS Drama Club Troupe 803 were inducted into the International Thespian Society. The International Thespian Society is an honor society for students of the performing arts. To be eligible to become a member, you must have a minimum of 25 points (100 hours) of work. These dedicated Thespians have a lot to be proud of!

Clarkston Area Youth Assistance (CAYA), in partnership with Pine Knob Elementary, recently introduced Music Mashup, an exciting new after-school program. Open to all skill levels, the program immersed students in music through interactive, hands-on activities that fostered creativity and self-expression. In addition to building musical skills, Music Mashup helped students develop key academic and life skills. It was a fun and enriching experience for all who participated!

Congratulations to the girls' tennis team on their regional championship! The team went on to place 5th at States, capping off a strong season with grit and tenacity. We’re proud of their hard work and steady performance throughout the season. Way to go!

At the Michigan Outdoor Track & Field State Championship, sophomore Wendell Childs took first place in the 800m, setting a PR and new school record of 1:50.71. Incredible! The 4x800m relay team consisting of Wendell Childs, Jaxson Nowik, Cayden DeGrendel & Joshua Ellingsworth also set a new school record with a time of 7:42.90, coming in 2nd place. We are so proud of you all! Go Wolves!

Congratulations to Allison Thurman, the only adaptive athlete on the Varsity Track Team, and a relentless force rewriting the record books. Last year, she made headlines as the first-ever D1 State Champion in the 200M at the State Finals. This year? She came back stronger, finishing 3rd in the 100M, 200M, and 400M at States, with personal records in the 100M and 200M. Additionally, earlier this season, Allison became the first D1 female adaptive wheelchair athlete to ever compete in the 400M. Keep up the hard work, Allison! We are so proud of you!

Our Sashabaw Middle School had an incredible showing at this weekend’s Oakland County Track & Field Meet, competing against over 50 middle school teams from across the county!

Top Performances Include:

• Izzy Yedlin – 5th, Shot Put

• Evelyn Targal – 5th, High Jump

• Austin Evans – 4th, 200m Hurdles

• Jack Franson – 6th, 400m Dash

• Sylvie Heist – 4th, 3200m ( New School Record: 11:46!)

• Jack Rogers – New School Record in 3200m: 11:06

• Elle North, Claire Walsh, Alexis Harpster, Tessa Zorski – 5th, 4x100m Relay

We are so proud of all our athletes who represented SMS with heart, hustle, and sportsmanship.

Way to go, Wolves!

The CSMTech physics class took learning about acceleration and velocity to the next level with a giant slip 'n slide behind the building. In addition to testing the slide themselves, they invited the Funshine kiddos to give it a try as well. Needless to say, everyone, big and small, had a blast!

The Celebration of Our World event at SPE was a huge success, with over 500 students exploring global cultures through hands-on exhibits, live performances, and an international menu. From Bollywood dancing to Mariachi music and flavors from around the world, students experienced the richness of diversity right in their own school.

NSE's Family Literacy Night was quite a success, centered around books that have been adapted into movies. The night was filled with fun activities for families to enjoy together, all centered around this theme. Along with enjoying activities, families also had a spaghetti dinner donated and served by members of Calvary Lutheran Church.