CCS What's Going Well - 9.25.2025

We are off to a wonderful start to the 2025–2026 school year! The first several weeks have flown by, and it has been great to see our classrooms filled with energy and enthusiasm. Students are engaged, teachers are invigorated, and together we are creating the foundation for another successful year in Clarkston Community Schools. We look forward to the year ahead!

The first day of school was filled with excitement as students returned to the halls of Clarkston Schools. Classrooms came alive with new lessons, fresh supplies, and plenty of smiles as teachers and students began building connections that will carry through the year.

Five years ago, one of our Clarkston parents, Jen Laubach, was the first Covid patient to give birth at Troy Beaumont Hospital. Her twin sons, Mitchell and Maksim, were born 8 weeks premature while both her and husband, Andre, were sick with Covid. Andre was unable to be present for their birth, and after delivery, they were taken away to the NICU to be cared for. Jen and Andre were unable to meet them for 20 days. Additionally, one of the twins, Maksim, was on a ventilator because he could not breathe on his own. This year, they started Kindergarten at Independence Elementary! While the first days and months were a struggle, we're so thankful that their story has a happy ending, and that we get to welcome them into one of our schools!

The Class of 2026 kicked off the school year by gathering for the annual Senior Sunrise on the CHS football field—and it couldn’t have been a more beautiful morning! This cherished tradition symbolizes the bright beginning of their journey toward graduation.

Please join us in congratulating J Ponce, Katie Miller, and Elliot Hoyle for their selection as three of 16,000 National Merit Semi-finalists for the 25/26 school year. Each year, approximately 1.6 million juniors nationwide take the PSAT. Those who score in the top 1% achieve the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist. Congratulations on your hard work and commitment to academic excellence.

Introducing The Pack Press, a CJHS student-run digital newspaper that shares stories about school and beyond. This month, the 8th and 9th-grade newspaper staff released their first issue! You can find out staff bios linked in the About section. Our pack has a lot to say, and they can't wait to share new stories with you throughout the school year! Click on the photo below to read the first issue..

Clarkston High School’s Counseling Department and the AWOD (A World of Difference) class recently hosted a “New Student Breakfast” to welcome students new to CHS, including our Foreign Exchange students. The event provided students with the opportunity to enjoy breakfast, meet fellow newcomers, and participate in fun “Get to Know You” activities designed to help build relationships among themselves and with the AWOD team. We are glad to have you here!

The first day for our new Clarkston teachers was an exciting start to their journey with CCS. Throughout several days of onboarding, they participated in presentations, professional development sessions, and a district tour to learn more about our schools and community. They also had the opportunity to connect with colleagues and establish partnerships that will support them throughout the year. We are thrilled to welcome this outstanding group of educators to our team and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our students.

The CHS social studies hall has now become a family affair. We are pleased to welcome staff member, Jake Spicer! With the addition of Jake, we now have the Spicer mother/son duo in the hallway, and we are delighted to have him back at CHS. How fun to be able to work alongside not only friends but also family!

Before the start of the school year, all CCS staff gathered for Opening Day to celebrate the beginning of a new academic year. The CHS band provided a lively welcome, while the choir performed from the balcony, filling the room with music. Staff were also inspired by a keynote address from speaker Thomas Murray, who helped set a positive tone for the year ahead.

It was a pleasure to welcome the community to the 7th Annual Family Tailgate earlier this month. Families and friends enjoyed music, games, face painting, food, and more. The cheerleaders and dance teams brought extra energy, ensuring everyone's spirits were high for the football game. Thank you to our sponsors and volunteers, whose support helped make the event a huge success.

Some of our little IE Broncos play on Miracle League, an incredible adapted sports league that offers numerous opportunities for kids and young adults with disabilities. Their most popular sport is baseball, which provides players a chance to play an actual baseball game with the support of caregivers or non-disabled peers. Players learn to hit the ball, run the bases, play outfield, and develop sportsmanship. This program helps to provide a place where their kids can thrive without fear of judgment.

At a recent varsity football game, all of our Clarkston Chiefs football players and cheerleaders had the special opportunity to help usher the Wolves on and off the field at halftime. These future Wolves were so excited as they stood on the sidelines, cheering loudly and getting up close to the game. It was not only a fun memory for our young athletes, but also a great way to bridge the gap between our youth programs and Clarkston High School athletics.

Some of our Japanese level 3-5 students had an unforgettable two-week exchange with Chiba Higashi High School, celebrating 25 years of partnership! During the first week, students had the opportunity to tour Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Tokyo. In the second week, they stayed with host families, attended school, gave presentations in Japanese, and visited an elementary school to facilitate activities. Many of our students stayed with the families of the Chiba Higashi High School students whom they hosted during their visit to the U.S. this spring - a true cultural exchange. Thank you, Sensei Faye Valtadoros and Laura Kalinowski, for allowing these students to have such an incredible experience. I’m sure this is something they will never forget.

This summer, five of our Spanish students joined an Education First excursion for nine unforgettable days in Spain! From Madrid to Granada, Sevilla, Costa del Sol, and even Gibraltar, students explored castles, historic towns, world-famous museums, and enjoyed traditional foods like paella and flan. They experienced flamenco dancing, zip-lined where Game of Thrones was filmed, and even swam in the Mediterranean on their final night. What an incredible adventure!

This past June, a group of 19 French students embarked on an unforgettable adventure through France, with quick visits to Spain and Monaco. The trip was filled with incredible experiences—both big and small—as students grew together, connected, and immersed themselves in French language and culture. It is a true gift to allow our students the opportunity to travel abroad and to encourage them to become global learners, experiencing enriching, lifelong moments that extend far beyond the classroom.

Before demolition crews started taking down the old CJHS gymnasium, the “C” in the middle of the basketball court was saved. We have big plans for this special piece of history in the new CJHS.

The new gym is almost finished and we are hoping it will be open next week! Just look at that beautiful floor! We are so excited for it to be filled with spectators!

Do you have an exciting classroom activity? Know of a standout student, staff, or alumnus? Have a student/child participating in a special event, competition, or just doing something cool? Help us share the Clarkston Community Schools story in photos, videos, and words! Please email marketing@clarkston.k12.mi.us or by complete THIS FORM. Your story may be featured on our website, social media, or local news. Parent permission will be confirmed as needed.