CHS Update

Lots of updates as we are gearing up for the start of the 2025-2026 school year! Please reach out to any administrator with any questions!

Early out Fridays

This year the district is moving to early out Fridays rather than Wednesdays. This helps increase the amount of contact time we have throughout the year with our students, means fewer students miss school for activities and helps with busing shortages! We know there will be some growing pains, but we think this switch will have a positive impact in the long run! School releases at 1:35pm on Fridays!

Block scheduling A/B

Remember this year we are switching to a traditional A/B block. So every other day your student will have a different set of four classes. This will help engage our students with longer uninterrupted learning times for project based learning, labs and work based learning opportunities for our students.

Here is a link to the class period times.

Here is a link to the whole year labeled A and B days. Even if school unexpectedly gets canceled we will still follow this schedule!

Studies show more time engaged with the actual learning happens in a block schedule, due to cutting our procedural transitions.

Flextime

Each day has an 80 minute 'Flextime' in the middle of it. It consists of Flex A and Flex B. Due to construction we will still have an open campus. During flextime your student could be signed up to have RTI time with a teacher or can request to be signed up for 40 minutes RTI time. The other forty minutes is their lunch time.

Students will need to regularly check campus to see if they are required somewhere for Flextime. If the assignment says, "Hayton A" that means they report to Mr. Hayton for the first Flex. If the assignment says, "Brooks B" that means they report to Mr. Brooks for the second Flex. Each child can only be signed up for one Flex per day and the other flex is their lunch time. If a student is in good standing they could have both flex periods for lunch.

This also is beneficial to give students more travel time during open campus to reduce the rush.

ALL students will be assigned Flextime the first week of school with their mentor teacher.

Freshmen and Seniors will report to their Mentor teachers Flex A 11:30 - 12:08 for the first week.

Sophomore and Juniors will report to their Mentor teachers Flex B 12:08 - 12:46 for the first week.

Lunch

During construction, we will continue with open campus lunch. Students are allowed to leave during lunch, but must return on time and use a weapons detection entrance to re-enter the building (B4 Academic side or D25 Hall of Fame Entrance).

This year we will be offering grab and go options near both B4 Academic side or D25 Hall of Fame student exits for students wanting a free school lunch and choosing to leave campus.

Our lunchroom will be open for both flexes, but during construction will continue to have limited seating.

Bound

We are moving to bound for all things scheduling, keeping our student activity rosters up to date and cashless entries to events.

It is important to make sure your student is registered for all their extra curricular activities in Bound!

Click here for directions ClintonDistrictActivityRegistrationFlyer.pdf

Contact Caitlin.thompson@csdkq.org if you need help registering your student!

Mentoring

CHS will once again be heavily focused on our teachers being mentors and building connections with our students as they are navigating our changing world. Students will have a mentoring period daily as time to analyze and reflect on learning, assessments and assignments, graduation pathway and social emotional learning. Students are expected to attend and will receive a half elective credit each semester they participate in mentoring.

Work Based Learning

The state of Iowa and Clinton High are putting a huge emphasis on the potential of work based learning opportunities at the high school level. This year we are welcoming Jim Bengtson on board as our work based learning coordinator. He will increase our students opportunities with job shadows, internships, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships; along with partnering with classroom teachers to help develop some simulated work experiences and partnerships with area businesses to the classroom. Students will still also engage with classroom speakers and career and post secondary field trip opportunities.

Our class of 2028 (incoming sophomores) will be the first class required to have a work based learning credit before they graduate.

Construction Update

While we know that going to school (and working) in a building as it gets rebuilt has its challenges; we know there is an end in sight! Construction will be done when it is done, but we still have an anticipated date of August 2026. Throughout the 2025-2026 school year, you will see the structure of the front of the building going up! This will include the main office, counseling suites, six additional classrooms and the commons area getting a face lift! We will also have a round drive with some additional parking spaces immediately in front of the main entrance. Please be patient with us as we all go through these inconveniences together to get to the end; which will be an amazing high school for generations to come to enjoy!

Cell Phones:

"From Bell to Bell there is No Cell." While this has been our policy for close to five years, the state of Iowa has officially made this law. If you need to get a hold of your student during class time please call the office and we can get them in an emergency at (563)243-7540.

Students who do not comply with state law will have to turn their cell phone in to the office.

Freshmen Orientation

Wednesday, August 13th

9:00-11:00 Freshmen Orientation (8th Grade Black Team)

12:00-2:00 Freshmen Orientation (8th Grade Red Team)

Meet in Yourd Gym by coming through the Hall of Fame doors located on the far West side between the school and the football field!

Clinton High CCC Orientation:

If you are taking any courses through Clinton Community College this year please make sure you are at orientation on August 14th at 9:00 or 1:00 at CCC, have your student check their email for a room number. Also, pick up your computer before you attend orientation!

Computer Pick Up

Students are expected to pick up their computer from the CHS library before the first day of school.

The library will be open for computer check out:

8/13 9:00-3:00 (Freshmen Orientation)

8/14 9:00-3:00 (CCC Orientation)

8/18 9:00-3:00

8/21 10:30-3:00

8/22 12:00-5:00 (CHS Open house)

Back to School Night

CHS will have our back to school night on Friday August 22nd from 3:00-5:00 to unload your backpack into your locker. Stay to cheer on the River Kings Football team in their scrimmage against the Camanche Storm!

Student Attendance

The state of Iowa is once again putting a major emphasis on student attendance. Along with harsh truancy laws and penalties from the county, Clinton High offers the incentive of getting out of finals for every block period that the student has missed 3 or less class periods in.

Parent Portal

Having this on your device to check grades and attendance regularly, talking to your kids to get anything missing turned in and assessments made up within two days if they miss it will greatly help with holding your child accountable for doing their job and showing up! If you need help getting signed in please call the main office!