Our middle school yearbook photographers were back in action Thursday night at the first home middle school football game of the season! They were busy capturing all the action and came away with 200+ photos! They are doing great work!
Weekly Family Update September 21–25
It’s Rivals Week! We have a fun and busy week ahead as Clarke takes on Chariton in several events. Rivalry is about school spirit, competition, and bringing the energy — but most importantly, it is about representing Clarke with pride and respect.
📸 Picture Day — Monday, September 21
Don’t forget! Picture Day is tomorrow. Students will have their pictures taken during the school day. Please remind students to bring their best smiles!
🏐🏈 Rivals Week: Clarke vs. Chariton
We have several opportunities this week to cheer on our Clarke athletes:
Tuesday: MS & HS Volleyball vs. Chariton — Home
Thursday: MS Football @ Chariton
Friday Night: Varsity Football vs. Chariton — Home at Clarke
Friday Night: Heroes Night — we look forward to recognizing and celebrating our local heroes!
🏆 Rivalry = Competition, NOT Disrespect
As we celebrate Rivals Week, please help us remind our students that good sportsmanship always matters.
Cheer loud. Cheer proud. Cheer for Clarke.
Students are expected to:
Compete hard without putting others down.
Keep chants and comments respectful.
Treat players, coaches, officials, families, and opposing fans with respect.
Follow directions from coaches, staff, and event supervisors.
Represent Clarke positively — both at home and when we travel.
Remember that our 4 A's apply everywhere: Attend • Achieve • Act Responsibly • Advocate.
We can have a great rivalry, bring the energy, and still be good humans. That's Clarke Pride! ❤️
🗓️ No School for Students — Friday, September 25
A reminder that there is no school for students on Friday. Staff will be participating in a Professional Development Day focused on student data, reflection, and planning for instruction.
We hope everyone has a great week, and we’ll see you Friday night for Clarke vs. Chariton and Heroes Night!
Go Clarke! 💥
It’s Rivals Week! We have a fun and busy week ahead as Clarke takes on Chariton in several events. Rivalry is about school spirit, competition, and bringing the energy — but most importantly, it is about representing Clarke with pride and respect.
📸 Picture Day — Monday, September 21
Don’t forget! Picture Day is tomorrow. Students will have their pictures taken during the school day. Please remind students to bring their best smiles!
🏐🏈 Rivals Week: Clarke vs. Chariton
We have several opportunities this week to cheer on our Clarke athletes:
Tuesday: MS & HS Volleyball vs. Chariton — Home
Thursday: MS Football @ Chariton
Friday Night: Varsity Football vs. Chariton — Home at Clarke
Friday Night: Heroes Night — we look forward to recognizing and celebrating our local heroes!
🏆 Rivalry = Competition, NOT Disrespect
As we celebrate Rivals Week, please help us remind our students that good sportsmanship always matters.
Cheer loud. Cheer proud. Cheer for Clarke.
Students are expected to:
Compete hard without putting others down.
Keep chants and comments respectful.
Treat players, coaches, officials, families, and opposing fans with respect.
Follow directions from coaches, staff, and event supervisors.
Represent Clarke positively — both at home and when we travel.
Remember that our 4 A's apply everywhere: Attend • Achieve • Act Responsibly • Advocate.
We can have a great rivalry, bring the energy, and still be good humans. That's Clarke Pride! ❤️
🗓️ No School for Students — Friday, September 25
A reminder that there is no school for students on Friday. Staff will be participating in a Professional Development Day focused on student data, reflection, and planning for instruction.
We hope everyone has a great week, and we’ll see you Friday night for Clarke vs. Chariton and Heroes Night!
Go Clarke! 💥
📐✨ Math in action in Ms. Sickels’ 6th grade classroom! ✨📐
Students used manipulatives and academic language to explore how nets are made and use their discoveries to identify the faces, bases, edges, and vertices of polyhedra!
But the BEST part? 👏 These students were respectful, responsible, engaged, and using AMAZING mathematical vocabulary to explain their thinking. They weren’t just doing math, they were talking like mathematicians! 🧠🗣️
Hands-on learning + academic language + responsible learners = ONE TRIBE doing math! ❤️🖤
#OneTribe #ClarkeCSD #6thGradeMath #MathInAction #TalkLikeAMathematician
Ms. Wright’s eighth grade science students have been hard at work learning about contact forces in collisions!
Students investigated how speed and mass can affect the amount of damage in a collision. Using carts on tracks, they conducted experiments by increasing the speed for one variable and increasing the mass for another.
We love seeing our students get hands-on with science, test their ideas, and learn through investigation! Great work, eighth grade!
Students investigated how speed and mass can affect the amount of damage in a collision. Using carts on tracks, they conducted experiments by increasing the speed for one variable and increasing the mass for another.
We love seeing our students get hands-on with science, test their ideas, and learn through investigation! Great work, eighth grade!
Dear Clarke Middle School Families,
Can you believe we are already heading into Week 4?! It has been such a great start to the school year, and I continue to be so impressed by our students. They are learning, growing, building relationships, and showing us more and more each day what makes Clarke Middle School such a special place.
A Big Week for Clarke Athletics!
We have some exciting football events coming up this week!
Thursday, September 17 — First Middle School Home Football Game
Clarke Middle School vs. Creston
4:30 PM
Clarke High School Stadium
Come out and support our middle school athletes as they take the field for their first home game of the season!
Friday Night Lights with the Back Alley Guys
Clarke vs. Grandview Christian
7:00 PM
Clarke High School
Friday night is always a special time to come together as a Clarke community. We would love to see our students and families there cheering on our teams and showing that One Tribe spirit!
A Couple of Middle School Reminders
Please keep Needoh, squishies, and similar fidgets at home.
We know these are fun, and they can be great sensory tools. Unfortunately, we have had several of them pop and create quite a mess in classrooms. Thank you for helping us keep these items at home so our classrooms can stay focused and learning-ready!
Energy drinks are not allowed at school.
Middle school students should not have energy drinks at school at any time, including during the school day or at activities connected to the school day.
As a reminder, water is the only beverage option in classrooms. Thank you for helping us reinforce this expectation at home.
Most importantly, thank you for sharing your kids with us every day. We truly love having them here. Middle school can be a wonderfully messy, funny, exciting, and sometimes challenging season, and we are so grateful to be part of it with your families.
Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and trust in Clarke Middle School. We are off to a fantastic start, and I cannot wait to see what this next week brings!
Go Clarke!
Dr. Kelly
Principal, Clarke Middle School
Can you believe we are already heading into Week 4?! It has been such a great start to the school year, and I continue to be so impressed by our students. They are learning, growing, building relationships, and showing us more and more each day what makes Clarke Middle School such a special place.
A Big Week for Clarke Athletics!
We have some exciting football events coming up this week!
Thursday, September 17 — First Middle School Home Football Game
Clarke Middle School vs. Creston
4:30 PM
Clarke High School Stadium
Come out and support our middle school athletes as they take the field for their first home game of the season!
Friday Night Lights with the Back Alley Guys
Clarke vs. Grandview Christian
7:00 PM
Clarke High School
Friday night is always a special time to come together as a Clarke community. We would love to see our students and families there cheering on our teams and showing that One Tribe spirit!
A Couple of Middle School Reminders
Please keep Needoh, squishies, and similar fidgets at home.
We know these are fun, and they can be great sensory tools. Unfortunately, we have had several of them pop and create quite a mess in classrooms. Thank you for helping us keep these items at home so our classrooms can stay focused and learning-ready!
Energy drinks are not allowed at school.
Middle school students should not have energy drinks at school at any time, including during the school day or at activities connected to the school day.
As a reminder, water is the only beverage option in classrooms. Thank you for helping us reinforce this expectation at home.
Most importantly, thank you for sharing your kids with us every day. We truly love having them here. Middle school can be a wonderfully messy, funny, exciting, and sometimes challenging season, and we are so grateful to be part of it with your families.
Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and trust in Clarke Middle School. We are off to a fantastic start, and I cannot wait to see what this next week brings!
Go Clarke!
Dr. Kelly
Principal, Clarke Middle School
Some of the new Middle School Yearbook staff took to the courts Tuesday night during the 7th and 8th grade volleyball home opener! This group is learning quickly and already getting some great actions shots. Check out a small sneak peak of their work!
Families,
We are officially heading into Week 3, and I have to say that I am so proud of how our students have jumped into the middle school year! There is always a lot to learn when you’re the new kid on the block, and our students are settling into routines, expectations, and what it means to be part of the Clarke Middle School One Tribe.
A few important reminders as we head into the week:
6th Grade iPads
At this time, 6th graders should NOT be taking their iPads home. We are intentionally giving our 6th graders some time to get into the groove of middle school and learn the routines that come with having a school-issued device. We will communicate when that changes.
7th & 8th graders should be taking their iPads home each night and are expected to bring them to school fully charged every day. If charging or bringing the iPad becomes an issue, I will work with students individually to help them get into a successful routine.
Arrival Reminder
The middle school building opens at 7:40 a.m. There is no supervision available before 7:40, so please plan accordingly.
Friday Early Out & Activities
Just a reminder that Friday is an early-out day!
We also have a busy Friday night:
🏐 First Middle School Volleyball Game – 4:30 p.m.
🏈 Friday Night Lights – Away at I-35
Come out and support our students if you can!
And finally… Homecoming!
Homecoming is officially in the books, and I could not be more proud of our students. They showed up, participated, had fun, and represented Clarke Middle School so well. A special shout-out to the students who helped pick up the ENTIRE student section. That kind of ownership and pride in our school is exactly what we want to see. That was a pretty awesome way to end Homecoming!
Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we build routines, expectations, and a strong middle school culture. This work is hard, this work is important, and we are one day closer to high school!
Have a great Week 3, Clarke families!
Dr. Kelly
Clarke Middle School Principal
We are officially heading into Week 3, and I have to say that I am so proud of how our students have jumped into the middle school year! There is always a lot to learn when you’re the new kid on the block, and our students are settling into routines, expectations, and what it means to be part of the Clarke Middle School One Tribe.
A few important reminders as we head into the week:
6th Grade iPads
At this time, 6th graders should NOT be taking their iPads home. We are intentionally giving our 6th graders some time to get into the groove of middle school and learn the routines that come with having a school-issued device. We will communicate when that changes.
7th & 8th graders should be taking their iPads home each night and are expected to bring them to school fully charged every day. If charging or bringing the iPad becomes an issue, I will work with students individually to help them get into a successful routine.
Arrival Reminder
The middle school building opens at 7:40 a.m. There is no supervision available before 7:40, so please plan accordingly.
Friday Early Out & Activities
Just a reminder that Friday is an early-out day!
We also have a busy Friday night:
🏐 First Middle School Volleyball Game – 4:30 p.m.
🏈 Friday Night Lights – Away at I-35
Come out and support our students if you can!
And finally… Homecoming!
Homecoming is officially in the books, and I could not be more proud of our students. They showed up, participated, had fun, and represented Clarke Middle School so well. A special shout-out to the students who helped pick up the ENTIRE student section. That kind of ownership and pride in our school is exactly what we want to see. That was a pretty awesome way to end Homecoming!
Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we build routines, expectations, and a strong middle school culture. This work is hard, this work is important, and we are one day closer to high school!
Have a great Week 3, Clarke families!
Dr. Kelly
Clarke Middle School Principal
All Clarke 6-8 Middle School students are invited to the annual middle school tailgate THIS Friday, September 4th!! Join us outside the middle school entrance from 4:30-6:00 for music, games, and free snacks served by student council.
See you there!!
🔥❌⭕ HOCO WEEK AT CLARKE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS GETTING REAL! ⭕❌🔥
Today’s Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge brought ALL the energy—and a little bit of heartbreak for the staff. 😂
🏆 THE 8TH GRADE BOYS BEAT THE STAFF! 🏆
That’s right… the adults have officially been put on notice. 😳👏
From friendly competition to big laughs, these are the moments that make HOCO WEEK memorable! ❤️🤍 We’re building school spirit, making memories, and reminding everyone that sometimes the best part of school is just having a little FUN together!
But now we have a problem…
👀 Who is brave enough to challenge the 8th grade boys next?!
The competition is heating up. 🔥
HOCO WEEK… LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
❤️🤍 #ClarkePride #HOCO2026 #OneTribe #MiddleSchoolMemories #StaffVsStudents
🌶️ From Reading to Salsa-Making! 🌶️
What happens when you read about “Cooking Salsa” and then get the chance to make it yourself? You turn an ELA lesson into a delicious hands-on experience! 🎉
A big shoutout to Mr. Rios and Ms. Clutter and our Newcomer ELA students for bringing their learning to life! After reading Cooking Salsa, students rolled up their sleeves, worked together, and made their very own salsa. 🧅🍅🌶️
Reading ➡️ Learning ➡️ Creating ➡️ TASTING! 😋
Now THAT is learning you can see, smell, and taste! ❤️🤍
#OneTribe #NewcomerELA #LearningByDoing #ClarkeMiddleSchool #UnaTribu #CookingSalsa
🍎 A GREAT FIRST DAY OF LUNCH & BREAKOUT! 🍎
What a GREAT job today by all of our middle school students during Lunch & Breakout! 👏
New systems always come with a little learning curve, but I am SO proud of how our students handled today. They listened, adjusted, helped one another, and kept things moving. That’s what One Tribe is all about! ❤️
The image below is a simplified menu for tomorrow, but please take a moment to bookmark Nutrislice, which can also be found in the Lunch Menu section of the Clarke App.
🍕 Take a look tonight and decide what sounds great for lunch tomorrow! Knowing your choice ahead of time will help us keep the lunch line moving and make the most of our lunch time.
Great work today, Clarke Middle School! We’re off to a GREAT start! 🙌
— Dr. Kelly
What a GREAT job today by all of our middle school students during Lunch & Breakout! 👏
New systems always come with a little learning curve, but I am SO proud of how our students handled today. They listened, adjusted, helped one another, and kept things moving. That’s what One Tribe is all about! ❤️
The image below is a simplified menu for tomorrow, but please take a moment to bookmark Nutrislice, which can also be found in the Lunch Menu section of the Clarke App.
🍕 Take a look tonight and decide what sounds great for lunch tomorrow! Knowing your choice ahead of time will help us keep the lunch line moving and make the most of our lunch time.
Great work today, Clarke Middle School! We’re off to a GREAT start! 🙌
— Dr. Kelly
As we get the school year rolling, we want to share two quick reminders to help everyone have a positive and successful year:
👕 Dress Code: Please review the dress code image for details. This includes no strapless tops, clothing being worn as intended (no pulling shirts up or sagging pants), and ensuring all clothing provides appropriate coverage.
💧 Beverages: For middle school students, water is the only beverage permitted in classrooms. Energy drinks such as Alani Nu, Monster, Red Bull, etc. should not be brought to or consumed at school at any time.
Thank you for partnering with us and helping our students start the year strong! We appreciate your support!
👕 Dress Code: Please review the dress code image for details. This includes no strapless tops, clothing being worn as intended (no pulling shirts up or sagging pants), and ensuring all clothing provides appropriate coverage.
💧 Beverages: For middle school students, water is the only beverage permitted in classrooms. Energy drinks such as Alani Nu, Monster, Red Bull, etc. should not be brought to or consumed at school at any time.
Thank you for partnering with us and helping our students start the year strong! We appreciate your support!
Bring a Friend to Choir day! Thursday!
As we start the new school year- please take a moment to look at the lunch choices at CCMS tomorrow! This will help us move the lines faster if students have an idea of what they might want! Make sure to bookmark https://clarkek12.nutrislice.com/menu/ to see the daily menu!
A Quick Note About Exploratory Classes
We wanted to share a little clarification about our middle school exploratory classes for this school year!
All middle school students will rotate through a variety of exploratory courses throughout the year. These classes are designed to give students the opportunity to explore different interests, skills, and potential career pathways in shorter rotations. Our goal is for students to experience a wide range of options and perhaps discover something new that they may want to pursue in high school or beyond.
6th Grade Exploratories:
Art • Music Appreciation/History • Future Readiness • Computer Science
7th Grade Exploratories:
Spanish • Future Readiness • Music Appreciation/History • Computer Science • Art • Agriculture • Speech
8th Grade Exploratories:
FCS • Speech • Future Readiness • Agriculture • Business & Finance • Computer Science • Spanish • Woods
A Note About Schedules
Exploratory classes are scheduled on a rotation throughout the entire school year. The schedules that printed last night only displayed students' Quarter 1 exploratory courses, which may have caused some confusion. Students are already scheduled for their exploratory courses for the entire year, and the full rotation will be reflected in Infinite Campus.
Because all students are intended to experience all of the exploratory options available to their grade level, exploratory schedule changes are not an option. Every student will take every exploratory course assigned to their grade level over the course of the year.
We are excited about this opportunity for students to try new things, build new skills, and discover interests they may not have known they had. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to give our students as many opportunities as possible to explore their future!
We wanted to share a little clarification about our middle school exploratory classes for this school year!
All middle school students will rotate through a variety of exploratory courses throughout the year. These classes are designed to give students the opportunity to explore different interests, skills, and potential career pathways in shorter rotations. Our goal is for students to experience a wide range of options and perhaps discover something new that they may want to pursue in high school or beyond.
6th Grade Exploratories:
Art • Music Appreciation/History • Future Readiness • Computer Science
7th Grade Exploratories:
Spanish • Future Readiness • Music Appreciation/History • Computer Science • Art • Agriculture • Speech
8th Grade Exploratories:
FCS • Speech • Future Readiness • Agriculture • Business & Finance • Computer Science • Spanish • Woods
A Note About Schedules
Exploratory classes are scheduled on a rotation throughout the entire school year. The schedules that printed last night only displayed students' Quarter 1 exploratory courses, which may have caused some confusion. Students are already scheduled for their exploratory courses for the entire year, and the full rotation will be reflected in Infinite Campus.
Because all students are intended to experience all of the exploratory options available to their grade level, exploratory schedule changes are not an option. Every student will take every exploratory course assigned to their grade level over the course of the year.
We are excited about this opportunity for students to try new things, build new skills, and discover interests they may not have known they had. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to give our students as many opportunities as possible to explore their future!
🏐 Attention Middle School Volleyball Players!
Middle School Volleyball practice will begin on the second day of school at 6:15 a.m.
Before participating, please make sure you:
✅ Register through Bound
✅ Have a current sports physical on file
Sign up here: https://band.us/n/adabA8g276LbJ
If you have any questions, please email Christy Readout.
We can't wait to see everyone on the court!
Middle School Volleyball practice will begin on the second day of school at 6:15 a.m.
Before participating, please make sure you:
✅ Register through Bound
✅ Have a current sports physical on file
Sign up here: https://band.us/n/adabA8g276LbJ
If you have any questions, please email Christy Readout.
We can't wait to see everyone on the court!
Come and join us to kick off Clarke Youth Football at the Summer Football Camp hosted by Coach Evans and the High School Football team. See the flyer below for more information and get registered by Friday, July 24th to receive a camp t-shirt. (Registrations after the 24th will not receive a camp t-shirt.) Money due on the 1st night of camp at the gate.
Registration Link!
Yesterday we had the opportunity to celebrate some incredible accomplishments at our Academic Awards Ceremony! We are so proud of the hard work, perseverance, growth, and dedication shown by our students throughout the school year.
Awards recognized included:
🏆 Perfect Attendance
⏰ No Tardies to Class
💪 “Back Alley Guy” Awards presented by Coach Evans for outstanding athletic and academic perseverance
🇺🇸 President’s Award for Academic Excellence — awarded to students earning all A’s or A’s and B’s throughout the entire school year
📚 President’s Award for Academic Achievement — recognizing students for academic growth, progress, teacher nominations, testing growth, and overall improvement
These recognitions represent much more than grades — they reflect resilience, commitment, character, and the daily effort our students put into becoming their best selves.
Congratulations to all of our award recipients! We are proud of you and thankful for the support of our families, staff, and community who continue to encourage and inspire our students every day. 🎉
Awards recognized included:
🏆 Perfect Attendance
⏰ No Tardies to Class
💪 “Back Alley Guy” Awards presented by Coach Evans for outstanding athletic and academic perseverance
🇺🇸 President’s Award for Academic Excellence — awarded to students earning all A’s or A’s and B’s throughout the entire school year
📚 President’s Award for Academic Achievement — recognizing students for academic growth, progress, teacher nominations, testing growth, and overall improvement
These recognitions represent much more than grades — they reflect resilience, commitment, character, and the daily effort our students put into becoming their best selves.
Congratulations to all of our award recipients! We are proud of you and thankful for the support of our families, staff, and community who continue to encourage and inspire our students every day. 🎉
Last week to get your middle school yearbook ordered! Reminder, you can pay online using the link, or bring $21 to Mrs. Manternach any time this week. Thank you to the students who have ordered their yearbook!
https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/2765605/Clarke-Middle-School/2026-Yearbook/20260105131512803149/CATALOG_SHOP/
https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/2765605/Clarke-Middle-School/2026-Yearbook/20260105131512803149/CATALOG_SHOP/
🏊♂️ Reminder for Families! 🏊♀️
If your student plans to attend Swimming Day on May 19, the pool permission slip must be turned in by Tuesday, May 12 in order to participate. Please make sure the attached form is completed and returned on time! These can also be picked up in the office!
We want every student to be able to enjoy a fun day at the pool as we celebrate the end of the school year together. ☀️💦
As always — One Tribe, One Family, All In!
