Our Middle School ISASP Celebration was a HUGE success today! 🎉 This afternoon, we had the chance to celebrate our students and all the hard work they’ve put in over the past few weeks. Students who met their ISASP goals—showing up each day, coming prepared (with breakfast or snacks!), staying focused, and being well-rested—earned a well-deserved afternoon of fun. The stadium was full of energy as students enjoyed time together, kettle corn provided by our amazing MS Student Council 🍿- made by the incredible FFA chapter, and Kona Shaved Ice ❄️ to cool off. The Chalk the Walk artwork competition brought creativity to life all around the stadium sidewalk, and the results were incredible! Moments like these remind us how proud we are—not just of the results, but of the effort, growth, and determination our students showed every single day. One Tribe. One Family. All In. And as always… one day closer to high school! 💙

Today we celebrated our incredible 6th graders as they wrapped up their D.A.R.E. journey—and they finished STRONG! 💪🎉 A huge congratulations to our D.A.R.E. essay winners: 🥇 Rylee Collins – 1st Place 🥈 Carly McLain – 2nd Place 🥉 Jase Manternach – 3rd Place We are so proud of the thought, effort, and leadership these students showed through their writing and throughout the program! The celebration didn’t stop there—students enjoyed an action-packed afternoon with demonstrations from Osceola PD, Creston PD, and other first responders. We even had a visit from K-9 Duke of Creston, who gave an unforgettable demo—chomping right into Mr. May’s arm (don’t worry… all for the kids! 😄🐾). Talk about a crowd favorite! And the grand finale? A LifeFlight helicopter landing right on our field 🚁—an experience our students will never forget! Thank you to our law enforcement partners and first responders for investing in our students and helping make today so special. And to our 6th graders—keep making those strong, positive choices. The future is bright! One Tribe. One Family. All In. 💙

🌺🌴 ALOHA, CLARKE MS! 🌴🌺

Get ready to hula your way into a fun night at our Hawaiian Dance! 🎶💃

📅 Friday, April 24th
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 MS Gym

💲 Admission: $3
🥤 Pop: $2
🌺 Leis: $1

Throw on your brightest tropical gear and join us for a night of music, friends, and island vibes! 🌸🌊

🌟 Reminder: This dance is for current Clarke Middle School students in grades 6–8 only.

Our Middle School ISASP Celebration is coming up on April 30 from 1:00–3:25, and we’re ready to celebrate our students’ hard work! 🎉

Students who met their ISASP goals—including strong attendance, coming prepared with breakfast or snacks, staying engaged during testing, and being well-rested—will get to enjoy a fun afternoon together.

The celebration will take place at the MS gym entrance/football field and will include kettle corn (provided by MS Student Council) and Kona Shaved Ice (available for students to purchase). 🍿❄️

We are proud of the effort our students have put in—this is a great way to recognize their dedication and success!

Last but definitely not least in the shenanigans… 😄

Ms. Cullen was the lucky winner of the Spring Book Fair Teacher Challenge and earned the unforgettable opportunity to be duct taped to the wall! Throughout the game, students kept the tape coming, making sure she stayed securely in place while the excitement continued on the court. 🧻😆

There were lots of laughs, plenty of school spirit, and students loved being part of the fun. Thank you, Ms. Cullen, for being such a great sport and helping create another memorable moment for our students!

These kinds of experiences make school fun, build community, and give students something to smile about. More great memories in the books! 💙💛

Remember the sideline shenanigans......
We had even more fun celebrating our students with some well-earned rewards! 🎉

Congratulations to our No Tardy Party Egg Hunt winners! These three students earned their spot through their commitment to being on time and ready to learn. The hunt was competitive, the eggs were hidden well, and the excitement was high. Great job to everyone who qualified! 🥚🐣

The fun continued at halftime of the 6th grade game, when the three egg hunt winners, along with two additional students who purchased the experience using Critter Coin, got the chance to pie Mr. Brandauer, Dr. Kelly, Ms. Sickles, and Mr. Wagoner. 🥧🤣

There were plenty of laughs, a little whipped cream, and unforgettable memories made. Thank you to our staff members for being great sports and helping create positive, engaging incentives for our students.

We love celebrating responsibility, positive behavior, and school spirit — and this was a perfect example of all three! 💙💛

The long-awaited 6th Grade Boys vs. Girls Basketball Game finally happened… and it did NOT disappoint! 🏀🎉

The gym was full of energy, laughter, and just the right amount of friendly competition. Both teams came ready to play, showing off their skills, teamwork, and school spirit. Even more importantly, the kids had SO much fun — which is exactly what this was all about!

And let’s be honest… the action wasn’t just on the court. There were plenty of sideline shenanigans that kept everyone smiling and added to the unforgettable atmosphere. 🤣 Stay tuned… more coming on those soon!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a memorable event for our 6th graders. It’s moments like these that build connections, create memories, and remind us how great it is to be part of this community. 💙💛

Don't forget to place your 2025-2026 Clarke Middle School Yearbook order! To order in person, bring $21 to Mrs. Manternach. We hope to sell 40 more yearbooks before the end of the year to reach our goal of 85 sales! Order online here: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/2765605/Clarke-Middle-School/2026-Yearbook/20260105131512803149/CATALOG_SHOP/

Round TWO of Critter Coin Give Back in action… and wow, are we blown away! 🐾💙 Today, another group of our incredible students chose to cash in their hard-earned Critter Coins not for prizes, not for perks—but to GIVE BACK to our community at the local animal shelter. And let me tell you… it was something special. These students showed up ready to work, ready to serve, and most importantly, ready to love on some animals who needed it most. From cleaning and organizing to giving extra attention and care, they represented Clarke with compassion, responsibility, and heart. THIS is what it’s all about. Choosing service. Choosing others. Choosing impact over instant rewards. We couldn’t be more proud of these students for using their Critter Coins in such a meaningful way. It’s truly amazing to watch young people lead with kindness and make a difference beyond our walls. One Tribe. One Family. ALL IN. 💙 And as always… one day closer to high school! And the best part -it's just the start!

April showers tried… but they couldn’t stop the fun today! 🌦️🥚 Our No Tardy Party egg hunt at the stadium was a HUGE success—over 1,000 eggs didn’t stand a chance against these students! 🏃‍♂️💨 The rain held off just long enough for some serious hunting, laughter, and well-earned celebration. We are so proud of the hard work it takes to show up on time, every day. Keep it up—you’ve earned it! 👏🎉 One Tribe. One Family. All In. 💙 …and one day closer to high school!

Tonight’s middle school boys and girls track meet at Wayne has been canceled. It will not be made up.

April showers can’t stop the fun at Breakout (aka recess)! 🌧️➡️🏀 Our 7th graders took the energy inside today and made the gym the place to be—games, laughter, and a whole lot of movement! A giant shoutout to our amazing staff who supervise and make these brain breaks possible, and to the community members who come in to help support our students—your time and energy make a huge difference! 💙 Now… if the rain could take a little break, we’re more than ready to get back outside! ☀️😄

🐾💙 Clarke Middle School Students Making a Difference! 💙🐾 Today was one of those days that reminds us what truly matters. Our first group of 10 students had the opportunity to visit the Clarke County Animal Shelter—and they showed up in the best way possible: ready to serve, care, and give back. At Clarke Middle School, students earn Critter Coins—our digital reward system that recognizes positive behavior, effort, and leadership. Students can “cash in” those coins for different incentives like front-of-the-lunch-line passes, snacks, or extra game time… but what makes us incredibly proud is THIS: ✨ Over 20 students chose to use their Critter Coins to give back to our community. ✨ Instead of choosing something for themselves, they chose to serve others. Today, that meant helping care for animals, supporting the shelter staff, and showing compassion where it matters most. This is servant leadership in action. This is community connection at its finest. This is what it means to be part of the Clarke family. We couldn’t be more proud of these students for choosing kindness, responsibility, and heart. 💙🐶 #OneTribe #ClarkePride #ServantLeadership #MakingADifference

Any current 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th grade student who is interested in flags should attend this informational meeting: Thursday, April 9 during WIN (9:59-10:26 AM) in the 7-12 Band Room. You do not need to be a band member in order to audition for flags; however, if you make the squad, then you must be able to fit band into your class schedule for the first quarter of next year. If you miss the meeting, then talk to Mrs. Kelso (the High School Band Director). Auditions will be held every day during WIN the week of April 13-17.

April Fools’ Day brought the FUN today at middle school lunch! 🎉 Just as students were settling in, our staff surprised everyone with a full-on flash mob to the Cupid Shuffle—yes, we went ALL in! 💃🕺 The looks of surprise quickly turned into laughter, smiles, and a whole lot of cheering. Moments like these remind us that school is more than just academics—it’s about connection, joy, and building memories together. These are the moments we cherish as a staff, and we’re so grateful to share them with our students. #AprilFools #OneTribe #MiddleSchoolMagic

Two down… and just one (or two!) to go! 💪📚 Our 6th and 7th graders have just ONE test remaining, and our 8th graders have TWO left—so close to the finish line! I have been so incredibly proud of how hard our students have worked and the way they’ve taken their time to do their very best on each test. It shows! 🙌 A few reminders as we head into the final stretch: ✨ Be on time each day ✨ Enjoy FREE breakfast all week ✨ We currently have fewer than 10 tests to make up—amazing! Thank you for showing up, staying focused, and being present. It makes all the difference. I am so very proud of each and every student—let’s finish the week STRONG! 💥 – Dr. Kelly

We wrapped up our ISASP Kickoff Week in the best way possible—with a GLOW DANCE! ✨🕺💃 During 8th hour, the lights went down, the black lights came on, and our students lit up the room—literally! From neon colors to glowing smiles, the energy was contagious as students danced, laughed, and celebrated together. A perfect way to end the week—reminding us that just like they glowed on the dance floor, their knowledge is ready to shine on the test! 🌟📚 Let’s carry that confidence into next week—go show what you know! 💪 #OneTribe #ISASPReady

What a way to wrap up our ISASP Kickoff Week! 🎉🏀 During advisory today, our 7th and 8th grade boys challenged the girls to a friendly game—but the 8th grade girls had a little surprise up their sleeves… 😏 In true team spirit (and with a touch of mischief), they brought in some “subs”—our varsity boys—rocking bright neon wigs and bringing the energy! Between student coaches, cheerleaders, and referees, the gym was full of laughter, teamwork, and just the right amount of shenanigans. All in good fun and a great reminder that confidence, collaboration, and a positive mindset matter—on the court and in the classroom. Now… let’s take that same energy and show what we know on Monday! 💪📚 #OneTribe #ISASPReady

🚀 ISASP Kickoff Week is Almost Here! 📚✨

Next week, we’re getting ready to crush ISASP! Let’s use this week to:
🎉 Dress up and show your Clarke pride
🙌 Show up ready to learn
🧠 Practice our skills and get confident
💪 Get in the mindset to give our best effort

It’s all about preparing, supporting each other, and building excitement for the big week ahead.

🌟 Adventure Awaits! Mr. Kedley’s 8th grade U.S. History students have been diving into Westward Expansion, and to celebrate before Spring Break, they took on the Oregon Trail!