Happy Independence Day from Clayton Public School District! ❤️🤍💙

As we celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation, we wish all of our students, families, staff, alumni, and community members a safe, joyful, and relaxing Fourth of July.

May your day be filled with family, friends, gratitude, and memorable moments as we celebrate the freedoms we share.

Have a wonderful Independence Day!

Today, CPSD recognizes Juneteenth and reflects on the significance of freedom, history, and the contributions of Black Americans throughout our nation’s story.

What a beautiful way to close the school year. 💙💛 Throughout the month, Mrs. Smith was celebrated by staff, students, former students, and families who stopped by to thank her for the incredible impact she made over 38 years at Simmons. From heartfelt gifts and handmade treasures to hugs and cherished memories, she was surrounded by the love and appreciation she so deeply earned. She was also recognized by our Board of Education for her outstanding years of service and dedication to our school community. Thank you, Mrs. Smith, for 38 wonderful years of kindness, dedication, and love for our Clipper family. Aloha! 🌺 Wishing you a retirement filled with joy and new adventures. We also proudly celebrated our 5th graders during their Stepping Up Ceremony. Congratulations, Class of 2033! We wish you all the best as you begin your next adventure. To our Simmons families, staff, and students, ALOHA to another amazing school year! Thank you for being part of our Clipper family. Have a safe, relaxing, and joy-filled summer. Once a Clipper, always a Clipper. 💙💛🌺

🎓💙💛 Yesterday, our graduating seniors returned to Herma S. Simmons for one final walk through the halls! Our students and staff gave them a true Clipper send-off filled with cheers, smiles, and pride. For many staff members, it was especially meaningful to celebrate former students and even their own children. #VarsityVibes #GameOnClipperCrew #ClaytonPride #SeniorSendOff

Our Clayton Gear Store is OPEN!

Get your spirit wear today! Show Clayton Pride all year long!

👉 https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/E3DzCbBw5K

Thank you for supporting our district, athletes and programs! 💙🏆

#Clayton Pride #AllHeartsBelongHere

💙💛 This week was all about experiencing the power of a smile. On Monday, our staff traded their professional attire for comfy, student-inspired outfits during our Underground Spirit Day. Throughout the week, our 5th graders and several students from other grade levels participated in our "Give This to the Teacher/Staff Member Who..." activity, recognizing the adults who make a difference each day. Through simple slips of paper filled with appreciation and encouragement, students gave our staff the opportunity to experience the impact of kindness firsthand. 😊 Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today. 😊 #BeTheReasonSomeoneSmilesToday #KindnessCounts #MakeAnImpact #VarsityVibes 💙💛

☀️ What a day! Our students had an absolute blast during Fun Day, enjoying games, activities, laughter, and plenty of sunshine. A huge thank you to our incredible Home & School Association for planning, organizing, and running this amazing event. Your dedication and hard work created unforgettable memories for our students. We are so grateful for your support and partnership! 🎉💙

Our 2nd Grade Olympics were a huge success! 🔥🏅 Over the past several weeks, our second graders have been immersed in learning about the history of the Olympics while exploring related science and STEM concepts. Last week, they brought that learning to life by participating in their very own Olympic Games! Students proudly passed the torch, competed in a variety of Olympic-inspired events, demonstrated teamwork and sportsmanship, and most importantly had an incredible time. A special thank you to our amazing second grade teachers for creating such a meaningful and engaging experience that combined learning, movement, and fun.

🍕📚 A special storytime in Mrs. Warburton’s class! Mr. K stopped by to share The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza, reminding us that teamwork, responsibility, and a little kindness can create something great. ❤️

🌺✨ A night to remember! ✨🌺 Our Herma S. Simmons 5th graders celebrated their final elementary school dance surrounded by friends, laughter, and unforgettable memories. A special thank you to our 5th Grade Committee for creating such a wonderful evening for our students. We are so proud of this amazing group and can’t wait to see all they accomplish in middle school! 💙💛#ClipperPride #5thGradeCelebration #FutureMiddleSchoolers #MakingMemories #ClassOf2033 #OnceAClipperAlwaysAClipper #Aloha5thGrade

🎳✨ PBSIS K–5 Grand Prize Field Trip ✨🎳

On May 26, students across grades K–5 celebrated their hard work and positive behavior with a special PBSIS Grand Prize Field Trip to Bowlero in Deptford!

Each classroom selected its top ClassDojo point earner to be entered into a raffle, and two students per grade level were chosen to attend this exciting reward experience.

Students enjoyed a fun-filled morning of bowling, pizza, fries, arcade games, and lots of smiles as they celebrated their positive choices and outstanding behavior throughout the school year. 💙💛

Congratulations to all of our student winners, and thank you to our staff for continuing to encourage and recognize positive behavior each day!

#ClipperPride #PBSIS #AllHeartsBelongHere

Today, Clayton Public School District honors and remembers the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. 🇺🇸

We are grateful for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice.

Wishing our CPSD families a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.

#MemorialDay #ClipperPride #AllHeartsBelongHere

A Special Clipper Spotlight! 🌟

Before we move too far into spring celebrations, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate our March Clippers of the Month from Herma Simmons Elementary School!

Congratulations to:
⭐ Alaya Jones
⭐ Eryanna Medina
⭐ Lucy Hart
⭐ Carson Smith
⭐ Yaxel Moreno-Diaz
⭐ Ryleigh Boccelli
⭐ Alayna Martin-Gunther
⭐ Lorenzo Bull

These outstanding students demonstrated kindness, leadership, responsibility, perseverance, and Clipper Pride throughout the month of March. We are so proud of their hard work and the positive example they set for others each day. 💙💛

Please join us in congratulating these well-deserved student honorees!

#ClipperPride #AllHeartsBelongHere

During March, April, and May, students in Ms. Bernstein’s class participated in a meaningful Holocaust and Prejudice Reduction unit focused on empathy, resilience, and acceptance.

Students explored texts, videos, and personal family stories shared by Ms. Bernstein about her father, a Holocaust survivor who lived in the Lodz Ghetto and survived Auschwitz.

Each student researched a Holocaust survivor and wrote a personal letter expressing their learning, reflections, and commitment to sharing that survivor’s story with others. Students also read to younger classes, promoting lessons about kindness, acceptance, resilience, and being an upstander rather than a bystander.

We are proud of our students for engaging in thoughtful learning experiences that help preserve history and inspire compassion for others.

#ClipperPride #AllHeartsBelongHere

Herma Simmons Elementary – Clippers of the Month (April) 🌟

Please join us in congratulating our outstanding April Clippers of the Month from Herma Simmons Elementary! These students have been recognized for demonstrating kindness, responsibility, leadership, and a positive attitude throughout our school community. We are so proud of the example they set each day! 💙💛

⭐ Ava Olbrich
⭐ Eli Bollinger
⭐ Khamila Brower
⭐ Rebecca Hipolito-Correa
⭐ John Whartenby
⭐ Amelia Murcavage
⭐ Paige Agee
⭐ Isaac Hipolito-Correa

A special thank you to Heritages Dairy Store for sponsoring this recognition and supporting our students.

#ClipperPride #HermaSimmonsElementary #AllHeartsBelongHere

When Little Voices Grow Brave, Big Things Take Flight 🐥🎭✨ Our Clipperville End-of-the-Year Celebration showcased incredible performances by our Drama & Performance students and amazing student-made crafts and treats from the Creative Creations club! 🎬🎨🍪 We are so proud of our students’ creativity, confidence, and growth throughout the year! 💫❤️ 📸 Check out highlights from this amazing celebration! #Clipperville #VarsityVibes #DramaAndPerformance #CreativeCreations #StudentCreativity #BigThingsTakeFlight

This week, we celebrate the heart of Clayton Public School District- our incredible teachers 💙💛

Every lesson, every encouraging word, every moment of support makes a lasting difference in the lives of our students. Thank you for showing up each day with passion, dedication, and care.

#TeacherAppreciationWeek #ClipperPride #AllHeartsBelongHere