The Bird Call
News and Notes from Clever High School
It's a Learning Experience
Hello and welcome to another edition of The Bird Call!
It is hard to believe we are just over a month away from the end of the 2020-2021 school year. I can say with confidence that as we navigate the sometimes chaotic last few weeks, we will be working diligently at CHS to finish the year the right way.
The end of a school year is always bitter-sweet. The excitement of summer vacation conflicts with the reality that things will never be the same. This group - the students, the teachers, the support staff, the families - will change. Our seniors are walking the halls for the last few days and hours, putting the finishing touches on a four-year chapter of their lives. The faculty inevitably has some turnover. Even the personalities of our students change from year to year as each group works its way "up the food chain" from their freshman to senior year.
This really is a time for culminations. Ceremonies, inductions, prom, senior nights, award banquets, state tests, baccalaureate, graduation, and many other year-end activities fill the calendar in April and May. To me, it feels like a sprint where we can easily become singularly focused on the finish line (getting to the end of the school year), and in the process, so many other things come and go in a blur.
It is crucial to finish strong. There is much to do between now and the last day of school. Complacency can become comfortable, especially this time of year. We constantly remind our students that we can't go back and change how they started the semester or what they did or did not accomplish yesterday. But, they can still start from NOW and make a brand new ending.
As always, we are here to help our students however we can.
Go Jays!
Joe Casey
High School Principal
Email: caseyj@cleverbluejays.org
Remind: Text "@clever9-12" to 81010
Twitter: @CleverPrincipal
Hickman's Happenings
Character Education in the HS
Our character word of the month for April is Patience. A Clever Bluejay who is Patient is attentive when others are speaking and does not interrupt. They wait calmly without complaining unit it is their turn. They also remain calm while explaining something to a classmate or friend who may not understand at first.
Reminder of School Expectations
With the end of the school year coming to a close, students are getting anxious and looking forward to summer. However, now is the time to “Finish Strong” and we want each student to have a successful 2nd semester in regards to behavior and/or grades. Here are just a few reminders of school expectations/policies as we work hard to keep students on track:
Students need to be responsible for bringing all materials they need for class/extracurriculars into school in the morning. Students will not be allowed back to their vehicles for any forgotten items unless it is an emergency.
Students need to wear masks at all times (covering their nose and mouth) unless they are able to social distance in their classrooms. Continual reminders to wear masks properly will result in consequences such as lunch detention and/or after school detention.
Students need to complete all their work in a timely manner. Tutoring referrals are being assigned for students who are not completing their work. Just because they do not complete the work, does not mean they are off the hook!
Students need to arrive to school on time and get to class on time. School starts at 7:40am and they are given 5 minutes between classes. When a student reaches 4 tardies in a quarter, they will begin receiving after-school detention. Detentions continue to increase as the number of tardies increase. Other consequences such as lunch detention/ISS may be given for continual tardiness.
A+ News:
2021 Seniors - EOC/Math Requirement: We just received word from the Missouri Department of Higher Education that all 2021 SENIORS will NOT have to meet the Algebra 1 EOC or ACT equivalent requirement in order to receive the A+ scholarship. To receive the scholarship, you must have 95% attendance, 2.5 GPA or higher, have your 50 hours of tutoring logged and submitted, and have no drug or alcohol offenses. If you have met those requirements, you are eligible for the A+ scholarship.
Sophomores and Juniors: Emails have gone out to A+ sophomores and juniors encouraging them to sign up for A+ tutoring when looking at summer school and fall schedules. Registration is open for summer school and information was given last week regarding fall schedules.
Senior Attendance Appeals: Paperwork has been sent home to parents/guardians of seniors who are below 95% attendance. Please have this appeal paperwork completed and turned back into the office by Friday, April 23rd.
Senior Male Students: Just a reminder that one of the requirements for A+ is to sign up for the Selective Service. If you have reached the age of 18 (or 17 years and 3 months), please go to https://www.sss.gov to register.
Seniors: Just a reminder to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This is one of the requirements to be eligible for the A+ scholarship. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Hickman or Mrs. Waisner.
Students and parents should first set up a FSA ID: https://fsaid.ed.gov
Counselor's Corner
There will be a lot of testing happening in May. Please make sure your student is present on the day of testing. The testing dates are below.
The ASVAB test has been rescheduled for April 30th at 8 AM.
End of Course Exams
May 5th - Government
May 12 & 13 - English 2
May 14 - Biology
May 19 $ 20 - Algebra I
Advanced Placement Exams
May 4th - Calculus
May 6 - Computer Science
May 7 - Chemistry
May 25 - Computer Science Principles
May 25 - Statistics
Virtual Learning
Click below for a link to our expectations for students learning remotely. While originally designed to help our Bluejays@home learners navigate virtual learning, this information applies to any student who finds him/herself learning from home.
Officer Barney's 4-1-1
Hello again from Officer Barney.
The Docu-Drama on student/teen driving is coming soon to an outdoor theater to you. It’s a reenactment of what happens when impaired drivers are on the roadways.
You might be thinking, why are students, first responders, and law enforcement doing this. It’s because we care about saving lives. During our first meeting Sgt. McClure shared with us that 2020 was a record-breaking year for student/teen deaths on the road; and for the month of March 2021 had surpassed the numbers of March 2020.
Impaired means you have a reduced, lessened, decreased, weakened, diminished, and compromised ability to operate a motor vehicle on the roadways.
Impairment is caused by alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription drugs. Just because a prescription is legal doesn’t mean it’s legal to drive if it causes impairment.
- Driving on Xxxwiser doesn’t make you “wiser” --it gets you “wrecked”
- Driving on Marijuana doesn’t make you “merry” --it gets you “mangled”
- Driving on Prescription drugs don’t make you “popular” --they get you “prosecuted”
- Driving on Illegal pills don’t make you “pretty” –they get you “prison”
- Driving “COMPROMISED” & “DIMINISHED” gets you & others “CRASHED” & “DEAD”
BE SMART & BE SAFE
Until Next Time,
Officer Barney
Important Dates for Seniors
Senior Awards/Scholarship Night: May 12th
Seniors Last Day: May 14th
Baccalaureate: May 16th at FBC Clever
Graduation: May 17th at 6:00 pm, Drury University
Last Day: May 28th
Alumni Information
Alumni Spotlight: Travis Daniels
Hobbies and Interests: I like hunting, fishing, camping, boating, spending time with my family and friends, and coaching Clever youth in baseball and basketball.
Family: I am married to my wife Kim of 15 years. We have two children. Our oldest Avery is a 6th grader this year, and Corey who is our youngest in second grade both go to Clever schools.
Current Occupation: Salesman for Crown Distributing Business for 20 years.
College or Career Training after CHS: Sales Training at Crown Distributing
Extracurricular Activities while at CHS: Varsity Baseball freshman to senior year(1st baseman). My most memorable experience was winning districts in 1997, which we got to host the first sectional home game after beating Billings on their home field (7-4). This was the first time since the 1980's.
Favorite Class at CHS: Driver's Ed with Marty Little.
Advice to current CHS students: Enjoy every moment you make in school, playing sports, and making lifelong friends because it goes by quickly. In school be coachable and teachable because in the real world those attributes will help drive your success and accomplishments in whatever you strive for. To be successful in life you need to be hard-working, dedicated and driven to preserve through life's challenges.
Clever High School
Email: caseyj@cleverbluejays.org
Website: www.cleverbluejays.org
Phone: (417) 743-4830
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Clever-High-School-107961380555502/
Twitter: @CleverJays