Dear Clemson Elementary School Families,

October is here, and our students are in full swing. So are the many activities that were placed on hold because of Covid. As we begin to reintroduce the public into our building, I would like to address the opportunities that will be open to parents, families, and visitors this fall.

Beginning October 6, families are welcome to join students for lunch. Please remember to check in through the front office.

If you have attended one of our volunteer training sessions and are interested in volunteering in one of our classrooms, we would like to welcome you into our building. Please coordinate with your student’s teacher before checking in through the front office.

We hosted a successful Open House in September for third through fifth graders, and we look forward to hosting Open House for our kindergarten through second grades on October 6. This is an ideal time for parents and families to visit classrooms, see student work, and spend a few minutes talking with classroom teachers.

The PTA-sponsored Fall Festival is October 14, 5-7pm. We welcome all Clemson Elementary students and families to a carnival-style, fall celebration which will be held on the outside soccer field adjacent to the upper-grade halls.

We are excited to announce the return of our Book Fair! Students will be able to visit the Book Fair during school hours. There will be designated after-school hours for families to accompany their student. Please check in through the front office.

We will continue to send and post pictures of other school-wide events and activities, so make sure to follow us on social media, visit our website at www.clemsonelementary.com and read our newsletters and updates.

Thank you for all you do to help us make everyday a great day to learn!

Best Regards,

Michelle Craddock

Clemson Elementary, creating a child-centered community where each student, inspired by a love of learning and rigorous educational experiences, is empowered to positively impact the global community.

A portrait package will be sent home with your student several weeks after portraits are taken on Oct 4. Portraits can be purchased online or by check/cash to Strawbridge. For questions, please contact the front office at (864) 397-1500.

You may order a yearbook online through the link on the CLE website under NEWS. Yearbooks cost $28 each and will be on sale until February 3, 2023. Yearbooks will be distributed at the end of the school year.

We are excited to welcome our students and Clemson Elementary School families to Fall Festival. For questions about the PTA-sponsored Fall Festival, please contact Kourtney Heiden-Hudson at (864) 280-5514.

We are excited to welcome our Clemson Elementary families back to Book Fair! Shopping hours are Monday-Thursday, 7:30am-3:30pm and Friday 7:30am-2:00pm. Parents and adults who would like to shop need to enter through the front office. Students will also have an opportunity to shop during the school day. Teachers will let families know the day(s) your student will be visiting the book fair. Parents, if you are volunteer trained and would like to be a volunteer at the book fair, please contact our media specialist, Leanne Broome at leannebroome@pickens.k12.sc.us or at (864) 397-1516. Click HERE for the Literati Online Companion Fair which is open now through October 28.

Help us celebrate Red Ribbon Week by helping your student(s) to dress up (designated dress up days are listed below). You also can support the Clemson Community Care Food Drive by bringing in lots of canned goods!

Thanks to the efforts of the Clemson Elementary PTA--who through generous donations, fundraising efforts, and grants--students enjoyed a visit from New York Times bestselling author, Mary Alice Monroe. Monroe is a national bestselling author of 27 books and has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. Her true passion, which is thread throughout all her books, is protecting the environment and coastline, particularly sea turtles. She challenged students to not only continue to learn about and study the world around us, but more importantly, to help take care of it. PTA was also able to provide each classroom with a copy of the first book, The Islanders, as well as give each student, second through fifth grade, a signed copy of her second book, Search For Treasure.

Kindergarteners enjoyed the annual "Teddy Bear Picnic" where "stuffed friends" in attendance included everything from teddy bears to owls to dogs and sharks!

The tradition continues! Our hallways were filled with excitement, high-fives, fist bumps and lots of orange as our students, teachers and staff cheered on our Clemson Football team in the much beloved and traditional send-off parade. Go Tigers!

Tiny Tiger Tots held the first of four preschool literacy sessions mid September. Mrs. Schmidt's lesson focused on the book, "Giraffes Can't Dance" by Giles Andreae. Gerald, the giraffe, wasn't able to dance at the beginning of the book but quickly found the music that helped him learn to dance. Tots shared things they couldn't do yet--like ride a bike without training wheels, swim without swimmies and cross monkey bars. Tots also made a giraffe paper plate as a reminder to "keep trying" and went home with their own copy of "Giraffes Can't Dance."

If you are interested in enrolling your tot, please contact Melinda Schmidt at melindschmidt@pickens.k12.sc.us. There are three sessions remaining.

$15 Youth/ $20 Adult/ $25 Adult Extra Sizes

Orders will be taken by cash or check ONLY until Oct. 7. For more information or for order forms, please contact the front office.

Daily Breakfast Charge: $1.50

Daily Lunch Charge: $2.10

Click HERE for the October lunch menu.

Add money to your student's lunch account by visiting MySchoolBucks.