Dear Bulldog Families,

It is a beautiful week to be a Bulldog! As we move through the month of April, I am continually impressed by the hard work our students are putting into their daily lessons. Whether they are mastering new multiplication strategies in math or diving deep into complex texts during ELA, our classrooms are buzzing with the sound of the Florida B.E.S.T. Standards in action. Check out our Facebook page to see our students and teachers hard at work!

Celebrating Our Volunteers

This week, April 20th – April 24th, is Public School Volunteer Week. At Clay Hill Elementary, we know that our school is only as strong as the community that supports it. Whether you are helping out in the media center, assisting with a classroom project, or supporting our school events, your time and energy make a tangible difference in the lives of our students.

To show our sincere gratitude, we will invite all of our wonderful volunteers to join us for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, April 24th, at 7:30 AM in our Media Center. We look forward to sharing our gratitude with you and officially saying "Thank You" for everything you do to help our Bulldogs thrive. Your partnership is what builds the foundation of our school's success!

Don't miss other critical updates in this week's Bulldog BARK! below. Thank you for being the greatest community of parents in Clay!

Sincerely,

Principal Reed

This week, we celebrate Administrative Professionals Week, and we want to extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible office team, who serve as the heart and soul of Clay Hill Elementary. I invite our entire Bulldog community to join us in showing appreciation for these dedicated professionals who keep our school running smoothly and care for our students every single day.

What a wonderful evening of entertainment we enjoyed at this year's Night of the Arts! Special thanks to Mr. Johns, Mrs. Stevens, all our student artists and performers, and to families and guests who joined us for the evening, making it great! (Check out more moments from Night of the Arts on our Facebook page!

We are incredibly proud of our Bulldog Math Team and their dedicated coaches for their outstanding performance at Math Field Day yesterday at Fleming Island High School! Their success is a direct result of many weeks of disciplined practice and hard work, and it was wonderful to see that effort pay off in such a competitive environment. A special "Bulldog Bark" goes out to our sixth-grade team for their fantastic achievement in bringing home the Bronze medal—way to represent Clay Hill!

All current and prospective 2026-2027 CHE parents and students are invited! Our Ready, Set, Grow! Spring Round-Up invites families of rising Kindergarten through sixth-grade students to experience the vibrant "Bulldog Spirit" and academic excellence that define Clay Hill Elementary. During our spring orientation, you will explore our campus and classrooms for your child's upcoming year while learning how our curriculum—aligned with Florida standards—drives progressive student achievement. We look forward to showcasing our diverse extracurricular activities and welcoming new students and families into our pack for a successful upcoming school year! Please share this opportunity with any friend and family who might be looking for a high-quality experience for their child(ren) in the upcoming year!

Let us know you'll be attending by RSVPing at the link! https://forms.gle/VPmCkXfdUHC6N9hb8

Please share with friends and family who may have a child who will turn 5 on or before September 1, that we are accepting  enrolling for kindergarten 2026! Don't wait to be a Bulldog! 

One of the most treasured annual events in our school community is our spring Senior Walk! Students who attended Clay Hill Elementary (sixth grade class of 2020) are now high school graduates! Come see them walk our sidewalks and hallways in their full cap and gown regalia one last time on Friday, May 15, at 10:00 am. Welcome BACK, Bulldogs!

Please keep in mind a few reminders to ensure student safety and limit distractions in the classroom.

First, the kids have GROWN so much since the fall! Check to make sure that clothing still fits appropriately. Shorts must be mid-thigh in length. Holes above mid thigh should have something underneath. Athletic shoes should be worn on PE days to limit potential injury. (Crocs fall off and can lead to twisted ankles, so no Crocs on PE days, please!)

It's HOT, and water bottles are strongly encouraged. However, water bottles should be clear and contain only water. This limits noisy bottle drops in class & lunch, and ensures that drinks are safe and appropriate for the room (and won't cause issues with insects). Water bottles are not necessary, since we have many fountains and bottle filling stations, if needed. Water bottles are also for sale in the caferia each day.

Please check your child's backpack to ensure that toys are not brought to school. Stuffed animals, Pokemon cards, etc., can get damaged, stolen/lost, or they can cause a distraction that shifts focus away from our work in the classroom.

Thank you for your help in enabling our students to finish STRONG!

Monday, Apr. 20:
-Weekly Parent Engagement Winners (Sign the Planner each day!)
-Weekly PAWS Points Winners

Tuesday, Apr. 21:
-2nd Grade End of Year ELA Testing

Wednesday, Apr. 22:
-Administrative Professionals Day
-Earth Day (Wear Your Earth Day Attire!)

Friday, Apr. 23:
-Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, 7:30 am
-2nd Grade End of Year math Testing
-Interim Reports Available in ParentVue

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our "Connected & Protected: Safety in a Digital World" event at Fleming Island High School! The energy in the room was incredible, and the questions from parents showed just how much this community cares about our students' well-being. To access resources and handouts from the session, please go to oneclay.net/connected. You can access them whenever you need a refresher or a starting point for a conversation!

Don't forget that springtime means April Showers, and sometimes, thunderstorms! A little rain during school is no cause for concern, but lightning in the vicinity of our campus requires a specific response to ensure safety.

Florida is known as the "Lightning Capital of the World."  With more deaths and injuries than all other states combined,  Florida is ranked as the  #1  target for public safety and lightning awareness. School administration and/or the designee (school staff member overseeing activity) is expected and has the authority to act in the safest interest of all students, staff, guests, and visitors, and may cancel or delay activities, including student dismissal, While we make every effort to avoid disruption to schedules and routines, spring storms may affect dismissal and/or other activities from time to time. Our team will make every effort to communicate with parents in advance of any anticipated storm disruption. 

Thank you for your patience during these events, and for monitoring conditions when storms are expected!

Transportation registration for the 2026-2027 school year is officially open. Registration is an ANNUAL requirement. Don't wait! Register for the bus today! Click the QR code or visit: oneclay.net/bus.

Testing in grades 3-6 in reading, math, and science begins on Tuesday, April 21 and continues through May 12! To learn more about test items, administration rules, and other critical parent information, click the links below to access parent letters specific to your child's grade(s). Please contact CHE with any questions you may have about end of year assessments!

CHE K-2 Parent Assessment Letter (Reading and Math)

CHE 3-6 Parent Assessment Letter (Reading and Math)

CHE Gr. 5 Parent Assessment Letter (Science)