Update from Clarence CSD May 2, 2025

Dear Clarence School Family,

As we prepare to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9), I wanted to take a moment to honor the very heart and soul of our school community—our remarkable teachers. Each day, they bring not only their deep expertise but also their passion, compassion, and creativity into our classrooms. Their influence extends far beyond lessons taught; they inspire, support, and nurture our students in ways that truly make Clarence a place where young minds flourish. Next week is a special time to express our gratitude. A thoughtful email, a handwritten note, or even a kind word in passing can mean more than you may realize. We are tremendously proud of our educators and deeply thankful that they’ve chosen to share their gifts right here in our community.

Last Chance to Share Your Feedback!

Thank you to the many families, students, and staff who have already taken a few moments to complete our Strategic Planning Survey. If you haven’t had a chance to participate yet, we’d love to hear your thoughts. The survey takes less than five minutes and offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on important topics like academic programming, communication, school culture and safety, and how we support our students. Your voice matters, and we appreciate your helping shape our school community's future. We sincerely thank you for helping to shape the road ahead.

Connecting Classrooms Through Art

Students from Harris Hill teamed up with members of Clarence High School’s Art Partners for a special collaborative project focused on creativity and self-expression. After listening to a story about embracing what makes us unique, elementary students imagined the animals they’d most like to be and sculpted their ideas to life using bright, expressive modeling compound. High School students helped mentor the younger artists, and in the process, built connections across grade levels while developing leadership and empathy skills. To learn more, check out this story on our homepage.

From Clarence to the Windy City! 

Clarence High School’s orchestra students had an unforgettable opportunity to travel to Chicago last week, where they immersed themselves in the city’s rich musical and cultural landscape. Highlights included attending performances by the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra and student musicians from Northwestern University and exploring some of the city’s most iconic sights. As orchestra director Douglas Shaw shared, the experience was not only musically enriching but also a chance for students to bond, grow, and create lasting memories. Click here to see more from this musical journey.

Springing Into May

With the turn of the calendar to May, we are excited to see the energy and excitement of our students and staff in the air across all of our schools. Here’s a glimpse of some of the wonderful moments from this past week:

• High School seniors in the Superintendent’s Advisory Council shared their ideas and experiences on issues like college and career readiness, student life, safety, and technology with the Board of Education during a Student Forum.
   
• Clarence Middle School’s Science Bowl team, composed of eighth graders Kian Banifatemi, Benjamin Haven, Jaydheep Rajaram, Henry Simon and Orrin Tauriello and coach Daniel Fox, was in our nation’s capital as they participated in the National Science Bowl!
   
• Engineering Design & Development classes at the High School competed in their Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, working to create the most effective three-person taxi boat!
   
• Excitement is growing for the Jack Hesslink All-Elementary Track Meet on May 20, with students at Sheridan Hill Elementary School practicing the hurdles.

Wishing you a relaxing weekend and a meaningful start to Teacher Appreciation Week!

Matt Frahm
Superintendent of Schools
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