Weekly Announcements • February 23-28
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Beginning February 3, 2026, students and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent/guardian, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
• Effective Leaders
• Collaborative Teachers
• Involved Families
• Supportive Environments
• Ambitious Instruction
Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.
All teachers and fourth through 12th-grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May and will also be included in the State School Report Card.
Additionally, your district has chosen to provide the optional supplement parent survey. If at least 20 percent of Clay City CUSD #10 parents/guardians complete this survey, a parent report will also be generated. The parent data will not be included on the State Report Card.
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted from February 3, 2026, to March 13, 2026. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same period. To take the survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.
Sincerely,
John Neubaum
Beginning February 3, 2026, students and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent/guardian, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
• Effective Leaders
• Collaborative Teachers
• Involved Families
• Supportive Environments
• Ambitious Instruction
Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.
All teachers and fourth through 12th-grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May and will also be included in the State School Report Card.
Additionally, your district has chosen to provide the optional supplement parent survey. If at least 20 percent of Clay City CUSD #10 parents/guardians complete this survey, a parent report will also be generated. The parent data will not be included on the State Report Card.
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted from February 3, 2026, to March 13, 2026. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same period. To take the survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.
Sincerely,
John Neubaum
The FFA petting zoo has been a popular destination this week! Here Mrs. Klein's second graders smile big and enjoy their time seeing the animals.
Mrs. Worrell's pre-k students had an interesting science lesson recently. Pre-k had chicks hatch! A huge shoutout goes to ag teacher and FFA advisor Mr. Hosselton for his help with the lesson.
Mrs. Worrell's pre-k classes made sure to visit the tractors and petting zoo this week during the FFA celebrations!
MONDAY kicks off Read Across America Week! To celebrate, elementary students will have dress-up days each day! Additionally, they will be able to participate in a read-a-thon, hear guest readers, have coloring sheets, and get to enjoy story walks. Start planning your dress-up days now!
Ms. Walker's 8th grade science class recently completed a unit on forces and motion. They finalized the unit with the annual Newton Scooters project. Each vehicle was designed and built by the student and is powered by Newton’s third law of motion. Landynn Creehorne’s project travelled the greatest distance, 12.89 meters, in a straight line.
On February 26th, Mr. Brummer's junior and senior science classes took a trip to Effingham to see Dr. Reed Timmer, America's most famous storm chaser, at the Effingham Performance Center. Students were able to hear Dr. Timmer tell stories about his experiences chasing tornadoes and hurricanes, followed by a Q & A where students could ask him questions. After the show they were treated to lunch at Niemerg's Steakhouse and made a stop for ice cream at Old Mac's in Dieterich. Tickets to the show and lunch were paid for by a generous donor who happens to be an alumnus of Clay City High School Class of 1963.
We've got more students on our AR point board! Keep up the good work and keep up the reading!
Clay City Schools has some celebrating to do! Our students have met their initial goal of $1,500 in raising money for the AHA Kids Heart Challenge. Sixth grader Sterling Thompson has raised $250 in donations. Way to go students! Thank you to Mrs. Mitchel for leading the charge!
It was unanimous! Kindergarten liked the red tractor best!! Check out those smiles as they viewed the FFA Tractor Day display!
Third grade is starting to learn about area. Today they learned it would cost a lot of money to put tile in their classroom!
Here are Mrs. Ahlfield's third graders having some fun during FFA Tractor Day!
It was Tractor Day at CCHS in honor of FFA Week! Elementary students were able to head to the parking lot to see the tractors and listen to what FFA members had to say. Here Mrs. Klein's second graders and Mrs. Kuenstler's fifth graders pose and smile with the tractors and upperclassmen.
REMINDER: It's time for the 5Essentials Survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
Clay City will be hosting the WEAA Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, February 26. Both gyms will be bustling with action. Clay City takes the Old Gym court at 5:30pm. Come out and support these girls in tournament play!
Public Schools Week 2026 (#PSW26) is Feb. 23-27! Join us in celebrating the people, partnerships, and practices that make our public schools strong. #PublicSchoolProud
Birthday in a Bag for students K-2 will be this Friday, February 27. Please remember to send your student with a drink and snack (no soda please).
Tomorrow's (Tuesday, February 24) Meyer Art event has been cancelled. Everyone will be refunded and parents may pick up their refund in the unit office. The next scheduled Meyer Art event will be Wednesday, May 6.
SRO Ray Phillips presented both the junior and senior classes with checks for prom and post prom from the Clay County FOP Lodge 603. Accepting on behalf of the junior class for prom is Kynadie Mitchel and Jackson Dye. Accepting on behalf of the senior class for post prom is Kamden Bruner, Cayden Craig, and Johnnie Mooney. Thank you Clay County FOP Lodge 603 for investing in our students.
