Students welcome teachers back! Clairton students flipped the script this year by welcoming the teachers back on August 15th during the teachers/staff clerical day. Approximately 30 students in grades 4-12 volunteered to come to the school on Friday morning at 7:15 a.m. to help welcome the teachers, prep rooms, assist teachers, and help spread back-to-school joy. Cheerleaders and National Honor Society students served the teachers, staff, and maintenance workers ice cream sundaes at the end of the day, courtesy of Al's Cone Zone.

Pictured is Summer Reading Challenge participant Alyse Roadman. Alyse is entering 1st grade at Clairton Elementary. This summer, over 8 weeks, Alyse read more than 65 books. Alyse started by reading with her mother and as the summer progressed, she read on her own to her mother.

Clairton City School District hosted a Summer Reading Challenge Program for students in grades K - 8. The Elementary Library was open every Wednesday and students were permitted to check out books and earn accelerated reading points; they also completed reading journals. Each student logged minutes and completed Accelerated Reader tests. Top readers earned rewards such as a free book from Barnes & Noble, a pool party, and other special rewards.

Summer Enrichment Students and Y-Readers helped make Danny Nickerson's birthday wish come true. Nickerson celebrated his 6th birthday with the one birthday present he had been hoping for: tens of thousands of birthday cards.

Danny is fighting an inoperable brain tumor and his mother made an appeal on social media to have strangers send him cards. Danny received over 100,000 cards from strangers all over the world, including 30+ from Clairton Summer Enrichment Students and Y-Reader Students. The students were excited to be able to give back to a child around their own age. They worked on the cards at the end of the day, during snack times, and as work was completed.

While the adults completed paperwork, students of all ages enjoyed the face painters at Information Day.

Clairton's Annual Information Day was held on August 6th in the high school auditorium and lobby. A record number of parents and guardians attended to complete necessary back to school paperwork, collect information about extracurricular activities, and sign their students up for programs such as CASTLE and Expect Respect. This year, information day had a few fun elements added, such as face painters. Cheerleaders hosted a bake sale and hoagie sale. Information Day forms were also made available electronically at www.ccsdbears.org.