Clark Lane Connects
Clark Lane Middle School May 2025
GLOW:
We have noticed improved overall consideration of community in the cafeteria for all three lunch waves!
GROW:
Parents/Guardians and students, please continue to review the CLMS Matrix to support the school climate and culture! Thank you!
Hello CLMS Parents and Guardians!
We are mid-way through Trimester 3 and many students are accomplishing their goals for each class and continue to meet with their teachers to discuss how they plan to steady the course or improve their outcomes for the remainder of the school year. For those students that may need a boost of encouragement, we are here and there is still time to “glow” and “grow” through attendance, academics and behavior positive outcomes. We are here to support and look forward to hearing from you soon! As always, thank you for taking PRIDE in our school community by supporting your scholar’s learning and behavior daily! Together Everyone Achieves More! Please enjoy this newsletter!!!
Mr. Sachs & Mrs. Howard
REMINDER
for ALL STUDENTS!
Bring your school-issued device with you to school EVERY DAY!
Be sure to charge your device or bring your charger with you! Also, don’t forget to bring a refillable water bottle with you to school daily
Thank you for your attention!
Clark Lane Middle School 860-443-2837
Main Office, Press 1
Report Absence, Press 2
Or email: CLMS-Attend@waterfordschools.org
Nurse (Health Office), Press 3
School Counseling Office, Press 4
Assistant Principal, Press 5
To reach teachers by email: first initial, followed by last name @waterfordschools.org
For example: kbarnes@waterfordschools.org
To view Clark Lane’s staff directory:
UPCOMING EVENTS!
Mark your calendars!
Wed., May 7 - NGSS Testing (8th grade only)
Thurs., May 15 - Early Dismissal (Staff Prof. Dev.)
Tues., May 20 – World Language Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony, 5pm CLMS Cafetorium
Fri., May 23 - CLMS Walkathon (info included)
Mon., May 26 – School Holiday, No School
Tomeka K. Howard Assistant Principal
James M. Sachs Principal
Clark Lane Middle School…
Connecting with Parents
May 2025
Reminder from the
Attendance Office
You may be asking, “What can I use the clms-attend@waterfordschools.org address for ?” Let’s take a look!
If you want to notify us that the student will be
❖ Late, due to appointment or otherwise
❖ Out sick
❖ Leaving early, for appointment or otherwise
❖ On vacation or out for another specific reason
If you have a medical note for your student’s absence(s) to share with us.
If your student would like to take a different bus with a friend or get off at a different stop on their regular bus.
❖ All bus requests must be in writing
Thank you all for your attention to this!
Drop off Procedures/Times
Parents may drop off students no sooner than 7:15am. Students wait in the cafeteria before proceeding to Homeroom.
Students who arrive after 8 am MUST be signed in at the Main Office (in the back of the building) by a parent/guardian. Please accompany your student into the building.
Early Dismissal Procedure
We ask that you make every attempt to NOT dismiss your student after 2:15 pm, unless a note was given in the morning. It is a disruption to the end of the school day and traffic management.
Mid Trimester 3 is May 1st!
Be sure to check your student’s progress on Powerschool!
Did you know…the last day of school is Thursday, June 12th? That’s right! Summer break is on its way!
Clark Lane Middle School…
Connecting with Parents
May 2025
Things to Know about Coming and Going at Clark Lane
Tardies:
When arriving tardy to school, students are required to sign in at the Main Office and obtain a tardy pass to bring to homeroom.
Student arrivals after 8 am require a parent signature to sign them in as tardy.
NOTE: Students who may have arrived at school on time could receive a tardy if they don’t report to homeroom before the bell.
Early Dismissals:
Parents/Guardians are required to sign the student out in the Main Office when picking up early. Please bring ID. Remember, latest early dismissal call downs are at 2:15pm.
Dismissals from the nurse are handled by the Health Office. If the student is coming back to school after an appointment, parents should sign the student back in upon return to school.
Any additional questions may be directed to the attendance email address: clms-attend@waterfordschools.org
Thank you for your ongoing partnership.
Did you know…National Speech
Pathologist Day is celebrated on May 18th? It's a day to recognize and appreciate the work of speech-language pathologists like our own Mr. Nemeth. SLPs help individuals with speech, language, and swallowing disorders. They provide evaluations, diagnoses, and treatment for a wide range of communication challenges. Thank you, Mr. Nemeth!
Clark Lane Middle School…
Connecting with Parents
May 2025
As a reminder and for you to review with your student(s), here is our PRIDE matrix. Let’s continue to have…
We’re
in the home stretch, Clark Lane!
Connecting with Parents
“I’m so glad I didn’t buy a yearbook,” said no one, ever! Why wouldn’t your child want the important school memories with them forever? BUY A YEARBOOK NOW!
There'snothingelselikeyourschoolyearbook.Getyourhandsonthe limitededitioncollectionofourstoriesfromtheyear.Shareitwith yourfriendstodayandhangontoitforyearstocome!
www.jostens.com
Did you know…May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month? In the month of May we take time to reflect and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have played in our shared history. For more information: https://asianpacificheritage.gov/
Misplaced something? Think you left it at school? Check the LOST & FOUND table in Clark Lane’s cafeteria!
Wondering how your student is doing in his/her classes? Curious what grades your student has? Is your student coming to class prepared? Is your student missing assignments? Not completing assigned work? Be sure to check PowerSchool for comments. For most teachers, this is their means of daily, sometimes weekly communication. For help logging in to PowerSchool, click here:
Clark Lane Middle School…
Connecting with Parents May 2025
8th Grade Promotion Date is Set!
Clark Lane Middle School Promotion Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 6:30 pm at the Waterford High School Auditorium.
Each eighth grade student will be issued four tickets towards the end of May. They will receive these in a sealed envelope during their homeroom. If you do not need all four tickets, please send the extras back in to CLMS as soon as you can after receiving them. This is important to help us with extra ticket requests. We will have a limited number of extra tickets available and those are first come first serve based upon a list we maintain. Please contact Mrs.Rochester at brochester@waterfordschools.org to be added to the extra ticket list. We will do our best to fill all requests; however, the seating is limited to under 1,100 at Waterford High School.
Looking forward to seeing you at Promotion Ceremony to celebrate our eighth graders!
REMINDER
All teachers at Clark Lane Middle School have extra help days. Help days are generally on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays due to the availability of late buses.
If your student needs extra help, wants to retake an assessment, or would just like extra support in a specific class, have your student reach out to his/her teacher(s)! Last day for late buses this school year is Wednesday, June 4th!
Connecting Community
Students and Staff Prepare for Annual Walk-A-Thon
On Friday, May 23, 2025, students and staff will participate in the Annual Walk-A-Thon to raise money for local charities! We will run a modified schedule for the day that includes lunch. Students will attend all their classes on that day with a shortened schedule. Then, students will walk on a designated path around the school from 12:20 to 2:20 pm. Mr. Gionet shares, “This Walk-A-Thon will provide numerous opportunities to use real world data as we explore new math concepts. Students will use their own data in tables, equations, and graphs, then compare and analyze with other students. Not only will students gather real-time data to use in this unique math activity, but they will also work toward a rewarding community service activity, which, in and of itself, is a valuable experience for any middle school student.”
Let’s go, Clark Lane! And, thank you to Mr. Gionet and the Walk-A-Thon Committee for all their hard work!
REMINDER TO STUDENTS
Wear good walking shoes & bring your water bottle!
RAIN DATE is Tuesday, May 27th We’ll announce as soon as possible!
REMINDER
The Walk-a-Thon is a school-wide event. All staff and students participate in this activity. Dismissals on this day can be a bit of a challenge. We appreciate your patience! Thank you!
What Organizations Are CLMS Students Walking To Support
About the Charities
USA Paralympics and Clark Lane’s Unified Program Students supporting this cause will support two aspects of the Special Olympics program. Students will hear a discussion by Steve Emt, a two time Paralympian in the winter sport of curling. Steve was a high school All State Athlete in three sports and played on the UCONN Men’s Basketball team. After an unfortunate accident, he has been paralyzed from the waist down but overcame this challenge to become a successful athlete and motivational speaker. Similar to the Paralympics, Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports and experiences. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Young people with disabilities do not often get a chance to play on their school sports teams. A contribution to this cause will support the events associated with Unified and Clark Lane’s own Explorers Program.
Cactus Jack Foundation The Cactus Jack Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to aid individuals, families and other charitable organizations in need throughout Southeastern CT. To-date, the foundation has raised and donated over $500,000 to people in need. Examples of the foundation's giving include: providing gas cards to families traveling long distances for medical treatment, supermarket gift cards to people experiencing financial difficulty, filling oil tanks for those in need during the winter months, paying for the construction of handicapped ramps, organizing and volunteering at fundraisers, etc. Whether the needs are large or small, the Cactus Jack Foundation is there to assist.
Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation (TBBCF) TBBCF is a Southeastern Connecticut based charitable organization established by two devoted women who were affected by breast cancer. It is a research organization that gives 100% of volunteers’ hard work to find a cure. Terri Brodeur lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005. Terri was a graduate of Clark Lane Middle School. Since the start of walkathons coordinated by area math teachers, we have collectively donated more than $100,000 to support this foundation. 100% of all donations will support critical funding to research. Mr. Gionet’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and fought courageously, which is the reason that each year we support this research so no others will have to face this disease.
Spring Fun at CLMS
PE teacher, Mrs. Livingston reports, “Clark Lane Middle School students (and staff) participated in another exciting pep rally (the second one of the year) on the Friday before spring break. The event featured a competitive volleyball tournament with players from the volleyball team, a select handful of 8th grade boys and various staff members. Students in the audience also got in on the fun, competing in pep rally games such as musical chairs, head shoulders cups, and air mattress relays. This was a great event that showcased our Lancer pride and school camaraderie!” Thank you to all who participated and supported this day’s events! Special thanks to our PE department for organizing most of the events!
Photos courtesy of CLMS staff
Spring Fun!
Here are some more photos of students and staff at Clark Lane!
courtesy of CLMS staff
Photos
More Spring Fun!
Here are some more photos from our school pep rally!
Photos courtesy of CLMS staff
Clark Lane Middle School celebrates
On the first Friday in May, we celebrate School Lunch Hero Day! In 2025, this special day of celebration will be on May 2. That Friday we will recognize school nutrition professionals and the difference they make every day! For some of our students at Clark Lane Middle School, the cafeteria is the first place they enter on a school day. This special day has been celebrated since 2010 and was created to recognize the hardworking individuals who provide students with healthy meals each and every day. From cafeteria staff to nutritionists, these heroes are dedicated to making sure that students have access to nutritious food during the school day.
Let’s be sure to tell our lunch heroes Thank You for all they do for each one of us!
National School Nurse Day takes place on May 7 this year and is a day to celebrate and recognize the important role school nurses play in supporting the health and well-being of our students. Our school nurses help improve attendance, enforce federal law, help staff health, and improve academic performance. School nurses don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Be sure to say Thank you to our wonderful nursing team at Clark Lane Middle School! We appreciate you!
We want to take this opportunity to say Thank You
to all our French, Latin and Spanish Club students and their parents, families, friends and neighbors who came out to support our Annual Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s on Saturday, March 29th! The students did a tremendous job and served over 114 people! This is a wonderful community event and we are proud of our students for their dedication to making this event such a great success!
Because of your support and generosity, the World Language Department donated $200 to the 8th Grade No Frills Fundraiser to help the 8th grade parents reach their goal to fund the end of year activities for our 8th graders!
Clark Lane Middle School celebrates School Principal Day
on Thursday, May 1st
School Principals' Appreciation Day, celebrated every May 1, is a heartfelt opportunity to recognize the dedication and hard work of school principals. After all, they guide academic success and set the tone for an entire school. Mr. Sachs wears many hats in our building, not just that of principal and for that, we are very grateful to him!
On May 1st and every single day , we thank Mr. Sachs for everything he does for Clark Lane Middle School!
Help us say THANK YOU
To all our amazing, dedicated educators as we celebrate
Teacher Appreciation Week
May
5-9, 2025
Teachers work tirelessly, dedicating their time, energy, and passion to shaping the minds of future generations. Their work extends beyond the classroom because they impart knowledge, instill values, inspire creativity, and foster a love for learning.
Students discover their potential and embark on the journey of lifelong learning through teachers’ guidance and mentorship. We set aside a special time each year to honor and appreciate their contributions and recognize teachers’ impact on individuals and communities.
Teachers Appreciation Week is an occasion during which educators are showered with gratitude and recognition for their invaluable service.
Teacher Appreciation Week is a time for students, parents, administrators, and communities to come together and express their appreciation for educators’ dedication and hard work. THANK YOU to all our extraordinary, dedicated professionals at Clark Lane Middle School who work tirelessly with the students and families of the community of Waterford. We honor you and the lasting impact you make in the lives of all our students.
Connecting Community May 2025
Connecting Community
Free Summer Sailing Program
The Niantic Bay Sailing Academy (NBSA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based at the Niantic Bay Yacht Club in Niantic, CT. We offer a 4 or 8 week summer program (June 23 – August 15) providing instruction for ages 6 – 17. All abilities are welcome - from beginner sailors to those who seek more competitive racing. Classes meet several times per week for several hours depending on ability. Participants must be able to swim and pass a swim test before they can begin sailing. Boats are provided. Full or partial scholarships for the 4 or 8 week program are available to students throughout Southeastern CT. We are especially seeking local youth who may not have otherwise been exposed to sailing, a sport which offers camaraderie, fun, competition and the development of lifelong skills. For more information about junior sailing or sailing lessons for adults (or to register without the scholarship) go to www.NianticSailing.org.
Connecting Community May 2025
Connecting Community May 2025
Did you know… all of the schools in our district publish newsletters for parents/guardians and the community to stay up to date on the great happenings going on throughout the district? It’s true! Be sure to check out the links below for the school newsletters on the WPS website:
● WHS
● Avery Point Transition Program
● CLMS
● GN ● OSW ● QH
Clark Lane Middle School’s
School Counseling Office
Smarter Balanced Assessment Testing Complete
Thank you to all students and staff for your hard work completing the SBA testing at the end of April. (Our last testing day is actually May 1st.) This testing is used to measure how well students understand and are able to apply the skills and knowledge required by the state standards. The Smarter Balanced Assessment tests are given annually in math and English language arts in grades 3-8 and are structured to be taken online for a more interactive test experience. The tests are also designed to provide educators with a deeper understanding of how students learn.
Students who were absent or missed part of the testing will be pulled for make-ups in the coming weeks! Stay tuned!
Role of the School Counselor
School Counselors Help Students by. . .
● Counseling students individually and in groups
Need to see your counselor?
Stop in the School Counseling Office and set up an appointment with Ms. Hietala, the Guidance & Attendance management Administrative Assistant. We’re here to support you!
● Helping students set goals, manage their feelings, deal with peer pressure, resolve peer problems, establish positive relationships and reach their full potential
● Working collaboratively with parents, teachers and administrators to best meet the needs of our students
● Creating and delivering comprehensive school counseling lessons to address topics such as time management, social skills, bullying, organization and other topics as deemed necessary
● Preparing and supporting students through times of transition
● Assisting students in understanding how school performance relates to future opportunities
● Working with students and parents on attendance and tardy issues
● Providing support during personal crisis
Clark Lane Middle School Rotary Students of the Year
The following Clark Lane Middle School students were selected as Rotary Student of the Year. These students demonstrate the Rotary Motto of "Service Above Self" and leadership qualities. (NOTE: This is not an academic award.) The 8th and 7th Grade students were already honored at a luncheon at Filomena’s on April 30th. The 6th grade students will be recognized on May 7th.
8th Grade, Terrapin Team student: Ava Vargas
8th Grade, Sea Star Team student: Riley Roenke
7th Grade, Coral Team student: Marykate Turner
7th Grade, Osprey Team student: Spencer Haffey
6th Grade, Heron Team student: Natalie Sogard
6th Grade, Egret Team student: Eliana Baude
Congratulations to all our recipients! We’re so proud of you!
Photos courtesy of Mr. Sachs
Important News from the School Counseling Office
Attention 5th grade Parents
Come Join Us at
the
Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night
Monday, May 19
6:30 - 7:30 pm
Clark Lane Middle School Cafetorium
Parents and guardians of incoming 6th grade students will learn about our schedule, classes, teams, academics, school expectations, activities/sports and much more! This presentation is geared towards parents to help your child with the transition. Students will have a separate transition presentation and visit. ----------------------------------------------
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
5th grade students will be coming to Clark Lane Middle School (by bus) with their teachers for a tour of our school on the following dates:
Oswegatchie Elementary students visit on May 20 from 9:15-10:15 am
Great Neck Elementary students visit on May 23 from 9:15-10:15 am
Quaker Hill Elementary students visit on May 27 from 9:15-10:15 am
During the visit, Grade 5 students will learn more about CLMS. They will go on a tour of the school, meet some of the 6th grade teachers, have a Q&A session with current students and play a CLMS trivia game!
Health Office
MakingHealthyConnectionsbetweenhomeandschool
Get Ready for the Sun!
As warmer weather approaches, here are some tips to protect your skin from the sun:
Wear a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt or cover-up.
Wear a hat with a wide brim that shades your face, head, ears and neck.
Use sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB (broad spectrum) protection.
Attention 6th grade students who have not had a physical this year will need one by the start of 7th grade. You will receive a notice if you are not compliant with this. Thank you!
If your child has any injuries, please make sure you report it to the Health Office.
To directly contact the School Health Office, call: 860-437-6977 or email:
emccaffrey@waterfordschools.org & rcorumgiles@waterfordschools.org
Be sure to email BOTH nurses when emailing information about your student! Confidential faxes may be sent directly to the School Health Office 860-437-2179
DID YOU KNOW…with over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is America’s most common cancer? Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers. May is Skin Cancer Prevention Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (also known as CDC), unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays in as little as 15 minutes! For more information, click the QR code and stay protected!
News from IT
May 2025 especially for Clark Lane Middle
School
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION:
Will Chromebooks be going
home with students over the summer?
YES! Students currently in grades 4-12 will keep their device at home for next school year. While at home, just as during the school year, families are responsible for safe storage of the device and are responsible for following all WPS Board Policies.
Students are REMINDED to bring their devices to school every day, preferably charged and ready to go! There is a limited number of Chromebooks for students to borrow throughout the day on a first come, first serve basis. Students who need to borrow a Chromebook should go to library after checking in at homeroom!
Your student’s school device is protected by Securly, helping keep them safe when they go online. With the Securly Home app (included with your district’s Securly partnership), parents can safeguard their child’s online activity when devices come home!
From web filtering to device management to self-harm detection, Securly is dedicated to keeping young minds healthy, engaged, and inspired. Securly protects more than 10 million students across the US at school and at home, plus has over 2 million parents engaging in their child’s activity on school devices. Now parents of students in grades 4-12 can get the same peace of mind when school devices come home. See your child’s online activity during after-school hours, pause your child’s device, and turn off online access. Through this partnership, the students of Waterford will be protected everywhere, on any school-issued device. Click the link to connect you to the WPS district website for more information!
Connecting with our 6th grade
Egret Team
Egret Team News
May 2025
The Egret Team Friday, May 16th. They will leave school at 9:30 a.m. and return at the end of the day before buses leave. Permission slips went home with students on April 25th. The permission slips can also be found on your student's please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher if you have questions.
and our 6th grade
Heron Team News
The Heron Team took a trip to the Garde Arts Center on April 1, 2025 to watch “Stomp!” Mr. Guarraia reports, “The kids were thoroughly entertained and enjoyed some much needed time together.” Fun times!
Photo courtesy of the Heron Team
Connecting with our 7th grade
Osprey Team
May 2025
7th grade Science News
Osprey Science teacher, Mrs. Quiles, shared several photos from her classes showing her “scientists” hard at work testing for sugars, starches, and proteins in food!
Photos courtesy of Mrs. Quiles
Pictured to the right are two models of photosynthesis and cellular respiration processes by Jake Roban (top) and Maria Pirruccello and Suzie Calkins (bottom).
Project O with our Osprey Students
Enjoying the open water, counting seals, dissecting squid… just a few of our favorite things!
Thank you, Mrs. Quiles, for sharing the highlights of your trip with us!
Attention ALL 8th grade students
Connecting with Clark Lane Middle School’s
Art Department
Art News
CLMS Art teacher, Ms. Bonillo shares, “Our 7th Grade Sculpture Class will be exhibiting their works in the Mystic Museum of Art 2025 Young Artists Showcase from May 3 through June 1. The works were entered as a project titled “Visualizing 3D Space-after Miro”.
Students learned about artist Joan Miro’s 2D Constellation painting, then took elements of his style and reimagined the works into their own 3D interpretations. They learned paper folding techniques and played the “Roll-a-Miro” dice game to determine which elements they were required to use in their designs.
Students in the show are :
Natalie Babcock Sophia Leitkowski
Spencer Barnett Alexander Pearson
Aubriella Baron Alexa Reynolds
Brooklyn Cure Jake Roban
John DeRosa Angelina Rowe
Greydan Duzant Leila Sanda
Genesis Funes Pena Ever Williams
Please join us for the opening on Saturday, May 3rd from 1-3 pm.
We hope you can join us to celebrate these students!
May 2025
Connecting with
Family & Consumer Science
@ Clark Lane Middle School May 2025
Intro to Culinary News
Mrs. Loguidice reports, “Intro to Culinary Skills students have been busy practicing their measuring and baking skills in class. They’ve worked well together to create some sweet and savory treats!”
Advanced Culinary Update
Mrs. Loguidice shares, “Advanced Culinary students have had a lot of practice using safe knife skills in class. Recipes prepared recently include home fries, mini cinnamon rolls & fried rice.” Bravo to all!
Did you know…
Photos courtesy of Mrs. Loguidice
students in 7th and 8th grade can take Family and Consumer Science electives at Clark Lane Middle School? That’s right! Interested in cooking? Want to learn kitchen safety? Be sure to check with your School Counselor if you’re interested in signing up for one of our classes for next school year!
Connecting our corner of the globe to yours May 2025 ClarkLane MiddleSchool’s
WORLD LANGUAGE NEWS
Dans la classe de français
6th graders have just presented their country projects, where they’ve researched about one of the 29 countries where French is an official language! Did you know that French is spoken on five of the seven continents? We’ve also just started with colors and learning numbers…up to number 31, so we can start our last unit: Calendar and Celebrations!
7th graders have been practicing with directions, using prepositions to describe where things are located in relation to others. They are learning places in town and have also recently learned the irregular verb aller, which means to go. Ask them about the song they learned to help them memorize this verb! 8th graders will be working on some new verb conjugations: conjugating regular -ir and -re verbs. They have also recently completed an email response, similar to what they will need to do next year, in any language they choose! A lot of what we are working on this trimester is all in preparation for them continuing French next year, if they attend WHS.
A classe linguae latinae
6th graders will be learning new vocabulary, getting introduced to Project Arkhaia, before they will translate a story completely in Latin for the first time! We will end the month by learning about the beginning of Roman history and how it went from a Monarchy to a Republic to an Empire.
7th graders are finishing up their Hercules project where they will write a paper comparing and contrasting the myth of Hercules versus modern adaptations. Then we will delve back into grammar. At the end of the month, we will begin to learn about the Roman Forum and complete a project on it.
8th graders will each be given their very own section of the Aeneid to translate in a month-long project. Each student will read two books by themselves before presenting a summary to their classmates.
En la clase de español
6th graders have just finished researching a Spanish speaking country. Each student created an infographic to share important information about their country with the class. Our next unit is numbers 0-100! We will use the numbers to talk about age, phone numbers and dates.
7th graders have been practicing -ar verb conjugations to describe what people do. They have learned school related vocabulary such as school supplies, ordinal numbers and school subjects. They are using these words to talk about their school day, their schedule and what they do in their classes. In this unit, 7th graders explored schools in different Spanish speaking countries, their schedule, classes and lunch meals!
8th graders have been working with expressions that people normally use to invite friends to do activities with them. They are also working on responding to invitations, accepting or declining and explaining why they can’t attend. Later on they will learn to use the near future to make weekend and summer plans with friends!
The World Language Department is incredibly proud to announce the following students who will be inducted into their respective World Language Junior Honor Societies on May 20th.
These students have not only excelled in their language classes but have also actively participated in activities that promote cross-cultural understanding and acceptance within our school community. Their dedication to both academics and service to others is truly commendable!
Les Jeunes Amis du Français
Neve Boluch
Carson Brown
Kimi De La Torre
Avery Gallerani
Maddie Jadamec
Lilia Juliani
Victor Lim
Leila Olson-Maher
Polina Abrashin
Ivanka Haglund
Erinade Onodipe
Sadie Silvestri
Mzati Vincent
Mark Wang
National Junior Latin Honor Society
Lorelai Maynard
Ryan Sit
Adam Abraham
Piper Barczak
Noah Bartlett
Thomas Dignazio
Griffin Fiano
Reese Firmin
Tyler Gamble
Alexander Siu
Sociedad Hispánica de Amistad
Troy Harasim
Alexis Krall
Grace McDonald
Rhianna Modi
Samantha Olokodana
Amelia Secchiaroli
Pranav Sharma
Tyler Stark
Ava Vargas
Tayna Veras
Bella Vittone
Audrey Westkott
Ella Woznicki
Attention 6th Grade Parents
Helping your 6th grader choose a language
Prepared for you by the CLMS World Language Teachers
6th grade students
in the Waterford District are fortunate to have the opportunity to try three different languages in their first year of middle school. This gives them a unique opportunity to not only meet the teachers that they will potentially have for the next two years, but also to explore and discover new vocabulary and new cultural experiences.
HOWITWORKS
6th grade students will soon be choosing their World Language class for the next two years. This means that whatever language they choose for 7th grade, will be the same language they will study in 8th grade and they cannot change their choice once 7th grade has begun.
This is a very important and personal decision!
While we encourage parents to discuss the options with their sixth graders, we kindly remind parents to please honor the decision of your student as they have had the experience of learning each of the languages this year, interacting with the teachers, and following class dynamics that will be similar in the next two years.
At this early stage of language learning, we find that students who actually choose the language they enjoyed the most in 6th grade bring a positive attitude with them to class and tend to perform better.
CONNECTIONS CLUBS
After School Clubs @ Clark Lane Middle School May 2025
The Connections Program offers a variety of afterschool clubs for students here at Clark Lane Middle School. These clubs offer students the ability to get involved in activities they enjoy after school and to meet new people and connect with the school. Generally, club meeting days & times are announced over the morning announcements; however, there is also a bulletin board outside of the Assistant Principal’s office where staff members post club flyers! Students: be sure to check this out!
Come join
Rubik’s Cube Club!
There is still time! Come and learn how to solve the cube.
Our last two club days of the school year are Monday, May 12th & Monday, May 19th! Come join us!
See Mrs. Joyner if you have questions!
The Craft Club has ended for this school year!
Thank you to those who spent their afternoons crafting with us! We hope to see you next year!
~Nurses Erica and Rosita
Clark Lane’s GSA Club continues to meet every other Wednesday in the month of May: May 7th and May 21st. Students should listen to morning announcements or see one of the co-advisors: Mrs. Heller or Ms. Galvin. There will be no meetings in June. Thank you to all who participated!
Information about Late Buses
Late buses run (most) Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays unless there is a faculty meeting, which is typically the first Monday of the month. The last day for late buses this school year is Wednesday, June 4th! Students take the late bus that goes to their area of town. Students will be issued a bus pass from the adult they are staying after school with, or they can get picked up in lieu of taking a bus. Late buses arrive at school at 3:40 pm.
What’s Cooking?
in Clark Lane Middle School’s cafeteria May 2025
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Please remind your student that if they want hot lunch they need to let their homeroom teachers know in the morning. Thank you!
Students riding the bus who want breakfast in the morning should report to the cafeteria after checking in to Homeroom for attendance. If your student is a parent drop-off in the morning, those students wait in the cafeteria until the bell and can get breakfast there as they come in before Homeroom.
Breakfast is no longer free to all students! Cost is $2.50.
Join the CLMS PTO Connect with us!
May 2025
8th Grade Dance is scheduled for Friday, June 6th
The dance is from 6-8pm and will have a DJ, pizza and desserts. The theme of this year’s dance is Night at the Oscars . We will need help decorating/setting up and chaperoning so more info will be coming on that soon. This is a semi-formal dance and is free for the students. (Please do not spend any significant money on formal dresses or outfits).
For more information about what we do or to get involved in the CLMS PTO, contact Crystal Leahy, PTO Vice President, with any questions at clarklanepto@gmail.com or click here:
ATTENTION Current 5th grade/rising 6th grade Parents!
Please join us! We’d REALLY love your help in the 2025-2026 school year.
A sincere THANK YOU to all the families who supported our 8th Grade fundraising efforts! We couldn’t have done it without all of you!
This month’s meeting is Tuesday, May 6th at 5:30 pm CLMS Library or on Zoom
Hope you can join us for our last meeting of the school year!
Here’s a simple way to support
Just download the app and you can support Clark Lane Middle School with purchases made in person or online. Visit https://www.boxtops4education.com/ to learn more and see a list of participating products. Thank you!
