Second nine weeks report cards are available for viewing on the parent portal. If you need a paper copy of the report card, please contact your child's school.
Mrs. Cassada's Kindergarten students recently enjoyed an exciting STEM challenge centered around trees! 🌲 During the lesson, students learned about different types of trees, including Christmas trees, evergreens, and deciduous trees. They explored the differences between trees with leaves and those with needles, sparking curiosity and discussion. After the lesson, students had a blast applying their knowledge in a hands-on challenge to build the tallest tree! The activity combined creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork, making it both educational and fun. A big thank you to the Halifax County Public Schools Education Foundation for providing this wonderful opportunity to our students!
Mrs. Cross's 5th-grade students at Clays Mill Elementary embraced a festive STEM challenge, led by Mrs. Lewis, the school’s ITRT, to engineer Santa’s parachute for toy delivery! 🎁✨
The project required students to design and build parachutes and baskets using specific materials while meeting set criteria. Before tackling the hands-on challenge, students watched an informational video to learn how parachutes are made and how drag affects their performance. They applied their newfound knowledge to create innovative designs and test their creations, blending creativity with problem-solving and engineering skills.
This engaging activity brought holiday cheer and valuable learning opportunities to the classroom. A heartfelt thank you goes to the Halifax County Public Schools Education Foundation for making this incredible experience possible!
Our 4th-grade students had an absolute blast creating jingle bell mazes before the holiday break! 🛠️✨ They designed intricate mazes with clever challenges, complete with dead ends to keep things exciting. Classmates then took turns navigating the mazes, guiding their jingle bells to the finish line!
A huge thank you to the Halifax County Public Schools Education Foundation for making this festive learning experience possible! 💝Your generosity is appreciated!!
Excitement and creativity filled the classrooms of Mrs. Cross, Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Mele, and Mr. Martin at Clays Mill Elementary as 4th and 5th-grade students took on an exciting STEM challenge: building the tallest tower using LEGOs!
With guidance from Mrs. Lewis, the Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT), students began by learning about the art and science of engineering. They explored pictures of some of the tallest and most famous towers in the world, like the Shanghai Tower (2,073 feet tall!), the One World Trade Center, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, and the Dancing Towers. The students were amazed at these towering creations and had interesting discussions about the types of jobs needed to design and build such structures. Some students even expressed interest in these exciting careers!
The challenge was clear: build the tallest LEGO tower that can stand on its own, all within 30 minutes. Students worked together, sharing ideas and trying different designs to create stable and tall towers. The towers were measured using Metric and Customary systems, and when towers fell, they quickly rebuilt them, showing teamwork and resilience.
The room was full of energy, with students cheering for their successes and laughing through the challenges. By the end of the activity, the tallest towers measured 54.5 inches, 49 inches, 48 inches, and 44 inches tall! Even when some towers tumbled right as the timer went off, everyone agreed the activity was fun, exciting, and educational.
The 2nd-grade students at Clays Mill Elementary recently took on an exciting STEM challenge, combining creativity and engineering skills. Led by Mrs. Lewis, the school’s Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT), the students were tasked with building LEGO bridges that could span "water"—laminated pictures of ponds, streams, lakes, and more—all while standing independently!
Mrs. Lewis began the lesson by introducing students to different types of bridges, including beam, arch, and suspension bridges, and explained how they are designed and built. Students also learned about the various careers involved in creating bridges, such as engineers, architects, and construction managers. Many students were inspired by these roles and expressed interest in these exciting fields.
Working in pairs, the students had 35 minutes to design and construct their bridges using LEGOs. The bridges had to cover the entire "water" area and stand on their own. Throughout the challenge, students collaborated to solve problems, test their designs, and improve their structures.
Each pair of students crafted a unique and functional bridge, demonstrating their teamwork and perseverance.
This hands-on activity not only introduced students to engineering and design concepts but also allowed them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills—all while having fun!
Kindergarten students in Mrs. Cassada’s class at Clays Mill Elementary recently participated in a fun and interactive lesson led by Mrs. Lewis, the school’s Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT). Using LEGOs, the students practiced building some of the letters in their names while reviewing colors and practicing fine motor skills.
As students worked with the colorful LEGO bricks, they identified and named the colors they were using and proudly constructed letters. This hands-on activity helped reinforce letter recognition, spelling, and color identification, all while encouraging creativity and excitement for learning.
Due to bitter cold temperatures and remaining black ice, HCPS will operate on a two-hour delay tomorrow, Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Twelve-month employees follow Code 2, report two hours late.
Due to black ice on roads, HCPS will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Twelve-month employees are to report at 11:00 AM.
Due to inclement weather conditions, HCPS will be closed tomorrow, Monday, January 6, 2025. Employees follow code 0, do not report to work.
Halifax County Public Schools will hold a job fair on February 8, 2025 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM at HCMS. Please click on the link below to register for the 2025 HCPS Job Fair.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeB88J8Jwp8bN8K6aVgccIyum6B4a6MqtUxlD8-bOgVuw6z_A/viewform
Mr. Martin's wizards worked hard today to create their masterpiece. They chose their pattern, cut their felt material, then sewed. They stuffed the ornament and then decorated it to take home, remember 5th grade and their last year in Elementary school.
More of Mr. Martin's 5th grade ornament photos
Mr. Martin's wizards worked hard today to create their masterpiece. They chose their pattern, cut their felt material, then sewed. They stuffed the ornament and then decorated it to take home, remember 5th grade and their last year in Elementary school.
Winter break for students will be December 23, 2024 - December 31, 2024. The New Year’s holiday is January 1, 2025. January 2, 2025 and January 3, 2025 are professional development/teacher workdays. Students return to school on Monday, January 6, 2025.
We hope that you have a very happy and safe holiday season.
Mrs. Powell's 3rd-grade class recently participated in an exciting design and engineering STEM lesson led by Mrs. Lewis, ITRT. Students explored the fascinating world of bridges, learning about different types and how they are constructed. The lesson also introduced students to engineering and construction careers, highlighting the important contributions these professionals make in building and improving the world around us.
After learning the fundamentals, students took on the challenge of creating their own bridges over a simulated "body of water" using Legos. This hands-on activity allowed them to apply creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills as they designed and built structures that could stand independently. The experience not only enhanced their understanding of engineering concepts but also inspired curiosity about future opportunities in STEM fields.
First-grade students in Mrs. Martin’s and Mrs. Torian’s classes at Clays Mill Elementary recently explored the exciting world of computer science as they prepared for the upcoming Hour of Code. With guidance from Mrs. Lewis, the school’s Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT), students learned the basics of computer science through fun and engaging activities.
The lessons introduced students to fundamental concepts like sequencing, problem-solving, and logical thinking—skills that are essential for coding. Using interactive tools and hands-on activities, students practiced breaking down tasks into smaller steps, thinking like computer scientists.
Today was Grinch Day! Mrs Cassada’s Kindergarten Class enjoyed dressing like the Grinch. They had fun making and reading CVC words so that his heart would grow three sizes. To end the day, they enjoyed making green edible Christmas trees. It was a fun treat for snack.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Day at Clays Mill!
Ms. Laughorn's Pre-K class was in the Christmas spirit. Students decorated magnetic tiles in the shape of Christmas trees, used dot paints to create candy cane patterns, and designed ugly sweaters using various craft items. It was a very fun and festive day!
