Clear Lake Connector 10/7/25

 
OCS Mission and Vision
CLK 25-26
 

Reminder-Please RSVP if you'll be joining us!

Interested in finding new ways to engage with reading at home? Click HERE or scan the QR code to RSVP to the District Family Literacy Night!

Oxford Homecoming 2025

Thank you to all our students and families who came out to represent Clear Lake in the Homecoming Parade! Also, thank you to the Clear Lake PTO for providing the pom poms, boom sticks, and face paint! 

It was a beautiful evening for the Oxford community to come together and even better with a WIN over West Bloomfield!

 

FUNd Run 2025 Update-$26,096

Way to go Clear Lake Wildcats!! Since our last update, we have now raised $26,046

Once the final totals are confirmed we will then announce the overall top fundraising classroom and individuals. The top class will win an ice cream party while the top fundraising student from DK-2 and 3rd-5th will win a ride to school in a police car AND free popcorn for the year! All students who raised $100+ will receive the VIP goodie bag!

 

Girl Scout Troop 76944 will collecting cans and bottles on the dates listed below during BOTH arrival and dismissal in the front of school. They will set up an area for donations out front of the building on the northeast side of the parking lot. All donations will be returned to raise money for our therapy dog, Lucy and all her therapy dog friends in the Oxford Wildcat Pack.

 

 Building Highlights, Updates, and Reminders

Parking lot procedures: For safety we ask that families follow the parking lot procedures during both arrival and dismissal.

This includes not dropping off students early before school starts either out front or out back. It also includes supervising their child(ren) during the staggered dismissal times while waiting for other child(ren) to exit the building. Students should not go up to windows and/or bang on windows, should keep the northeast staircase clear, and stay away from the curb so that they are away from exiting traffic flow. 

The back parking lot loop is also used for students who will be exiting the vehicle independently from the passenger/curb side only. If you would like to walk your child to the door please use the front parking lot where parent drop off is.

We thank everyone for their support to help both arrival and dismissal run as safely and smoothly as possible. We also thank you for your understanding and following our special times outlined for the back parking lot curb for our GSRP program and families.

 

Halloween Volunteers: All Halloween party volunteers must have an ICHAT form processed and on file by 10/27/25. This is to ensure there is time to process any new ICHAT forms prior to the event.

If you have not yet had your driver's license scanned into our visitor management system, you will also need to stop in the main office to do so by 10/29/25. If you had your driver’s license scanned last school year and it is a Real ID, it will need to be rescanned. This is due to a software update that will now ensure that Real ID driver’s license pictures print on the visitor badge.

The office will be preprinting visitor badges for volunteers that have both the processed ICHAT and a driver’s license in the visitor management system to help make checking in faster. Volunteers that wait until the day of the party to have their driver’s license scanned may have to wait in line. Guests may always come in during the following school hours 9:00-3:30pm to have their driver’s license scanned.

ICHAT FORM

Fall Break-This is a reminder that there is no school next week on Monday, 10/13 and Tuesday, 10/14. We will see everyone back on Wednesday, 10/15! If you're looking for something to do over the long weekend, check out the flyer below for Upland Hills Fall Festival Event!

Vision Screening 2025-2026: 12/5, 12/8, 12/9, 12/10, 12/11. The Oakland County Health Division will be at Clear Lake to do vision screening for students in GSRP, DK, 1st grade , 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 5th grade, EI classroom, and Center Based ASD classroom. They will also screen any student who did not pass a previous hearing screening unless the school is otherwise notified in writing by the parent/guardian no later than 12/4/26. See flyer below for more information.

Clear Lake Specials will be sharing highlights and information in our new Spotlight on Specials Classes section.

To learn more about what our Clear Lake artists, fitness fans, musicians, and language learners have been learning either scan the QR code, click the link below the graphic, or see the overall theme/concept for the class.

Gym shoes should be sent in for students to change into if they do not wear them to school on the days they have P.E. Boots, crocs, and sandals limit student's mobility in fully engaging in the activity. 

Art Link
Music Notes Link

DK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade have been learning and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

2nd-5th grade Spanish Link
 

Picture Orders Update

Picture retake day

Dear Clear Lake families,

There was recently questions about ordering pictures from HR Imaging and shipping options. HR Imaging shared that emails were sent to families back on 9/12/25 with a link to view your child's picture proof. In the email it stated that ordering would be open until 9/19/25 with the option to ship to school or home. Anything ordered after that date would then be shipped directly to the customer's home. Using the information that was sent prior to picture day families were to create their own HR Imaging account to do online ordering. From there you would be able to select a background and picture package.

We apologize for any confusion. Parents and guardians are encouraged to use the HR Imaging Customer Service information listed below for questions and support in setting up their account or ordering.

The link to set up your account is- https://myshop.hrimaging.com 

HR Imaging Customer Service for Parents:

https://shop.hrimaging.com/pws/contactus.aspx

Phone number: 815.433.1766

Picture Retakes:

For students who need a picture retake, please make sure to communicate to your child's teacher to confirm. Picture retakes will take place the morning of October 23, 2025.

 

Student Breakfast & Lunch Update

Dear Oxford Families,

I want to take a moment to share an important update on school funding in Michigan and what it means for Oxford Community Schools.

As you may know, the State of Michigan is required by law to adopt a school aid budget by July 1 so that districts like ours can plan responsibly for the upcoming school year. Unfortunately, that deadline has passed, and lawmakers have not yet finalized a budget. This delay has placed schools across the state, including Oxford, in a challenging position.

While the situation requires careful monitoring, we are confident that Oxford can remain open and continue serving students as we work through this period of uncertainty. We are proactively looking at ways to temporarily bridge funding gaps so that essential programs including teaching, transportation, and student meals, continue without interruption.

Without a state budget, we plan to return to a fee-based program for breakfast and lunch beginning November 1st. We strongly encourage families to complete the Application for Free and Reduced Meals as soon as possible. This application is especially important because it is uncertain whether the state will include free breakfasts and lunches in the new budget even once it is approved.

How you can help: One of the most effective ways to support our schools is by reaching out to your legislators and urging them to finalize the school aid budget. You can find your legislators here: https://www.michiganvotes.org/legislators. A short email or phone call encouraging them to prioritize and pass the school budget is a powerful way to make a difference.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together for Oxford’s future.

With Gratitude,

Dr. Tonya Milligan, Superintendent

Menus and Account Info:
Find breakfast/lunch menus and directions for depositing money into your student’s account (Meal Magic Family Portal) at:
www.oxfordschools.org → Departments → Nutrition Services

 
 
 

Clear Lake PTO News

Click HEREto sign up and help on Popcorn Day!

Nutrition Services Information

 

Building and District Links

    • Clear Lake Handbook 2025-2026
    • Therapy Dog Intro Video
    • Clear Lake Curriculum Night Video 2025
    • District Elementary Calendar 2025-2026
    •  
    • Oxford Handbooks and Code of Conduct
    • ICHAT Form
    • Lower Elementary Behavior Reporting Form
    • Upper Elementary Behavior Reporting Form
    •  
    • Medical Forms
    • MAP Forms
    • Over the Counter (OTC) and Prescribed Medication Form
    • Non-Prescribed Topical Medication Form
 

Project ADAM-SAVES LIVES

2025-2026 School Year

Dear Parents, Guardians, and/or Students,

Clear Lake Elementary is pleased to inform you that we have joined a nationwide 
community effort to make our school Heart Safe with Project ADAM. This decision is the result of our wish 
to ensure that our campus is prepared to provide an immediate response to someone suffering a cardiac emergency.

In the United States, it is estimated that annually 356,000 adults experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as well as 23,000 pediatric cardiac arrests (Mozaffarian, D, 2015; Okubo, M et al, 2020). Although approximately 90% of those people will not survive the event, the likelihood of survival increases with prompt intervention. Early intervention that includes CPR and restoration of normal heart rhythm with the use of an AED increases the chance of survival.

Through our cooperative efforts with Project ADAM led by we have joined hundreds of schools throughout the nation in preparing our school for a life-threatening emergency. This program enables us to offer any person who may experience a sudden cardiac arrest the best chance for survival. 

One aspect of being a Heart Safe School is to practice a drill with our staff to rehearse our plan and practice our skills and staff have been trained to assist with an emergency during regular school hours.

After school hours, this is a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program. If you suspect someone is experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest, please use the equipment at our school to save their life. Good Samaritan laws protect the layperson in a life-saving attempt who is acting in good faith. We recommend becoming trained in CPR and AED use as an investment in your health and the health of others. You can learn how to recognize a sudden cardiac arrest and hands-only CPR and AED skills by watching this brief Project ADAM video.
FOR YOUR AWARENESS, WE HAVE AEDS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS AT CLEAR LAKE ELEMENTARY
› Outside main office in box labeled AED

AEDs are a life-saving device, and anyone can use an AED, even if you are not specifically trained. In the case of a cardiac arrest, call 911, start CPR and retrieve an AED. To use the AED, first press the power button to turn the device on. The device will then verbally walk you through the steps to use and save a life. Please note, the AED will not shock a person unless it detects a shockable rhythm. 

Many thanks for your participation in this important Heart Safe initiative in our school! If you have any questions, please reach out to me.

Stephanie Niemi-Principal, Project ADAM Site Champion

stephanie.niemi@oxfordschools.org

 
Niemi

Stephanie Niemi

Principal, Clear Lake Elementary School

Email: stephanie.niemi@oxfordschools.org
Website: https://clearlake.oxfordschools.org/o/cls
Location: 2085 West Drahner Road, Oxford, MI, USA
Phone: 248-969-5206
Twitter: @sniemi01

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Non-Discrimination Clause: The District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, military service, veteran status, genetic information, disability, or any other legally protected basis, and prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment and retaliation, in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admission and employment. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies:  Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, 775 W. Drahner Rd., Oxford, MI 48371, (248) 969-5004.