WE STAND WITH YOU
The recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor have rightly sparked anger and grief in our nation. Certainly, the pain of injustice is also felt here in Clarkston. As a school community, it is not enough to teach our students about social justice and cultural competency – we must seize on opportunities to stand firmly in these values and never stop listening and learning.
My experiences as a white man have not been the experiences of a black man, woman, or child living in America today. Does this prevent me from connecting with our common humanity? Of course not. It is my duty as an ally in this work to not only listen and learn, but also take a deeper look into what I can do to respond to injustice.
No matter our race, gender or age, each one of us has the capacity to respond to hate and bias with love and compassion. I will be the first to tell you that I am still learning and my work will never be done.
Our community must build empathy to build unity. The heart of our work as a school district centers on teaching the whole child and meeting each student human-to human. Our staff has engaged in professional learning around social justice, equity, and cultural competency. These recent tragedies have emblazoned our commitment to continue building a bridge to an equitable and just future. The difference in our future rests in our willingness and resolve to act and do the right thing right now.
To our African American families: We see you, we hear you and we stand with you in this fight for social justice.

LOOKING BACK ON SCHOOL YEAR
John Lennon once said, “Life happens when you’re busy making other plans.” That couldn’t be more accurate today, as none of us could have predicted what this school year had in store for us. Fortunately for us, the plans that Clarkston Community Schools made in the past several years were a steady foundation to weather the life that 2020 has presented.
Though there will always be challenges, I’ve never been more sure that our school district will be OK…better than OK, in fact! I know this to be true, because we have the best educators and staff around, and the strong support of our community.
Some of you expressed concerns about what school will look like this fall. I want Clarkston parents to know it is my hope to open our school doors in August and have school be as close to normal as possible. I wholeheartedly believe face-to-face interaction in a classroom is the best form of instruction and that will be our goal. Any deviation of this would be driven by county and state safety requirements and restrictions that all schools would be under.
We are preparing for a variety of learning scenarios and we will remain flexible and fluid. At the same time, we are working on many different supports for families to meet individual needs; for example, safe, reliable childcare for working parents, and virtual programs families can opt into if they aren’t ready or able to return to our buildings.
We are educators, but we are also parents and community members, and we know we will need to be innovative to meet the needs of our Clarkston community. This work is already well underway, and I am impressed by the progress our team has made so far.
As I sent our staff into their summer break last Friday, I thanked them for…
Their listening ears, and eyes to see each one of our students human-to-human.
Their resilience and optimism during this unprecedented time in education.
The rich and engaging experiences they provided our families.
The shoulder they lent to one another.
And, for their trust.
For these, and a million other things, I am truly grateful. I wish you all a safe and restful summer.

CELEBRATE THE CLASS OF 2020
Commencement Cruise This Saturday
We invite all Clarkston residents and businesses to paint the town blue and gold for the Class of 2020 graduates and their families as they take a drive down “memory lane.”
We need your help giving our graduates a send-off to remember!
There is no set cruise route – our graduates will be cruising by all of the places that are special to them in and around Clarkston. This includes our school campuses, downtown, and neighborhoods, so no matter where you are in Clarkston, you’re on the cruise route!
Please note that the Commencement Cruise is not a parade event like we are used to having in downtown Clarkston. Please do not congregate in large groups.
Here are some suggestions for showing your support: tie blue, gold, or white ribbons around your mailbox and/or trees; put signs in your windows or yard; chalk your driveway or sidewalk; businesses; consider a salute to the Class of 2020 on your marquee; sit out on your front porch or in your yard and cheer for the passing cars; wear blue and gold, Clarkston spirit wear, or your CHS letter jacket if you have one; if you’re a musician, give an outside performance
Be creative and have fun being a part of the action!

— Clarkston Community Schools Superintendent Shawn Ryan